News from Santa Monica.
Image: The Slay Mama/Reddit This morning, Santa Monica got a new grocery store when Vons opened its newest branch at 710 Broadway. A line snaked around the block for people wanting to be part of the festivities including free groceries,…
Main Street Block Party The Main Street Block Party returns THIS Sunday, Oct. 19th! Main Street is shutting down to vehicles for a massive, free community festival presented in partnership with the Day of the Dog—the largest pet festival in North America! This all-ages event features:…
The following is a submission from the Pier Corporation. Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier will join fans around the world in celebrating K-Pop sensation “SEVENTEEN” with a special Ferris wheel lighting, Oct. 15–17. The 90-foot-tall, solar-powered Pacific Wheel will glow in SEVENTEEN’s…
It’s going to take a little longer to determine the fate of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. On Tuesday night, the city council ended its Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) with Revitalization Partners Group, LLC (RPG). The council approved the city…
The following is a submission from the Westside Chamber Orchestra Santa Monica-based Westside Chamber Orchestra is the winner of The American Prize in Orchestral Programming—The Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award, 2025 in the professional division. The orchestra was selected from applications reviewed recently from all across the United States. The Westside Chamber Orchestra is conducted by…
Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 682, authored by Senator Ben Allen, sought to dramatically limit the presence of harmful “forever chemicals” in consumer products sold in the state. Known formally as the Environmental Health: Product Safety: Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl…
California wildfire survivors will now face one less burden on their road to recovery as Governor Gavin Newsom today signed Senate Bill 495, authored by Senator Ben Allen (D-Pacific Palisades) and sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. Beginning January 2026, in…
California cities and counties with populations over 75,000 will soon be required to develop detailed electrification plans under a new law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom this week. Assembly Bill 39, authored by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Santa Monica) and…
The following is a press release from SMC. Santa Monica College (SMC) is pleased to announce the release of its fall 2025 edition of the Santa Monica Review (SMR), SMC’s esteemed national literary arts journal. Published twice yearly, the Review showcases the work of established authors alongside emerging writers, with a…
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 648, legislation aimed at making it easier for California’s community colleges to build housing for students, faculty, and staff. The bill, authored by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Santa Monica) and sponsored by Santa…
Yesterday, Streetsblog Los Angeles opened its short video account at Tik Tok with a fun and informative look at Santa Monica’s first mile/last mile efforts around the Bergamot Transit Station. Be sure to like, comment, and subscribe to encourage more…
Fresno is the most deadly county in the state for red light crashes. Not a surprise because the City of Fresno does not have a red light camera program. Image: Streets Are for Everyone. Streets Are for Everyone (SAFE) held…
The following is a press release from the City of Santa Monica. Santa Monica joined 28 other local governments in a lawsuit filed Wednesday challenging the Trump administration’s attempt to impose unlawful and unrelated conditions on federal emergency and disaster…
Some small changes are coming for neighborhood associations accustomed to receiving a predictable amount of city funding for their own newsletters. According to a staff report, “Currently, the city provides funding to seven neighborhood organizations through the Neighborhood Organization Grant…
Last night, the Santa Monica City Council approved two controversial measures: reforms to how the city funds neighborhood groups and an extension of the Off-Site Affordable Housing Program first launched in August. Off-Site Affordable Housing Program In August, the city…
