OPA March 10 Monthly Meeting Monday: This month’s meeting will be at the 2601 Main St. Library starting with food and mingling at 6:00pm. We will also be hybrid on Zoom. Here is the Zoom link to join the meeting starting at 6:30pm. Here’s the draft agenda and here’s schedule:
- 6:00 – 6:30pm: Food, refreshments and mingling
- 6:30 – 6:45pm: SMPD
- 6:45 – 7:00: Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur
- 7:00 – 7:15: Newly elected City Council-Member Barry Snell
- 7:15 – 7:30: Santa Monica Public Library Updates
- 7:30 – 7:40: Big Outdoor (the digital signs around town)
- 7:40 – 8:30: Board business, including 2025 priorities and upcoming calendar of events
Santa Monica Rents Rise in Wake of Wildfires: “Across the Los Angeles metro as a whole, we estimate that rents increased by 0.7 percent in February, and are up by 0.8 percent year-to-date. Our city-level estimates show that the areas closest to the fires are seeing rents increase faster than that metro-wide average. Santa Monica has seen the area’s sharpest rent increase, with prices up 3 percent year-to-date.” More details here.
Last Week to Vote for Most Loved Santa Monica Businesses: Voting ends 3/14. Visit smdp.com/vote to vote and highlight the businesses that deserve to be recognized by the entire community.
Community Wellbeing Program Applications Now Open Until 3/14: The program awards microgrants of up to $500 to individuals with ideas for community wellbeing projects. Learn More & Apply Here
Council Approves Next Steps for Affordable Housing Development of City-Owned Sites: This SaMo.gov post updates where the City with respect to the Housing Element and “the city’s plan to build 1,880 affordable homes on city-owned sites. Two of the five sites identified in the Housing Element are now in the pre-development phase.”
Two Main St. Spots Make The Infatuation’s The Hit List of New LA Restaurants To Try Right Now: The high-end Seline and the Not No Bar both get lauded. “Not No Bar is proof that when you mix good cocktails, good pizza, and good music, people will show up in droves.” “Even if your brain can’t retain the detailed descriptions accompanying each dish (because the internet fried it), a night at Seline is unforgettable.” https://www.theinfatuation.com/los-angeles/guides/best-new-los-angeles-restaurants-hit-list
IKEA Opens Santa Monica ‘Pick-Up Point’: More details here on the ability to pick up Ikea orders at 3017 Wilshire Blvd.
The Street Seen: On Main St. (Pico to Dewey): “A look at what has happened in the last 6 months in our ongoing series on contemporary Main Street. As usual, we travel south down the street from Pico to Marine.” More details here on the opening of training studio Kreuz, Black Hand Tattoo and Gallery, Eyebrow studio Two of A Kind, cocktail bar meets pizza disco Not No Bar, and other changes.
Things To Do This Week:
- Blue Plate Oysterette Community Dinner Series (Monday 4 – 6pm): Join us for a gourmet dinner at sunset for $25. Enjoy a chef-curated meal, mingle with your Santa Monica neighbors, and soak in the sunset from our communal table. This first dinner will feature salmon piccata with broccolini and orzo. @ 1355 Ocean Ave. More details here.
- Emergency Preparedness for Seniors and their Caregivers: Senior care advocates from Wise & Healthy Aging discuss how to make a plan, build a kit, and stay informed. Attendees will receive a free emergency kit upon completion, while supplies last. Montana Branch Library 1704 Montana Ave. More details here on the meeting at Montana Ave Branch (3/11, in English) and Pico Branch (3/12, in Spanish).
- Schedule an appointment for free VITA tax preparation services offered by Haven Neighborhood Services on 3/15 and 4/12.
- A Glass Half Full 40+ Singles Wine Tasting Event (Wednesday 7pm): AJA Vineyards is hosting their first 40+ singles event, designed for those who see life with a glass half full mindset. @ 1417 2nd St. More details here.
OPA & City Meetings:
- Arts Commission Meeting (Monday 6:30pm): In-person only in the SMi Training Room (northwest corner of the 2nd floor of the Civic Center Parking Structure – 330 Olympic Drive). More details here.
- Landmarks Commission Meeting (Monday 7pm): More details & agenda here.
- City Council Meeting (Tuesday 5:30 pm): Meetings are hybrid and can be viewed on this YouTube channel. Click here for agenda.
- OPA Connects Meeting (Wednesday 12pm): Here is the Zoom link.
- Disabilities Commission Meeting (Wednesday 6:30pm): More details & agenda here.
- Library Board Meeting (Thursday 6pm): More details & agenda here.
