The Santa
Monica Lookout, Santa Monica, California -- September 2019
Santa Monica Police Prevent Fifth Parking Structure Suicide September 30, 2019 -- Santa Monica Police on Sunday thwarted what would have been the fifth suicide from a Downtown parking structure in little more than a year, according to police.
Appeals Court Orders City to Cut Length of Brief in Voting Rights Case September 30, 2019 -- The City of Santa Monica's draft of its brief in the voting rights lawsuit is far too long and must be substantially cut, although it can exceed the customary length, the California Court of Appeals ruled last week.
Santa Monica Pier Showcased in Screen Disaster Again September 24, 2019 -- Ever since Charlie Chaplin filmed “Tillie’s Punctured Romance” in 1914 at the Santa Monica Pier, the iconic structure has been showcased on the small and large screen nearly a hundred times.
Santa Monica Hikes Fines for Housing Violations September 27, 2019 -- Property owners who violate Santa Monica's housing laws will face much stiffer fines under a fee schedule adopted by the City Council on Tuesday.
Construction Begins to Improve North Beach Paths in Santa Monica September 25, 2019 -- The City is embarking on $12.3 million worth of improvements to two major beach paths north of the Santa Monica Pier that will make them safer and easier to navigate, City officials announced Wednesday.
City's Breach of Gift Policy Led to Mural's Loss, Arts Commission Says September 24, 2019 -- The City of Santa Monica committed an "unexplained breach" of policy when it decided not to accept an iconic mural without a public process, the Arts Commission said in a letter last week to the City Council.
Homeless Man Booked for Attempted Murder Downtown September 24, 2019 -- A homeless man was arrested for attempted murder after beating a victim unconscious shortly after midnight Friday in Downtown Santa Monica.
Samohi Graduate Charged with Stalking, Assualt September 23, 2019 -- A 21-year-old Samohi graduate who appeared on a popular YouTube reality TV series has been charged with stalking two students in Berkeley and assualting one of them.
SMC Media Series Features Cutting-Edge Technologies September 23, 2019 -- Santa Monica College kicks off its fall media lecture series Thursday ith a look at how online news can better cover "marginalized communities," event organizers announced last week.
Barricaded Suspect Prompts Major Police Response September 20, 2019 -- A man who barricaded himself behind a dumpster at a Santa Monica auto dealership was apprehended early Friday morning after a standoff with police that lasted several hours.
Santa Monica Hosts Walk to End Alzheimer’s Sunday September 20, 2019 -- The Alzheimer’s Association will hold a walk in Santa Monica on Sunday to raise awareness and funds to battle the mentally crippling disease. The annual walk will begin at 10:30 a.m. in Tongva Park across from Santa Monica City Hall.
OPINION -- Local 11's Changing Definition of Workplace Safety September 19, 2019 -- After a lawsuit challenged Long Beach's authority to cap housekeeper workloads by square footage, the hotel union denied its original description of the law's purpose.
Yahoo! Removes Story Based on Santa Monica Paper's "Satirical Post" September 18, 2019 -- Yahoo!'s news site on Wednesday removed an article based on a "satirical post" in a Santa Monica newspaper -- but not before a brief media storm sent the parties involved into damage control.
Felon Found Guilty of Fatal Stabbing in Tongva Park September 18, 2019 -- A felon on probation was found guilty of second degree murder in the fatal stabbing of a man sleeping on a park bench across from Santa Monica City Hall last year. Jessie Ramirez Perez, faces 15 years to life in prison, police said Wednesday.
City Offers Grants to Enliven Reed Park September 18, 2019 -- The City of Santa Monica is offering $500 grants for winning ideas to activate Reed Park and bring more people together, officials announced Wednesday.
Kids Flock to 15th Annual PALpalooza at Pacific Park September 17, 2019 -- On Friday, hundreds of kids from Police Activities League (CalPAL) chapters across Southern California were treated to a free fun-filled evening at Pacific Park.
Santa Monica Hotel Settles Worker Complaints with Labor Board September 16, 2019 -- The JW Marriott Le Merigot in Santa Monica last week agreed to pay more than $35,000 in worker bonuses and offered to reinstate a fired worker as part of a settlement with the National Labor Relations Board, union officials announced Monday.
Santa Monica Lawmaker's Plastic Recycling Bill Fails to Win Support September 16, 2019 -- (UPDATED) Santa Monica State Senator Ben Allen vowed Monday to bring back a bill that would phase out the sale and distribution of single-use plastics after California lawmakers adjourned early Saturday without taking action.
SPECIAL REPORT Santa Monica Tops List of California Cities with Biggest Pensions August 13, 2019 -- The City of Santa Monica this year will make separate payments to 28 retired employees whose pensions were so large they exceeded IRS limits, an analysis of pension data by The Lookout found. In fact, Santa Monica had more retirees whose pensions exceeded the federal limit than any other city in the state.
Suspected Burglar Hospitalized After Police-Involved Shooting September 13, 2019 -- A suspected burglar was shot and wounded by Santa Monica police Thursday evening after he barricaded himself in a backyard with a gun, where he was confronted by police and taken into custody.
Battle Over 'McMansions' Escalates in Santa Monica as New Standards Head to Council September 12, 2019 -- In the image, a masked burglar who resembles a terrorist is breaking into a home to steal its value. The postcard -- mailed to Santa Monica homeowners this week -- is an effort to rally them before the Council considers proposed revisions to curb the size of Santa Monica homes.
Santa Monica Police to Conduct Second DUI Checkpoint in Three Weeks on Friday September 12, 2019 -- As Santa Monica police prepare to conduct their 15th DUI checkpoint since 2016 on Friday and the second in the past three weeks, data released by the department shows the extent of the problem of driving under the influence.
Santa Monica Tightens Loopholes in Home-Sharing Law
September 11, 2019 -- The City Council on Tuesday closed a series of loopholes in Santa Monica's home-sharing law that allowed a house on upscale Adelaide Drive to be rented as a quasi youth hostel.
Back-to-School Fundraising Drive Nets Nearly $670,000 September 11, 2019 -- The Santa Monica Education Foundation's back-to-school fundraising campaign raised $669,222 from 798 donors to fund staff and programs at local public schools, the non-profit's officials said.
Santa Monica-Based Lab Targeted in New York Vaping Investigation
September 10, 2019 -- A Santa Monica-based lab is being subpoenaed by New York health officials investigating a nationwide outbreak of mysterious vaping-related lung illnesses, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday.
LETTERS -- Santa Monica Needs to Wake Up September 10, 2019 -- It's our responsibility as voters to remove the Councilmembers from office and put in men and women who care about the voters and taxpayers more than their own personal greedy self interests.
EXCLUSIVE --Most Union Housekeepers Have Heavier Workloads Than Required by Hotel Ordinance September 9, 2019 -- The hotel union does not use the system it pushed for in an ordinance the City Council is expected to give final approval on Tuesday, generally resulting in heavier workloads for union housekeepers, the Lookout has learned.
Santa Monica Fire Department to Hold 9/11 Commemoration
September 9, 2019 -- On Wednesday, the Santa Monica Fire Department will honor the memories of those who died in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that included two residents of the beach city.
Santa Monica College Kicks Off 19th Annual Fall Literary Series September 6, 2019 -- From viewing gun rights and affirmative action through a constitutional lens to searching for an abiding image of LA, the Santa Monica College fall literary series provides plenty of food for thought.
Son of Man Killed Under Santa Monica Pier Sues City September 5, 2019 -- A lawsuit was filed Wednesday charging the City and other parties with negligence in the death of a San Gabriel man assaulted by a serial killer under the Santa Monica Pier last year.
Santa Monica Police Captain to Head Force in Home of Microsoft September 5, 2019 -- Santa Monica Police Captain Darrell Lowe has been tapped to become the police chief of Redmond, Washington, the home of Microsoft. Lowe, a 26 year veteran of the force, was responsible for reconfiguring Santa Monica's police beats when the Expo line arrived in 2015.
Downtown Santa Monica Thriving But Faces Challenges, Officials Say September 3, 2019 -- Thirty years after Downtown Santa Monica's moribund Third Street was transformed into the Promenade, its paved streets were visited by strollers more than 29.2 million times last year.
Santa Monica Moves to Tighten Home Sharing Law September 3, 2019 -- The nation's strictest home sharing ordinance could be further tightened after the Santa Monica City Council directed staff to look for ways to limit hostel-style operations.
