Here at Next we don’t aspire to cover every news story in the city, just to add context or go deeper on as many stories as we can. That being said, we were on a light schedule for nearly two weeks, and if you were on a local news break too, you might have missed these stories:
Waymo Sues Santa Monica
Autonomous vehicle company Waymo has sued the City of Santa Monica to block a municipal order to stop overnight operations at two Broadway electric vehicle charging facilities, after residents complained about noise, lights, and traffic. Waymo, which operates the sites under permits allowing 24-hour use, argues its activities comply with state law protecting EV infrastructure and do not constitute a public nuisance. The company says mitigation efforts have reduced impacts. The City Council previously demanded the overnight halt and, after negotiations failed, has indicated it may file its own legal action to enforce nuisance laws.
Santa Monica Sues Waymo
Santa Monica has sued Waymo and its charging partner, Voltera, over two autonomous vehicle charging facilities in a neighborhood, claiming their 24-hour operations have become a public nuisance due to constant noise, flashing lights, and overnight traffic that residents say disrupt sleep and livability. After negotiations collapsed, the city asked a judge to declare the sites nuisances and to restrict charging between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The competing lawsuits are now headed to court.
FAA Says Santa Monica Airport Improperly Holds Funds Meant for Aviation Purposes
The Federal Aviation Administration has ruled that Santa Monica Municipal Airport violated federal law by planning to accumulate surplus revenue for general city use after the airport closes instead of spending it on aviation purposes as required under federal grant assurances.
The FAA’s Director’s Determination found the city’s fee structure and revenue plans do not conform with Grant Assurance 25, which requires all airport revenues be used for airport capital, operations, or air transportation-related facilities. The ruling orders Santa Monica to revise its aeronautical fees within 60 days and submit a compliance plan. The city may appeal the decision, which becomes final if not challenged.
SMPD Makes 22 Arrests on Christmas Eve Traffic Sting:
Santa Monica police conducted enhanced holiday enforcement operations that resulted in 22 arrests and multiple citations over the week, authorities announced. Officers also issued 16 municipal code violation citations and carried out drug evaluations confirming 11 individuals in need of further assessment, according to a department release.
The operations aimed to address quality-of-life issues throughout the city during the busy holiday period, with officers actively patrolling business districts and other high-activity areas. Police say the effort reflects an ongoing focus on public safety and enforcement of local laws during peak holiday activity.
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