The Santa
Monica Lookout, Santa Monica, California -- FEBRUARY 2019
Santa Monica Council Tweaks Public Input Rules February 28, 2019 -- Worried about curtailing public testimony, the City Council on Tuesday rejected any major changes to its public input polices. Instead, it unanimously voted to allowed speakers who cut their comments from 2 minutes to 1 to choose to speak first on an item.
Santa Monica Conservancy Celebrates Architect Julia Morgan's Legacy February 28, 2019 -- Julia Morgan, California's first female architect, designed at least 700 buildings. On Sunday, the Santa Monica Conservancy will commemorate Morgan's legacy at the guest house and pool she designed in Santa Monica.
Santa Monica Council Votes to Spend $100,000 on 'Wellbeing Summit' February 27, 2019 -- It's won global awards for the City and grants totaling well over $1 million. The City manager's office has a $200,000-a-year "czar" and staff dedicated to improving it.
But what is wellbeing?
City Seeks Public Input on "Climate Action" Plan February 27, 2019 -- Members of the public have until April 1 to weigh in on the City's plan to dramatically reduce Santa Monica's carbon footprint.
Santa Monica Mayor Discusses City's Appeal in Voting Rights Suit February 25, 2019 -- The day after the City Council voted unanimously to appeal a Superior Court decision that the City of Santa Monica had violated the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA), Mayor Gleam Davis shared her views with The Lookout.
Letters from LA's Distant Past, Robotics Discussed at SMC's Spring Literary Talks & Readings Series
February 25, 2019 -- Santa Monica College's 18th annual Spring Literary Talks & Readings series features a presentation titled "Creating Robots that Care" by award-winning robotics designer Maja Mataric. The series, which features distinguished authors discussing and reading from their works, kicks off Tuesday.
Council Set to Boost Fines for "Pot Shop" Violators February 22, 2019 -- Worried that the default $75 fine will do little to deter the illegal retail sale of medicinal marijuana, the City Council is expected to boost the penalty on Tuesday to $1,000.
EXTRA Santa Monica Council Votes to Appeal Voting Rights Ruling February 21, 2019 -- The City Council on Thursday unanimously voted to appeal a Superior Court ruling last week that found Santa Monica's at large election system discriminates against Latino voters.
Santa Monica City Council to Explore How to Shorten Meetings February 21, 2019 -- Known for its lengthy meetings, the Santa Monica City Council on Tuesday is scheduled to vote on ways to streamline public testimony, including limiting a speakers' time under certain circumstances.
Santa Monica Lawmaker Introduces Comprehensive Bill to Phase Out Single-Use Plastic February 21, 2019 -- Santa Monica remained at the forefront of the fight to ban plastics in California with a comprehensive bill introduced Thursday by State Sen. Ben Allen that would phase out the sale and distribution of single-use plastics by 2030.
OPINION -- One Councilmember We Can Trust Is Better than Seven We Can’t February 21, 2019 -- History will show that Santa Monica’s fake liberal establishment pursued an ego-driven legal adventure that failed in thwarting a positive change in our election system, writes Oscar de la Torre.
Santa Monica Hires New Criminal Chief February 20, 2019 -- Santa Monica has hired a criminal prosecutor from LA to head the City Attorneys Criminal Division, which prosecutes a wide variety of crimes, City officials announced this week.
City Likely Faces Uphill Battle in Voting Rights Case, Experts Say
February 19, 2019 -- (UPDATED)The City of Santa Monica faces an uphill battle if the Council votes on Thursday to appeal last week's Superior Court decision in the voting rights case filed by Latino plaintiffs, election experts told the Lookout.
Santa Monica Police Make Major Bust
February 19, 2019 -- A drug dealing investigation that began in Santa Monica led to the arrest last week of three suspects and the seizure of a large cache of weapons, drugs and cash, police said Tuesday.
EXTRA Council Could Decide Thursday on Appeal in Voting Rights Lawsuit February 19, 2019 -- The City Council could decide at a special meeting on Thursday whether to appeal last week's Superior Court ruling in a voting rights case filed by Latino plaintiffs.
Judge Orders Special District Elections for Council in Final Ruling February 15, 2019 -- In her final ruling, the judge in the voting rights lawsuit against the City has ordered a special district-based election on July 2 for all seven council seats. Candidates not elected through district-based elections "are prohibited from serving" after August 15.
Santa Monica's Tourism Industry Recognized with Economic Excellence Award February 15, 2019 -- Santa Monica's booming tourism industry -- which pumped $66 million in bed taxes alone into the City's coffers last year -- has been recognized with an Economic Excellence Award from the Chamber of Commerce.
Santa Monica Big Blue Bus System Offers Free Wi-Fi, Improved Stops February 15, 2019 -- Passengers aboard 19 Santa Monica buses can now access free Wi-Fi service that will soon be available on all of the fleet's newest 40-foot buses, agency officials announced Thursday.
Man Charged with Attempted Murder in Brutal Beating of Girlfriend February 14, 2019 -- The Los Angeles District Attorney's office has filed attempted murder charges against a man suspected of beating his girlfriend unconscious in a Santa Monica apartment last week.
Santa Monica Coalition Pauses Political Activities February 13, 2019 -- The Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City (SMCLC) -- which helped usher in a slow-growth movement more than a decade ago -- has terminated its political action committee.
City Council Quickly Dispatches Low-Key Agenda February 13, 2019 -- In a swift meeting with no hot-button issues, the City Council on Tuesday cast a series of unanimous votes that drew little or no public testimony.
Santa Monica Place Celebrates Chinese Year of the Pig
February 13, 2019 -- Those who adhere to the Chinese Lunar New Year can ring in what promises to be a year of wealth and fortune at Santa Monica Place on Saturday.
Santa Monica College Planetarium Presents 'Scouting the Moon' February 11, 2019 -- The image of man bouncing on the hard surface of the moon seems natural, but before Apollo 11 landed, there were dire and fantastic preditions of what could happen.
Major Santa Monica Developer Tries to Get Properties Back February 8, 2019 -- Neil Shekhter and his affiliated companies will ask a Santa Monica Superior Court judge to rescind the 2016 sale of nine NMS properties claiming the buyers “were not bona fide purchasers,” his attorney said.
Federal Judge Dismisses Voting Rights Claim Charging Racial Gerrymandering February 7, 2019 -- A federal judge this week rejected a challenge to the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) filed by the former mayor of Poway, one of the cities that switched to district elections after being threatened with a lawsuit.
Scaled-Down Pier Concert Series Needs to Grow, Staff Says
February 7, 2019 -- Santa Monica's down-scaled "Twilight on the Pier" concerts may have been too successful in drawing smaller crowds last year and need a schedule change, according to City officials who manage the series.
OPINION -- 'Shaping a Changing World' February 7, 2019 -- In her State of the City Address Wednsday night -- "Shaping a Changing World" -- Mayor Gleam Davis looked at Santa Monica's immediate and long-term future.
City Resolves 11 Section 8 Income Discrimination Complaints February 6, 2019 -- City prosecutors announced Wednesday they have resolved eleven housing discrimination complaints filed by tenants who were turned down because they were using Section 8 vouchers.
Santa Monica Education Foundation Raises $150,000 During Week-Long Match
February 5, 2019 -- Nearly 800 donors -- spurred by a a $25,000 matching grant from The Fairmont Miramar Hotel -- donated a total of $150,119 to the Santa Monica Education Foundation during a week-long match campaign, Foundation officials announced last week.
PART II: Councilmember Jara's Cross Examination in Voting Rights Lawsuit February 4, 2019 -- In her testimony in the voting rights lawsuit against the City newly appointed Councilmember Ana Jara provided insight into her views and positions. This is the second and last installment of excerpts from her testimony on September 10, 2018.
Santa Monica Prosecutors Help Win Settlement Against Direct Marketer
February 4, 2019 -- A task force of local prosecutors that included the Santa Monica City Attorneys office has reached a settlement potentially totaling $8.4 million with one of the world’s largest direct marketing companies, City officials announced Monday.
Community Corp of Santa Monica Wins $1 Million Innovation Grant February 1, 2019 -- Santa Monica's biggest affordable housing provider has received a $1 million innovation grant for a "design toolkit" that allows pre-fab housing to be built easily on any lot.
LETTERS -- Stop Violating the Law and Ignoring Residents February 1, 2019 -- If you want us to “stop suing [you],” ok; no problem. Just stop violating the law and ignoring residents when they point out your violations, writes attorney Kevin Shenkman.
LETTERS -- Scooter, Bike Riders: Uninformed or Scofflaws? February 1, 2019 -- Have rental scooter and electric bike riders not been told that it is illegal to ride on sidewalks or are they just scofflaws? writes a Santa Monica resident.
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