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The Santa Monica Lookout, Santa Monica, California -- APRIL 2018

Santa Monica-Malibu Schools to Consider Easing Enrollment Requirements for Homeless Youth
April 30, 2018 -- Santa Monica-Malibu public schools could ease the residency requirements for enrollment for homeless youngsters under a proposal headed to the School Board on Thursday.

State Bill Could Boost Santa Monica's Affordable Housing, Public Transit Goals
April 30, 2018 -- A Santa Monica lawmaker's bill that would create "Transit Improvement Districts" could help ease the beach city's affordable housing crisis, boost its transportation initiatives and create more green space, a sponsor of the bill said.

Santa Monica College Symposium to Focus on Public Health Policy
April 30, 2018 -- The Santa Monica College Public Policy Institute will explore how California citizens can influence both local and national public health policy during a symposium next week.

Bill by Santa Monica Lawmaker to Close Ellis Act "Loopholes" Clears Key Committee
April 27, 2018 -- A bill by a Santa Monica lawmaker that would make it harder for landlords to skirt protections for renters under the Ellis Act cleared a key hurdle this week. Authored by Santa Monica-area Assemblyman Richard Bloom, AB 2364 made it out of the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee on a 5-2 vote Wednesday.

Woman Ousted from Orange County School Post in Fallout from Santa Monica Social Justice Workshop
April 27, 2018 -- A woman who allegedly called minorities “colored people” in a YouTube video she took at a Santa Monica social justice workshop was ousted from an Orange County school district committee Tuesday in fallout from the incident.

Santa Monica Back in the Cultural Spotlight with David Hockney Painting
April 27, 2018 -- Santa Monica made international headlines again this week with news that David Hockney's 1990 landscape "Pacific Coast Highway and Santa Monica" will likely fetch between $20 million and $30 million at an auction next month.

Neighbors Lose Bid to Stop Apartment Complex on Santa Monica’s Lincoln Boulevard
April 26, 2018 -- Residents lost a bid on Tuesday to stop a four-story mixed-use development on Lincoln Boulevard they said will rise up, without a buffer, next to single family homes and pour more traffic onto streets already mostly gridlocked.

Activists at 'Denim Day' Rally at Santa Monica City Hall Vow 'No More'
April 26, 2018 -- Activists rallied on the steps of Santa Monica City Hall Wednesday as part of “Denim Day,” a nationwide movement that asks the public to don denim for a day to demonstrate support for survivors of sexual abuse and the pursuit of reducing sexual violence.

Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation to Hold 3nd Annual Wine Auction
April 26, 2018 -- More than 30 vendors will offer samplings of wine and food during the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation's 3nd annual Wine Auction May 6, Foundation officials announced this week.

Santa Monica City Council Gives Nod to Pilot Project for Sub-Fleet of Electric City Buses
April 24, 2018 -- Amid sinking ridership and rising red ink, Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus system was given to go-ahead Tuesday for a pilot project to start a sub-fleet of electric City buses.

Something Affordable in Santa Monica -- Used Cars
April 25, 2018 -- From the price of a home to monthly rent and even a parking space, Santa Monica is known for being among the nation’s most expensive slices of seaside paradise.

Young Students Exposed to STEM at Santa Monica College Festival
April 25, 2018 -- Some 80 families attended Santa Monica College's free STEM Festival on Saturday giving their middle and elementary school children a fun, hands-on look at the growing technical fields, college officials said.

Judge Rules Against Returning Renovated Santa Monica Apartment Building to Rent Control
April 24, 2018 -- A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ruled last week that the City's Rent Control Board lacked to power to revoke a removal permit granted a quarter century ago.

Suspect Charged in Santa Monica Train Collision
April 24, 2018 -- Santa Monica police filed charges Monday against a drunk driver involved in a collision with a Metro Expo Line train last week, police officials said.

OPINION: Major Landlord Group Reacts to “Affordable Housing Act” Voter Initiative
April 24, 2018 -- While the proponents of the “Affordable Housing Act” voter initiative falsely claim that repealing Costa-Hawkins will result in more affordable housing, real world experience in city after city has proven this to be false.

Mixed-Use Project on Lincoln Will Have “Devastating” Impact, Neighbors Claim in Appeal
April 23, 2018 -- Neighbors are appealing a four-story apartment mixed-use project on Lincoln Boulevard to the City Council Tuesday, saying it would have a “devastating impact in perpetuity” to neighbors and commuters alike.

Santa Monica Term Limits Campaign Enters Final Lap
April 21, 2018 -- With a self-imposed deadline of April 30, volunteers are “on track” to collect more than enough signatures to place a proposed initiative on the November ballot imposing term limits on the Santa Monica City Council, the head organizer said Friday.

Santa Monica College Debate Team Takes Home Awards in National Tournament April 23, 2018 -- The Santa Monica College (SMC) Debate Team continued to garner national recognition this month, winning multiple awards at a national tournament in Florida.

Santa Monica Term Limits Campaign Enters Final Lap
April 21, 2018 -- With a self-imposed deadline of April 30, volunteers are “on track” to collect more than enough signatures to place a proposed initiative on the November ballot imposing term limits on the Santa Monica City Council, the head organizer said Friday.

Santa Monica College Debate Team Takes Home Awards in National Tournament April 23, 2018 -- The Santa Monica College (SMC) Debate Team continued to garner national recognition this month, winning multiple awards at a national tournament in Florida.

Backers of Statewide Affording Housing Initiative to Submit Signed Petitions Monday, According to Report
April 20, 2018 -- The campaign to repeal California' vacancy decontrol law, which if approved could have a major impact in Santa Monica, has announced it has gathered more than enough signatures to place the measure on the ballot, according to a news report.

Santa Monica Bike Share Program Expands to Neighboring Communities
April 20, 2018 -- On Monday, Santa Monica's Breeze Bike Share system will expand to encompass a 35-square mile system area that includes three neighboring Westside communities, Santa Monica officials announced this week.

90-Minute Free Street Parking Survives as Santa Monica City Council Considers Raising Parking Fees
April 20, 2018 – After community push back, parking in City-owned Parking Structures in Santa Monica remains free for the first 90 minutes, although long-term parking in crowded downtown City parking structures zooms as much as 70 percent in a Citywide fee adjustment meant, ultimately, to discourage cars and more congestion.

Students Expected to Descend on Santa Monica City Hall to Protest National School Violence
April 19, 2018 -- Marking the 19th anniversary of the Columbine school killings, hundreds of students and others are expected at the steps of Santa Monica City Hall on Friday as part of a national school walkout to protest school gun violence.

Santa Monica City Council “Retreat” to Look at Offering Faster and More Agile City Services
April 19, 2018 -- Faced with a community that demands more and faster City services, the Santa Monica City Council on Saturday will discuss how to make City Hall quicker, more agile and affordable as it tries to meet the demands of a growing population.

Santa Monica's New Pedestrian Bridge Wins Major Engineering Award
April 19, 2018 -- Santa Monica's new pedestrian bridge across the California Incline has been named California’s Outstanding Bikeway and Trails Project for 2017, TRC Companies Inc. announced this week.

City of Santa Monica Enters Second Year of Fight Against Voting Rights Lawsuit

April 19, 2018 -- Legal costs are rising, although it is not clear how much the City of Santa Monica has spent on the Voting Rights lawsuit filed by local Latino activists that is entering its second year.

Three Injured in Train Collision in Santa Monica
April 18, 2018 -- Three people were injured when a vehicle driven by a drunk driver ran a red light and was struck by a Metro train in Santa Monica shortly after midnight Wednesday, police said.

Santa Monica School Teacher Becomes Debut Novelist
April 18, 2018 -- For 20 years, Julie Clark has taught at Roosevelt Elementary School in Santa Monica, studying alongside her students how stories are made. Next month, the years of teaching young readers is paying off in an unexpected way.

Downtown Officials Seek Public's Help in Reimagining the Promenade
April 17, 2018 -- Three decades after the newly christened Third Street Promenade began pumping new life into Santa Monica's moribund central shopping strip, Downtown officials are seeking the public's help reimagining its future.

Santa Monica Rent Board Again Tables Measure to Expand Rent Control
April 17, 2018 --The Santa Monica Rent Control Board last week once again tabled a motion, this time indefinitely, supporting a ballot measure to expand rent control in the beach city.

Fourth Santa Monica College Student Film Picked to Screen at Cannes
April 17 -- A Santa Monica College student film about an aging closeted gay man struggling with Alzheimer’s has been accepted into the American Pavilion at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, school officials announced this week.

Santa Monica-Malibu School Board Takes Steps to Create Separate Funding Districts
April 16, 2018 -- Paving the way for potentially splitting the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, the School Board on Thursday took initial steps to form two school facilities improvement districts (SFIDs).

New Santa Monica Library Program Allows Young Cardholders to Pay Fines By Reading
April 16, 2018 -- Starting today, Santa Monica Library cardholders who are 18 years old and younger can read -- or be read to -- as a way to earn "bucks" to pay their overdue fines.

Santa Monica's Meet Me at Reed Free Performance Series Kicks of with Jazz
April 16, 2018 -- The City's 2nd annual Meet Me at Reed outdoor performance series at Christine Emerson Reed Park kicks off next Saturday with the Santa Monica Jazz All-Stars, City officials announced last week.

Santa Monica Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Fair Housing Act
April 13, 2018 -- The Santa Monica City Attorney's Office will hold a workshop and student poster contest to commemorate Fair Housing Month.

Santa Monica Slow-Growth Group Gives Miramar Hotel's New Plan Negative Reviews, Residocracy Leader Says
April 13, 2018 -- If the initial reaction from members of Santa Monica's largest slow-growth group is an indication, the redevelopment plans unveiled by the Miramar Hotel this week could meet some stiff opposition.

Memoir of Japanese Family's Internment Subject of 16th Annual Santa Monica Reads
April 13, 2018 -- A 45-year-old memoir that traces a Japanese family's forced relocation from their Ocean Park home to a WWII internment camp in the high desert is this year's pick for "Santa Monica Reads," library officials announced this week.

EXTRA New Miramar Hotel Design Embraces Past, Present and Future of Santa Monica, Developers Say
April 12, 2018 -- Compared to previous versions floated over the past six years, the Miramar Hotel's new design -- publicly unveiled on Thursday -- seems low-slung with a design that developers say embraces Santa Monica's past, present and future.

Santa Monica Lawmaker's Bills to Ban Rat Poisons, Toxic Flame Retardant Chemicals Pass Key Committee
April 12, 2018 -- Two bills sponsored by Santa Monica Assemblymember Richard Bloom to further tackle environmental threats passed a key committee this week.

Santa Monica College Celebrates Earth Week with STEM Festival
April 12, 2018 -- Santa Monica College this month will offer live demos, hands-on experiments and workshops at a STEM Festival celebrating Earth Week.

Anti-Union Group Aims New Swing at Union Representing Santa Monica Hotel Workers
April 11, 2018 -- In a new swipe, an anti-union group is highlighting a 120 percent increase in charges to “initiate” new members of UNITE HERE’s Local 11, which represents a rising number of Santa Monica hotel employees.

OPINION -- It's Time to Extend Santa Monica's 30 Percent Affordable Housing Target to Vacancy Control
April 11, 2018 -- Santa Monica has a chance to be a leader in affordable housing, one that does not push private landlords out of business, but respects their needs and aspirations, resulting in better housing for everyone, and more affordable housing for those who truly need it.

Santa Monica Police Crack Down on Distracted Drivers
April 11, 2018 -- Santa Monica police on Friday will crack down on motorists who use their cell pones while driving as part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, officials announced Monday.

Santa Monica’s Extremely Green City Services Building Project to Require Nearly Six Figures for “Enhanced” Oversight
April 10, 2018 -- The City of Santa Monica’s extremely green $77 million City Services Building project will require a special level of “commissioning” to ensure all environmentally ahead-of-the-curve systems work efficiently.

Bill by Santa Monica Legislator to Tackle Plastic Microfiber Ocean Pollution Clears Key Committee
April 10, 2018 – A bill requiring that all clothing made primarily of polyester include a label warning cleared a key committee in the California legislature Monday, said Santa Monica-area Assembly Member Richard Bloom.

Former Santa Monica Gallery Showcases Unique Multi-Media Works
April 10, 2018 -- The distinct works of two multimedia artists will be on display starting this month at Track 16 gallery, which relocated to Los Angeles from Santa Monica's Bergamot Station to make way for the Expo train line.

New Flight Paths Prompt Complaints of “Unbearable Noise” in Skies Over Santa Monica
April 9, 2018 – After a year in effect, the federal government’s GPS-propelled overhaul of air traffic has resulted in 28 percent of aircraft flying too low over Santa Monica, causing noise that can be “unbearable,” City officials said.

War Novel Subject of Reading at Santa Monica College
April 9, 2018 -- Santa Monica College (SMC) will host a free reading next week featuring the authors of a new war novel set in Iraq. Christopher Meeks, who teaches English at SMC, and film director Samuel Gonzalez, Jr, will read from “The Chords of War” on Tuesday, April 17.

Santa Monica Board Poised to Recommend Charter Amendment Expanding Rent Control
April 6, 2018 -- The Santa Monica Rent Control Board on Thursday is poised to back a ballot measure that would, in some cases, roll back rent-controlled rates to the amount initially paid by the tenants under full vacancy decontrol.

Santa Monica Rattled as Temblor Hits Southern California
April 6, 2018 -- A 5.3-magnitude earthquake rocked and rolled through Southern California on Thursday, a nerve-rattling reminder from Santa Monica to Palmdale and Bakersfield and down to Orange County that the Big One, or permutations thereof, could strike at any time.

All Eleven Santa Monica PAL Runners Recognized for Finishing LA Marathon
April 6, 2018 -- All 11 runners from the Santa Monica Police Activities League ( PAL) crossed the finish line in last month's 26.2-mile Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon, PAL officials announced Friday.

Santa Monica Mayor Says He Was Unaware of Illegal Campaign Contributions
April 5, 2018 -- Santa Monica Mayor Ted Winterer says he did not know a series of contributions to his 2012 campaign were illegally disguised by the Huntley Hotel, which was fined $310,000 last August by California’s campaign watchdog commission.

City Considers Assessing Aging Buildings at Santa Monica Airport
April 5, 2018 -- The Santa Monica City Council is considering a two-year, $756,140 assessment of the wear and tear and other signs of aging of non-aviation buildings it leases to nearly 400 tenants at the Santa Monica Airport.

Art at Tongva Offers an Immersive Exploration of Santa Monica Public Spaces
April 5, 2018 -- Participants will get a glimpse of "what may lie beneath the surface of daily life" this weekend when Art at Tongva stages "Among Us." Later this month, Wilderness will perform "Leaves of Grass," a text and movement work, and "On Paper," which examines "domestic relationships.

Santa Monica’s Reed Park Target of Complaints about Drugs and Other Illegal Activities
April 4, 2018 -- One year after extensive renovation, Santa Monica’s Reed Park is the subject of rising complaints from neighbors alleging drug sales and other illegal activities are scaring visitors away.

Santa Monica Joins in Amicus Brief to Fight Trump Travel Ban
April 3, 2018 -- The City of Santa Monica has signed an amicus brief fighting the Trump Administration’s travel ban on entry into the U.S. from eight countries, soon to go the to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Santa Monica Rents Dip but Still 80 Percent Higher than National Median
April 3, 2018 -- Median rents in Santa Monica dipped for the second month in a row in March, but were nonetheless 80 percent higher than their counterparts nationwide, a new tally of rents across the U.S. has found.

Proposal Increases Costs for Student Bus Passes at Santa Monica-Malibu Public Schools
April 3, 2018 -- Annual bus passes for Santa Monica-Malibu public school pupils would rise six percent over three years to $1,646 for families with three or more students under a proposal headed to the school board.

LETTERS: Thank You from Bob Holbrook

Santa Monica College Literary Series Features Poetry Readings
April 3, 2016 -- Santa Monica College professors and students will read their poetry this month as part of the school's ongoing Literary Talks & Readings series, officials announced this week.

Apartment Project Near Freeway that Triggered Health Concerns Returns to Santa Monica Planning Commission
April 2, 2018 -- A proposed apartment complex on Lincoln Boulevard, initially deemed by City officials as being too imposing and too close to the Santa Monica Freeway, heads back to the Planning Commission on Wednesday with a recommendation of approval after changes to the blueprints.

Santa Monica College Offers High School Students Pioneering Media and Tech Program This Summer

April 2, 2018 -- High school students can get a taste of the burgeoning tech and media fields in a pioneering program at Santa Monica College' new Media and Design Center this summer. “Media & Tech Summer Experience” offers two six-week summer courses that begin June 18.

OPINION: City Should Submit Santa Monica Civic Center Field to Coastal Commission Now
April 2, 2018 -- New data staff presented to City Council in early March reveals the City not only has the data to submit to the Coastal Commission, but also shows us there’s presently enough parking available in the Civic Center for the Sports Field.

Children's Museum Headed to Santa Monica Place Receives Major Donation
April 2, 2018 -- The Zimmer Children's Museum will have a new name when it opens at Santa Monica Place this year thanks to a major gift from Barry and Andrea Cayton, museum officials announced Monday.

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