The Santa
Monica Lookout, Santa Monica, California -- December 2019
Former Santa Monica Police Chief Accused of Retaliation, Harassment December 23, 2019 -- The former top aide to Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, Jr. is accusing Santa Monica's former police chief of sexual harassment and retaliation after she allegedly ended their longstanding romantic relationship.
Fire Breaks Out at Huntley Hotel December 23, 2019 -- Santa Monica firefighters are investigating the cause of a fire that broke out in a trash bin behind the Huntley Hotel and spread to the lower floors of the Downtown highrise shortly after midnight Sunday.
SPECIAL REPORT --Housing Targets Will Be Difficult to Contest, Experts Say
December 17, 2019 -- Unless the numbers change, there is little chance Santa Monica can lower its State-mandated target of building more than 9,000 new housing units -- more than two-thirds affordable -- over the next decade, experts say.
LA Man Sentenced in Santa Monica Carjacking December 20, 2019 -- A 23-year-old Los Angeles man has been sentenced to three years in prison for his role in a carjacking that took place in October in Sunset Park.
OPINION -- What 2019 Taught Santa Monica About Unite Here Local 11 December 20, 2019 -- From what we’ve seen over the last year, City officials continue to put the wishes of Local 11 over the wishes of city residents, writes Charlyce Bozzello from the Center for Union Facts.
LETTERS -- Santa Monica Property Owners Need to Wake Up December 18, 20019 --
Once again the entire Santa Monica City Council -- comprised of 100 percent Santa Monica Renters' Rights candidates -- has thrown another wedge into the supply and demand housing equation.
Low-Income Santa Monica Tenants Win $1 Million Settlement December 17, 2019 -- Nine low-income tenants displaced after the run-down SRO apartments they lived in near the Santa Monica Pier caught fire four years ago have won a $1 million settlement, their attorneys announced Monday.
Santa Monica to Study Creating Two Bus-Only Lanes December 16, 2019 -- (UPDATED) Santa Monica will study implementing two new bus-only lanes -- one on Pico Boulevard, the other on 4th Street -- to speed up service on the two busy routes.
'Santa Monica Takes Initial Step to Dramatically Boost Housing Production December 13, 2019 -- Accepting the daunting task of building 9,000 new housing units over the next decade -- more than two-thirds of them affordable -- the City Council this week began exploring removing caps on development.
Shore Hotel Obtains Coastal Permits, Sets Aside Affordable Rooms December 13, 2019 -- The Shore Hotel in Santa Monica must pay an additional $2.3 million in fees and set aside 72 moderately priced rooms in order to continue operating after opening the luxury hotel without the proper permits.
OPINION -- Contrasting Visions of Santa Monica
The removal of the powerfully optimistic "Pleasures Along the Beach" left a hole in the public art space that, not coincidentally, was filled by Los Angeles activist and artist Ed Massey with "In the Image."
McKeown Assumes Post as Santa Monica Mayor December 11, 2019 – Councilmember Kevin McKeown was installed as Santa Monica's mayor Tuesday, marking the second time he holds the mostly ceremonial post.
EXTRA --Santa Monica, Airbnb Settle Home-Sharing Battle December 10, 2019 -- The City signed a major settlement agreement Tuesday with Airbnb, Inc. that is expected to "dramatically reduce" illegal listings under Santa Monica's pioneering home-sharing ordinance, City officials announced.
Santa Monica Ranks Third in County for Pedestrian Crashes, Injuries December 9, 2019 -- Santa Monica ranked near the top of the list of Los Angeles County cities with the most pedestrian crashes and injuries in 2018, according to a new report by a personal injury law firm.
First Two Revised SRO Developments Get Hearing December 5, 2019 -- The first two market-rate SRO projects resubmitted under a settlement agreement between the developer and City got their first public hearing Monday.
Council to Consider Extending Exemption to Plastic Ban December 5, 2019 -- The City Council on Tuesday will consider extending for another year an exemption that allows the use of cups and lids outlawed under its ban on single-use plastics.
Santa Monica Clings to Christmas Tradition December 4, 2019 -- For 66 years, Santa Monica's nativity scenes have survived -- weathering funding crises, changes in public taste and a near-fatal attack from atheists. On Monday, the 14 quaintly anachronistic scenes will be back, lining the perimeter of Calvary Baptist Church.
Homeless Winter Shelter Opens December 3, 2019 -- As a winter storm blows in and temperatures begin to drop, Santa Monica's homeless can take shelter in Los Angeles.
FAA Finds Santa Monica Mishandled Airport Loans December 2, 2019 -- In what aviation advocates called "a morsel of good news," the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last month found the City of Santa Monica mishandled loans to its airport.
