By Lookout Staff
December 30, 2025 -- Spring bears bad news as Santa Monica's dream of hosting beach volleyball during the Summer Olympics is dashed, the City loses its second major film event in little over a year and the Pier is named the second most polluted beach on the West Coast.
Meanwhile, the City launches Southern California's first entertainment zone on the Promenade, the Council takes further steps to expedite housing development and the fight intensifies between housing and parks advocates over the future of Santa Monica Airport land.
The impacts from the devastating Pacific Palisades wildfire continue, as more than 2,500 Pali High students flock to a quickly constructed campus Downtown, coyote encounters increase and dead birds and sea mammals wash up on te beach injured or dead.
As summer approaches, Santa Monica tourism officials report a steep drop in domestic visitors, water rates and bus fares rise and the Council hires Irvine City Manager Oliver Chi, who at age 45 will run his fifth Southern California city.
APRIL
Malibu Fails to Meet Criteria for District Split
April 1, 2025 -- Malibu's proposal to separate from the School District has likely been dealt a fatal blow eight years after it was first submitted to the LA County Office of Education (LACOE).
Council to Take Positions on 2 Key Housing Bills
April 3, 2025 -- Councilmember Jesse Zwick is asking the City Council to support State legislation that makes it faster and easier to develop multi-family housing near transit stops and in single-family neighborhoods.
Santa Monica Won't Host Beach Volleyball at 2028 Olympic Games
April 8, 2025 -- Santa Monica's dream of hosting beach volleyball during the Summer Olympics was dashed last week after the City and organizing committee for the 2028 Games failed to reach a deal.
Pit Bull Owner Sought By Police Unlikely to Face Arrest
April 14, 2025 -- The owner of a pit bull that fatally mauled a toy poodle near Main Street on Friday evening will not likely be arrested if he is found, police officials said Monday.
Homelessness Emergency Now in Third Year
April 17, 2025 -- The City Council on Tuesday is expected to ratify a proclamation extending Santa Monica's local homelessness emergency for a third year.
Two Stabbed on Beach, One Suspect Arrested
April 21, 2025 -- A man and a woman were stabbed on the beach south of the Pier in the early morning hours Saturday, and one of the two suspects has been arrested for attempted murder, according to police.
Pali High Returns to Class in Santa Monica
April 22, 2025 -- For the first time since the devastating Palisades Fire drove them from their high school in January, more than 2,500 students flocked to a quickly constructed campus in Downtown Santa Monica on Tuesday.
Rent Control Rates Inch Up, Turnover Remains High
April 23, 2025 -- The price of a rent control apartment in Santa Monica increased slightly in each of the past four years, while the turnover rate for recently rented units remains high, according to the Rent Board's 2024 annual report.
Local Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Federal Counts
April 29, 2025 -- A Santa Monica man on Tuesday pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling business, money laundering and concealing more than $13 million in income from the IRS.
Santa Monica Exempted from Voting Rights Bill
April 30, 2025 -- Santa Monica has been exempted from a State Assembly Bill that could have forced it to hold district elections while a voting rights lawsuit against the City winds its way through the courts.
MAY
City to Adopt Clean Energy Targets for Existing Buildings
May 1, 2025 -- The City Council this summer will take up a Building Performance Standards Policy that requires existing large buildings citywide to meet clean energy goals.
More Marine Animals Wash Up on Santa Monica Beach
May 2, 2025 -- Over the past two months, dolphins, sea lions and a variety of sea birds have been washing up on Santa Monica's shore injured or dead.
Airport Rift Widens, Raises Fears
May 7, 2025 -- Housing and parks advocates faced off over the future of Santa Monica Airport land again Wednesday night, heightening fears the division will be exploited by pro-aviation interests.
Local Physical Therapist Arrested for Sexual Assault
May 7, 2025 -- Santa Monica police are seeking help identifying any additional victims of a local therapist arrested for sexual assault last month.
Santa Monica Loses Spirit Awards
May 9, 2025 -- Santa Monica -- once host to the Academy Awards -- has lost its second major film event in little over a year.
Coyote Encounters Increase in Wake of Wildfires
May 13, 2025 -- In recent weeks, accounts of coyote sightings and attacks linked to the Palisades Fire have been increasing, mainly in the north side of Santa Monica, according to police.
Bill to Boost Housing Near Transit Gets Council Backing
May 13, 2025 -- The City Council voted Tuesday night to support a controversial State housing bill that allows new residential buildings of up to seven stories near major transit stops.
Council Approves Scaled Down Entertainment Zone
May 14, 2025 -- Santa Monica will launch Southern California's first entertainment zone next month, allowing visitors to buy alcoholic drinks on the Promenade and consume them on the street.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
JUNE
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Two Juveniles Shot Sunday in 'Isolated Incident'
June 24, 2025 -- Santa Monica police are investigating the "targeted" shooting of two juveniles inside an autonomous rideshare vehicle in Downtown late Sunday night.
Police Arrest Suspect in Officer Shooting
June 25, 2025 -- A suspect wanted in the Sunday shooting of two juveniles Downtown was arrested Wednesday afternoon after shooting and wounding an officer trying to arrest him.
Tight Budget Zeros in on Public Safety
June 30, 2025 -- The City Council on Tuesday narrowly approved an austere biennial budget that homes in on public safety improvements largely funded with a tax hike approved by local voters in November.