By Lookout Staff

In July, the City streamlines its permitting process, enters into negotiations to resurrect the Civic Auditorium and transitions to a new crime reporting system.

Santa Monica also makes headlines with some bad news -- the beach around the Pier remains one of the most polluted on the West Coast and a four-year-old girl is kidnapped by a homeless stranger.

Here are the top stories:

Four Pier vendors are arrested in a fight that breaks out after one of them sexually batters several women on the beach ("Pier Vendors Arrested for Felony Assault, Sexual Battery," July 8, 2024).

Police officers are out in force searching for a four-year-old girl kidnapped from a restaurant near Pico and Lincoln Boulevards ("Four-year-old Girl Kidnapped, Suspect Arrested," July 12, 2024).

The Architectural Review Board (ARB) unanimously recommends supporting the final design for the ambitious redevelopment of the iconic Fairmont Miramar Hotel ("Miramar Redevelopment Project Moves Forward," July 17, 2024).

Despite multi-million-dollar upgrades, the Santa Monica Pier remains one of the most polluted beaches on the west coast ("Santa Monica Pier 3rd Most Polluted West Coast Beach," July 18, 2024).

The long and bumpy road towards dividing the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) hits a major obstacle months before the 13-year-effort seemed about to end ("School District Separation Plan Breaks Down," July 19, 2024).

The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) transitions to a new crime reporting system that allows police to collect more detailed data ("SMPD Transitions to New Crime Reporting System," July 18, 2024).

The City Council quietly takes a major step in its efforts to resurrect the iconic Civic Auditorium, an endangered building that has been shuttered since 2011 ("EXTRA -- City Launches Negotiations to Revive the Civic," July 24, 2024).

After being notorious for delays that snarl building projects in red tape, the City unveils a new permitting system ("City to Streamline Building Permitting Process," July 25, 2024).

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In August, a pilot program videotapes nearly 1,700 parking violations in bicycle lanes, as data show a rise in the number of bicyclists and pedestrians killed or seriously injured in traffic collisions.

In addition, a police investigations helps the Feds uncover a $2 million Ponzi scheme, a local doctor is arrested in connection to the overdose death of a well-known actor and Santa Monica rents see the steepeest annual drop in LA County.

Here are the top stories:

Councilmember Christine Parra announces she will not seek a second Council term ("EXTRA -- Parra Pulls Out of Council Race," August 9, 2024) .

Despite major investments in traffic safety, fatal and severe injury crashes involving cyclists and pedestrians continue increasing ("Rising Number of Pedestrians, Cyclists Killed or Seriously Injured in Santa Monica," August 12, 2024) .

A six week-pilot program videotapes a total of 1,679 parking violations in bicycle lanes along select Santa Monica streets ("More Than 1,600 Vehicles Illegally Parked in Bike Lanes, Pilot Program Finds," August 15, 2024).

A Santa Monica doctor is arrested in connection with the death of actor Mathew Perry, who suffered a fatal ketamine overdose in October ("Santa Monica Doctor Charged in Connection to Mathew Perry's Death," August 15, 2024) .

An investigation launched by Santa Monica police when two local residents were defrauded in 2022 leads to a federal probe that uncovers a $2 million Ponzi scheme ("SMPD Investigation Leads to Fed Ponzi Scheme Case," August 19, 2024) .

The City's public safety unions throw their considerable clout and hefty warchests into stopping the city's political establishment from regaining control of City Hall ("EXTRA -- Public Safety Unions Deal Blow to Establishment Slate," August 28, 2024).

Santa Monica sees the steepest rent drop in LA County over the past year, despite a slight price increase in August ("Santa Monica Sees County's Steepest Yearly Rent Drop," August 30, 2024).

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In September, the City lowers the speed limit on select streets, Metro cracks down on illegal train passengers and a plan to build a "great park" at the Airpot shifts into second gear.

Meanwhile, the Council race heats up, the Malibu split from the School District is on again and the Police Chief speaks out after a "disturbing" string of sexual assaults that have gained widespread attention.

Here are the top stories:

Drivers are required to slow down -- and, in some cases, share roads with motorized scooters -- after the City Council lowers speed limits on select streets ("New Speed Limits Pave Way for Cars, Scooters to Share Some Roads," September 4, 2024).

Police Chief Ramon Batista issues a candid message to the community in the wake of "a disturbing string of crimes" that have taken place in public spaces over the past few weeks ("Police Chief Addresses Recent 'String of Crimes,'" September 6, 2024).

A new TAP-to-Exit program to crack down on fare dodgers and reduce crime aboard Metro trains is launched at Santa Monica's Downtown station ("Downtown Train Station Cracks Down on Illegal Riders," September 13, 2024).

School District and Malibu City officials announce they have reached a "milestone" agreement on a proposed package to separate the district ("School District, Malibu Agree on Separation Package," September 13, 2024).

A slate of four challengers trying to seize control of the City Council will have the support of the City's tenant rights group, labor and the Democratic Party that make up Santa Monica's political establishment ("Dem Party, Labor Endorse Council Challengers," September 17, 2024).

A July survey of more than two hundred cities ranks Santa Monica as the most expensive city to conduct business in the region and in seven competing states ("Santa Monica Most Expensive City for Business," September 17, 2024).

David Martin -- who for more than a decade helped steer the physical development of Santa Monica -- announces he will retire as head of planning at the end of the year ("Planning Head Who Helped Shape Santa Monica to Retire," September 19, 2024).

The Lookout tackles a thorny question: Who makes up Santa Monica's political establishment? ("Who Runs the City?" September 20, 2024).

The City last week launches the second phase of its process to shape Santa Monica Airport's future by seeking input on its uses "centered on a great park" ("Airport Plan Goes Into Second Gear," September 23, 2024).

Property owners can once again include a gas stove or furnace in a new building, but they must offset it with a long list of energy efficient items to get a building permit ("Council Amends Code to Allow Gas in New Buildings," September 26, 2024).

The two factions waging a high-stakes battle for control of the Council raise a combined total of more than $1 million ("More Than $1 Million Raised for Council Race," September 27, 2024).