September 26, 2020 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

BOYB: Ocean Park and Richard Orton

Phil discovers some fascinating stories about Santa Monica’s Ocean Park neighborhood with local historian Richard Orton.

in Opinion
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"Early on we laid out five critical points that defined what we knew would be necessary goals if we were to help create and shape a livable, balanced, viable, functional, and economically responsible community that would be inclusive not exclusive," writes SMa.r.t. in their latest column. Photo: Getty Images.
Development, News, Opinion, Real Estate, Santa Monica

SMa.r.t. Column: A Clean Slate

September 11, 2020

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September 11, 2020

So there you have it! Maybe. Another win for the rich guys as the Planning Commission voted 6 to 1...
News, Opinion, Real Estate

Worst Housing Bills Fail; Solution via Market Forces Now Possible

September 4, 2020

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September 4, 2020

By Tom Elias, Columnist Evidence keeps mounting that California’s longtime housing shortage can be solved by market forces set loose...
Development, News, Opinion, Real Estate

SMa.r.t. Column: Budget Reform and the New Normal

September 4, 2020

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September 4, 2020

Our guest columnist this week is Marc L. Verville. He is a native of Santa Monica, now lives in Sunset...

"How does legislation riddled with 'in lieu' fees and unit thresholds allowing developers to sidestep affordable construction address the core issue?" asks guest columnist Marc L. Verville in the latest SMa.r.t. Column.
News, Opinion, Real Estate, Santa Monica

Losing Our City!

August 21, 2020

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August 21, 2020

Our guest columnist this week is Marc L. Verville. He is a native of Santa Monica, now lives in Sunset...

"During June, when COVID-19 cases eased up for about two weeks before their latest onslaught, ridership for the MTA’s buses and trains was 2.01 million, down almost exactly 3 million passengers from the previous June," writes Tom Elias in his latest column. Photo: Getty Images.
News, Opinion, Transportation

Has Coronavirus Killed the Mass Transit Boom?

August 17, 2020

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August 17, 2020

For most of the last 30 years, California saw a mass transit boom stretching from San Diego to Los Angeles...

"We have a City Council that is so dependent on developer money, that they will allow us to be led down a path of no return, lined with six and 8-story buildings instead of trees and sunlight," writes SMa.r.t. in their latest column. Photo: Getty Images.
News, Opinion, Real Estate, Santa Monica

SMa.r.t. Column: Where Oh Where Is Our City Council? – Part 2

August 14, 2020

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August 14, 2020

In last week’s article we touched on the nine bills currently before our state legislature which assigns and orders, under...

“Three days ago, your City Council gave away your land in the center of downtown for 30 pieces of silver. The giveaway did not produce any cash; instead, your city council proposed to give an out of town developer 2.5 acres of the people's land at 5th and Arizona. This land is worth at least $62 million in today's dollars, and the lease is for the next 99 years,” writes SMa.r.t. in their latest column.
News, Opinion, Santa Monica

SMa.r.t. Column: Room to Breathe!

July 30, 2020

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July 30, 2020

Three days ago, your City Council gave away your land in the center of downtown for 30 pieces of silver....

“It became plain during the July 4 holiday weekend that Los Angeles County has at least a partially scofflaw sheriff. So do several other California counties. They’re essentially enforcing only laws and rules they like," writes Tom Elias in his latest column. Photo: Getty Images.
News, Opinion

Column: Time for Newsom to Get Tough on Virus Scofflaws

July 24, 2020

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July 24, 2020

It became plain during the July 4 holiday weekend that Los Angeles County has at least a partially scofflaw sheriff....

“On July 28, we will have a "permanent record" of what the city council thinks of residents as they either vote to continue or choose to cease negotiations with the proposed developer of this massive out-of-scale development. Will your wishes be ignored again? If so, remember the votes they cast as you cast yours in the general election!,” writes Phil Brock in the latest SMa.r.t. Column on The Plaza at Santa Monica development. Photo: OMA.
News, Opinion, Santa Monica

YOU Are the Heart of the City!

July 23, 2020

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July 23, 2020

The members of SMart wrote a credo for Santa Monica in late 2013. The majority of the original members were...

News, Opinion, Santa Monica

A Worried People in a Distressed City

July 16, 2020

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July 16, 2020

It was Santa Monica’s 145th birthday on July 15th. Our city’s traditional motto is “Fortunate People in a Fortunate Land.”...

“Our City is in the ICU both from the virus itself and from its economic fallout with the added burden of the massive looting of May 31st. Thus, the new candidate, along with the entire City Council, will need to rapidly stabilize the patient and plan its recovery which may take years,” writes Dan Jansenson in the latest SMa.r.t. Column. Photo: Sam Catanzaro.
News, Opinion, Santa Monica

Wanted: A New City Councilperson

July 10, 2020

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July 10, 2020

In a week the City Council will appoint a new Council person to replace the retired council member Greg Moreno....

“It is a crushing blow for the residents who thought that the council's perceived control by moneyed interests could be unlocked. They believe it is democracy denied,” writes Phil Brock on the City prevailing in a voting rights lawsuit. “Are the residents who supported district elections angry enough to support the candidate(s) who will overturn the cronyism that permeates our city council? Photo: Sam Catanzaro
News, Opinion

SMA.r.t. Column: Brushfires of Freedom!

July 2, 2020

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July 2, 2020

We have survived the first six months of this year. We are all locked into the strange nightmare that encompasses...

"As we seek to end racial injustice in our society, education is the foremost solution to combat the inequality in our land. The dramatic cuts to Santa Monica's award-winning library system are a social justice issue, and the worst message we could send our residents," writes Phil Brock in the latest SMa.r.t Column. Photo: Sam Catanzaro.
News, Opinion

SMa.r.t. Column: If It’s Not Okay…

June 25, 2020

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June 25, 2020

~ Fight or flight. Those of you who are acquainted with me know which choice I have always made. However,...
Opinion

Viruses are in the Air: Racism & COVID-19 in Small Town & Suburban America

June 24, 2020

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June 24, 2020

Julie A. Werner-Simon During these months of quarantine and the more recent eruptions of protest and anger (in regions big...

"Our City’s primary regional role is to be the lungs of West Los Angeles, the way Central Park is the lungs of New York," writes Mario Fonda-Bonardi. "Any time we gentrify and density our City we cripple this real most important regional purpose." Photo: Sam Catanzaro.
News, Opinion, Santa Monica

SMa.r.t. Column: Two Principles for a New City

June 18, 2020

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June 18, 2020

Our City has been devastated by the coronavirus, by its economic fallout and just three weeks ago, by a looting...

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