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Monthly Rents Drop for First Time This Year
May 30, 2025 -- After rising in each of the first four months of the year, Santa Monica rents decreased by -0.9 percent in May, according to Apartment List's monthly report released Thursday.
Landlord Agrees to Pay $685,000 in Settlements
May 30, 2025 -- A Santa Monica landlord has agreed to pay $685,000 to settle three related tenant harassment and discrimination lawsuits and to no longer manage residential property in the city.
Council Hires Oliver Chi as New City Manager
May 29, 2025 -- Santa Monica on Tuesday hired its fifth City manager in as many years after the City Council unanimously appointed and approved a contract with Irvine City Manager Oliver Chi.
Police Crack Down on Train Fare Evaders
May 29, 2025 -- Santa Monica police this month cracked down on fare evaders at the 4th Street Expo light rail station Downtown resulting in four arrests, police officials said.
Bill to Build Taller Housing Projects Near Transit Headed to Senate Floor
May 28, 2025 -- A bill that makes it faster and easier to build taller residential buildings near transit stops by overriding local zoning restrictions is on its way to a full vote of the State Senate.
SMC Music Students Showcase Their Talents
May 28, 2025 -- Local jazz and Latin music fans have plenty to choose from as Santa Monica College (SMC) students present a series of concerts showcasing their talents over the next two weeks.
City Boosts Efforts to Recruit, Retain Workers
May 27, 2025 -- A total of 254 full-time positions became vacant in the City last year as officials look for ways to recruit and retain workers, including allowing many to work from home.
Pier 2nd Most Polluted Beach on West Coast
May 23, 2025 -- The Santa Monica Pier is the second most polluted beach on the West Coast, topped only by Mexico's Playa Blanca, a beach contaminated by untreated sewage from the Tijuana region, according to Heal the Bay's 2024-25 Beach Report.
Survey Shows Division Over Airport Housing
May 22, 2025 -- The community verdict is in on including housing on the 192 acres of open land slated to be converted into a "great park" when the airport closes at the end of 2028.
PCH to Reopen Friday
May 22, 2025 -- A stretch of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) that connects Malibu to Santa Monica will reopen on Friday in time for Memorial Day and the busy summer season.
Santa Monica Clinic Scrutizined in Diddy Trial
May 21, 2025 -- A Santa Monica clinic has come under scrutiny in the federal sex trafficking trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs after federal agents found drugs with the doctor's address in the music mogul's hotel room in New York City.
Santa Monica Second Least Affordable City for Home Buyers
May 21, 2025 -- Santa Monica is the second least affordable city to buy a home, according to WalletHub, a personal finance company that sampled 300 cities of varying sizes nationwide.
Airport Slated as Flight Hub for Olympics
May 20, 2025 -- Santa Monica Airport is part of a planned "electric air taxi" network that will shuttle "VIPs, fans and stakeholders" during the LA 28 Olympic Games, Archer Aviation announced last week.
Council Hikes Bus Fares
May 20, 2025 -- The Big Blue Bus will increase its fares starting in August, with a second round of increases coming in the summer of 2027.
Promenade Store Owner Fatally Shoots Attacker
May 19, 2025 -- A coordinated robbery at a closed store on the Third Street Promenade Sunday night turned deadly when one of the two suspects attacked the owner and was fatally shot.
State Bill Could Deal Blow to City's Climate Goals
May 19, 2025 -- The City Council last Tuesday voted to oppose a State bill that would speed up the rebuilding of homes devastated by January's wildfires but could cripple Santa Monica's climate goals.
Ed Foundation Fundraiser Raises Nearly $400,000
May 19, 2025 -- This month's tenth annual Wine Auction raised more than $388,000 to support essential staff and programs at local public schools, the Santa Monica Education Foundation announced Friday.
SMPD Remembers Officers Who Died on Duty
May 16, 2025 -- Ten Santa Monica police officers who died between May 1927 and August 2010 while on duty were remembered during National Police Week.
SMC Music Department Presents 1786 Hit Opera
May 16, 2025 -- The Santa Monica College (SMC) Music Department next week will present a 239-year-old box office hit that weathered a stormy opening and years of censorship to become a timeless classic.
Pier Water Remains Under Public Health Advisory
May 16, 2025 -- The Santa Monica Pier remained under a beach area warning Friday with visitors advised to "avoid swimming, surfing and playing in ocean waters," County Health officials said.
Council Changes Meeting Rules
May 15, 2025 -- People strolling Santa Monica's commercial streets will soon be able to check City meeting agendas on electronic wayfinding kiosks, under rule changes adopted by the City Council Tuesday.
Council Approves Scaled Down Entertainment Zone
May 14, 2025 -- Santa Monica will launch Southern California's first entertainment zone next month, allowing visitors to buy alcoholic drinks on the Promenade and consume them on the street.
Survey Seeks Input on Parks and Arts Needs
May 14, 2025 -- Santa Monica residents have until May 31 to weigh in on the City's arts, parks and recreation offerings in a survey to help officials set priorities.
Bill to Boost Housing Near Transit Gets Council Backing
May 13, 2025 -- The City Council voted Tuesday night to support a controversial State housing bill that allows new residential buildings of up to seven stories near major transit stops.
Coyote Encounters Increase in Wake of Wildfires
May 13, 2025 -- In recent weeks, accounts of coyote sightings and attacks linked to the Palisades Fire have been increasing, mainly in the north side of Santa Monica, according to police.
Malibu Vote to Split From District Delayed
May 12, 2025 -- A vote denying Malibu's petition to separate from the School District will be retaken later this month after a key County Committee rescheduled last Thursday's meeting.
Two Burglary Suspects Arrested
May 12, 2025 -- Two burglary suspects, one on parole for attempted murder, were arrested Friday by officers conducting periodic checks near a bank drop box that had been repeatedly tampered with.
Santa Monica Loses Spirit Awards
May 9, 2025 -- Santa Monica -- once host to the Academy Awards -- has lost its second major film event in little over a year.
Pier Could Become Major Music Venue Again
May 9, 2025 -- Eight years after the City pulled the plug on the legendary Twilight Dance Concert series on the Pier, major acts could return to the landmark venue.
Retail Clerk Cited During Minor Decoy Sting
May 8, 2025 -- Santa Monica police cited a retail clerk at Bristol Farms Wednesday for selling alcohol to a minor during a sting operation conducted by detectives, according to police officials.
SMC Seeks Applicants for Bond Committee
May 8, 2024 -- Santa Monica College (SMC) is seeking applicants for the citizens committee that oversees implementation of bond measures funding capital improvement projects on its campuses.
Airport Rift Widens, Raises Fears
May 7, 2025 -- Housing and parks advocates faced off over the future of Santa Monica Airport land again Wednesday night, heightening fears the division will be exploited by pro-aviation interests.
Local Physical Therapist Arrested for Sexual Assault
May 7, 2025 -- Santa Monica police are seeking help identifying any additional victims of a local therapist arrested for sexual assault last month.
Council to Consider Alcohol Ads on City Property
May 6, 2025 -- Public parking structures and digital kiosks could soon become advertising venues for alcohol in an effort to boost revenues for Santa Monica's cash-strapped government.
County Boosts Funding for Sick Sea Mammals
May 6, 2025 -- The LA County Board of supervisors on Tuesday took "urgent" action to rescue and rehabilitate a rising number of marine mammals stranded on area beaches, including Santa Monica.
Public Health Launches Vending Machines with "Lifesaving" Products
May 5, 2025 -- LA County Public Health has launched vending machines at three Community Health Stations in Santa Monica that dispense "lifesaving products," including Fentanyl test strips and condoms, to the homeless.
Police Crack Down on Retail Theft Downtown
May 5, 2025 -- Police last month made 9 arrests during a one-day Retail Theft operation Downtown that cracked down on shoplifting, which has been driving up Santa Monica's annual crime rate.
More Marine Animals Wash Up on Santa Monica Beach
May 2, 2025 -- Over the past two months, dolphins, sea lions and a variety of sea birds have been washing up on Santa Monica's shore injured or dead.
Plane Headed for Santa Monica Airport Lands on Golf Course
May 2, 2025 -- A small airplane meant to land at Santa Monica Airport made a bumpy but safe landing at Riviera Golf Course in Pacific Palisades early Friday afternoon.
City to Adopt Clean Energy Targets for Existing Buildings
May 1, 2025 -- The City Council this summer will take up a Building Performance Standards Policy that requires existing large buildings citywide to meet clean energy goals.
Fire Service Day Offers Inside Look at Downtown Station
May 1, 2025 -- Community members can get a close-up look at the workings of Santa Monica's largest and busiest fire station during Fire Service Day on Saturday, May 10.
SMC Police Seek Suspect in Sexual Assault
May 1, 2025 -- The Santa Monica College (SMC) Police Department is seeking the public's help finding the suspect in an alleged sexual assault that took place at the school's library Wednesday morning.
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