| Santa Monica Rent Control Board Eyes Ballot Measures on Tenant Protections, Fees: “The most contentious proposal would clarify that landlords cannot evict tenants solely because of certain changes in household composition — including the addition of a spouse, domestic partner, parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or non-dependent child. The amendment would also prohibit evictions resulting from the birth, adoption, or change of legal custody of a minor child, provided the household does not exceed maximum lawful occupancy limits.” More details here. |
| Council Approves Funding for Automated Bike Lane Enforcement: During the last fiscal year, the company processed 220,000 parking citations — about 603 per day — that generated $10.9 million in General Fund revenues. More details here. |
| Baywatch Returns to Santa Monica…Back Where It Belongs: City Manager Oliver Chi’s newsletter highlights that “If you spotted red lifeguard uniforms and slow-motion beach sprints along our coastline this past week, your eyes weren’t deceiving you! Baywatch – yes, that Baywatch! – was officially filming in Santa Monica!” |
| Santa Monica Police Department Launches SMART Center to Strengthen Public Safety and Coordination: “The SMART Center serves as a centralized operations hub where technology, personnel, and real-time intelligence converge to support coordinated, proactive policing. The SMART Center integrates multiple public safety technologies into a single operational platform, including the City’s camera network, Live 911, Drone as a First Responder operations, and advanced video analytics. This integration allows personnel to monitor incidents as they unfold, provide real-time intelligence to officers in the field, and support faster, more informed decision-making during critical incidents.” Read the Ciy’s full press release here. |
| City Introduces a new waitlist process for recreation classes, camps, and activities: When a spot becomes available, the next participant on the waitlist will receive an automated email invitation to register. Simply follow the link to enroll. Here is the guide to classes and camps. |
| Fresh renderings for 20-story Downtown SaMo high-rise: The project would rise from a property at 1518-1524 7th St., replacing an existing 10-unit rental development. The proposed new construction would consist of a 23-story, approximately 256-foot-tall tower featuring 119 one-, two-, and three-bedroom condominiums and five deed-restricted affordable units. More details and renderings here. |
| Circle Bar Opening in May: More details to come, but City officials say they expect it to reopen next week. |
| Santa Monica Brewery Installs Outdoor Jumbotron Ahead of 2026 World Cup: They unveiled an 11.5-foot outdoor jumbotron in its beer garden, a custom-engineered installation the brewery says will transform the space into one of the Westside’s premier destinations for live sports, outdoor movies and community events. More details here. |
| April 26 Deadline to Complete the SM Airport Conversion Project Survey: If you haven’t already taken the Framework Diagram Survey, there’s still time to help shape the future of Santa Monica Airport site. The survey and information about the conversion project is available here: SMACproject.com |
| Councilmember Lana Negrete Newsletter: Here is her weekly newsletter, with updates on public safety, economic development, education and community, housing, and more. |
Things to Do This Weekend
- Stand Up for Democracy Comedy Fundraising Show (Thursday 7:30pm): OPA Board Member Tony Dimond is helping put on an unforgettable night of stand-up comedy packed with big laughs and even bigger impact. Every donation supports Field Team 6 — a volunteer-driven, grassroots organization registering Democratic voters in battleground states and flippable districts where it matters most. And every dollar turns into another Democratic vote. So you’re making a huge difference. @ Unurban Café, 3301 Pico Blvd. More details here.
- Porto’s on Abbot Kinney This Weekend (Saturday & Sunday)! 🥐 HUGE: Porto’s is posting up on the West Side for the weekend (at the Our Place store)!! Yes, that includes their iconic potato balls. The Menu: Spiced Chicken & Labneh Potato Ball®, Pistachio Rose Refugiado®, Cardamom Sunrise Iced Latte. @ 1344 Abbot Kinney, Venice https://www.instagram.com/p/DXXAGoRD3Q2/
- YALLWEST (Saturday 9 am – 5 pm): SMPL celebrates its 12th annual partnership with the young adult and middle grade book festival that brings almost 80 best-selling authors to Santa Monica every year. Join us on Saturday at Samohi’s campus for a stacked line-up of author panels and book signings, plus activities, games, giveaways, and much more! @ Santa Monica High School, 4th Street Entrance More details here.
- Arts & Literacy Festival – A Day On The Farm (Saturday 10 am – 2 pm): The free community event is designed to help young children build the foundational skills needed for TK and Kindergarten through hands-on learning, storytelling, creativity, and play. Families can explore more than 40 interactive booths hosted by a variety of community partners. @ Virginia Avenue Park More details here.
- Great Parks Coalition Picnic (Saturday): The Great Park Coalition will host a community picnic at Clover Park to celebrate the centennial of the original land purchase, now the site of the Santa Monica Airport. The afternoon will bring together families and community members for a relaxed gathering, including free hot dogs, cold drinks, and cupcakes. (Please bring your own picnic and chairs or blanket.) There will be activities and exhibits, a giveaway of plants that attract and support pollinators.
- CicLAvia (Sunday 9am – 4pm): Three miles of West Los Angeles streets will be open only to pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorized travelers marking the nonprofit’s 65th open streets event and its first of 2026. The new route connects Santa Monica Boulevard and Westwood Boulevard, passing through neighborhoods experiencing CicLAvia for the first time. The event is free and open to all ages and abilities. https://www.ciclavia.org/ciclavia_west_la26
- Santa Monica Breakfast Club Mad Hatter Tea Party (Sunday 12 – 3pm): The whimsical April 26 fundraiser at the YMCA will feature untold stories of the Santa Monica Pier to benefit local children’s dental care.This imaginative event has become legendary in the Santa Monica community, known for its colorful atmosphere and charitable cause. Attendees can anticipate an afternoon of elegance and eccentricity as they indulge in freshly made pastries, a hot buffet brunch catered by Teddy’s Cafe, coffee, tea, and a toast to our honoree. $95. @ SaMo YMCA Event Space, 1332 6th St. To secure a ticket, email santamonicabreakfastclub@gmail.com
- Main St. Farmers Market (Sunday 8:30am – 1:30pm)
Upcoming Calendar of Events
- Upcoming OPA Book Club Meetings: Planned dates are May 6 (Demon Copperhead), June 3 (Remarkably Bright Creatures), July 8 (Trust), Aug 5 (The Night Watchman). Email alexabarrett@gmail.com for more info. All meets are at 6pm at the Ocean Park Library (2601 Main St.).
- OPA Monthly Meeting: Monday, May 11, 6pm @ Ocean Park Library
- Want to Volunteer for Future OPA-Sponsored Heal The Bay Adopt-A-Beach Clean-Ups? Contact Dave Tann at dogtowndave@yahoo.com. He is the coordinator for the OPA/Heal The Bay events, always meeting at Tower 26. Dates this summer are 6/28, 7/26, & 8/30.
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