Help Build Santa Monica’s Rose Bowl Parade Float
The following is a submission from the City of Santa Monica. For the first time since 1979, the city of Santa Monica plans to have a float in the Rose Parade – and is calling on the community to help…
Damien Newton
Damien is the executive director of the Southern California Streets Initiative which publishes Santa Monica Next, Streetsblog Los Angeles, Streetsblog San Francisco, Streetsblog California and Longbeachize.
It’s Over: Judge Tosses Civil Rights Voting Case Against the City
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has dismissed the decade-long lawsuit challenging Santa Monica’s at-large City Council election system, granting the city’s motion for judgment on the pleadings in a case that has moved through multiple levels of California’s…
Save the Date: Santa Monica Hosts Washington Ave. Greenway Walk Audit on 11/21
Santa Monica residents are invited to take part in a community walk audit along Washington Avenue on Saturday, November 21, from 10 a.m. to noon, to help identify safety concerns and potential improvements for people walking, biking and rolling. The…
The California DMV’s Culture of Obstruction
This story, by Marcel E. Moran, Michael Manville and Miriam Pinski first appeared at Streetsblog California. How many people driving on California’s roads, right now, have multiple drunk-driving offenses? How many have driven recklessly and caused crashes where someone was killed? Almost no…
As Ballots Are Counted, There’s No Changes in Santa Monica’s Election Results
It’s been a truism in politics locally and nationally that as ballots are counted after election day, they break towards more liberal candidates and causes. As such, Next was hesitant to “call” the city council races yesterday or the defeat…
In early returns, a split-decision in Santa Monica Council races
The Santa Monica City Council race had largely been shaped as a showdown between two incumbents from opposite sides of the Democratic party. On one side, you had progressive mayor Caroline Torosis, on the other more moderate former-mayor Lana Negrete.…
To The Polls
(Next can’t endorse candidates as part of a federally recognized 501c(3) public charity, but we can ballot measures. Vote Yes on ES! And if you haven’t voted yet, the city provides information on where to find drop boxes and voting…
Santa Monica Airport Park Plan Advances to Next Phase of Community Input
Hundreds of community members gathered October 17 to explore the Draft Illustrative Master Plan for the future Santa Monica Airport park and share ideas about how the former airport site could be transformed. The plan, shaped by 18 months of…
Environment for Sale: Trump Administration Threatens California’s Coastal Protections
The Trump administration is threatening to strip California of its authority to protect its coastline unless state regulators agree to demands that could benefit offshore oil companies and other powerful interests. The move could make it easier to restart dormant…
California High-Speed Rail Moves Closer to Buying Trains, Clearing L.A.-to-Anaheim Environmental Review
You might not know it from the drumbeat of negative press from conservative news outlets, but California High-Speed Rail is still making major progress on multiple fronts. This week’s two-day board meeting has two milestone votes on the agenda. On…
Santa Monica Opens Pico Walk Loop to Encourage Walking and Neighborhood Connections
Santa Monica officially opened its second neighborhood Walk Loop on Saturday, October 24, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community walk celebrating the new one-mile route through the Pico neighborhood. The free event, held from 10 a.m. to noon, began at…
7 Things You Should Know If You Haven’t Voted Yet
A version of this story has appeared on other websites based on the original at Streetsblog California. 1. Know the key dates October 24 Early in-person voting begins in Voter’s Choice Act counties. Some counties offer in-person voting earlier. Check…
Draft Plan for Santa Monica Airport Site Would Create Eight-District “Great Park”
Santa Monica residents have until December 6 to weigh in on a draft plan that would turn the 192-acre airport site into a park with eight districts after hundreds viewed the proposal at Memorial Park Gym on Saturday. The proposed…
Starting Tomorrow, Next Will Begin Publishing Answers to Our PAL Student Questionnaire
Starting tomorrow, we’ll be posting the answers to the questionnaire put together by the students participating in the fall 2026 Police Activities League journalism class. We’ve only gotten responses from one (!) candidate so far, so if you know a…
Newsom Signs Bill to Better Align California Transportation Spending With Climate Goals
Caltrans will have to measure its highway projects against regional climate goals, and the state’s metropolitan planning agencies will update those plans every eight years instead of four, under a bill Gov. Gavin Newsom signed last month. Senate Bill 1087,…