Damien Newton
323 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.
Waymo Says Autonomous System Reduced Impact Speed in Santa Monica Crash Involving Child as Critics Call for Suspension
Waymo is releasing new details about a January collision in which one of its autonomous vehicles struck a child near a Santa Monica elementary...
OPA Update 2/2/26: February is Black History Month, LA Rents Decreasing, Final DineLA Days, & Other Things To Do This Week
OPA Boardmember Spotlight: Get to Know our New President Robbie Leer: A Minnesota native, Robbie joined the OPA Board in 2022 and began serving as...
Walkout on Friday, Protest Ride on Saturday: Santa Monica’s Most Recent Weekend of Protest
Photo: New Roads Students march down Nebraska Avenue towards the Water Garden. Credit: Sammy NewtonSanta Monicans took to the streets Friday as part of...
Waymo Robotaxi Strikes Child Near Santa Monica Elementary School, Prompting Federal Safety Probe
A Waymo autonomous robotaxi struck a child near a Santa Monica elementary school during morning drop-off hours on January 23, leading to a National...
Los Angeles Anti–Housing Law Push Escalates as Metro Board Seeks SB 79 Exemption
Just because Senate Bill 79 was signed into law in October doesn’t mean the war over housing near transit in Los Angeles is over — it’s...
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OPA Update 6/15/26: Epic World Cup Drone Show at the SaMo Pier, Main St. Summer Soulstice & Make Music LA Events This Weekend, &...
June 20 & 21 Main St. Summer Soulstice & Make...
Airport -> Housing Measure Will Wait Until 2028…at Best
A proposed ballot initiative that would have allowed housing...
Here’s What the Five Candidates for Rent Control Board Said When Asked What Issues Define Their Campaign
This week, the Santa Monica Democratic Club published the...
City Seeking New Members for new Restorative Justice Commission
Santa Monica is now accepting applications for the city’s...

