News from Santa Monica.
It went from rumor to reality in just under a week. Yesterday, three Santa Monica residents began a process that could lead to a citywide vote on whether to allow housing to be built on land currently occupied by Santa…
Last week, as part of a December-January movie-going binge, I finally saw Nuremberg, the latest film about the famous war crimes trials held in Nuremberg in 1945-6. Unlike those that have preceded it, this film centers on the psychological chess game…
Some changes may be coming for several of the city’s volunteer boards and commissions. While a restructuring took place at the end of 2021, the number of boards and commissions has since increased. Some were created to comply with state…
The following is a press release from Lindsey Horvath. Image is the County Building in DTLA. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisors Lindsey P. Horvath and Chair Hilda L. Solis initiating the development…
Over the weekend, rumors swirled that leadership at Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights (SMRR) is preparing language for a citizen-led ballot initiative for the fall that would allow up to 3,000 units of housing to be built on land currently…
Yes, Streetsblog keeps reporting Santa Monica’s excellent Bergamot/26th Street Station first/last mile bike/walk project as nearly complete. This time SBLA really means it! Yesterday SBLA biked through the area. Construction crews were out resurfacing Pennsylvania Avenue, where the city recently added…
The Santa Monica Landmarks Commission costs nearly twice as much as the city’s next two highest-cost commissions combined, according to a city analysis of staff time and expenses for boards, commissions, and task forces. The snapshot shows the Landmarks Commission…
One year after the January 2025 wildfires devastated Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and surrounding communities in the Santa Monica Mountains, local and county officials are highlighting progress in recovery efforts while acknowledging that many families are still struggling to rebuild their…
Here at Next we don’t aspire to cover every news story in the city, just to add context or go deeper on as many stories as we can. That being said, we were on a light schedule for nearly two…
Starting January 12, motorists will see a mix of higher hourly rates and new discounts as Santa Monica rolls out a revised parking pricing structure approved by the City Council in August. Parking generates about $51.4 million annually for the…
Consider OPA for End of Year Charitable Giving: We’re proud of the year we’ve had that included multiple “Open Main St.” street closure festivals, our 4th of July Parade, publishing about 100 newsletters, expanding our newsletter reach to nearly 3000 community members, advocating to the city on…
On Friday, I challenged readers to help us make a weekend fundraising goal of $2,500 and if we made it, I would do an AMA for our first podcast of 2026. We brought in just under $4,000, putting us just…
A ruling by the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) could have far-reaching implications for political activists seeking part-time political offices. Santa Monica Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Zwick has been told by state political regulators that he should step back…
Santa Monica officials have appointed Darrick Jacob as the city’s next Chief of Police, marking the first time in more than 40 years that the department’s top post has been filled from within its own ranks. The appointment was announced…
Los Angeles County residents affected by the January 2025 wildfires or by sudden income loss tied to federal immigration enforcement can now apply for rental assistance through the County’s Emergency Rent Relief Program (ERRP). The program follows the Los Angeles…
