Back to School comes early to Santa Monica this year as Pali High students will return to their Downtown Santa Monica home away from home later this week. Pali’s campus could re-open after winter break, but for now the students…
For as long as I’ve lived in Los Angeles (2007, FtR), the State of California has allowed special privileges to electric vehicles and other low-emission vehicles to drive in carpool lanes or for free in HOV/HOT lanes regardless of the…
Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 390 into law which extends protections already given to police officers, highway workers, Caltrans employees and other people doing official work on the highways to anyone outside of their vehicle. Drivers will now be required to drive…
Statistics released in an email from the City Manager show a shocking drop in the amount of traffic stops made by the Santa Monica Police Department over the last decade. In 2015, the department issued 12,526 total traffic citations. That…
This newsletter came out yesterday and this copy has been lightly edited to remove events from last night. National Night Out (Tuesday 5:30 – 8:30pm): The annual community-building event promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. Expect FREE music, food, and…
Major changes are coming to Ocean Park Boulevard (adjacent to the Santa Monica Airport, Clover Park and the Santa Monica Business Park) if a project outlined in a permit application to the city comes to fruition. The mixed-use project proposes…
Next is debuting a new feature this week. Following City Council meetings we’ll have a quick recap of all of the pieces of legislation that we’re not planning larger stories of. Council Recalls and Replaces Six Members of DTSM Board…
(Photo: Miles Freeman/Google) RAND Seeks Changes to 25-Year-Old Development Deal to Allow for Mixed-Use At tonight’s City Council meeting, the RAND Corporation is seeking changes in its Development Agreement with the city agreed to in 2000 that is set to…
Which Bills Are Alive and Which Have Died in the California Legislature as Electeds Take Summer Break July 18 was the last day for the legislature before its one month summer break and also the last day for legislation to…
Just a couple of years ago, the 3rd Street Promenade seemed to be on its last legs. Storefront vacancies were higher than they should have been. There was a perception that crime and homelessness were out of control. The outdoor…
I don’t write op/eds for Santa Monica Next very often. I see my role as a reporter from outside the city as presenting the news with context to help readers understand not just what’s happening by why it’s happening. But…
California State Senator Ben Allen (D–Santa Monica) has officially put Senate Bill 549 on hold for the remainder of 2025, halting efforts to advance the legislation designed to aid wildfire recovery after a an online misinformation campaign and compliant media sullied…
Last we week, Next posted a cry for help from the family of Brian Umali who had gone missing after his wallet had been found at the Pier. We don’t have the details of how he was found, but Umali’s…
In yet another gift to the oil industry, United States President Donald Trump and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced the cancellation of $4 billion in federal grants to the California High-Speed Rail project awarded under previous administrations. The move will likely…
It’s hard to argue against traffic safety programs with Damian Kevitt. The affable head of Streets Are For Everyone comes prepared with a litany of statistics and data when called upon to testify. His personal story as a survivor of…
