Santa Monica City Funding Knocks Down Price for Youth Bus Rides
October 30, 2015 -- In an effort to increase ridership among young people, the City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to decrease the price of 30-day Santa Monica Big Blue Bus (BBB) youth passes from $40 to $28.

Survey Finds Nearly Half of Santa Monica's Renters Burdened by Rates
October 30, 2015 -- Nearly half of renters in Santa Monica spent more than 30 percent of their income making monthly payments to their landlords last year, mirroring a national trend as the number of renters hits an all-time high, a survey released this week shows.

Santa Monica College to Host Sam Fuller Film Series
October 30, 2015 -- Film director Samuel Fuller, whose low-budget movies have been admired by major filmmakers for two generations, will be the subject of a special series next month at Santa Monica College, school officials announced this week.

City Council Cracks Down on Santa Monica Airport Pollution
October 29, 2015 -- In an effort to impose more control on operations at Santa Monica Airport, the City Council on Tuesday voted 6-to-0 to enact strict new anti-pollution rules as it continues its battle to close the century-old facility.

Santa Monica City Council Sends Lobbying Ordinance Back Again
October 29, 2015 -- First it was too complicated; then it was too simple.  Now, the Santa Monica City Council is hoping to get its ordinance for registering lobbyists just right, voting Tuesday to send it back to the drawing board again, this time for more specifics.

Santa Monica’s Bike Share Program Takes off in Two Weeks
October 29, 2015 -- Santa Monica’s new “Breeze” bike share program, which is LA County’s first, will officially launch November 12 with a ceremony and “massive community bike ride,” City officials announced Wednesday.

Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus Poised to Put Brakes on Declining Ridership
October 28, 2015 -- After five years of declining ridership, Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus system is poised to start posting gains, a year-end performance report found.

Santa Monica Expands Homeless Tracking Service
October 28, 2015 -- Continuing to grapple with the problems of homelessness, Santa Monica will boost the “homeless management information system” it uses to help local agencies keep track of those on the streets and determine the services they need.

Santa Monica High School’s Thrive Center Competes for Prize
October 28, 2015 -- The Thrive Center at Samohi is competing for a $100,000 prize that would help it to better tackle mental health issues increasingly plaguing Santa Monica teens, according to local officials.

County Prosecutors Reject Santa Monica Council Member Probe
October 27, 2015 -- The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has rejected investigating allegations of wrongdoing by Santa Monica Council member Pam O’Connor, saying the statute of limitations has expired on the controversial case of the hiring and firing of Elizabeth Riel.

Santa Monica Anti-Airport Group Calls Proposed Pollution Crackdown “Hogwash”
October 27, 2015 -- An anti-pollution proposal the City Council will take up on Tuesday is being dismissed as “hogwash”  by the resident group allied with City Hall in the battle with federal officials to close Santa Monica Airport.

New Santa Monica Lobbying Ordinance Goes Before Council, Activist Group Opposes
October 26, 2015 -- A simplified version of an ordinance that went before the Santa Monica City Council in July requiring lobbyists to register and disclose various information will be presented for a vote on Tuesday.

Santa Monica to Observe Dia de Los Muertos
October 26, 2013 --Translated, Dia de Los Muertos means Day of the Dead, but the holiday on November 1, with its festivals and lively celebrations, aims for the opposite of morbid.

Santa Monica College Celebrates Homecoming Week
October 26, 2015--Santa Monica College has been long known for its homecoming festivities, drawing 72 bands one year, a parade of corvettes another and featuring a male queen that stirred up controversy 40 years ago.

City Increases Conservation Rebates for Santa Monica Residents
October 23, 2015 -- Now that El Niño is twice the size of the continental United States and is almost assured to bring major rains this winter, Santa Monica homeowners and businesses stand to reap extra benefits from the City's expanded rain barrel and lawn-swap rebate programs, officials said Wednesday.

Commission Approves Medical Expansion on Santa Monica Boulevard
October 23, 2015 -- After more than two hours of testimony, discussion and talk about traffic philosophy, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to allow the owner of a four-story building on Santa Monica Boulevard to expand medical office use to the entire structure, minus a small portion where a cafe will be inserted.

Santa Monica Ranks Tops for Social Life, But Scores Low on Jobs and Affordability in New Study
October 23, 2015 --Trendy as ever, Santa Monica is tops if you want to relax at a neighborhood café or hit the city’s hot spots at night, a new study finds.

Santa Monica Council Still Split on Controversial Plaza Project
October 22, 2015 -- Like the zig-zag design of the controversial Downtown construction project they've been agonizing over for three years amid growing opposition, Santa Monica City Council members went back and forth on Tuesday over The Plaza's conceptual plans.

Council to Consider New Pollution Restrictions for Santa Monica Airport
October 22, 2015 -- As it steps up its fight to one day close Santa Monica Airport, the City Council is considering tough new restrictions on pollution generated by aircraft there, including imposing a total cap on emissions.

Santa Monica College Offers a Month of  Jazz and Classical Fare
October 22, 2015 -- Jazz and Classical music will be the focus of six concerts presented at Santa Monica College next month.

64-Unit Affordable Housing Complex Proposed for Downtown Santa Monica
October 21, 2015 -- With a dearth of housing funds, Santa Monica is turning to private developers to build projects such as the proposed 64-unit affordable housing development reviewed by the City's Architectural Review Board (ARB) on Monday.

Construction Crews on Santa Monica’s California Incline Race Against El Nino
October 21, 2015 -- Construction crews for the $20 million renovation of Santa Monica’s California Incline are bracing for the impact of El Nino, working hard to make enough progress on the project to survive the heavy rains predicted for early next year.

Werewolves Before Halloween at the Santa Monica Library
October 21, 2015 -- Those interested in the lore of the werewolf and its shape-shifting abilities are in for a hair-raising experience at the Santa Monica Library just in time for Halloween.

Santa Monica Mayor Vows More “Assertive” Role in Battle with FAA
October 20, 2015 -- The City Council is readying a “new more assertive posture” in its battle over the future of the Santa Monica Airport after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday delayed yet again a key decision on the matter, Mayor Kevin McKeown said Monday

Santa Monica College Releases Data Showing Few Major Crimes on Campus
October 20, 2015 -- Outside of a highly publicized shooting spree that took three lives in 2013, few major crimes have taken place on Santa Monica College campuses between 2012 and last year, according to statistics released by the college.

Santa Monica Planetarium Offers Telescope Buying Tips
October 20, 2015 -- If you're planning to buy a telescope as a holiday gift for that star-struck loved one, Santa Monica College's John Drescher Planetarium will offer buying and viewing tips next month, officials announced Monday.

Santa Monica Council Takes Another Look at Major Downtown Project
October 19, 2015 -- Facing stiff opposition from slow-growth advocates, the Santa Monica City Council on Tuesday will explore ways to reduce office space at a major mixed-use development proposed for a City owned site in the heart of Downtown.

Santa Monica Showcases Works from Cuba's Leading Artists
October 19, 2015 -- With improved U.S.-Cuban relations as a backdrop, “Made In Cuba!/Hecho En Cuba!” brings the works of many of the communist island's leading artists to the Santa Monica Arts Studio, from now through November.

Skin Color Topic of Conversation at Santa Monica College
October 19, 2015 -- Do blacks with dark skin have it harder than their light-skinned counterparts? That was the question director Bill Duke asked in his 2011 documentary.

Council Approves Downtown Santa Monica Mixed-Use Project
October 16, 2015 -- With little controversy, the City Council voted 6-0 on Tuesday for a mixed-use development on Fifth Street between Santa Monica Boulevard and Broadway in Downtown Santa Monica.

Santa Monica Invests Millions to Safeguard Drinking Water
October 16, 2015 -- The  City Council on Tuesday voted to invest more than $3.6 million over the next three years to safeguard Santa Monica's main drinking water source from contaminants and to keep trash out of storm drains.

Agency Responsible for  Downtown Santa Monica Wins Top Awards
October 16, 2015 -- The agency responsible for Santa Monica’s downtown has taken home top awards for innovative thinking, transforming a corner parking lot into an ice-skating “winter wonderland” and placing ads in City parking structures.

Santa Monica Council Approves Denny’s Replacement Project
October 15, 2015 -- In an act that several council members said was the beginning of transforming Santa Monica’s Lincoln Boulevard into a pedestrian friendly street, the City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a mixed-use development to replace a long-existing Denny’s.

Santa Monica’s “Breeze” Bike Share Program Gets Big Name Sponsor
October 15, 2015 -- Santa Monica’s “Breeze” bike-share program -- the first of its kind in Los Angeles County – has snared a big-time sponsor as well as a lucrative contract, City officials announced Wednesday.

Education Foundation Raises More than $400,000 for Santa Monica, Malibu Schools
October 15, 2015 -- Helped by the promise of a $100,000 matching grant from an anonymous donor, the foundation that conducts independent fundraising for Santa Monica-Malibu schools announced it raised $439,950 in pledges and donations at its inaugural Pledge Days event.

Santa Monica to Start Posting City Council Correspondence Online
October 14, 2015 -- In a move aimed at increasing government transparency, the Santa Monica City Council gave the go-ahead to start posting much of the correspondence members receive online on the City’s website.

Santa Monica Police K-9 Dog Dies
October 14, 2015 -- Pavo always made an entrance.  His bark was so insistent and so loud you could hear him blocks away, trying to track down a narcotics suspect or just making his way back to the Santa Monica Police Department in the cruiser driven by the officer who was his partner and handler.

Santa Monica-Malibu Students Form District’s First Robotics Team
October 14, 2015 -- For the first time, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District has formed a special robotics team of students who will go robot-to-robot against other teams in an international competition designed to broaden science, math and other skills.

Heat Wave Sends Huge Number of Visitors to Santa Monica Beaches
October 13, 2015 -- It was more like summer than autumn this weekend at Santa Monica’s beaches, with attendance swelling seven times higher than usual as visitors sought relief from yet another triple-digit Southern California heat wave, according to County officials.

Santa Monica Commission Rejects Remodeling Plan for Former Mayor’s Home
October 13, 2015 -- A multi-year battle between former Santa Monica mayor Mike Feinstein and his landlords will continue after the Planning Commission on Wednesday rejected a proposal for the remodeling of the back of the house on the second floor.

Illinois Firm in Line for Santa Monica's Lucrative Parking Contract
October 13, 2015 -- A City-convened selection panel passed over a local firm and is recommending an out-of-state company for a $26.5 million contract to operate Santa Monica's 13 parking structures and 30 public parking lots.  

Santa Monica Planning Commission Rejects Request for Tall Hedge
October 9, 2015 -- A Santa Monica resident with a seven-foot hedge in his family’s front yard was unable to convince the Planning Commission on Wednesday that he had the right to keep it at that height despite City law limiting front-yard hedges to 42 inches.

Santa Monica Mayor Asks Congressman's Help in FAA Stalemate
October 9, 2015 -- Santa Monica Mayor Kevin McKeown asked the City's congressional representative this week to urge federal aviation officials to explain why they have failed to resolve a key issue that could pave the way for the City to gain control of its airport.

Climate Talks and More Highlight El Nino Week In Santa Monica
October 9, 2015 -- El Niño will peak by late fall or early winter, forecasters predicted Thursday, as Santa Monica's nonprofit Heal the Bay announced a series of free events next week aimed at getting residents prepared.

Petition Drive for Santa Monica Slow-Growth Initiative Set to Start Early Next Year
October 8,2015 -- Although still short of its goal for online signatures of support, organizers of an initiative to dramatically rein in growth in Santa Monica are confident they will start a door-to-door campaign drive early next year.

Health Officials Warn Santa Monica Beach Goers to Stay Away from Storm Drains
October 8, 2015 --  Visitors to Santa Monica and other beaches in Los Angeles County are being warned to avoid areas where discharging storm drains, creeks and rivers could dump hazardous levels of bacteria into the water due to this week’s rainfall.

“Santa Monica Review” Releases Fall Issue
October 8, 2015 -- Santa Monica College will mark the release of the Fall 2015 issue of its acclaimed national literary arts journal with a party and reading this month, college officials announced Wednesday.

The Man who Made the Santa Monica Promenade Shine Dies
October 7, 2015 -- Eddie Greenberg, who more than anyone is responsible for making Santa Monica's Promenade shine, from its sidewalks to its light poles, died last week. He was 72.

Santa Monica Could Get New Gelson's Store
October 7, 2015 -- If a bankruptcy court judge signs off on the deal, a Haggen store on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica could become a Gelson's, company officials said this week, announcing the pending sale of 36 Haggen stores in California and Nevada.

Santa Monica College Hosts Tribute to Herbert Ross
October 7, 2015 --  Renowned director, producer and dancer Herbert Ross will be the subject of a tribute that includes a free screening of his award-winning film “The Turning Point” Saturday at Santa Monica College.

Hedge Battle Heads to Santa Monica Planning Commission
October 6, 2015 -- Following a three-week hiatus, the Santa Monica Planning Commission will meet again on Wednesday with an agenda that includes a classic hedge-height battle and proposed modifications to a former mayor's rent-controlled home.

Santa Monica Tops Dubious “Drunkest City” List
October 6, 2015 -- Santa Monica has the most bars per capita in the State of California, helping to account for its dubious distinction as the “Drunkest City in California,” according to a recent survey by RoadSnacks.

Santa Monica-Malibu School District Bond Program Consultant Comes on Board
October 6, 2015 -- Massetti Consulting, LLC last month began managing the Santa Monica-Malibu School District's bond program under a $420,000 contract for the first year, District officials announced Monday.

Clinton, Rubio Lead Fundraising in Santa Monica
October 5, 2015 -- Who is the most popular US presidential candidate in Santa Monica? If fundraising is the indicator, then the top competitor by far is former first lady, senator and secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

Santa Monica Squeaks by Water Savings Goal in August
October 5, 2015 -- During the hottest August on record, Santa Monica residents still managed to save enough water to barely meet a conservation goal, but so did residents statewide, according to figures for the month.

Santa Monica Prepares for Halloween
October 5, 2015 -- You don't have to wait until Halloween to be spooked in Santa Monica. An outdoor movie, a musical and a storytelling night will all be held Downtown this month before the ghosts and goblins come out on October 31.

Santa Monica City Council Requests Ethics Review
October 2, 2015 -- Facing public calls for an investigation, the City Council voted Tuesday to order an outside review of Santa Monica’s anti-corruption law that could include looking at whether political wrongdoing by Council member Pam O’Connor led to the controversial firing of a public relations director last year.

Santa Monica Group Blasts Exxon's Refinery Sale
October 2, 2015 -- Immediately after announcing this week the company is selling its Torrance refinery, which has shut down since an explosion in February, ExxonMobile officials came under fire from Consumer Watchdog in Santa Monica.

The Women of Marvel Comics at Santa Monica Library
October 2, 2015 -- If you still think comic books and superheroes are a guy’s thing, head to the Santa Monica Public Library this month and meet the women who are proving this perception wrong.

Santa Monica Council Rejects Union’s Challenge of Georgian Hotel Modifications
October 1, 2015 -- Limited expansion of restaurant service at the Georgian Hotel on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica will go forward after the City Council on Tuesday rejected an appeal by the Unite Here Local 11 union of the permit granted last year by the Planning Commission.

Santa Monica Looks To Create “Parklets” for Main Street
October 1, 2015 -- Looking for a way to wedge a little green space for socializing on otherwise busy Main Street, Santa Monica City officials are starting a pilot project to create two “parklets” there.

Santa Monica Library Summer Reading Program Draws Strong Participation, Officials Say
October 1, 2015 -- Some 4,600 children and teens participated in the Santa Monica Public Library's  10-week-long summer reading program this year, library officials reported Wednesday.