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…
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.
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,…
Reminder: Santa Monica Airport Conversion Plan Revealed at Community Event Saturday
Santa Monica residents can get a first look at the proposed master plan for the future Great Park at a community event Saturday, October 17, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Memorial Park Gym. The event will showcase the…
One Year In, the Realignment Plan Is Working.
One year after Santa Monica adopted its Realignment Plan to close a projected $29.6 million deficit and restore order Downtown, the City Council will hear staff’s accounting of the results tonight. Crime is down, vacancy is down, and new revenue…
I Never Travel Without My Diary and Oh! What a Schmitt Show!
I Never Travel Without My Diary ”I never travel without my diary,” wrote author, poet and playwright, Oscar Wilde, in The Importance of Being Earnest. “One should always have something sensational to read in the train.” This line, written for the…
California Needs More Ways to Fund Transit, Not Fewer. Next Urges You to Vote No on 43
California voters should reject Proposition 43, which would make it significantly harder for voters to approve local taxes for transportation and other public services. Under current law, local governments generally need two-thirds voter approval to pass special taxes. But when residents…
Oelson Says People Would Be ‘Shocked’ by Her Promenade HQ Rent. We’ll Find Out How Shocked on Oct. 22
Before the Ashley Oelson campaign even opened its headquarters in the old Barnes & Noble building on the Promenade, political observers were asking questions. How could a city council campaign, where individual contributions are capped at $1,200 per cycle, possibly…
Yes on ES
Santa Monica Next is urging a “yes” vote on Measure ES. Since much of our coverage the past couple of years has focused on some of the school district’s controversies (HVACs, turf, Safe Routes to Schools) a reader might be…