October OPA Monthly Meeting Today/Monday (Oct. 12): The meeting is at the Ocean Park Library @ 2601 Main St. starting with food and mingling at 6:00pm. We will also be hybrid on Zoom. Click here to add the OPA monthly meeting and Zoom link to your calendar. Here’s the zoom link, and here’s the schedule:
- 6:00 – 6:30: Food, refreshments and mingling
- 6:30 – 7:30: Guest Speakers:
- City Attorney Heidi von Tongeln
- SaMo Police Department
- SaMo Fire Department
- Others TBD
- 7:30 – 8:30: Board business, including the upcoming calendar of events.
THIS SUNDAY is a Pet-A-Palooza on Main St. with Day of the Dog: Calling all dogs—and the humans who are lucky enough to live with them. Pet-A-Palooza’s Day of the Dog takes over Main Street with a free, pet-friendly festival featuring vendors, pet activities, demonstrations, and dog races. Enter your fast dog, wiener dog, corgi or doodle and see if your four-legged athlete has what it takes to claim glory. Sunday, Oct. 18, noon–5 p.m., All along Main St. Free. petapaloozawest.com/santa-monica
City leaders back plan to turn the Victorian into a membership club: “The Victorian will close after its annual Halloween Party this month and reopen as The Santa Monican, a membership club with dining, recreation, wellness and children’s programming at 2640 Main St. Plans for The Santa Monican include a pool, a spa and fitness center, a family and youth facility, a coffee bistro, a restaurant and bar, and gardens and gathering spaces. According to a city staff report, the operators will pay for the renovation without public subsidy or rent credits.” More details here.
Santa Monica’s Realignment Plan cuts crime, narrows deficit in first year: The report from City Manager Oliver Chi’s office says the city needed $26.7 million in one-time reserves to close the 2025-26 fiscal year, $7.3 million less than the $34 million budgeted. Excluding $22.5 million in capital spending, the General Fund operating budget ran a $4.3 million deficit in a year when most of the plan’s new revenue measures were only partly in effect. Staff says those new revenues and cost savings now total about $28.8 million a year, above the $24 million originally targeted, and that the city remains on track for a balanced General Fund operating budget by July 1, 2027, without tapping reserves. More details here.
Mixed-use project slated to replace Mel’s Drive-In in Santa Monica: The eight-story building would replace the “well-known landmark” and include 138 apartments and retail. More details here.
How Effective is the Downtown Santa Monica Station’s Tap-to-Exit System? (Video): The SaMoMirror report details that “The program, part of an LA Metro $15.4 million rollout, was promised to enhance safety. Will a New Plan in the Works for SMPD Make a Difference?”
Newsom signs Zbur bill setting path to Santa Monica coastal plan: Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 1740, a new law gives Santa Monica a defined path to a certified Local Coastal Program after more than 50 years without one. The once controversial measure also creates a statewide fast track for bike, pedestrian and transit projects that improve access to the coast. The city of Santa Monica and the advocacy group Streets For All sponsored the bill but its final version came out of negotiations among the city, the commission, and housing, environmental and mobility advocates. More details here.
Santa Monica Public Library hosts financial education workshop series at Fairview Branch: Classes include “Funding Your Child’s College Education” this Wednesday, “Estate Planning Basics”, and “Planning for Retirement.” More details here.
The Street Seen: 2547 2nd Street / 227 Beach Street (Walter): In 1924, a 13-unit apartment court is built on the northeast corner of 2nd and Beach St. The four 1-story Mission Revival-style buildings are contributing structures within the Third Street Neighborhood Historic District. The apartments are extensively rehabilitated in 2020. More details here.
Santa Monica Named “Most Business-Friendly City” Finalist: For the second consecutive year, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) has named Santa Monica a finalist for its prestigious Eddy Award as a “Most Business-Friendly City.” The recognition highlights the city’s recent economic development initiatives, including streamlining commercial plan review times, introducing self-certification permits to slash approval delays, and investing in capital improvements across local commercial districts. Read the full city announcement here.
SMMUSD Board of Education Meeting Summary: Oct. 1: Here is the SaMo Next summary of the meeting.
Upcoming SaMo Candidate Forums: The City of Santa Monica and the League of Women Voters of Santa Monica (LWVSM) have partnered to host two nights of candidate forums to help residents learn more about the candidates running for the following offices. Forums will take place live and and some of them will also be watchable on YouTube. my.lwv.org/california/santa-monica
- Wednesday Oct. 14: Santa Monica City Council Candidate Forum & Santa Monica Rent Control Board Candidate Forum; @1834 14th St.
Register to Vote by October 19: If you have moved recently or haven’t registered, the deadline to vote in the November 3 election is imminent. You can register online or check your voter status here. The L.A. County Registrar will begin sending Vote-by-Mail ballots to registered voters on October 5.
City of Santa Monica Ballot Measures: We encourage everyone to check out the extensive information about local ballot measures and candidates at santamonica.gov/elections/2026. And vote!
Councilmember Dan Hall Newsletter: Here is his weekly newsletter, with his thoughts on news in and around the city over the past week, upcoming calendar of events, and much more, including Great Park Master Plan update, economic momentum, and enforcing our affordable housing laws.
Things to Do This Week
- AI for Everyday Life Workshop (Wednesday 11am): Curious about Artificial Intelligence (AI) but unsure where to start? Learn what AI is and get guidance on how to safely use it in this interactive session designed for older adults. More details here.
- Western Wednesday Returns: Dust off those boots and head to Santa Monica Place for Western Wednesday, a free weekly line-dancing night with professional instructors leading lessons for beginners and seasoned dancers alike. Stick around for happy-hour specials at participating restaurants, and don’t miss the Halloween-themed finale on Oct. 28—costumes are encouraged. Every Wednesday in October, 6–8 p.m., Center Plaza at Santa Monica Place, 395 Santa Monica Place santamonicaplace.com/events
- 50 Years of Dogtown Locals Night at the Pier: Santa Monica celebrates 50 years of Dogtown and the legendary Z-Boys with a free, all-ages Locals’ Night. The celebration features a 7:30 p.m. drive-in screening of “Dogtown and Z-Boys,” a live vinyl DJ set by original Z-Boy and skateboarding legend Tony Alva, a skate ramp, classic cars, live music, salsa, and more. Free advance reservations are required for the drive-in, chair seating and skate ramp. Thursday, Oct. 15, 3:30–10 p.m. santamonicapier.org/localsnight
- Airport Conversion Event – Saturday, October 17 – 1 to 4 PM Memorial Park Gym, 1401 Olympic Blvd. The City of Santa Monica Airport Conversion Project team will host an important community event, and will unveil its Draft Master Plan for the future of the airport site following the airport’s closure at the end of 2028. This will be one of the most important events in the planning process for the future Great Park. Once approved, the proposed design will provide the framework for the project’s environmental (CEQA) review next year and help shape the future of this extraordinary public space. Airport Conversion Project website.
- Opera at the Beach Returns to the Pier: Who says opera has to involve fancy clothes and a stuffy theater? The annual Opera at the Beach simulcast is back at the Pier, where you can watch a live broadcast of Bizet’s Carmen on a giant screen under the stars. Arrive early for family-friendly crafts, face painting, balloon art, live performances, food vendors and other pre-show activities, then settle in with a blanket or lawn chair for the three-and-a-half-hour production. Best of all, it’s free. Saturday, Oct. 17, pre-show activities at 4 p.m., opera at 6 p.m., Santa Monica Pier. More details here.
- Samohi Serenade: Music That Makes a Difference: Join Samohi Choir October 17 at Barnum Hall for ensembles, solos, and small groups supporting its program. Tickets, auction, donations, and questions below. Tickets here. Auction and donations here. Questions: samoserenade@gmail.com
OPA and City Meetings
- 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 Public Forum (Wednesday): The Disabilities Commission will be holding a special Public Forum focused on hearing directly from members of the disabled community, their families, and friends. This event will provide an opportunity for community members to share feedback, ideas and priorities directly with Commissioners and City staff. Community input will help inform the Commission’s priorities and work plan for the coming year. The forum is designed as a two-way conversation and welcomes community members to participate, connect and help shape the Commission’s mission. Please see attached flyer (Eng/Sp) or click here for more information.
- Urban Forest Task Force Meeting (Wednesday 6:30pm): More details here.
