Damien Newton
352 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.
Exclusive articles:
SMPD Downtown Bike Patrols Are Back
Santa Monica police have redeployed bike patrol units in Downtown and along the Pier and beach areas, restoring a visible law enforcement presence in...
Santa Monica/West LA Leaders Urge Caltrans to Build “Ohio to Ohio” Bike Link With Santa Monica Boulevard Rehab
A growing chorus of elected officials representing Santa Monica are pressing Caltrans to stop treating bike safety as an afterthought and instead deliver a...
West LA Councilmember Park Shares Concerns with SMO Operations
Los Angeles City Councilmember Traci Park, who's district includes Mar Vista, West Los Angeles, the Palisades and Venice and more wrote last month to...
Bipartisan Team of Assemblymembers Introduce DUI/Traffic Safety Laws
Even after the exceptional reporting by CalMatters in its License to Kill series, which demonstrated how California is failing its residents through lax enforcement and weak traffic safety...
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...
Latest
Letter: California Roadhouse Invites the City Council to the Negotiating Table.
Last month, the City of Santa Monica has terminated...
Santa Monica Reports Double-Digit Decline in Homelessness in 2026 Count, Plans More Frequent Surveys
The number of people experiencing homelessness in Santa Monica...
OPA Update 7/27/26: City Moves to Shutter SaMoShel, Details on City’s AI Enforcement of Illegal Bike Lane Parking, & Things To Do This Week
Snow Skiing in Ocean Park??? This SaMo History Museum Facebook...
Full Text from Mayor Caroline Torosis’ State of the City: A City that Works, Belongs and Welcomes
Last week, Mayor Caroline Torosis delivered the State of...

