Santa Monica Falls In Line With State's Solar Push
August 31 2015 -- Santa Monica provides local homeowners and businesses looking to go solar free technical advice and help picking a reputable contractor, but the beach city has never had a formal permit process within its codes for the often-complex rooftop systems until now.

Santa Monica Takes Another Step Towards Water Self-sufficiency
August 31,2015 -- Santa Monica moved closer to eliminating its dependence on imported water by 2020 after the City Council last week approved a nearly $2 million contract to hire a groundwater geologist for up to five years.

Unique Sculpture Exhibit Opening at Santa Monica College
August 31, 2015 -- Sometimes, artist Ann Page's sculptures look like objects of different textures stacked together in delicate balancing acts.

Santa Monicans Beat Water Conservation Goal
August 28, 2015 -- Residential water use in Santa Monica edged up slightly last month from June, but consumers still saved enough to avoid putting the City in hot water with state's regulators.

Santa Monica Law Change Doesn’t Extend Physical Arrest Power to Civilians, Officials Say
August 28, 2015 -- Certain Santa Monica Police Department civilian employees have been granted the ability to make arrests, but these arrests cannot be physical, police officials told the City Council at its meeting Tuesday.

The Moon, Stars and Equinoxes at Santa Monica College Planetarium this Month
August 28, 2015 -- How do you know when the moon is waxing or waning? How many times a year does an equinox take place? And what is the “Summer Triangle,” anyway?

Mapping Shows Pico Neighborhood Ground Zero for Skyrocketing Evictions in Santa Monica
August 27, 2015 --The Pico Neighborhood was hit with a skyrocketing number of rental evictions last year, a sign that Santa Monica’s last affordable neighborhood is being gentrified with the coming of light rail, an eviction-monitoring research group has concluded.

Santa Monica Faces “Complicated Challenge” with Affordable Housing Deficit
August 27, 2015 -- City Council members reached no conclusions on how to increase the availability of affordable housing in Santa Monica during a study session dedicated to the subject on Tuesday.

Youth Competition Seeks Artworks to Help Power the Santa Monica Pier
August 27, 2015 -- Can wind and solar power plants be designed to be as beautiful as a piece of public artwork? What will be the visual impact of such renewable energy installations on local landscapes?

Santa Monica Council member Fought to Oust City Spokeswoman, Group Contends
August 26, 2015 -- The costly political saga of a communications director hired by the City of Santa Monica and quickly fired took another turn Tuesday.

Santa Monica Black Legal Pioneer Dies
August 26, 2016 -- Marcus O. Tucker, Jr., a Santa Monica native who became the first African American lawyer in the City Attorney’s Office before launching a decades-long career as a highly respected jurist, has died.

Jefferson Starship to Land on Santa Monica Pier Thursday
August 26, 2015 -- Take a trip back to the “Summer of Love” when Jefferson Airplane’s offspring, Jefferson Starship, brings the sounds of that drug-hazed year to the Santa Monica Pier.

Council Sets Priorities for Santa Monica
August 25, 2015 -- Confronting a slew of headaches tied to Santa Monica’s growing popularity, the City Council emerged from a special retreat Sunday vowing to double down on three top problems: Congestion on car-clogged city streets, the lack of affordable housing and getting the municipal airport closed.

Santa Monica Mayor Angered Over FAA Delay
August 25, 2015 -- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has delayed weighing in on a key element of the Santa Monica’s battle to eventually close its municipal airport, sparking talk of litigation from an angry Mayor Kevin McKeown.

Three Santa Monica Schools Get New Administrators
August 25, 2015 -- A former House Principal at Samohi has returned to campus and two long-time educators have joined the administrative teams at John Muir and McKinley Elementary schools, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District officials announced last week.

Santa Monica Planning Commission Gives Thumbs Down to Downtown Movie Theater
August 24, 2015 -- The reviews are in for the proposed movie theater complex on Fourth Street in Downtown Santa Monica—and they aren’t good.

Three Santa Monica Council Members Back Moratorium on Ellis Act Evictions
August 24, 2015 -- Three Santa Monica City Council members are asking their colleagues to support a resolution calling on state lawmakers to freeze Ellis Act evictions, which critics charge are undermining cities' efforts to keep rents affordable.

Santa Monica Police Conducting Motorcycle Safety Program This Week
August 24, 2015 -- Despite California pumping millions each year into local efforts to prevent them, fatal crashes involving motorcyclists continue to go up, state traffic figures show.

Retail Store Expected to Replace Johnnie’s Pizzeria on Santa Monica Promenade
August 21, 2015 -- Nearly a quarter-century of unsuccessful restaurant operations at the Third Street Promenade space currently occupied by Johnnie’s New York Pizzeria will soon come to an end.

Santa Monica Buses to See Major Route Changes Starting Sunday
August 21, 2015 -- With the Expo train fast approaching, the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus will begin rolling out major service and stop changes on several routes starting Sunday to better integrate them with the coming light rail service, transit officials annouced.

Santa Monica Colleges Announces New Social Justice Scholarship
August 21, 2015 -- During his tenure as a Santa Monica College (SMC) trustee and professor, Judge David Finkel furthered his passion for championing the cause of those society threatened to leave behind.

Cost of Santa Monica City Council Travel Adds Up
August 20, 2015 -- Whether embracing a sister city in the shadow of Mt. Fuji in Japan, lobbying federal officials in the nation’s capital or sojourning to Denver to see how other municipalities handle airports that are no longer wanted, travel costs for the Santa Monica City Council are adding up.

Beleaguered Santa Monica Center Raises Big Money from New Sponsors
August 20, 2015 -- Fighting to keep its doors open, Santa Monica’s Pico Youth and Family Center has high hopes for its annual fundraiser later this month and is buoyed by a sudden, long list of new sponsors bringing in some big money.

Santa Monica Police to Enforce Bicycle, Pedestrian Laws
August 20, 2015 -- As Santa Monica revs up LA County’s first Bike Share program, local police hope to make the streets safer for bicyclists and pedestrians with another enforcement operation, police officials said.

Santa Monica-Malibu Schools Feature Improvements for New School Year
August 19, 2015 -- Making significant use of voter-approved bond money, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) prepared to start the new school year Thursday with a big new $55 million science building for Santa Monica High School, as well as hi-tech touches added to buildings throughout the district.

VA Seeks to Hire for Homeless Vets Center
August 19, 2015-- Hundreds of new employees will have to be hired when the Veterans Administration expands services at its West Los Angeles Medical Center campus to include long-term care and residential housing.

Santa Monica Officials Seek Input on Lincoln Boulevard Makeover
August 19, 2015 -- If you have ideas about how Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica can be turned from a bland, busy thoroughfare into a more inviting strip, City officials are listening.

Big Crowds Flock to Santa Monica Beaches to Beat Heat Wave
August 18, 2015 -- Huge crowds hit the sands of Santa Monica Bay this weekend, fleeing from another heat wave that reached triple digits across Southern California’s inland areas.

Santa Monica Watchdog Group Urges Defeat of Initiative Fee Hike
August 18, 2015 -- Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog urged the California State Assembly Monday to defeat a bill co-sponsored by former Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom that would hike the ballot initiative filing fee from $200 to $2,000.

Santa Monica Celebrates 40th Anniversary with Sister City in Japan
August 18, 2015 -- There was sake, youth soccer and international travel this month as the City of Santa Monica celebrated four decades of friendship with its Japanese sister city of Fujinomiya, on the flanks of  Mt. Fuji.

Board Tweaks Santa Monica's Rent Control Law
August 17, 2015 --The Santa Monica Rent Control Board voted unanimously Thursday to redefine the “principal place of residence” regulation that excludes from rent control duplexes and triplexes whose owners prove they live in one of the units.

Santa Monica Doctor Faces Jail Time on Drug Conviction
June 17, 2015 -- A doctor who ran a pain clinic in Santa Monica faces three years in county jail at his scheduled sentencing in November after he pleaded no contest earlier this month to one count of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, a District Attorney spokeswoman said.

Santa Monica Beach House Turns to Dance
August 17, 2015 -- The art of motion will be celebrated at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica starting with a “Mindful Movement Workshop” on Tuesday and culminating next month with the creation of a new dance work in the courtyard.

Downtown Santa Monica Continues Economic Upswing, Director Says
August 14, 2015 -- More than 20 million people visited Downtown Santa Monica and Third Street Promenade during the last fiscal year, making purchases that generated more than $1.5 billion in sales taxes for the City, said the CEO of Downtown Santa Monica Inc. (DTSM)

Santa Monica Watchdog Group Sues Former City Manager
August 14, 2015 -- Three Santa Monica Transparency Project members filed a lawsuit this week charging that former City Manager Rod Gould violated a voter-approved local conflict of interest law.

Conference to Focus on State of Santa Monica Bay
August 14, 2015 -- Registration is now open for a conference that takes place every five years to discuss the progress of restoring and protecting Santa Monica Bay, officials of The Bay Foundation (TBF) announced Thursday.

Santa Monica Businesses Get Primer on Impact of Proposed Minimum Wage Hike
August 13, 2015 -- A national economics expert told Santa Monica business owners Wednesday that the impact of a City proposal to raise the minimum wage to $15-an-hour by 2020 would probably be minimal to the bottom line.

Ventura County Following Santa Monica’s Lead During Short-term Rental Crisis
August 13, 2015 -- Living next door to a short-term vacation rental can be like dealing with a hard-partying night club, Santa Monica residents have complained.  Strangers are in and out, the noise is sleep-shattering and there's a sudden influx of traffic on normally quiet residential streets.

Santa Monica College Latino Center Helps Students Succeed
August 13, 2015 -- When Walter Ramirez began taking classes at Santa Monica College (SMC), the first-generation college student wasn't sure he'd make it.

Santa Monica Rent Board Proposes Tweaks to Tenant Protections
August 12, 2015 -- A public hearing will take place Thursday before the Santa Monica Rent Control Board about a proposal that officials say will further close a loophole owners had used to gain exemptions from rent control.

El Nino Expected to Bring Unusual Marine Sightings to Santa Monica Bay
August 12, 2015 -- It was just about a year ago this summer that they invaded the shores of Santa Monica Bay.  Bright blue saucer-like creatures, the “by-the-wind” Velella velellas arrived on Santa Monica beaches by way of San Francisco, ushered in by windy conditions and warm weather.

Santa Monica to Hold Special Pet Adoption Day Saturday
August 12, 2015 -- Santa Monica’s newly renovated animal shelter is offering discounts Saturday to pet lovers who would like to adopt its rescued cats and dogs as part of “Clear the Shelters,” a first-of-its-kind campaign across Southern California aimed at increasing adoptions.

Rare Hammerhead Shark Caught Off Santa Monica Pier
August 11, 2015 -- A hammerhead shark was caught by a fisherman at the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday, a rare event that experts are attributing to the warm waters associated with El Nino.

New Santa Monica Planning Commissioners Champion Historic Preservation
August 11, 2015 -- The Santa Monica Planning Commission’s two newest members--Nina Fresco and Mario Fonda-Bonardi--have at least one thing in common. They both have strong backgrounds as supporters of historic preservation.

Longtime Santa Monica Resident Christopher Isherwood Subject of Panel Discussion
August 11, 2015 -- Writer Christopher Isherwood, whose work has had an enduring influence on the culture of his adopted country after settling in Santa Monica, will be the subject of a panel discussion at the Santa Monica Public Library this month.

Concepts Proposed for Future Site Near Santa Monica Rail Station
August 10, 2015 -- It’s too early in the planning stage to tell what the future will bring for an approximately 80,000-square-foot, City-owned property on Fourth Street and Colorado, but some interesting ideas are on the table.

Santa Monica Pushes Back on Water Wasters
August 10, 2015 -- Forget those online “shaming” videos: Water wasters from here on out now face monetary fines as suppliers like Santa Monica and state regulators leave voluntary measures in the drought's dust and move on to tougher measures.

Former Media Chair to Help Lead Santa Monica College Career Programs
August 10, 2015 -- Frank R. Dawson, the former chair of Santa Monica College’s (SMC) Communication and Media Studies department, has been hired as the college’s Associate Dean of Career and Technical Education (CTE), SMC officials announced Friday.

Proposed Santa Monica Movie Theater Complex Set for Planning Review
August 7, 2015 -- The third project in what is expected to be part of a movie theater renaissance in Downtown Santa Monica will head to the Planning Commission for an initial review later this month.

City Sweetens Membership to Santa Monica's Bike Share Program
August 7, 2015 -- A week before test-running its $10 million bike sharing system, Santa Monica is enticing residents to buy $99 Breeze founding memberships with free rides, gift packets and other perks.

Kids Enjoy a Day of Palpalooza at Santa Monica’s Pacific Park
August 7, 2015 -- More than 800 kids flocked to Pacific Park on the Santa Pier Wednesday to enjoy an afternoon and evening of free rides, food and games as part of the 11th Annual PALpalooza.

Santa Monica Businesses to Weigh in on Proposed Wage Hike
August 6, 2015 -- A city known for both its wealth and its political progressiveness, Santa Monica is about to be tested for its attitude towards its business community when that sector weighs in next week on a proposed minimum wage hike.

Santa Monica Police, Community Join in 32nd Annual Night Out Celebration
August 6, 2015 -- Santa Monica Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks took to the stage with other officers to rock to Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk,” police displayed some of their hardware and George and Cooper, two dogs in need of adopting, made appearances.

Santa Monica Seeks Applicants for New Audit Subcommittee
August 6, 2015 -- Applicants who wish to serve on the City of Santa Monica’s newly formed Audit Subcommittee have until next Tuesday to submit their applications, City officials said.

Nearly 100 Rescued from Rip Currents in Santa Monica Waters
August 5, 2015 -- Warm waters, big crowds fleeing hot, muggy days and dangerous rip currents have pushed the number of rescues of Los Angeles County beachgoers to almost 2,000 since late July, including nearly 100 in Santa Monica’s ocean waters, officials reported Tuesday.

Lieu Urges Prompt FAA Action On Santa Monica Airport
August 5, 2015 -- Santa Monica's representative in Congress wants to know why the Federal Aviation Administration continues to operate a 227-acre property in the City as an airport even though a 20-year-old agreement has run out.

Coyotes No Shows So Far this Summer in Santa Monica, Police Report
August 5, 2015 -- Santa Monica police say a perennial visitor, increasingly considered a threat to the seaside city, seems to be off the radar so far this summer: The urban coyote.

Ocean Park Businesses Compete With Food Trucks in Santa Monica
August 4, 2015 -- It's just before noon, and customers soon will be streaming into Ocean Park Pizza on Santa Monica’s Ocean Park Boulevard, a stretch of storefronts and office parks that includes both small and large businesses.

Santa Monica Farmers Market Vying for Top Spot in USA Today Contest
August 4, 2015 -- Santa Monica’s Wednesday Downtown Farmers Market is already famous for being among the nation’s oldest, as well as for attracting big crowds of foodies and top chefs like Wolfgang Puck.

Santa Monica College Planetarium Showcases Meteors of Summer
August 4, 2015 -- August’s Perseid Meteor Shower is expected to be better than usual this year and the Santa Monica College John Drescher Planetarium will prepare you to make the most of the popular annual celestial event.

Santa Monica Emergency Personnel Ready Should Strong El Nino Stir Trouble
August 3, 2015 -- Twice so far this summer the City's Office of Emergency Management has had to shut down Santa Monica's beaches because of dangerous weather—one of several precautions officials will take if a strong El Nino batters Southern California's coasts with storm after storm this winter.

Santa Monica Conservancy Tour Highlights Courtyard Corridor
August 3, 2015 -- If the popularity of a walking tour is any  indication of support, then the proposed San Vicente Boulevard Historic District in Santa Monica has a good chance of becoming reality.

Santa Monica High Schools Pass Toxins Test, Report Concludes
August 3, 2015 -- Plans to demolish a building and replace it with a new softball field and parking lot at Santa Monica High School and to renovate four buildings at Olympic High can move forward after materials from existing structures tested well below federal standards for toxic substances, a school district official said.