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300th COVID-Related Death Reported in Santa Monica
April 28, 2023 -- Data posted on LA County's Public Health Surveillance dashboard Thursday indicate that the 300th COVID-related death in Santa Monica was reported during the past two weeks.

State Gives BBB Nearly $23 Million to Electrify Fleet
April 28, 2023 -- Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus (BBB) has received a $22.9 million State grant to purchase 5 battery electric buses (BEBs) and develop infrastructure to charge up to 104 buses, City officials announced Thursday.

Santa Monica Rents Rise for 2nd Straight Month
April 27, 2023 -- The median rent in Santa Monica increased 0.8 percent in April, marking the second straight monthly rise after dropping for half a year, according to Apartment List's latest monthly report released Thursday.

Juveniles Charged With Assault After Attacking Man With Skateboards
April 27, 2023 -- Assault charges have been filed against two juveniles who attacked a fellow Expo Line passenger with skateboards last week after exiting the train at the Downtown terminal.

Council Approves Gender-Neutral Public Restrooms
April 26, 2023 -- With a 6 to 0 vote by the City Council on Tuesday, Santa Monica became the second city in California, and likely the nation, to require gender-neutral public restrooms in new buildings.

SMC Symposium Explores Cross-Racial Solidarity
April 26, 2023 -- Santa Monica College (SMC) will host a symposium next month featuring a series of events that explore ways to forge a stronger democracy through cross-racial ties.

EXTRA -- Council Votes to Settle Remaining Sexual Abuse Cases for $122.5 Million
April 25, 2023 -- The City Council Tuesday evening voted 5 to 0 to pay $122.5 million to settle the remaining lawsuits filed by 131 plaintiffs who claim a former City employee sexually abused them when they were children and teens two to three decades ago.

A Star Is Born -- and Dies -- at SMC Planetarium
April 25, 2023 -- The Santa Monica College (SMC) planetarium next month will take a look at the life cycle of stars, the surface of exoplanets and America's first space station.

Council Poised to Set Aside 3 More Properties for Affordable Housing
April 24, 2023 -- The City Council on Tuesday is expected to pave the way for affordable housing at the sites of the old Downtown Fire Station, City TV's shuttered studio and two small parcels by the Expo Line terminus lot.

Samohi to Host Panel on Mental Health Crisis Among High School Students
April 24, 2023 -- Santa Monica High School will host one of six panels in LA County next month that address the deteriorating mental health of high school students in the U.S.

Councilmembers Concerned About Gender-Neutral Public Restrooms
April 21, 2023 -- (UPDATED) Several Councilmembers are expressing concerns about supporting an item on Tuesday's agenda that would require gender-neutral public restrooms in new buildings.

Diner Injured After Homeless Stranger Smashes His Table
April 21, 2023 -- A man was hospitalized Thursday evening after a stranger smashed two chairs on the table where he and his partner were dining outside the California Pizza Kitchen Downtown, police said.

Council to Take Up Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Filed By Another 131 Plaintiffs
April 20, 2023 -- The City Council on Tuesday will take up a flood of lawsuits filed by 131 plaintiffs who claim former City employee Eric Uller sexually abused them when they were children and teens more than 20 years ago.

Prices Climb, Turnover Persists for Rent-Controlled Units, Report Finds
April 20, 2023 -- Move-in prices for Santa Monica's rent-controlled units -- which have seen a high turnover rate -- climbed to record levels last year as fewer tenants moved out, according to annual Rent Control data released last week.

Council Unaware of AI Camera Programs
April 19, 2023 -- Two pilot programs using AI-equipped cameras are being launched by City staff without the approval of Councilmembers, some of whom have concerns but generally back the programs.

School District to Transition to 100 Percent Green Power
April 19, 2023 -- The School District is transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy after a rise in Southern California Edison's (SCE) base price made the move more attractive, District officials said Tuesday.

EXTRA -- Council Could Require Gender-neutral Public Restrooms in New Buildings
April 18, 2023 -- New buildings in Santa Monica will be required to provide gender-neutral public restrooms under an ordinance the City Council is will take up on Tuesday.

Major Improvements to Begin Along Wilshire
April 18, 2023 -- Work is set to begin May 1 on major improvements to Wislhire Boulevard meant to cut down on traffic collisions and enhance transit service, City officials announced Tuesday.

City Tests AI Cameras to Deter Unwanted Behavior
April 17, 2023 -- The City of Santa Monica will soon begin testing the use of AI-equipped cameras to monitor "unwanted incidents" at the Main Library and issue parking tickets along the bus route to LAX.

Hotel, Shared Mobility Company Win Top Sustainability Awards
April 17, 2023 -- A hotel near the Pier and a company that rents shared bikes and scooters have won Santa Monica's top sustainability awards, City officials announced Monday.

Councilmember Items Back on the Agenda
April 14, 2023 -- More than one and a half years after the City Council took steps to curb the flood of items Council members place on the agenda, the practice continues.

Virginia Park Could Be Renamed After Local Civil Rights Leader
April 13, 2023 -- The City Council early Wednesday morning was poised to kick off a process to rename the Pico Branch Library at Virginia Avenue Park after Santa Monica entrepreneur and Civil Rights activist Lloyd C. Allen.

School District Seeks Candidates for Financial Oversight Committee
April 12, 2023 -- The volunteer committee that reviews matters that could significantly impact School District finances before the School Board takes action is seeking qualified candidates.

Council Votes to Draft Minimum Wage Law for Health Care Workers
April 12, 2023 -- The City Council directed staff shortly after midnight Tuesday to draft a minimum wage ordinance for health care workers that one Council member acknowledged could be "irrelevant."

Combating Racism Together Is Theme of Community Events Next Month
April 11, 2023 -- Heather McGhee's best-selling book -- "The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together" -- about the shared costs of racism will be the theme of a number of events in Santa Monica next month.

City Has Spent More than $1.7 Million in Legal Fees in Uller Sex Abuse Cases
April 11, 2023 -- The City has paid more than $1.7 million in legal fees to outside attorneys for services related to sexual abuse cases involving former City employee Eric Uller, a public records request revealed Tuesday.

Santa Monica Could Set Minimum Wage for Healthcare Workers
April 10, 2023 -- The City Council Tuesday night is expected to take the initial step to set a minimum wage for healthcare workers of at least $25 per hour, nearly $9 higher than Santa Monica's current minumum wage.

County Health Recommends Booster Shots for All, Bucking Trend
April 10, 2023 -- LA County Health officials are continuing to recommend COVID booster shots for all residents 6 months and older, bucking a growing trend to restrict the shot to those most at risk of becoming severely ill.

Armed Robbery, Attempted Carjacking at Beach Tuesday Night
April 5, 2023 -- Four suspects were arrested for armed robbery and two wanted for an attempted carjacking remain at large in two separate incidents at Santa Monica Beach Tuesday night.

Behemoth Returns to Santa Monica
April 5, 2023 -- What's green, has two heads and weighs more than 6,000 pounds?

Proposal Would Allow Use of Vouchers for Shared Housing
April 4, 2023 -- Section 8 vouchers could be used to rent rooms in shared housing under a proposed change to Santa Monica's housing administrative plan.

SMC to Showcase New Malibu Campus
April 4, 2023 -- Nearly seven years after passing one of its last major hurdles, Santa Monica College's new Malibu campus will hold an open house this month to showcase the three-acre campus that has been 20 years in the making.

Monthly Poll Reflects Little Confidence in New City Department
April 3, 2023 -- A monthly poll of civically engaged Santa Monica residents taken last week found that nearly two-thirds don't believe a new City department created to reduce homelessness will succeed.

3 Residents, Dog Jump in Pool to Escape Fire
April 3, 2023 -- Three residents and a dog escaped an apartment fire in Santa Monica Sunday morning by jumping into the complex's pool, Fire Department officials said.

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