News from Santa Monica.
At the end of another marathon meeting last night, the Santa Monica City Council unanimously adopted a proclamation “Declaring a Local Emergency on Homelessness.” (Item 11-a, agenda video.) According to City Manager David White, the approval recognizes the regional crisis…
Over three and a half hours into another marathon City Council meeting, the Council heard a report from the city’s Department of Public Works on the future of the 227 acre Santa Monica Airport parcel if it is closed as…
For half a decade, Santa Monica Next was the place for progressives to turn to for news about what was going on in Santa Monica. Under the leadership of Jason Islas, the news website published stories daily focusing on the…
This year’s midterm Congressional elections saw a surprisingly strong turnout from progressive voters hold back and nearly completely dissipate a ‘red wave’ that pundits expected to sweep over the country. Santa Monica was no exception, as a well-funded conservative slate…
A video showing Malibu attorney Kevin Shenkman physically intimidating a Santa Monica resident who attempts to ask questions of city council candidate Armen Melkonians surfaced over the weekend, drawing concerns from many, including State Senator Ben Allen. In the video,…
You’ve doubtlessly seen them. If not, you’ve certainly heard of them. Spoofing the name of the political party that’s been a major player in Santa Monica Politics for the better part of half a century, the newly created ‘Santa Monicans…
The Santa Monicans for Change PAC was described in an October 3 Santa Monica Lookout article as a “slow-growth organization”, but they are in fact a far-right organization with major overlap with the local pro-Trump landlords association ACTION Apartments, and…
In response to an inquiry from Santa Monica Next, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office (D.A. ‘s Office) stated this afternoon that Santa Monica City Councilmember is no longer under investigation for her role distributing gift cards to members…
Community Corporation of Santa Monica posted a video to its website earlier this morning to celebrate its 40th Anniversary. Founded in 1982, the non-profit affordable housing developer has built or restored more than 100 properties throughout Santa Monica, creating nearly 1,900 affordable homes.…
(Update: October 4, 2022 4:00 pm. – The Los Angeles District Attorney, responding to a request for more information from Santa Monica Next has confirmed that Councilmember Negrete is no longer under investigation and has not been for several months…
Endorsements, and mailers that tout those endorsements, are a common place in Santa Monica politics. Local news covers endorsements from political parties such as Santa Monicans for Renters Rights or Santa Monica Forward. Statewide and regional groups such as Streets for All and the Sierra Club blast out endorsement announcements to hundreds or thousands of people on mailing lists.
This is part 2 of a series on Downtown Santa Monica. Part 3 will look at the close relationship between council members and the Santa Monica Bayside Owners Association. Part 1 can be read, here. The Santa Monica Bayside Owners…
A group of property owners who have sought greater influence in the affairs of the organization formed the Santa Monica Bayside Owners’ Association. The group has argued that Santa Monica residents are not downtown stakeholders because they haven’t invested their money in the downtown, a view supported by Councilmember Phil Brock.
Dear City Council: If you had asked my opinion of the Santa Monica Police Department on May 29th, my response would have been very positive. My personal interactions with SMPD have been pleasant and professional. I always felt grateful –…
This post, by Frank Gruber and Juan Matute, first appeared on The Healthy City Local. We wrote in our last piece that although the City of Santa Monica is experiencing an unprecedented financial crisis during which revenues are predicted to miss targets by…
