Vehicle Dwellings Prompt Resident Complaints
July 31, 2025 -- An increase in the number of homeless individuals living in vehicles is Santa Monica is prompting complaints from neighbors and posing challenges for police, according to the Police Department's weekly blog.
Downtown Activist Group Vows to 'Dismantle' DTSM
July 31, 2025 -- A group of Downtown property owners has vowed to fight back after the City Council Tuesday evening ousted the six Council-appointed members of the board that runs the central business district.
Council Purges 'Dysfunctional' Downtown Board
July 30, 2025 -- Citing "emergency circumstances," the City Council Tuesday night ousted six Downtown Santa Monica board members and replaced them with temporary members that include two former mayors and a former City Manager.
Two Valley Suspects Charged in Burglary, Mail Theft Spree
July 30, 2025 -- Two suspects in a series of residential burglaries and mail thefts that took place across Santa Monica between April and July have been arrested and charged after an "extensive" investigation by Santa Monica police.
Sex Abuse Cases Against the City Keep Mounting
July 29, 2025 -- The number of sex abuse cases against the City has been rising after Santa Monica's cash-strapped government paid $230 million in settlements more than two years ago.
Santa Monica to Renew Homelessness Emergency
July 29, 2025 -- The City Council on Tuesday will renew its Local Emergency on Homelessness two and a half years after it was declared in February 2023.
RAND Era Poised to End
July 28, 2025 -- An era could officially come to an end Tuesday when the City Council takes up a proposal from RAND that would allow the research firm to sell or lease most of its sprawling headquarters in Santa Monica.
Local Resident Arrested After More than 2,000 Calls to 911
July 28, 2025 -- A Santa Monica resident was arrested by police last month after calling 911 more than 2,000 times over the past two years, according to police officials.
Santa Monica to Feel Impact of Trump's Homeless Order
July 25, 2025 -- President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order that will have financial and practical impacts on Santa Monica's ongoing efforts to tackle homelessness.
City Attorney Doug Sloan to Leave Post
July 25, 2025 -- In a surprise announcement Thursday, City officials said Doug Sloan will resign from his post as City Attorney effective August 31.
Santa Monica Sees Increase in Homeless Count
July 24, 2025 -- Santa Monica's homeless population increased by 38 individuals this year with more people living in shelters, cars, vans and RVs, according to the results of the 2025 homeless count released Wednesday.
Luxury Resale Store Targeted in Flash Mob Robbery
July 24, 2025 -- A flash mob tore through a high-end resale store in Santa Monica last Friday fleeing with a large quantity of merchandise in multiple getaway cars, according to police.
City Asks for Action to Meet Climate Goals
July 23, 2025 -- If the City is to meet its "ambitious climate goals," Santa Monicans will have to pitch in more by switching to electric vehicles, ditching gas appliances and biking or walking more.
Restaurant Week Showcases Local Offerings
July 23, 2025 -- Santa Monica will showcase its renown culinary offerings during Dine LA Restaurant Week when 50 local eateries will offer special menus at discounted prices starting Friday.
Santa Monica Kicks Off Birthday Celebrations with State of the City
July 22, 2025 -- Santa Monica kicked off its 150th anniversary celebration last week with a State of the City address that was less a formal policy speech than a pep talk on the City's resiliency.
Police to Hold DUI Checkpoint Friday
July 22, 2025 -- Santa Monica police will crack down on motorists driving under the influence (DUI) Friday as a new California bill aimed at preventing drunk drivers winds its way towards approval.
Explosives that Killed 3 Sheriff's Deputies Likely Came from Santa Monica
July 21, 2025 -- The explosive devices that killed three LA Sheriff's Deputies early Friday morning likely originated from a multifamily building in Santa Monica's Ocean Park neighborhood, according to multiple sources.
Big Blue Bus Fares Go Up Next Month
July 21, 2025 -- The cost of riding Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus will rise next month, marking the first rate hike in nearly ten years.
City Seeks Proposals for Prime Downtown Santa Monica Site
July 18, 2025 -- Nearly five years after the City Council rejected The Plaza mixed-use hotel project in the heart of Downtown, the City is actively seeking proposals to develop the 2.57-acre site.
Former Local Hotel Exec Faces Multiple Felony Charges
July 18, 2025 -- Steve Farzam, whose family owns the Shore Hotel in Santa Monica, has been charged with 28 criminal counts, including impersonating a firefighter during the Palisades Fire and discharging a laser at aircraft, the Los Angeles District Attorney's office announced Thursday.
Historic Housing Bills Won't Impact Santa Monica
July 17, 2025 -- Historic reforms to boost housing development across California will have little, if any impact, on Santa Monica, according to a leading land use attorney.
SMC Offers 'Sneak Peek at New Planetarium
July 17, 2025 -- On August 8, Santa Monica College (SMC) will give sky watchers a "sneak peek" at the school's new planetarium, which is set to open in late September, college officials announced this week.
Fentanyl Overdose Deaths Fall in LA County
July 16, 2025 -- Fentanyl overdose -- a leading killer among Santa Monica's homeless population -- saw a dramatic drop as a cause of death in Los Angeles County last year, according to a report released last month.
Police to Crack Down on Traffic Violations
Juy 16, 2025 -- The Santa Monica Police Department will hold a Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Operation Friday, its first since the City Council approved a $793.3 million annual budget that enhances street safety spending.
Homelessness Drops in LA County Based on Questionable Count
July 15, 2025 -- The eagerly awaited results of the 2025 Homeless Count released Monday show a second straight drop in LA County's homeless population, a trend a recent study has called into question.
Key Player in Civic Auditorium Group Indicted
July 15, 2025 -- A key player in the group negotiating to resurrect Santa Monica's historic Civic Auditorium has been indicted for conspiring to rig the bidding process for an arena contract in Texas, according to the U.S. Justice Department.
Downtown Agency CEO to Step Down
July 14 -- Andrew Thomas, a staunch advocate of zoning changes that are helping revive an economically crippled Downtown district, unexpectedly announced his resignation Friday.
Santa Monica Resident Charged with Selling U.S. Equipment to Iran
July 14, 2025 -- Federal agents on Thursday arrested a resident of Santa Monica and Tehran at LAX for illegally exporting electronic equipment to Iran's government, according the U.S. Justice Department.
SaMo Bridge Program Off to a Fast Start
July 11, 2025 -- A new City program that offers homeless individuals who have committed low-level crimes an alternative to jail is off to a promising start, City officials said.
Santa Monica Suspect Charged in 3 Attacks
July 11, 2025 -- A homeless man has been charged in a sexual assault on the Santa Monica beach bike path in April, as well as in two other attacks that took place in Long Beach last week.
Council Approves Airport Park Without Housing
July 10, 2025 -- The City Council on Tuesday voted 6 to 1 to move ahead with a plan to convert 192 acres of airport land into a "Great Park" that excludes, and does not immediately study, housing.
Police Launch Website to Fill Record Vacancies
July 10, 2025 -- The Santa Monica Police Department on Wednesday announced it has launched a "modern, userfocused" website to recruit new officers as vacancies reach a historic high.
RAND Study Calls Into Question LA County's Homeless Counts
July 9, 2025 -- A report by the RAND Corporation released last week raises serious questions about the accuracy of the latest homeless counts conducted by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), including those in Santa Monica.
OPINION -- Santa Monica 30 years Later
I often wondered how Santa Monica was doing today. I hadn't been back since I walked out the door. And my 30-year-absence was too long, writes former Outlook managing editor Lou Brancaccio.
Council Set for Airport Land Showdown
July 8, 2025 -- Advocates for a "Great Park" at Santa Moica Airport will rally outside City Hall before a highly anticipated showdown with housing advocates who will present a new poll to bolster their case at Tuesday night's City Council meeting.
Housing Bill Backed by Council Clears Hurdle
July 8, 2025 -- A bill to boost housing near transit stops continued to move through the State legislature last week after winning easy approval by a key Assembly Committee.
Council Could Suspend Funding for Neighborhood Groups
July 7, 2025 -- The City Council is poised to take steps Tuesday that could suspend funding in the budget approved two weeks earlier for neighborhood groups whose tax status allows them to engage in political activity.
Opposition to Entertainment Zone Wanes, Poll Shows
July 7, 2025 -- Opposition to Santa Monica's Entertainment Zone seems to be waning less than one month after visitors were first allowed to stroll the strip with a drink in hand.
Santa Monica Celebrates Independence Day
July 3, 2025 -- On Friday, an old-fashioned parade will wind down Main Street, City Hall will close its doors and Independence Day will be capped with the world's only solar-powered Ferris Wheel glowing red, white and blue.
Two Santa Monica Beaches Under Health Advisory
July 3, 2025 -- As Independence Day weekend approaches, two stretches of Santa Monica State Beach are under Public Health advisories due to high levels of bacteria.
Santa Monica Rents Drop in June
July 2, 2025 -- After a hot start to the year, rents in Santa Monica dropped for the second straight month in June, according to Apartment List's monthly report released Tuesday.
Law to Curb Unwanted Behavior on Buses Kicks In
July 2, 2025 -- Starting on Wednesday, Big Blue Bus (BBB) passengers who have been routinely cited for policy infractions or arrested for crimes on buses or at transit facilities can be denied service.
Local Hotel Workers' Minimum Wage Hike on Hold
July 1, 2025 -- Santa Monica's local minimum wage will increase by 54 cents on Wednesday to $17.81 per hour, but a much larger hike for local hotel workers has been put on hold.
Two Dogs Victims of Coyote Attacks in Ocean Park
July 1, 2025 -- Two vicious coyote attacks in Ocean Park last month resulted in the death of one dog and seriously injured another, police officials said Thursday.
