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may 2024 Newslist
Council Adds 4 Officers to Proposed Budget
May 31, 2024 -- After nearly two hours of discussing options and budget trade-offs, the City Council early Wednesday morning voted to add four police officers to the proposed $763.5 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
Council Could Explore Asking Voters for a Raise
May 30, 2024 -- Should Santa Monica City Councilmembers -- who are paid about $17,000 a year -- get a raise? The Council on Tuesday voted to find out.
Sluggish Local Rental Market Reflects National Trend
May 30, 2024 -- Santa Monica rent growth remains sluggish, with median prices dipping by -0.2 percent in May, marking the fourth monthly drop this year, according to the rent report by Apartment List released Thursday.
Santa Monica Beach Named Among Top California Beaches
May 29, 2024 -- Santa Monica State Beach has been named one of California's top 10 spots for "beach bliss" by USA TODAY, according to the paper's 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards posted Wednesday.
Homeless Man Arrested for Attacking Senior on Beach
May 29, 2024 -- A homeless man already facing assault charges in a case pending review was arrested after attacking and injuring a 73-year-old woman on Santa Monica Beach last week.
LETTERS -- Violent Attacks Demonstrate Continuing Failure of Crime Policies
May 29, 2024 -- The latest crime statistics disclosed over two-thirds of arrestees in Santa Monica were homeless. And such arrests too often involve serious violent crimes.
Council Candidate Pool Seeking Liberal Establishment Backing Grows
May 28, 2024 -- A potential slate of City Council candidates seeking the backing of Santa Monica's liberal establishment is taking shape early this election year, with a major player joining the list on Tuesday.
SMC to Hold Commencement Ceremony Next Month
May 28, 2024 -- Some 1,000 students are expected to attend Santa Monica College's (SMC) 94th Commencement Ceremony, which will take place in-person at Corsair Field on June 11.
LETTERS -- City Should Help Open Markets and Cafes, Not Pot Shops
May 28, 2024 -- Social equity in cannabis retailing does little for the majority who might have suffered from harsh justice -– and who may lack the ability or desire to operate a successful cannabis store long term.
Lawsuits Claim Pico Neighborhood Landlord Harassed Tenants
May 24, 2024 -- The landlord of a three-unit rent control building in Santa Monica's Pico Neighborhood has been charged with harassment and discrimination in two separate lawsuits filed by the City and two former tenants.
LETTERS -- Council Should Declare Public Safety State of Emergency
May 24, 2024 -- Some Santa Monica merchants don’t file police reports because their insurance costs would go up. Working here now requires combat pay.
Police Enhance Patrols Over the Holiday Weekend
May 24, 2024 -- Memorial Day weekend in Santa Monica promises to be cool and sunny, drawing holiday crowds to the beach and Downtown, as police ramp up patrols across the city.
County Launches Second Round of Rent Relief Program
May 23, 2024 -- Landlords of small buildings could be eligible for up to $30,000 per unit in unpaid rent under a $68 million LA County Rent Relief Program, City officials announced Thursday.
Memorial Day Closures
May 23, 2024 -- City Hall will be closed on Monday to celebrate Memorial Day, the Big Blue Bus (BBB) will operate on weekend hours and some parking meters won't be charging.
Council Takes Up Pacific Park's Bid for Trapeze School Space
May 22, 2024 -- The City Council on Tuesday will decide whether to continue leasing a "multi-attraction" space on the Pier to a small locally owned trapeze school or turn it over to Pacific Park, the Pier's biggest leaseholder.
Redondo Beach School Board Member to Head Ed Foundation
May 22, 2024 -- After a nationwide search, the Santa Monica Education Foundation has found a new executive director 15 miles south in Redondo Beach.
Homeless Man Charged with Assault, Attempted Murder in Sunday Stabbings
May 21, 2024 -- A homeless man on probation was charged Tuesday with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon in Sunday's stabbings of two German tourists in Downtown Santa Monica.
Two Bills to Help Meet State Housing Goals Clear Senate
May 21, 2024 -- Two housing bills that remove barriers to housing construction in the Coastal Zone and impose stiffer penalties on cities that fail to comply with State housing laws have easily cleared the California Senate.
Santa Monica Motel 'Hotbed for Drug Activity,' City Lawsuit Claims
May 20, 2024 -- The City Attorney's Office on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the owners of a Sunset Park motel claiming it has been a "dangerous narcotics-related public nuisance" for decades.
Suspect Arrested in Stabbing Downtown
May 20, 2024 -- A 29-year-old man on probation was arrested for stabbing two victims and assaulting a third near a Downtown parking structure Sunday night, according to police.
LETTERS -- Protesters Repeating Antisemitic Slogans Are Ignorant or Naive
May 20, 2024 -- Hamas controls Gaza and, unless destroyed, it is a terrorist organization that has as its goal annihilating every Jew in Israel -- to wit, from The River to the Sea.
Council Bars Use of City Funds for Needle Distribution
May 17, 2024 -- In a surprising 6 to 1 vote, the City Council on Tuesday barred two non-profits from using City funds to distribute needles around parks and public spaces.
LETTERS -- Antisemitism 'Wave' Is Only a Drip
May 17, 2024 –- Phrases used for support of Palestinian independence are viewed as Antisemitic. Palestinians are a Semitic people. It's just an outright distortion.
School Board Fills Three Administrative Posts
May 17, 2024 -- The School Board on Thursday approved the appointments of three key administrators -- two principals and the coordinator of special education.
Ed Foundation Wine Auction Sets Fundraising Record
May 16, 2024 -- With fundraising "alarmingly down," the Santa Monica Education Foundation last month raised a record $435,000 for local public schools during its ninth annual Wine Auction, the organization announced Thursday.
Woman Attacked Jogging on Santa Monica Beach Path
May 16, 2024 -- A homeless man on parole for assault with a deadly weapon has been charged with attacking a young woman jogging on the Santa Monica Beach path in Ocean Park early Monday morning.
Peace Resolution Exposes Deep Divisions
May 15, 2024 -- A resolution approved by the City Council early Wednesday morning calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and condemning "all forms of hate" exposed how deeply Israel's war against Hamas has divided Santa Monica.
State Releases Plan to Remove Contaminated Soil from McKinley Elementary
May 15, 2024 -- State officials on Friday will begin accepting comments on a plan to remove contaminated soil from a portion of McKinley Elementary, School District officials announced this week.
Councilmember Reports on Trip to Vienna
May 14, 2024 -- Councilmember Gleam Davis on Tuesday lamented that more City officials couldn't join her at an expensive social housing study trip to Vienna, Austria that inspired "tremendous ideas."
Santa Monica Pier Offers Yoga by the Sea
May 14, 2024 -- The Santa Monica Pier on Saturday "dove into a summer of wellness" with a third year of seaside yoga sessions, Pier officials announced.
Suspects Who Torched Police Car During 2020 Riots Could Be Tried Again
May 13, 2024 -- Two men accused of setting fire to a Santa Monica police car during the 2020 riots could stand trial after a federal judge threw out their case two years ago.
SAMOSHEL Taking Clients 24/7
May 13, 2024 -- SAMOSHEL -- Santa Monica's homeless shelter on Olympic Boulevard next to the freeway -- is now taking in clients around the clock, City officials announced Friday.
Proponents of Ballot Measure to Amend GS Threaten to Sue City
May 10, 2024 -- An attorney for former Mayor Pam O'Connor on Wednesday threatened to sue the City if it doesn't forward the signatures gathered to amend Measure GS to the County Registrar by May 15.
Israeli Flag Defaced as Council Calls for Resolution Condemning Hate
May 10, 2024 -- A Santa Monica bike shop that has been displaying an Israeli flag in its window was vandalized with a "free Palestine" tag this week, according to a report on Fox 11.
Council to Take Up Crowded Consent Calendar
May 10, 2024 -- The City Council on Tuesday will take up a lengthy consent calendar that includes keeping a water preservation plan in place and expanding the use of landfills.
Things to Know for Motorcycle Awareness Month
May 9, 2024 -- Motorcycle Awareness month in May is a good time to ponder some statistics that highlight the dangers of riding on two wheels exposed at high speeds.
City Struggles to Meet Affordable Housing Targets
May 8, 2024 -- Despite a surge in multi-family development over the past four fiscal years, Santa Monica met its affordable housing requirement only once, according to a report to the City Council Wednesday.
SMC Seeks Applicants for Bond Oversight Committee
May 8, 2024 -- Santa Monica College (SMC) is seeking applicants for the citizens committee that oversees implementation of bond measures approved by voters.
O'Connor Submits Signatures to Amend Transfer Tax Hike
May 7, 2024 -- A showdown between top City officials and proponents of a ballot initiative seeking to amend Measure GS is brewing one day after former Mayor Pam O'Connor submitted signatures to qualify the measure for the November ballot.
SMC to Launch State's First Homelessness Services Certificate Program
May 7, 2024 -- This fall semester, Santa Monica College (SMC) will launch California's first certificate program preparing students for careers in the homeless services field, school officials announced Monday.
Tourism Industry's Recovery Loses Some Ground
May 6, 2024 -- Santa Monica's tourism industry hit a bump in the road to recovery last year, seeing both the number of visitors and the spending they generated dipping for the first time since the coronavirus shutdown four years ago.
Water Near Santa Monica Pier Under Health Advisory
May 6, 2024 -- Due to high levels of bacteria, visitors to Santa Monica Beach should continue to avoid swimming, surfing and playing in the water near the Pier, County Health officials warn.
Santa Monica Can Implement Housing Law Ruled Unconstitutional, City Attorney Says
May 3, 2024 -- Despite being ruled unconstitutional by a Superior Court judge, Santa Monica can continue implementing a State law that allows multi-family buildings on single family lots, City Attorney Doug Sloan said Friday.
SMC Spring Symposium Focuses on AI
May 3, 2024 -- The Santa Monica College (SMC) Public Policy Institute (PPI) will present a series of free lectures and discussions this month titled “The Promise and Peril of Artificial Intelligence.”
City to Test License Reader Cameras on Bike Lanes
May 2, 2024 -- Santa Monica is expanding its network of automated, AI-powered camera systems with a pilot program to detect vehicles illegally parked in bicycle lanes, according to an information item sent to the City Council Wednesday.
School District to Hold 2 Meetings on Malibu Split
May 2, 2024 -- Two community meetings will take place in Santa Monica this month to present a tentative agreement that paves the way for Malibu to split from the School District, SMMUSD officials announced Thursday.
Santa Monica Celebrates Bike Month
May 2, 2024 -- Santa Monica is celebrating Bike Month this May with a series of activities that promote safety and tout the major upgrades made to the city's growing network of bicycle lanes.
Monthly Poll Shows Overwhelming Opposition to Homeless Housing Project
May 1, 2024 -- A monthly poll of "civically engaged" Santa Monica residents found that more than 80 percent oppose the construction of a $1 million per unit apartment building for the homeless
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