The Santa
Monica Lookout, Santa Monica, California -- FEBRUARY 2021
Housekeepers Keep Pressure on Santa Monica Hotel Reportedly for Sale February 26, 2021 -- Housekeepers at Santa Monica's Le Merigot Hotel filed a complaint with the State's top workplace health enforcer Thursday alleging the hotel failed to safeguard them from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Technology Grant Paves Way to Open Ocean Park Library February 26, 2021 -- Santa Monica Public Library was one of ten libraries across the State that received a grant to boost access to its collection through a unique self-service model, City officials announced this week.
OPINION -- Mayor Sue Himmelrich's State of the City Address February 25, 2021 -- This past year has been a test of our strength and willingness to survive. We now need to carry these lessons with us as we welcome what we hope will be a new period of recovery.
Santa Monica to Explore New Ways to Tackle Homelessness February 24, 2021 -- The City Council on Tuesday directed staff to explore creating "non-congregate" shelters in City properties such as parking structures to make it easier to enforce "quality of life" laws.
Police Union Threatens to Sue City February 23, 2021 -- Santa Monica's police union has threatened to sue the City if it is not allowed to participate "as a partner" in the formation of the Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission created by the City Council last month.
Weekly COVID-19 Cases Drop to Double Digits February 23, 2021 -- The weekly number of coronavirus cases in Santa Monica dropped below 100 for the first time in nearly four months, according to data from the LA County Health Department.
District Elementary Schools Could Reopen By Mid-March February 22, 2021 -- The School District and local teachers union signed an agreement Wednesday that will allow elementary schools to reopen on a limited basis as early as March 15 -- one year after shutting down for the coronavirus emergency.
EXTRA -- Crime Dips During COVID-19 Shutdown, Calls for Service Plummet February 19, 2021 -- Serious crime dropped by 256 incidents in Santa Monica last year, but there were nearly 26,000 fewer calls for service as the coronavirus emergency shut down the city.
Santa Monica Boosts Enforcement of COVID-19 Emergency Orders February 18, 2021 -- Since last March, the City has been steadily beefing up enforcement of its coronavirus emergency orders, resulting in fines, construction stop work orders and more than 1,100 customers ejected from local businesses.
Santa Monica College Planetarium Explores Current Missions to Mars
February 17, 2021 -- There's plenty of activity around Mars this month, and the Santa Monica College (SMC) John Drescher Planetarium will offer three shows updating the missions that have arrived at the Red Planet.
OPINION -- Stepping Out of the Inkwell February 15, 2021 -- Our message to the recently woke: The movement for criminal justice reform must be led by those directly involved with gang life and the criminal justice system.
City Survey Gauges Community Priorities February 12, 2021 -- Santa Monica residents, business owners and workers have until the end of the month to weigh in on the community priorities that will inform the budget for the next two fiscal years.
Council Taps Former City Manager to Find Candidate for Top Post February 12, 2021 -- Former City manager Lamont Ewell -- who helped steer Santa Monica through the Great Recession -- will lead the search for a new City manager to help the city recover from the coronavirus shutdown.
City Unveils Civic Center Playing Field This Month February 11, 2021 -- More than a quarter century after it was first requested, a playing field will finally open at the Civic Center this month across the street from Santa Monica High School.
City Seeks Applicants for Police Oversight Commission February 11, 2021 -- The City is seeking candidates of "diverse backgrounds and experiences" to serve on Santa Monica’s first civilian police oversight commission.
EXTRA -- New Council Breaks With Past Housing Policies February 10, 2021 -- Embarking in a new direction, the Santa Monica City Council voted early Wednesday morning to oppose two housing bills sponsored by liberal lawmakers in Sacramento that would pave the way for more housing.
Appeals Court Upholds Conviction in Fatal Pedestrian Crash February 10, 2021 -- A state appeals court on Wednesday upheld the conviction of a DUI driver who killed a pedestrian in the Civic Center parking lot during a string of fatal collisions in Santa Monica four years ago.
Coronavirus Cases Drop in Santa Monica for Fourth Straight Week February 9, 2021 -- The number of coronavirus cases confirmed in Santa Monica dropped for the fourth week in a row, mirroring state and nationwide trends, according to data released by County Health officials.
Council Discussion Item Signals Split from Previous Housing Policy February 8, 2021 -- In what would be an about face for Santa Monica, three newly elected Councilmembers on Tuesday are asking the City to officially oppose two state bills intended to make affordable housing easier to build.
Former Santa Monica Resident Seeks to Be Spared the Death Penalty February 8, 2021 -- Michael Gargiulo, who was convicted based largely on testimony from a Santa Monica neighbor who survived one of his brutal attacks, appeared in court Friday in an effort to be spared the death penalty.
City Claims Apartment Owners Harassed Tenants to Empty Building February 5, 2021 -- The City last week sued the owners of a 30-unit rent-controlled building North of Montana claiming they “engaged in a campaign to empty out the building of long-term tenants.”
Santa Monica Should Pay for Grocery Worker Raises February 3, 2021 -- If grocery workers need more money for the great work they are doing to assist the residents of Santa Monica, why doesn’t the City just directly pay these workers?
Activist Doctors Group Launches Petition to Stop "Forced" Vaccinations February 2, 2020 -- A group of doctors who made headlines after a viral video questioned the medical response to the coronavirus pandemic has launched a petition drive opposing the use of pressure to administer the new vaccines.
Man Arrested for Attempted Murder Downtown February 1, 2021 -- A Los Angeles man was arrested for attempted murder late Sunday night after assaulting a man in Downtown Santa Monica, according to police.
