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: Newly elected City Council-Member Barry Snell
- 7:00 – 7:15: Santa Monica Public Library Updates
- 7:15 – 7:30: Big Outdoor (the digital signs around town)
- 7:30 – 8:30: Board business, including 2025 priorities and upcoming calendar of events
Urgent Timing Regarding Library Funding: The City Council budget meeting is this Saturday and they need to hear from residents that funding the libraries need to be a priority. Click here to email the City Council about your concerns and here are some facts from the library staff:
- The Library Budget is still only 88% of 2019 funding levels and 66% of 2019 staffing levels
- 2 branches do not have any full-service hours and are only accessible 2 days per week
- The reduction in staff also impacts the availability of new books since processing times are slower with reduced staff
- At the February Library Board meeting, Director Cuyugan provided a preliminary estimate of $550,000 to $650,000 to restore full service at Fairview and Ocean Park branches for two days per week plus one day of self-service.
- This small increase, compared to the City’s overall General Fund operating budget of $450 million for FY 24-25, would make a meaningful difference for the approximately 28,000 residents of Ocean Park and Sunset Park.
Spring Forward into Daylight Saving This Sunday: Didn’t we vote to abolish the time change? This article details the roadblocks facing the Sunshine Protection Act while this article gives you tips to prepare you and your pets for the time change.
ZJ Boarding House to Close Main St. Surf Shop: “Originally founded in 1988 at the corner of Main St. and Ocean Park Blvd., ZJ Boarding House first shut down in August 2020 due to difficulties negotiating a lease. However, a new five-year lease agreement allowed the store to reopen in spring 2021 following extensive renovations.” Now “Financial troubles of parent company lead to shutdown of beloved surf and skate shop.” More details here.
Companion on Lincoln Gets Glowing Review from The Infatuation: This review states “Once upon a time, Lincoln Blvd. was two straight miles of body shops. Now there’s fiery Thai food, famous fried chicken, and single-origin cafes. During the day, Companion is more of a coffee shop, with bring-your-laptop-and-pretend-to-work energy we appreciate. At night, the cheery, wood-raftered dining room fills with millennial friend dates drinking orange wine, eating decent thin-crust pizza, and saying things like, “We should really do this more often!” 1700 Lincoln Blvd., Venice
Holey Grail Donuts Launches New Coconut Carrot Cake Donut Collab w/ James Beard Foundation + Kismet Team: The new carrot cake donut for Women’s History Month is fried to order and topped with coconut flakes, carrot drizzle, cake spice, and a cream cheese glaze. 20% of sales will benefit the James Beard Foundation’s Climate Solutions for Restaurant Survival campaign and Family First Foundation Altadena. https://holeygraildonuts.com/
Santa Monica Budget Primer: “The Santa Monica City Council will set budget priorities this Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Santa Monica Library. The city forms its operating budget every 2 years, and the 2025-27 budget will be contentious because the city faces a large, continuing budget deficit. This SaMo Next post describes the city’s budget process and fiscal situation, with an emphasis on sources and uses of revenue for voter-approved taxes for education and safe streets.”
The Blue Notebook – A Weekly SMPD Recap February 16-22: Here is this week’s recap of police activity.
Santa Monica Seeks Applicants for Two New Committees: The city of Santa Monica is inviting residents to apply for the newly-established Measure GS Resident Oversight Committee and the Transit Security Advisory Committee. More details here and apply online here by noon on March 18.
Things To Do This Weekend:
- Abbot Kinney First Friday Food Truck Fest (Friday starting at 5pm): About two dozen food trucks are expected to line the street for the monthly event. https://www.abbotkinneyblvd.com/
- Venice Surf Association Women on Waves Event (Saturday 8am): Celebrate International Women’s Day at the Venice pier for with breathwork, yoga and movement. More details here.
- Be Fruitful: Bare Root Fruit Tree Workshop & Women’s History Month Celebration (Saturday 9 – 11am @ Main Street Community Garden): Join us at this very special workshop about how to grow Bare Root Fruit Trees successfully as we also take the opportunity to celebrate Women’s History Month. @ 2318 Main St.
- Main St. Farmers Market (Sunday 8:30am – 1:30pm): Join us for a jazz brunch this Sunday with the GM Jazz Quartet and lots of food vendor offerings including Border Grill taking a break from their work with World Central Kitchen! Check out Something New bringing Carnival Games to the market and My Gym with mini kid gym lessons. And for all of you bakers, Fat Uncle Farms heritage grain flour, organic almonds and super delicious, fresh baked homemade wholegrain bread! See you there!
- Blue Plate Oysterette Community Dinner Series (Monday 4 – 6pm): Join 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.
