| MAIN STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO VEHICLES SUNDAY AM for the 50th Annual The Festival of Chariots Celebrates Ancient Indian Tradition (Sunday 10 am): Dancers in colorful clothing, music, a multicourse feast, 40-foot tall hand-drawn floats — The Festival of Chariots will be an explosion of culture and celebration. Parade begins at 1855 Main St. and the festival takes place at 1530 Ocean Front Walk. larathayatra.com/parade |
| Coastal Commission Staff Fumes at “Unpermitted” Turf Replacement at Ocean Park School House: In January, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District re-turfed the fields at the Ocean Park School House (known by many names locally, but most famously as the Santa Monica Alternative School House or SMASH) as part of its plan to repair and modernize the campus. At the July meeting of the South Coast District for the California Coastal Commission, Diane Wilke of the non-profit Safe Public Playing Fields charged that the re-turfing of the field at SMASH and another at a school in Malibu were illegal as the schools are within the zone where the Coastal Commission has permitting authority and there are no permits for the re-turfing on record. A few minutes later, responding to a question from Commission Vice Chair Caryl Hart, staff unequivocally called the SMMUSD projects “unpermitted,” said they were speaking with SMMUSD staff about next steps and that they could require the district to un-turf the areas. More details here. |
| Court grants City’s request for preliminary injunction pausing overnight operations at Waymo’s Broadway charging facilities: This City post details how the “order restores overnight quiet for residents living adjacent to the charging lots while the case proceeds to trial, as City reaffirms its commitment to innovative mobility that operates compatibly with neighborhoods.” |
| Santa Monica ranks in top 3 highest value cities in the county: Santa Monica’s assessed property value climbed to nearly $55 billion this year, making it the third-highest valued city in Los Angeles County behind only Los Angeles and Long Beach, according to the 2026 Assessment Roll released by the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office. Santa Monica’s growth came in below the countywide average (3.8% growth v 4.42%). More details here. |
| SMMUSD adopts 2026-27 budget, braces for deficit spending: The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education has adopted a 2026-2027 budget in which spending is projected to outpace revenue, approving a plan district leaders say protects classroom programs while preserving long-term financial stability. The board approved the budget on a 6-0 vote, with one member absent, during its June 23 regular meeting. The spending plan calls for about $226.2 million in total revenues and $237.9 million in total expenditures across the district’s unrestricted and restricted funds. More details here. |
| Main Street hosts a hopeful State of the City: This SMDP article details how “Mayor Caroline Torosis delivered a hopeful State of the City address last week during a community-focused event that brought city services straight to residents as part of a street festival on Main Street. “This is more than the setting for tonight’s speech,” Torosis told the crowd. ‘It is a glimpse of what is possible when we bring people together and make government feel closer to the community.'” |
| The Blue Notebook – A Weekly SMPD Recap – July 5 – 11: Here is the Police Dept’s weekly activity recap. |
| You Can Help Build the City’s Rose Parade Float: During last week’s State of the City address, city officials announced that community members will be invited to help decorate Santa Monica’s 2027 Tournament of Roses Parade float, with volunteer opportunities on weekends between November 14 and December 30. You can reserve a volunteer spot at the city’s official website here. |
| Soho House Announces Venice Beach Opening for Summer 2027: The members-only club’s Venice Beach location arrives near Abbot Kinney and is expected to debut summer 2027 with the members-only club’s first-ever Health Club Cafe, which will serve “a nutrient-rich menu, smoothies, matcha, soups,” functional drinks and more offerings developed with local wellness experts and “organized around morning, noon, and night” for sit-down or take-away enjoyment. It takes over the 23,000-square-foot space formerly occupied by NeueHouse, which abruptly closed all of its locations after filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy. More details here. |
| Councilmember Lana Negrete Newsletter: Here is her weekly newsletter with updates on Public Safety, Economic Development, Education, Around Town & Community Highlights, Election & Voting, and more. |
| Message from OPA’s Platinum Sponsor Raphael Barragan: Master the Market – Why Turnkey Homes Are Winning Right Now: “While LA County’s housing market features higher inventory, it presents fantastic opportunities for motivated buyers and prepared sellers alike! Well-priced, turnkey homes are moving fast—with over a third selling within two weeks—proving that strategic pricing and presentation are the keys to success in today’s active market.” More details here. |
