Damien Newton
363 POSTS
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.
Transit Advocates Open Second Front in Fight to Reverse Newsom’s CARB Climate Funding Cuts
California transit, housing, and environmental advocates are escalating their campaign to reverse a California Air Resources Board decision that they say will slash roughly $2...
OPA Update 7/30/26: Unpermitted Turf @ Ocean Park School, Festival of Chariots Parade, & Other Things To Do This Weekend
MAIN STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO VEHICLES SUNDAY AM for the 50th Annual The Festival of Chariots Celebrates Ancient Indian Tradition (Sunday 10 am): Dancers in...
Streetsblog Legislative Update: Summer Recess Edition
With the legislature set to meet again next week, now is as good a time as any to look at the status of legislation...
Coastal Commission Staff Fumes at “Unpermitted” Turf Replacement at Ocean Park School House
Update, July 31 - SMMUSD responded to this story with a letter, reprinted here, that takes issue with several pieces of this story. We...
Santa Monica Reports Double-Digit Decline in Homelessness in 2026 Count, Plans More Frequent Surveys
The number of people experiencing homelessness in Santa Monica fell by nearly 12 percent over the past year, according to the 2026 Point-in-Time Count...
Latest
SMMUSD Board Approves 2026-27 45-Day Budget Revision – Incorporates New State Funding
The following is a submission from SMMUSD.The Santa Monica-Malibu...
League of Women Voters Announces Candidate Forums for Santa Monica
Every week, Next republishes an article from the City...
City Council Preview: Civic Auditorium’s Future as Live Venue
This week kicks off a new series looking ahead...

