HAVE A HAPPY JUNETEENTH The Lookout will return Friday

Santa Monica Commemorates Juneteenth with City Closures, Scaled Back Services
June 18, 2025 -- On June 19, 1865 -- two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation -- U.S. General Gordon Granger stood in Galveston, Texas and read General Orders No. 3.

Santa Monica Could Cash In on 2028 Olympics
June 18, 2025 -- Santa Monica may not be hosting beach volleyball during the 2028 Summer Olympics, but it could cash in and get plenty of global attention as a satellite hub for the games.

Man Charged with Attempted Rape of Elderly Santa Monica Woman
June 17, 2025 -- A Long Beach man is facing felony charges after he dragged an elderly woman into a Downtown alley on the night of June 5 and tried to rape her, according to police.

Santa Monica Rolls Out Entertainment Zone
June 17, 2025 -- The "soft launch" of Southern California's first Entertainment Zone turned into a bustling weekend as visitors enjoyed their drinks strolling on the Promenade.

Local Doctor Pleads Guilty to Supplying Drugs Leading to Actor's Death
June 17, 2025 -- A Santa Monica doctor charged in connection with the overdose death of actor Mathew Perry pleaded guilty Monday to four counts of distribution of Ketamine.

Fall in Domestic Visitors Cushioned by Global Travel
June 16, 2025 -- Santa Monica's tourism industry, a key driver of the local economy, was dealt a setback for the second straight year in 2024 due to a steep drop in domestic visitors.

City to Make Purchases Using New High-Tech Platform
June 16, 2025 -- More than ten Santa Monica City departments can now make an estimated $3 million in annual transactions through government credit cards under a newly launched E-Commerce platform that could help boost local businesses.

Serious Crime Saw Slight Decrease Last Year
June 13, 2025 -- The number of serious crimes reported in Santa Monica dipped last year despite a rise in homeless-related calls for service and reported crimes, according to the Police Department's annual report released Wednesday.

Police Prepared for Saturday's Protest, Chief Says
June 13, 2025 -- The Santa Monica police force has been placed on tactical alert and is "actively monitoring intelligence sources" in anticipation of Saturday's planned protest in Palisades Park.

Brian Wilson's Deep Ties to Santa Monica
June 12, 2025 -- Beach Boys leader and composer Brian Wilson, a supreme genius of popular music whose death was announced by his family Wednesday, had long ties to Santa Monica.

Council Greenlights Bikes on Bus-Only Lanes
June 12, 2025 -- The City Council late Tuesday night voted to slowly roll out a program that allows bicycles and other mobility devices to use stretches of five major bus-only lanes.

Council Hikes Water and Sewer Rates
June 11, 2025 -- With little discussion, the City Council shortly after midnight Tuesday voted to increase water and sewer rates over the next five years to keep the services afloat.

SMC Fashion Show Features Global Collections
June 11, 2025 -- Santa Monica College (SMC) fashion students will showcase their latest designs next week during an annual show that includes fashion shoots, video interviews and a panel of professional judges.

OPINION -- How to Afford 'The Great Park'
June 11, 2025 -- Voters passed LC to win a park -- not to create a loophole for housing and development. The park is not only possible. It’s already paid for.

Santa Monica Feels Impacts of LA Raids, Riots
June 10, 2025 -- The fallout from federal immigration enforcement operations that have triggered protests and rioting in Los Angeles reached Santa Monica Monday, where false rumors of a local crackdown swirled and police beefed up deployment.

New City Art Work Honors Manual Labor
June 10, 2025 -- A handmade mural chronicling the often unseen work that keeps the city running has been installed on the facade of the Operations Building at the Santa Monica City Yards.

Billboards Could Return to Santa Monica
June 9, 2025 -- After a 40-year ban, new large billboards could soon return to Santa Monica using digital display screens that wrap around the upper level facades of existing buildings.

City Council Poised to Raise Water Rates
June 9, 2025 -- The City Council on Tuesday is expected to raise water rates over the next five years to keep Santa Monica's water and sewer services afloat.

The Rising Cost of Graffiti Removal
June 6, 2025 -- Santa Monica's constant race to remove graffiti proliferating on surfaces across the city will cost local taxpayers more than $1.7 million over the next 5 years.

Charges Filed Against Surviving Suspect in Fatal Robbery Attempt
June 6, 2025 -- A man arrested for homicide during a botched robbery on the Promenade last month is being held in County jail awaiting a July court date after being charged on two lesser felony counts.

Bikes Could Soon Share Bus Lanes in Santa Monica
June 5, 2025 -- Bicyclists in Santa Monica could soon be legally riding in several major bus lanes under a staff proposal the City Council will take up Tuesday.

Senate Narrowly Approves Bill for Bigger Housing Near Transit
June 5, 2025 -- A controversial bill that encourages denser housing development near transit stops barely passed the California State Senate Tuesday night and is headed to the Assembly for approval.

EXTRA -- Malibu High Seniors Go on Vandalism Rampage
June 4, 2025 -- Some 40 to 50 Malibu High School seniors and former students went on a wild overnight vandalism spree -- gluing shut classroom doors, tearing down clocks, scattering garbage and scrawling explicit graffitti across the campus, District officials said Tuesday.

SMC to Hold Commencement for Second Largest Graduating Class
June 4, 2025 -- The second largest graduation class in Santa Monica College (SMC) history -- ranging in age from 16 to 97 -- will receive degrees and certificates during the school's 95th Commencement Ceremony this month.

Residents Weigh In on Why 'Spirit Awards' Left
June 3, 2025 -- When the arts nonprofit behind the Spirit Awards announced last month that it would move the annual event out of Santa Monica, it cited "exciting renovations" slated for the Pier.

SMC Planetarium Explores Ways to View the Universe
June 3, 2025 -- From amateur telescopes to observatories to radio astronomy, the Santa Monica College (SMC) planetarium will survey the evolving ways to explore the universe this month.

Bay Cities Working to 'Come Back Better'
June 2, 2025 -- Bay Cities Italian Market and Deli is working to address health issues that led to its temporary closure last month and "come back better" when it reopens, according to a message on social media.

Elderly Women Critically Injured by Bus
June 2, 2025 -- A Santa Monica Big Blue Bus (BBB) critically injured an elderly pedestrian Friday morning near the eastern end of Pico Boulevard, police officials said.

Monthly Rents Drop for First Time This Year
May 30, 2025 -- After rising in each of the first four months of the year, Santa Monica rents decreased by -0.9 percent in May, according to Apartment List's monthly report released Thursday.

Landlord Agrees to Pay $685,000 in Settlements
May 30, 2025 -- A Santa Monica landlord has agreed to pay $685,000 to settle three related tenant harassment and discrimination lawsuits and to no longer manage residential property in the city.

Council Hires Oliver Chi as New City Manager
May 29, 2025 -- Santa Monica on Tuesday hired its fifth City manager in as many years after the City Council unanimously appointed and approved a contract with Irvine City Manager Oliver Chi.

Police Crack Down on Train Fare Evaders
May 29, 2025 -- Santa Monica police this month cracked down on fare evaders at the 4th Street Expo light rail station Downtown resulting in four arrests, police officials said.

Bill to Build Taller Housing Projects Near Transit Headed to Senate Floor
May 28, 2025 -- A bill that makes it faster and easier to build taller residential buildings near transit stops by overriding local zoning restrictions is on its way to a full vote of the State Senate.

SMC Music Students Showcase Their Talents
May 28, 2025 -- Local jazz and Latin music fans have plenty to choose from as Santa Monica College (SMC) students present a series of concerts showcasing their talents over the next two weeks.

Santa Monica Amends Animal Code
May 27, 2025 -- Santa Monica is being overrun with cats and dogs, and earlier this month the City Council quietly took action to rein in the problem.

City Boosts Efforts to Recruit, Retain Workers
May 27, 2025 -- A total of 254 full-time positions became vacant in the City last year as officials look for ways to recruit and retain workers, including allowing many to work from home.

EXTRA -- Council Picks New City Manager
May 23, 2025 -- After a five-month search, the City Council announced Friday it has selected 45-year-old Irvine City Manager Oliver Chi to run Santa Monica, marking the fifth city where he holds the top post.

Pier 2nd Most Polluted Beach on West Coast
May 23, 2025 -- The Santa Monica Pier is the second most polluted beach on the West Coast, topped only by Mexico's Playa Blanca, a beach contaminated by untreated sewage from the Tijuana region, according to Heal the Bay's 2024-25 Beach Report.

Santa Monica Commemorates Memorial Day
May 23 , 2025 -- City Hall will be closed on Monday to celebrate Memorial Day, some parking meters won't be charging and the Big Blue Bus (BBB) will operate on weekend hours.

Survey Shows Division Over Airport Housing
May 22, 2025 -- The community verdict is in on including housing on the 192 acres of open land slated to be converted into a "great park" when the airport closes at the end of 2028.

PCH to Reopen Friday
May 22, 2025 -- A stretch of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) that connects Malibu to Santa Monica will reopen on Friday in time for Memorial Day and the busy summer season.

Santa Monica Clinic Scrutizined in Diddy Trial
May 21, 2025 -- A Santa Monica clinic has come under scrutiny in the federal sex trafficking trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs after federal agents found drugs with the doctor's address in the music mogul's hotel room in New York City.

Santa Monica Second Least Affordable City for Home Buyers
May 21, 2025 -- Santa Monica is the second least affordable city to buy a home, according to WalletHub, a personal finance company that sampled 300 cities of varying sizes nationwide.

Airport Slated as Flight Hub for Olympics
May 20, 2025 -- Santa Monica Airport is part of a planned "electric air taxi" network that will shuttle "VIPs, fans and stakeholders" during the LA 28 Olympic Games, Archer Aviation announced last week.

Council Hikes Bus Fares
May 20, 2025 -- The Big Blue Bus will increase its fares starting in August, with a second round of increases coming in the summer of 2027.

Promenade Store Owner Fatally Shoots Attacker
May 19, 2025 -- A coordinated robbery at a closed store on the Third Street Promenade Sunday night turned deadly when one of the two suspects attacked the owner and was fatally shot.

State Bill Could Deal Blow to City's Climate Goals
May 19, 2025 -- The City Council last Tuesday voted to oppose a State bill that would speed up the rebuilding of homes devastated by January's wildfires but could cripple Santa Monica's climate goals.

Ed Foundation Fundraiser Raises Nearly $400,000
May 19, 2025 -- This month's tenth annual Wine Auction raised more than $388,000 to support essential staff and programs at local public schools, the Santa Monica Education Foundation announced Friday.

SMPD Remembers Officers Who Died on Duty
May 16, 2025 -- Ten Santa Monica police officers who died between May 1927 and August 2010 while on duty were remembered during National Police Week.

SMC Music Department Presents 1786 Hit Opera
May 16, 2025 -- The Santa Monica College (SMC) Music Department next week will present a 239-year-old box office hit that weathered a stormy opening and years of censorship to become a timeless classic.

Pier Water Remains Under Public Health Advisory
May 16, 2025 -- The Santa Monica Pier remained under a beach area warning Friday with visitors advised to "avoid swimming, surfing and playing in ocean waters," County Health officials said.