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SMPD Press Release Triggers National Media Search
September 22, 2026 -- The press release the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) issued at 10:20 a.m. Monday was brief, and it triggered a nationwide media race to find the name and address of the local rehab facility where Presley Gerber had died.
Tourism Officials Seek Sponsors for Volley-Ween Benefit
September 22, 2026 -- The fifth annual Volley-Ween – a Halloween-themed community celebration to benefit for local nonprofits -- will be held on October 28 and is currently seeking sponsors, tourism officials announced.
OPINION -- The Pico Neighborhood Is Not a Political Talking Point
September 22, 2026 -- "Stop using our neighborhood's painful history as the backdrop for lofty promises you are unwilling to apply when exercising your own political power," writes former Councilmember Christine Parra in a letter to Mayor Caroline Torosis and members of the City Council.
Council Poised to Give Final Approval to Controversial Housing Ordinance
September 21, 2026 – The City Council on Tuesday is expected to give final approval to an ordinance that paves the way for large transit-oriented (TOD) housing developments in Santa Monica's most diverse and least expensive single-family neighborhood.
School District Ending Balance Nearly $10 Million More Than Projected
September 21, 2026 – Financial statements presented to the School Board this month show the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District ended the 2025-26 fiscal year with a balance of some $9.85 million more than projected.
Beach Repairs Begin as the City Prepares for Major Events
September 18, 2026 – Days after announcing the cancellation of the inaugural Ocean Way Festival due to beach erosion, the City's Public Works crews are busy restoring Santa Monica's shoreline for a series of upcoming major events.
Police Seek Victims of Senior Sex Offender
September 18, 2026 -- Police are seeking additional victims of a registered senior sex offender arrested this month after indecently exposing himself at a Santa Monica women’s clothing store.
OPINION -- Stop Sacrificing the Pico Neighborhood
September 18, 2026 -- You are selling out our neighborhoods to developers under the guise of creating high rise housing that most residents can’t afford, writes the Pico Neighborhood Association (PNA) Board in an open letter to the City Council.
Two Employees of L.A.-Area Homeless Nonprofits Arrested as LAHSA Bows Out
September 17, 2026 -- Two of three defendants charged in separate federal corruption and fraud cases involving the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) were arrested Wednesday as the beleaguered agency's board, in an unrelated move, voted not to continue as the region's lead homelessness agency.
City Launches Small Business Relief Microgrant Program
September 17, 2026 – The City is taking applications for a new Small Business Relief Microgrant Program that provides one-time, $5,000 grants to eligible existing brick-and-mortar businesses, City officials announced Wednesday.
Police, Fire Unions Endorse Oelsen, Trussler
September 16, 2026 – Santa Monica's police and fire unions on Tuesday announced they have endorsed two additional candidates challenging the city's political establishment in the November race for three open Council seats.
Panel of Judges Announced for Route 66 Song Contest
September 16, 2026 – A panel of music industry talent and public officials will judge a song competition marking the 100th anniversary of route 66, with the winner taking home a $10,000 prize, tourism officials announced Tuesday.
National Parks Network Honors Santa Monica Groups
September 15, 2026 – The Olmsted Network, which champions the legacy of the landscape architect who designed New York City's Central Park, will honor the work of two local organizations spearheading the efforts to build a "Great Park" in Santa Monica.
Lincoln Opens Newly Modernized Legacy Building
September 15, 2026 -- Lincoln Middle School celebrated a milestone in its transformation into a modern learning environment with the reopening Thursday of the newly modernized Legacy Building, District officials said.
Police Release Video of Officer-Involved Shooting
September 14, 2026 – The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) on Saturday released body-worn-camera footage taken on August 22 that shows an officer fatally shooting a man believed to be homeless who was coming at him with a knife.
Ocean Way Festival Canceled
September 14, 2026 – Ocean Way Festival -- Santa Monica's first major music event in more than a decade – has been canceled after Hurricane Marie wiped away a large portion of the festival site south of the Pier over Labor Day weekend, City officials announced Friday.
EXTRA -- Candidate's Strategy Shakes Up Council Race
September 11, 2026 – For nearly a half century, Santa Monica politics has been dominated by powerful groups that back rival slates. Now, first-time City Council candidate Doug Trussler is challenging that system.
Santa Monica Block Fest to Be Held Monthly
September 11, 2026 -- Following three successful Santa Monica Block Fest (SMBF) events, Downtown officials are continuing SMBF as a monthly series through the end of the year, starting Saturday.
City Not Selling Bergamot Station, Council Says
September 10, 2026 -- The City Council on Tuesday laid fears to rest that the Bergamot Station Arts Center site would be sold but did not shut the door on the possibility it could be leased for affordable housing.
Pier Photo Exhibit Showcases the Many Faces of Visitors
September 10, 2026 – Portraits that offer a cross-section of the people "who happened to meet at the edge of the continent" will be exhibited this month at the historic Merry Go-Round building on the Santa Monica Pier.
Slow-Growth Group Endorses Negrete, Oelsen
September 9, 2026 -- The city's largest and most influential slow-growth group has endorsed Councilmember Lana Negrete and environmental activist Ashley Oelsen but notably made no endorsement for the third open Council seat.
Santa Monica to Hold 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony Friday
September 9, 2026 – The Santa Monica Fire Department will hold a remembrance ceremony Friday morning to mark the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001 and honor the 2,977 people, including 343 firefighters, who were killed during the terrorist attacks that day.
Catalytic Converter Thefts on the Rise
September 8, 2026 – Catalytic converter theft is on the rise -- with two incidents reported by police in Santa Monica over the past month -- as the price of the precious metals the auto part contains has been steadily rising.
Council to Take Position on State Ballot Measures
September 8, 2026 --- The City Council on Tuesday is expected to take positions on five statewide measures on the November 3 ballot, with four having a financial impact on Santa Monica policies.
LETTERS -- Pico Should Not Absorb the City’s Burdens Again
September 8, 2026 -- Immediately implementing transit-oriented housing treats the Pico Neighborhood as a transit opportunity zone, rather than as a community that has already absorbed decades of infrastructure damage.
Council Appoints New City Clerk
September 4, 2026 -- After a nationwide recruitment effort, the City Council has appointed Walfred Solorzano -- who has worked in California cities for more than two decades -- as City Clerk, officials announced today.
Former Santa Monica Tech Owner Lands on FBI's Most Wanted List
September 4, 2026 – The owner of a Santa Monica-based tech company has been placed on the FBI's new Most Wanted Fraudsters list after defrauding investors of more than $26 million and fleeing the country, FBI officials announced Thursday.
City Poised to Install Red-Light Cameras
September 3, 2026 -- Drivers in Santa Monica could soon be snapped running red lights by automated cameras the City Council hopes will help curb serious and sometimes deadly accidents.
Police to Conduct DUI Checkpoint Friday
September 3, 2026 – With alcohol consumption increasing during holiday weekends, Santa Monica police will conduct a DUI checkpoint Friday at an undisclosed location in the city.
Man Cleared of Killing Pub Manager Sues City
September 2, 2026 -- A Venice man initially charged with the June 2024 murder of a Main Street bar manager is suing the City and County for malicious prosecution, civil rights violations and defamation.
Library Card Offers More than Books
September 2, 2026 – Santa Monica Public Library patrons can check out more than books with a new special edition library card issued to celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month in September.
More than 850 Households Apply for Renter Aid Program
September 1, 2026 -- A new City rental aid program that provides one-time payments to vulnerable households received 876 applications by the August 20 deadline, with more than half already behind on their rent, City officials said.
Big Blue Bus FIFA Service a 'Resounding Success'
September 1, 2026 – The Big Blue Bus provided nearly 11,300 passenger rides to SoFi Stadium during the eight FIFA World Cup matches in Inglewood this summer, or some 1,400 rides per game, according to City officials.
Police, Fire Unions Make Single Council Endorsement, More to Come
August 31, 2026 – Continuing a trend of unusual City Council endorsements, Santa Monica's public safety unions backed an initial candidate Monday and said more endorsements will be made in the coming weeks.
Santa Monica Project Not in Trailer Bill
August 31, 2026 -- California environmentalists celebrated this weekend after Governor Gavin Newsom's trailer bill failed to include a "carve out" for a large Downtown Santa Monica development by a major campaign donor.
Parcel Tax Fails to Win Dem Club Backing
August 28, 2026 – The Santa Monica Democratic Club won't be endorsing a $495 parcel tax on the November ballot to help fund the School District after opponents on Wednesday blocked the measure from gaining the necessary votes.
SMC Film Program Named Among Top 30 in North America
August 28, 2026 -- For the third straight year, MovieMaker Magazine named Santa Monica College (SMC) among the top 30 film schools in the U.S. and Canada, school officials announced Wednesday.
Political Establishment Lacks Unified Front in Council Race
August 27, 2026 – Unlike the 2024 race for Santa Monica City Council, which saw record spending and unified slates, this year's Council race is generating little funding and splintered backing from major political groups.
Americana in the Park Returns for 6th Season
August 27, 2026 – The sixth annual Americana in the Park -- a free concert series showcasing authentic American music -- returns to Gandara Park next month, City officials announced Wednesday.
Last-Minute Budget Deal Would Exempt Major Downtown Project from Review
August 26, 2026 – Gov. Gavin Newsom's office on Tuesday sent a trailer bill proposal to State legislative leaders that would strip Santa Monica and Coastal Commission oversight of a major Downtown project, a leading California environmentalist said Tuesday.
Voyager, Mercury and Light at the SMC Planetarium
August 26, 2026 -- The Santa Monica College Planetarium will explore the Voyager Missions, the planet Mercury and "a nearly mathless explanation of Light" during shows on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons in September.
Police Beef Up Patrols After Weekend Shootings
August 25, 2026 – Santa Monica is boosting its police presence along the beach, Pier, Palisades Park and Downtown in the wake of two shootings this weekend, one involving a police officer, City officials announced Tuesday morning.
Single-Family Neighborhoof Pushes Back on Transit Oriented Development
August 25, 2026 -- A single-family neighborhood targeted for transit-oriented multi-family development will be the focus of a meeting tonight held by City Community Development officials.
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