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SMPD Warns Against Investment Scams
April 17, 2026 -- The Santa Monica Police Department is warning against fake “can’t lose” investment schemes in stocks and cryptocurrency circulating on social media.
SMC Dance Company Showcases New Works Next Month
April 17, 2026 -- Santa Monica College's Synapse Contemporary Dance Theater will showcase new works next month that evoke the forces that surround us.
Entertainment Zone Sees Limited Impact
April 16, 2026 -- The Promenade's new Entertainment Zone has boosted business at eating and drinking establishments during special events but has failed to drive weekend foot traffic to the struggling walk street, according to a report to the City Council this week.
Big Blue Bus Offers Free Rides on Earth Day
April 16, 2026 -- Next Wednesday, the Big Blue Bus (BBB) is offering free rides in celebration of Earth Day, an annual event held on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection.
Roadhouse Lease Could Be Headed for Final Approval
April 15, 2026 -- (UPDATED) The City Council Tuesday night directed staff to continue negotiations over a lease agreement with the California Roadhouse that includes rehiring all former employees at a City-owned site on the Pier.
An April 15 Story
April 15, 2026 -- One of the interesting aspects of a universally known day, such as April 15k “tax day,” is that a tax preparer can vividly remember precisely where he or she was many, many years before.
Pacific Park Hires Government Affairs Director
April 15, 2026 -- Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier announced it has hired its first Director of Government and Community Affairs as the City embarks on an ambitious plan to revive the local economy.
Proposed Portal to Help Businesses Recover from Crime
April 14, 2026 -- Santa Monica businesses impacted by crime could soon have immediate access to available City resources to help them recover and stay open, according to an item the City Council will consider Tuesday.
City to Hold Bike Rodeo for Students
April 14, 2026 -- Youngsters who have ditched their training wheels can practice their bicycle skills before hitting neighborhood streets for National Bike Month in May.
Council to Take Up Plan for AI Use
April 13, 2026 -- Amid an intensifying debate about the benefits and perils of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the City Council on Tuesday will take up a proposal to make Santa Monica's government a national model for its "responsible" use.
SMC to Launch Cloud Computing 4-Year Degree
April 13, 2026 -- Santa Monica College (SMC) received State approval to launch a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree program in Cloud Computing that will help fill a regional demand for jobs that can pay more than $150,000 a year.
County Officials to Take Up LAHSA Review
April 10, 2026 -- The County Board of Supervisors will take up a "corrective action plan" on Wednesday to pay providers contracted by the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority (LAHSA) with County funding.
City Marks 'Major Milestone' on Road to Fully Electric Bus Fleet
April 10, 2026 -- The Transportation Department Thursday celebrated an "unprecedented" $56 million expansion of Big Blue Bus’s zero-emission fleet and charging infrastructure.
Social Justice and Historic Preservation
April 9, 2026 -- What can be done when a building is designated a historic landmark, and it's learned that the original owner, builder and longtime resident engaged in racist activities at the site?
City Selects Partners to 'Reimagine' Events
April 9, 2026 -- The City has selected two dozen partners to produce "activations" that range from World Cup celebrations to neighborhood events held across the city, officials announced Wednesday.
New Public Works Director Takes Helm
April 8, 2026 -- Christopher Dishlip -- who recently led some of the City's largest building projects -- has been promoted to head Santa Monica's Department of Public Works.
Police Boost Traffic Enforcement Operations
April 8, 2026 -- The Santa Monica Police Department will conduct traffic safety operations on Wednesday and Thursday this week as part of an enhanced effort to protect bicyclists and pedestrians.
Local Man Charged with Kidnapping, Rape
April 7, 2026 -- A 27-year-old Santa Monica man has been charged with kidnapping a UCLA student in March and raping another woman in Culver City last October, County prosecutors announced Monday.
SMC Student Exhibit Explores 'Home'
April 7, 2026 -- A Santa Monica College (SMC) student art exhibition that opened Monday explores the concept of "home" as a "living and fluid condition," school officials said.
Pier to Pier: The Route 66 'Symbolic' Connection
April 6, 2026 -- The famous piers in Santa Monica and Chicago were joined together last month as the symbolic start and finish of the nation's most legendary highway -- Route 66.
Santa Monica Opens Municipal Gallery
April 6, 2026 -- Santa Monica this month will celebrate the opening of the city's first municipal art gallery, which will showcase works the City has purchased and offer short-term exhibits, officials said.
Commercial Corridors to Get Makeover
April 2, 2026 -- Santa Monica's commercial corridors will be spruced up as part of a sweeping plan to revitalize the city and boost its struggling economy.
City Announces Winners of Sustainability Awards
April 2, 2026 -- Four Santa Monica businesses have been named winners of the 30th annual Sustainable Quality Awards for helping the beach city "realize a more sustainable future," City officials announced Wednesday.
LETTERS -- This Council Has Moved to Silence Our Voices
April 2, 2026 -- Mayor Caroline Torosis just didn't think Santa Monica's Neighborhood Groups were able to make a go of it without the City's grant.
Santa Monica Rental Market Cooling
April 1, 2026 -- Santa Monica's rental market -- while still one of the priciest in Los Angeles County -- has cooled over the past two years, according to Rent Control Board's annual report.
Pier Kicks Off 'Wellness & Waves' Saturday
April 1, 2026 -- Kick off Saturday mornings with an "easygoing" group run that starts at the top of the Pier, then relax to the waves at the structure's end with a session of yoga.
City Unveils First Prefab Apartments
March 31, 2026 -- Santa Monica on Friday unveiled its first modular affordable apartment building, which broke ground two years ago and cost more than $870,000 per unit to construct.
Fatal Shooting Near Police Headquarters
March 31, 2026 -- Police are investigating a fatal shooting involving the occupants of two cars that took place near Santa Monica's Public Safety building Saturday night.
Council Approves Plan to Bring City Workers Back to the Office
March 27, 2026 -- After six years of allowing many City employees -- including top staff -- to work remotely, the offices at City Hall will soon begin filling up again.
Conviction Upheld in Pickax Murder of Santa Monica Senior
March 26, 2026 -- A State appeals court on Wednesday upheld the murder conviction of Roy Antonio Davis, who used a pickax to kill an 88-year-old man found dead in his Santa Monica apartment on New Year's Day 2018.
Crime Saw Significant Drop Last Year
March 26, 2026 -- Serious crime fell by 12.5 percent in Santa Monica last year, reaching the lowest level in at least a decade, according to the Police Department's annual crime report released Wednesday.
Santa Monica Review Kicks Off 38th Year
March 26, 2026 -- Santa Monica College (SMC) will release the Spring 2026 issue of its celebrated national literary magazine next month, inaugurating its 38th year of publication.
Santa Monica Man Arrested for Alleged Kidnapping, Rape
March 25, 2026 -- A Santa Monica man was arrested Friday and charged with kidnapping two female UCLA students this month and raping a woman unaffiliated with the school in a separate incident last October.
SMC Planetarium Offers Deep Dive into the Universe
March 25, 2026 -- The Santa Monica College Planetarium will offer a multifaceted view of the universe during shows on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons in April.
Council Calls Special Meeting to 'Clarify' Neighborhood Grant Program Rules
March 24, 2026 -- The City Council will hold a hastily called special meeting Tuesday to clarify the guidelines for a new Neighborhood Organization Grant Program that has prompted the exodus of three groups.
Elderly Santa Monica Homeowners Defrauded in Elaborate Loan Scheme
March 24, 2025 -- Eleven defendants were arrested last Thursday and charged in a scheme to steal the identities of elderly victims and obtain title reports to properties that included Santa Monica homes, according to Federal prosecutors.
NOMA Declines to Take Part in Grant Program
March 23, 2026 -- A third neighborhood group on Thursday declined to participate in a new City grant program that bans them from using funding to communicate directly with residents or recruit members.
SMFD's First Support Dog Dies
March 23, 2026 -- Roger, an English Labrador that became a member of the Santa Monica Fire Department (SMFD) last April to help firefighters combat stress, died Friday after a battle with cancer, City officials said.
EXTRA -- Bold Proposal Gives City Control of Affordable Housing
March 20, 2026 -- The City Council on Tuesday will discuss a groundbreaking proposal to create a "City-aligned nonprofit" that would build, own and operate affordable housing in Santa Monica.
Police Department Reaches Full Force
March 20, 2026 -- For the first time in more than two decades, the Santa Monica Police Department is fully staffed and has received nearly 400 new applicants this year, City officials said.
BBB Ridership Hits Recovery 'Milestone'
March 19, 2026 -- Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus (BBB) topped 10 million riders last year, marking "a major milestone in ridership recovery," according to the Transportation Department's Annual Report released Wednesday.
Beach House Exhibit Explores Water
March 19, 2026 -- Santa Monica will celebrate the "currency" of water with an art exhibition just a dash away from the world's largest and deepest ocean.
Meals on Wheels Back on Track After Freezer Failure
March 18, 2026 -- Meals on Wheels quickly recovered from a freezer malfunction Monday that led to the loss of half of the meals the agency delivers to the homebound in Santa Monica and across the Westside.
SMPD Launches 'Know Your Limit' Campaign
March 18, 2026 -- You didn't have to be pulled over by an officer to take a breathalyzer test on Tuesday. You could have been invited to take one at a local restaurant or bar.
LETTERS -- Don't Blame Drivers for Traffic Safety Failures
March 18, 2026 -- Overall, bicyclists cause nearly as many FSI collisions as drivers, but are ticketed at about half the rate of drivers in traffic safety crackdowns.
Judge to Take up Motion to Dismiss Airport Lawsuit
March 17, 2026 -- A lawsuit claiming the City violated State law when it allowed a charter air carrier to operate at Santa Monica Airport without conducting an environmental review could be dismissed before it goes to trial.
Police Arrest Suspect in Pier Shooting
March 17, 2026 -- Two people, including the shooter, were wounded after a "large fight" broke out on the Santa Monica Pier Sunday night, police officials said.
Council Locks in Recycling Contract
March 16, 2026 -- The City Council last Tuesday authorized a 10-year contract to secure the services of one of "only a handful" of recycling process facilities in the Los Angeles region.
‘Locals’ Night’ Celebrates L.A. Hip-Hop Culture
March 16, 2026 -- "Locals' Night" at the Santa Monica Pier Thursday celebrates L.A.’s hip-hop culture and the legendary highway that ended a few blocks away.
Police Crack Down on Dangerous Driving
March 13, 2026 -- The Santa Monica Police Department is conducting another traffic safety operation today as it boosts enforcement to crack down on dangerous driving.
Landlords Ordered to Pay Relocation Fees
March 13, 2026 -- Two Santa Monica landlords will have to pay their tenants more than $50,000 in unpaid relocation fees after the City Attorney's Office obtained final judgments in two cases.
Council Appoints Permanent City Attorney
March 12, 2026 -- On Tuesday, Heidi von Tongeln was named City Attorney, marking the first time in more than half a century that the post was permanently filled from within City Hall.
Health Advisory Lifted for Most Local Beaches
March 12, 2026 -- It's safe to wade into the water at most Santa Monica beaches as summertime temperatures hit the region on Thursday and Friday.
Rise in Workers Comp Claims 'Will Be Costly'
March 11, 2026 -- The number of open worker compensation claims filed by City workers grew to a record 653 during the past fiscal year, or nearly one-third of all employees, according to a report to the City Council last week.
Details of Waymo Collision with Child Released
March 11, 2026 -- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) last week released its preliminary findings in a widely publicized collision between a self-driving Waymo car and a a 9-year-old pedestrian.
Chief Jacob Discusses Policing Santa Monica
March 10, 2026 -- The Lookout recently asked Police Chief Darrick Jacob to share his thoughts on a range of issues. Here are his answers to six questions we posed.
Police Seek Help Identifying Sexual Battery Suspect
March 10, 2026 -- The Santa Monica Police Department is asking the public's help identifying a suspect in a sexual battery investigation who may have attacked additional victims.
LETTERS -- Making Councilmembers Shiver
March 10, 2026 -- If all Santa Monica neighborhood associations said "we have a right to endorse," there would be a counterweight to Santa Monica's entrenched ideological organizations.
Second Neighborhood Group Pulls Out of City Grants Program
March 9, 2026 -- Friends of Sunset Park (FOSP) informed City officials Friday it would not participate in the City's new grant program, making it the second neighborhood group to reject the new restrictions.
Santa Monica Beach Under Heat, Water Advisories
March 9, 2026 -- Santa Monica State Beach was under both heat and water quality advisories this weekend with bacteria levels exceeding health standards at all six local beaches.
EXTRA -- Fatal, Severe Injury Crashes Fall
March 6, 2026 -- The number of Fatal and Severe Injury (FSI) crashes in Santa Monica fell in 2025 after soaring to a record high the previous year, according to Transportation Department data.
SMC Kicks off Spring Jazz Series
March 6, 2026 -- Three elite jazz veterans who have been performing for a combined total of more than 100 years will take center stage this spring during the Santa Monica College Music Department's Friday Night Jazz Series.
Cybertrucks Burn in Santa Monica Garage
March 5, 2026 -- Tesla Cybertruck fires continued to make headlines after two of the hulking futuristic vehicles were engulfed in flames in a Santa Monica parking garage Wednesday.
Stay in Santa Monica Like a Tourist
March 5, 2026 -- Los Angeles County residents can experience Santa Monica as tourists do with discounted rates at more than a dozen hotels in the world-renown beach city.
SMPD Increases Patrols Amid War in Iran
March 4, 2026 -- The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) is "conducting additional patrols" in select locations as the war in Iran escalates, officials announced Monday.
Council to Select New Poet Laureate
March 4, 2026 -- The City Council on Tuesday is expected to appoint Jay Baldwin as Santa Monica's second Poet Laureate.
Motel Claimed to Be Bane on City Permanently Shut Down
March 3, 2026 -- A Sunset Park motel City officials say has long been a "hotbed" for drugs and other illegal activities will be permanently shut down under a settlement approved by the City Council last week.
Police Focus on Drivers Using Cell Phones
March 3, 2026 -- Santa Monica police are cracking down this month on drivers who violate the hands-free cell phone law, a leading cause of distracted driving that can result in deaths and serious injuries.
Pro-Housing Group Opposes Building on Airport Land
March 2, 2026 -- The rift in Santa Monica's pro-housing bloc is widening over a potential ballot measure that would allow housing to be built on Airport land.
Santa Monica Celebrates Women's History Month
March 2, 2026 -- Santa Monica is celebrating Women's History Month in March with a series of events that include an indigenous jazz ensemble and a candid discussion with the women who have served as mayor.
County to Review LAHSA's Finances, Operations
February 26, 2026 -- LA County on Wednesday informed the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) it would conduct an "evaluation and review" of its finances and operations starting next week.
City Adds New Artwork to Collection
February 27, 2026 -- Santa Monica has added a new artwork to its municipal Art Bank collection through a special partnership between the City and the Frieze Los Angeles art fair, officials announced Thursday.
Council Explores Converting Vacant Retail Spaces into Restaurants
February 26, 2026 -- The City Council Tuesday night took steps to make it feasible to convert vacant retail spaces Downtown into restaurants by lowering costly fees and helping with tenant improvements.
City Seeks Applicants for 'People's Academy'
February 26, 2026 -- Those curious about the inner workings of Santa Monica's government can get an inside look by joining the City's new One SaMo People’s Academy, City officials announced Wednesday.
Beach Dune Project Picks Up Steam
February 25, 2026 -- Work began Tuesday on a row of dunes at Santa Monica Beach that will stretch from the Pier to the sands along the Venice border, City officials announced.
SMC Designated 'Black-Serving Institution'
February 25, 2026 -- Santa Monica College (SMC) has been designated a California Black-Serving Institution for its longstanding commitment to "advancing Black student success," college officials announced Monday.
Supervisor Sounds Alarm Over LAHSA
February 24, 2026 -- County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath on Friday called for removing funding from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) to "stop the madness" that has brought its operations to a standstill.
Arrests Reach Record-Breaking Pace
February 24, 2026 -- The Santa Monica Police Department has averaged more than 110 weekly arrests over a one-month stretch this year, a pace that if sustained would shatter recent annual records.
Poll Finds Strong Opposition to Airport Housing
February 23, 2026 -- Santa Monica residents overwhelmingly oppose a potential ballot measure to include housing on airport land slated for a Great Park, according to a monthly poll.
Explore the Spring Skies at SMC Planetarium
February 23, 2026 -- Do other planets in the solar system have seasons? And what celestial bodies will appear in the night sky this spring?
LETTERS -- Proposed Airport Housing Measure Title Deceptive
February 23, 2026 -- The proposed measure does not create or implement the Great Park voters approved in 2014. Instead, it would remove and rezone nearly 50 acres for housing and commercial development.
Santa Monica Could Move Homeless Services Outside the City
February 20, 2026 -- For the first time, the City Council on Tuesday will expand its search for transitional housing and services for the homeless far outside Santa Monica.
Santa Monica Launches International Jazz Festival
February 20, 2026 -- Inspired by world-renowned festivals in Monterey and Montreux, Santa Monica will launch it own International Jazz Festival in May.
Election Season Kicks Off
February 19, 2026 -- The November 3 general election race is slowly taking shape with six potential candidates and two ballot measures listed on the City Clerk's web page.
Jazz Takes Center Stage at the Pier
February 19, 2026 -- Pacific Park is presenting Jazz night on the Santa Monica Pier this evening featuring alumni from legendary bassist Stanley Clarke's Artist Residency program.
Council Takes Sharp Turn on Traffic Safety
February 18, 2026 -- The City Council last week took steps to swiftly implement traffic safety measures after a marked rise in fatal and serious injury crashes despite major investments.
City to Switch Provider for Old Phone Lines
February 18, 2026 -- The City Council next Tuesday is expected to approve a nearly $1.5 million agreement to overhaul the City's old phone lines.
Protesters Blame Local Company for Fentanyl Deaths
February 17, 2026 -- Santa Monica made national headlines last week when families from across the nation gathered outside the offices of one of the city's biggest employers to protest the drug deaths of their children.
Santa Monica Celebrates Lunar New Year
February 17, 2026 -- Pacific Park celebrated the “Year of the Horse” Monday with a "dazzling" 90-foot-tall display on the Pier, and the Santa Monica Place mall Downtown will follow suit with festivities this weekend.
Plan to Lease Homeless Facilities Gets Pushback
February 13, 2026 -- Community leaders in two neighborhoods Tuesday opposed City Council negotiations to lease spaces in three area properties that provide transitional housing for the homeless.
Santa Monica Celebrates Presidents Day
February 13, 2026 -- City Hall will be closed Monday to celebrate Presidents Day, and facilities and programs will be scaled back or closed.
Homelessness Emergency Enters Fourth Year
February 12, 2026 -- The City Council on Tuesday extended the Local Emergency on Homelessness for a fourth year, making it easier to seek funding and launch initiatives to tackle the long-entrenched problem.
Police Investigating Murder Suicide
February 12, 2026 -- Police officers found two victims of an apparent murder suicide in an oceanfront residential complex in Santa Monica early Saturday morning.
City Launches In-House Ambulance Service
February 11, 2026 -- After decades of contracting ambulance transports for emergencies, the Santa Monica Fire Department (SMFD) launched its own in-house ambulance service this month.
Santa Monica Tech Company Settles Landmark Lawsuit
February 11, 2026 -- Snap Inc, one of Santa Monica's largest employers, became the first major social media platform to settle a landmark lawsuit claiming the companies deliberately addict children.
Neighborhood Group Pulls Out of City Grant Program
February 10, 2026 -- Northeast Neighbors informed City officials Monday that the group will not participate in a new grant program it claims is overly restrictive, invasive and muzzles free speech.
Promenade to Host Valentine's Day Festival
February 10, 2026 -- The Third Street Promenade will be transformed Saturday as Downtown stages one of Santa Monica's largest free nightlife and music events to date in Southern California's first entertainment zone.
City Taking Steps to Lease Beds for Homeless Outside Downtown
February 9, 2026 -- The City of Santa Monica is taking steps to relocate homeless services and temporary shelter from Downtown as a key component of its citywide "Realignment Plan."
PCH Off-Ramp Closed
February 9, 2026 -- The City closed a key freeway off-ramp for more than two weeks starting Monday as part of the $35.6 million Pier Bridge reconstruction project.
City Negotiating to Lease Housing for the Mentally Ill
February 6, 2026 -- The City Council will meet in closed session Tuesday to discuss leasing space from an adult residential facility for the mentally ill in the Pico Neighborhood.
Councilmembers Call for Revamping Traffic Safety
February 6, 2026 -- A decade after Santa Monica implemented a "Vision Zero" plan that has failed to curb fatal and severe injury crashes, three Councilmembers are calling for the City to go in a new direction.
Proposed Statewide Ballot Measure Puts Local Transfer Tax at Risk
February 5, 2026 -- (UPDATED) A local property transfer tax estimated to generate $50 million a year to help build affordable housing is at risk of being overturned.
County Tightens Oversight Over Homeless Funding
February 5, 2026 -- On Tuesday, the LA County Board of Supervisors took steps to strengthen oversight and accountability in homeless services contracts.
Officer Initiated Calls, Arrests Up
February 4, 2026 -- Santa Monica police last month continued taking proactive measures that resulted in an increase in both officer initiated calls and arrests, according to data released Tuesday.
Sharing Memories During Pier's 'Month of Love'
February 4, 2026 -- For generations, the Santa Monica Pier has served as a scenic backdrop for love and romance -- from first dates and wedding proposals to special moments with family and friends.
SMC Board Poised to Slash More than 70 Jobs
February 3, 2026 -- The Santa Monica College (SMC) Board this Tuesday is expected to eliminate or abolish 74 classified and management positions to address a "fiscal crisis" that has "reached a tipping point," the school's top official said.
Santa Monica Celebrates Black History
February 3, 2026 -- Santa Monica is commemorating Black History Month with a series of events that help mark "an especially significant and momentous milestone," City officials said.
Council Approves Narrowed Labor Policy
February 2 , 2026 -- Hospitality businesses on the Pier and nearby hotels on City-owned property must offer open positions to laid off workers under an ordinance approved by the City Council last week.
BBB to Offer Free Rides on Transit Equity Day
February 2, 2026 -- On Wednesday, the Big Blue Bus will honor the legacy of Civil Rights activist Rosa Parks during Transit Equity Day by offering free rides to all passengers. |
