Flying the Coop
As my friend and publisher, Damien Newton, noted in a recent post, I am moving on after four years as editor of Santa Monica Next. It has certainly been a transformative experience for me. And to my readers, I hope…
Jason
In April, ‘Wellbeing 365’ Campaign Looked At Economic Opportunity
Over the course of April, Kaiser Permanente looked at the impact of economic opportunity on health and wellbeing as part of its “Wellbeing 365: Stress Less & Thrive” initiative in partnership with the city of Santa Monica. Through the partnership, which…
Eyes on the Street: Regional Bike-Share Hits Westside
From West Hollywood to the beach in Santa Monica, several bike-share systems run by CycleHop have officially integrated into a regional bike-share system. Yesterday marked the first day that the four CycleHop-run bike-share systems on the Westside — Santa Monica’s…
Legislative Update: Tracking Some of California’s Housing Bills
Affordable Housing, Displacement, and Regional Housing Needs The elephant in the housing legislation room is S.B. 827, authored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). This bill, which has sparked furious debate among housing and economic justice advocates since it was introduced…
New Plans Revealed for Santa Monica’s Fairmont Miramar Hotel Redesign Project
Owners of the Santa Monica Fairmont Miramar hotel revealed revamped plans for an ambitious overhaul of the historic property Thursday. The new plans for the property at Wilshire Boulevard and Ocean Avenue would see a net increase of 11 hotel…
‘Wellbeing 365’ Campaign Highlights Importance of Life-Long Learning in March
Throughout March, Kaiser Permanente has highlighted the importance of life-long learning in maintaining and improving health as part of its “Wellbeing 365: Stress Less & Thrive” initiative in partnership with the city of Santa Monica. Through the partnership, which launched in September…
Santa Monica Sees Number of People Experiencing Homelessness Grow Second Year in a Row
Santa Monica released the results of this year’s annual city-wide homelessness count Tuesday, showing a continued increase in the number of people struggling with homelessness in the city for the second year in a row after nearly a decade of…
Santa Monica Police Arrest Suspect in Connection with Elderly Man’s Death
Santa Monica Police have arrested a suspect in connection with the death of an 88-year-old man earlier this year, officials said. Late last week, police arrested 26-year-old Roy Antonio Davis as a suspect in the murder of John Hautz, the elderly Santa…
Santa Monica City Council Set to Discuss Future of the Big Blue Bus
Four years after a major realignment of service and facing declining ridership, the Big Blue Bus will once again go before the City Council to discuss the future of the regional transit agency. The staff report for Tuesday’s Council meeting,…
Senate Bill 827, Equity, and the Need for Coalition Building in the YIMBY Movement
Last month, State Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) released a draft of his legislation, Senate Bill 827, which would upend zoning rules throughout California. The bill, aimed at making it easier to build housing at a time when the state…
‘Wellbeing 365’ Campaign Tackles Community in February
Throughout February, Kaiser Permanente will address the role community plays in improving health as part of its “Wellbeing 365: Stress Less & Thrive” initiative in partnership with the city of Santa Monica. Through the partnership, which launched in September along with the…
Santa Monica Councilmember Files Petition for Term Limit Ballot Measure
A petition filed with the City Clerk Monday could put the question of whether Santa Monica City Council members should have term limits before the voters this November. The proposed ballot measure [PDF], signed by Santa Monica City Councilmember Sue…
Union Pickets Santa Monica Hotel Charged with Labor Violations
Members of the regional hospitality workers union, UNITE HERE Local 11, gathered to protest Monday in front of the JW Marriot Le Merigot after the National Labor Relations Board filed charges against the hotel’s management company, Columbia Sussex. The NLRB…
Anti-Union Website Draws Ire from Santa Monica Leaders
A national anti-union organization took aim at UNITE HERE Local 11, the regional hospitality workers’ union earlier this month, spurring responses from Santa Monica leaders. “I’m a big believer in the role labor unions can play in addressing the great…
Bill to End Statewide Limits on Rent Control Fails in Committee
Last Thursday, the California State Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee narrowly killed a controversial bill that would have repealed the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, which limits local jurisdictions’ ability to enact or strengthen rent control laws. In order to…