Some small changes are coming for neighborhood associations accustomed to receiving a predictable amount of city funding for their own newsletters. According to a staff report, “Currently, the city provides funding to seven neighborhood organizations through the Neighborhood Organization Grant…
Santa Monica may soon see a few more cannabis shops in commercial areas. On Tuesday evening, the city council heard the first reading of a new ordinance designed to implement a permitting process for new retailers, establish operational controls, and…
But it also Put Certain Limits on Hotel and Pawn Shop Operations The city council continues to adjust its policies in an attempt to stimulate downtown business activity. On Tuesday evening, the council voted to codify some temporary measures it…
The city is one step closer to bringing justice to the family of Silas White following a vote to offer mediation to the White family. White was a prominent Black entrepreneur who owned businesses and property in and near Santa…
It was no quiet night in city council chambers on Tuesday evening, as the council conducted a study session on the much-anticipated, much-desired park space on the land that is currently the Santa Monica Airport. A couple hundred residents rallied…
Facing revenue challenges due to an uncertain national outlook and a local economy slowly recovering from the COVID pandemic, the city council approved a two-year budget plan on Tuesday evening that included tough decisions focused on resilience. The budget in…
Image: Complete Streets/Flickr The Santa Monica City Council has voted to permit bicycles and electric mobility devices in a number of the city’s transit-only bus lanes. The city’s Municipal Code doesn’t currently allow bicycles or devices like electric scooters into…
On Tuesday night, the first reading of a new housing ordinance was introduced with a wealth of shifts.. By the time the State Legislature adjourned its legislative session in August of 2024, it had passed more than 30 bills to…
Council Members Unsure of an Amendment to State Legislation on Housing As a whole, the city council is currently uncomfortable with a request to amend pending legislation to allow energy-efficient and other environmental improvements to existing housing stock. On Tuesday…
The Santa Monica City Council has reaffirmed its commitment to keeping its lowest-income residents housed. On Tuesday evening, the city council heard public comments and a staff presentation on the Santa Monica Housing Authority’s (SMHA) five-year plan for 2025-2030 (Agenda,…
The city’s General Fund isn’t the only budget forcing the Santa Monica City Council to make some tough decisions. On Tuesday night, the council heard from staff and discussed options to close a deficit in funding the city’s water infrastructure…
A new five-year plan to tackle homelessness is coming to Santa Monica. On Tuesday evening, the city council received and discussed a Homelessness Strategic Plan (HSP) (Agenda, Item 11a) deemed necessary through a 2023 homelessness study conducted by Moss Adams…
The city council continues to move forward with commitments to Santa Monica’s 6th Cycle Housing Element. On Tuesday evening, the council passed a resolution setting a timeline in motion that should result in the development of 1,880 affordable housing units…
A program of restorative justice may finally be coming to Santa Monica. On Tuesday evening, the city council discussed how to study historic harms to marginalized communities and provided their thoughts on how to move a reparations and landback initiative…
(Editor’s note: You all know Todd, right? Welcome to Santa Monica Next!) Consequences may finally be coming for ill-behaved Big Blue Bus (BBB) riders. On Tuesday evening, the Santa Monica City Council preliminarily approved an ordinance that would establish a…
