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October 2023 NewsList
Santa Monica Rents Rise During Seasonal Slowdown
October 31, 2023 -- For the third straight month Santa Monica rents rose in October, defying a nationwide downswing that began in August, according to the latest monthly report by Apartment List.
City Holds Training to Stop Public Harassment
October 31, 2023 -- The City of Santa Monica next month will offer a free virtual training to help bystanders stand up against hate and intolerance, City officials announced this week.
Negrete Cannot Participate in Potential Sale of the Civic to the School District
October 31, 2023 -- School District officials have held back a proposal to purchase the Civic Auditorium from the City, but if they decide to move forward again, Councilmember Lana Negrete will not be participating in the decision.
Bicyclist Dies After Traffic Collision Friday
October 30, 2023 -- A 69-year-old bicyclist struck by a car Friday morning died of her injuries, marking Santa Monica's first bicycle fatality this year, according to reports.
Police Arrest Bank Robbery Suspect
October 27, 2023 -- Police on Wednesday arrested a suspect wanted for the armed robbery of a Montana Avenue bank last month, police officials said Friday.
Council Approves Retail Sale of Recreational Cannabis
October 27, 2023 -- Hoping to boost much-needed tax revenues and salvage a struggling new business sector, the City Council on Tuesday voted to allow the retail sale of cannabis for recreational use.
City Hires Director for New Department Focused on Housing and Homelessness
October 26, 2023 -- Heather Averick -- who has led a range of housing, food and advocacy programs for the poor and homeless -- will head
a new department focused on affordable housing and homeless services, City officials announced this month.
Davis Fails to Change Rules for Choosing Mayor
October 26, 2023 -- Mayor Gleam Davis failed to convince her City Council opponents at Tuesday night's meeting that they were not the targets of her proposal to tweak the rules dictating how a mayor is chosen.
City Hall Veteran Tapped for Top Financial Post
October 26, 2023 -- A longtime City employee raised in Santa Monica will direct the Finance Department during a challenging recovery, City officials announced Thursday.
Police Arrest Three Suspects in Copper Theft
October 25, 2023 -- Police arrested three suspects early Monday morning after pulling over a vehicle and finding 500 feet of copper wire, a material critical to Santa Monica's infrastructure, according to police.
High Hopes, Low Turnout for COVID Booster
October 24, 2023 -- A little-publicized USC poll found that nearly two-thirds of LA County residents plan to get the fall COVID booster, although Public Health officials report only 10 percent have taken the shot.
SMC Synapse Contemporary Dance Theater Showcases New Works
October 24, 2023 -- Santa Monica College's celebrated Synapse Contemporary Dance Theater will showcase new works next week that range in style from modern ballet to Hip Hop.
DA to Investigate Exploitation of Temp Hotel Workers
October 23, 2023 -- The LA County District Attorney will investigate allegations that three area hotels, including one in Santa Monica, are exploiting "unhoused refugees" hired during an intermittent labor strike by the hotel workers union.
City Attorney Weighs in on Proposed Amendment for Choosing Mayor
October 23, 2023 -- A proposed amendment to suspend the rules dictating how a mayor is chosen could result in the election of a Councilmember other than Phil Brock in December, according to City Attorney Doug Sloan.
Bureaucratic Tweak or Effort to Block Next Mayor?
October 20, 2023 -- A proposed tweak to a rule dictating how a mayor is chosen could jeopardize a City Council vote to make Councilmember Phil Brock Santa Monica's next mayor.
Police Seek Go-Ahead to Use Military Equipment
October 20, 2023 -- The Santa Monica Police Department will ask the City Council Tuesday to authorize the use of military-grade cameras for mapping and locating persons in crisis inside buildings.
African American Women’s Club Hall Could Become Historic Landmark
October 19, 2023 -- A one-story commercial building that served as a women's club meeting hall in what was once Santa Monica's thriving Black community could become a historic landmark next year.
Councilmember Floats Proposal to Shorten Meetings
October 18, 2023 -- Over the past 20 years, the City Council has taken numerous stabs at shortening City Council meetings, but last week's marathon session that adjourned 4 a.m. indicates the changes haven't worked.
Skipping from Planet to Planet
October 18, 2023 -- The Santa Monica College (SMC) Planetarium will continue its survey of the solar system next month with a look at the two biggest planets -- Jupiter and Saturn.
Police Department Nearing Full Force
October 17, 2023 -- The Santa Monica Police Department has made major strides in addressing historically low staffing levels and is approaching a full force, the City Manager told the Council last week.
Interim Transportation Director to Remain Behind the Wheel
October 17, 2023 -- After a nationwide search, the City has tapped interim Transportation Director Anuj Gupta to permanently steer the department during a critical time.
Booster Rollout Slow as Predicted
October 16, 2023 -- LA County Public Health officials are urging residents to seek "reliable sources" of information as COVID booster shots are encountering a predictably lukewarm reception.
LETTERS -- Cannabis Warning Labels Needed
October 16, 2023 -- Consumers have a right to know the risks when using a city-permitted, recreational drug. Even FDA medicines list side-effects and risks.
Trailblazing Jazz Musician to Give Reading This Month
October 16, 2023 -- Trailblazing jazz composer and flutist Nicole Mitchell will read from her book at the Santa Monica Public Library followed by a performance at Disney Hall this month.
Santa Monica Housing Bill Among 56 Signed into Law
October 13, 2023 -- A tenant with "a disability related to mobility" can seek to be moved to a first-floor unit under a bill co-sponsored by the City of Santa Monica that was signed into law Wednesday.
LETTERS -- Ill-Conceived City Ideology Victimizes the Community
October 13, 2023 -- As a 22-year Santa Monica resident, I was shocked to read your October 13 article "Santa Monica Joins Lawsuit to Block Zero Bail," in which Councilmember Caroline Torosis is quoted justifying her No vote.
Santa Monica Joins Lawsuit to Block Zero Bail
October 12, 2023 -- The Santa Monica City Council voted 4 to 3 on Tuesday to join more than dozen cities in a lawsuit challenging LA County's zero-bail system that went into effect October 1.
OPINION -- Voter Discrimination, Racism . . . Here We Go Again
October 12, 2023 -- We are told a new “study” effectively alleges rampant racism in the switch to at large-elections in 1946. We’ve been down this road before.
Council Shoots Down Lottery Plan for Airport Site
October 11, 2023 -- A skeptical City Council majority early Wednesday morning rejected a plan to have a randomly selected panel of 40 people recommend the future of Santa Monica Airport's 227-acre site.
OPINION -- Why is Lindsey Horvath Coming to Town?
October 11, 2023 -- If the city truly wants to tackle issues plaguing Santa Monica, the Chamber should know heeding Supervisor Horvath’s advice is not the way.
Santa Monica Is Case Study in Voter Discrimination, Report Contends
October 10, 2023 -- Santa Monica's switch to at-large elections in 1946 exemplified a nationwide effort to disenfranchise Black and Latino voters, according to a joint study released this month.
Man in Custody After Making Repeated Bomb Threats
October 10, 2023 -- A Garden Grove man is in custody after scaling the Pacific Park Ferris wheel and making multiple bomb threats during a more than one-hour standoff with officers, police officials said Tuesday.
Randomly Chosen Airport Panel Gets Major Pushback
October 9, 2023 -- A City staff proposal to have a randomly chosen panel guide the future of Santa Monica Airport has been met with stiff opposition from activists who paved the way for transforming the 227-acre site.
Police Evacuate Pier After Bomb Threat
October 9, 2023 -- The Santa Monica Pier was evacuated Monday afternoon after a man claiming to have a bomb climbed the Pacific Park Ferris wheel, according to police.
Two Runaway Children Arrested in Robbery Attempt
October 6, 2023 -- Police arrested two repeat offenders ages 11 and 13 Monday morning after they attempted to rob a man at knifepoint parked at the beach, police said.
District Holds Back Civic Proposal For Now
October 6, 2023 -- The School District will not submit a proposal to purchase and rehabilitate the Civic Auditorium unless the City fails to find another buyer, District officials said Friday.
Santa Monica Man Pleads Guilty in Money-Laundering Scheme
October 5, 2023 -- A Santa Monica man accused of allowing scammers and drug traffickers to launder millions of dollars through his cryptocurrency-cash exchange company pleaded guilty to a federal charge Wednesday.
Police, Fire Hold Active Threat Drill at Pier
October 5, 2023 -- Smoke will engulf parts of the Santa Monica Pier and shots will be heard Thursday morning during a "mass casualty" training exercise staged by the Police and Fire departments.
School District 'Encourages' City to Explore Other Options for Civic
October 4, 2023 -- As the School Board on Thursday weighs in on negotiations to purchase the Civic Auditorium, District officials are encouraging the City to "explore and exhaust" other options.
School District Investigating $3 Million Hack Involving Construction Funds
October 4, 2023 -- A construction contractor for the School District was the victim of a "carefully orchestrated hack" that resulted in a fraudulent transaction of $2,933,511.64 from District funds, officials said Tuesday.
Local Poll Finds Most Don't Plan to Take Booster Shot
October 3, 2023 -- A monthly poll of "civically engaged" Santa Monica residents found that most do not plan to get the latest COVID-19 booster shot being pushed by LA County Health officials.
Woman Attacked on Main Street
October 3, 2023 -- County prosecutors filed assault charges Tuesday against a repeat offender who attacked a woman riding her bicycle along Main Street Sunday night.
City to Begin Negotiating Record 570-Unit Project
October 2, 2023 -- The City Council last week gave the go-ahead to execute an exclusive negotiating agreement that could result in the largest residential development in Santa Monica history.
City Hires New Recs and Arts Head
October 2, 2023 -- The director of community services for Beverly Hills has been hired to run Santa Monica's newly established Recreation and Arts Department, City officials announced Friday.
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