Editorial: Yes on LC, No on D
You’re going to hear a lot of arguments for and against ballot Measures D and LC in the coming weeks. Santa Monica Next urges you to vote Yes on Measure LC, No on Measure D this election. The campaign for Measure D,…
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.
Tomorrow: Join Us at the Park, or Online, for Park(ing) Day Fun!
While it may be missing much of the fanfare of previous years in Southern California, Park(ing) Day is still one of the happiest days on the Livable Streets Calendar. Across the world, people will gather in car parking spaces, feed…
Join Us Next Friday by Making Your Own Park for Park(ing) Day in Santa Monica
(Update: This article has been updated because I mis-understood an email. – DN) Next Friday is Park(ing) Day, the international day of protest for open space and celebration of creativity. Every year, people from around the world set up small…
Help Us Make Santa Monica and Its Neighbors Ready for Vision Zero
(Note: Streetsblog Los Angeles and Santa Monica Next are partnering with Los Angeles Walks and Place It! on a grant proposal to the #la2050 campaign. To earn the grant we either need to win a popular vote or be selected…
Happy Birthday, Santa Monica Next
One year ago today, the Southern California Streets Initiative launched Santa Monica Next. Our only staff writer was Gary Kavanagh, although myself, Juan Matute, and Frank Gruber would pitch in from time to time. We never imagined we would have…
Save the Date: Streetsblog and Santa Monica Next Host City Council Candidates Forum on 9/22
On September 22, Streetsblog Los Angeles and Santa Monica Next will host a public forum for the candidates for City Council of the City of Santa Monica. The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Santa Monica public library, 601 Santa Monica…
Is Santa Monica Ready for Vision Zero?
“Vision Zero.” It’s become a buzz-term for safe streets recently. The internationally effective transportation management plan has made streets safer across Europe. With New York City and San Francisco adopting the strategy, is it time for Los Angeles to follow suit?…
Richard Bloom Talks Cap and Trade, Local Issues with Streetsblog
Assemblymember Richard Bloom sat down with Streetsblog’s Melanie Curry last week for an interview about budgeting and the state’s cap-and-trade funding schemes. As is often the case with Bloom, the discussion strayed into local issues, and Santa Monica Next picks…
Hit the Brakes. Santa Monica Votes to Lower Some Speed Limits
While debates over a proposed major development and the bungled hiring and firing of a public relations director rage on, the City Council also quietly made a step towards becoming a more progressive city. The Council voted unanimously, and with…
National Lobbying Group Likely Successful in Buying Ballot Access
Earlier today, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Organization front group “Santa Monicans for Open and Honest Development Decisions” submitted 15,000 signatures to place an initiative on the fall ballot that would make any efforts to make major management decisions or…
The Rest of the Week: Planning Commission Talks Zoning, Picnic on the Promenade, Memorials and a Film Festival
The primary election is over and the results are in. Republican Elan Carr finished with 21.5 percent of the vote in the race to replace Henry Waxman as Congressional District 33’s representative. In November, he’ll face State Senator Ted Lieu (D-Torrance),…
Rest in Peace, Lindsey Miller
When I first met Lindsey Miller, she was applying for a new position writing about Santa Monica for Streetsblog Los Angeles. I googled her beforehand, and found out that the bright, energetic, and intelligent young woman was also sick. Very…
Throwback Thursday: Bike Center Is Awesome
In celebration of Bike to Work Day, we wanted to take a moment to highlight one of the best videos that’s ever appeared on Santa Monica Next: our Bike Center video we published last year. Did you know Bike Center…
What a Difference 10 Feet Make, a Look at the Koolhass Project on 4th/Arizona
Tomorrow night, designs for “The Plaza at Santa Monica” will be presented to the public at 7 pm in the Main Branch of the Santa Monica Library. The project, designed by world-renowned architect Rem Koolhaas, would transform 2.5 acres of…
Get Involved with the Vote Local Campaign!
Vote Local Poster Last week, Juan announced the Vote Local campaign. Recognizing that many members of Generation X, Generation Y, or the Millenials don’t always have time to attend four hour public meetings or lobby staff during the workday, our…