March 17, 2026
Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Public Meeting For New Hotel A Token Compromise: Letter To The Editor:

A rendering of the proposed Frank Gehry project on the north corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Ocean Avenue.

Dear editor,

The public meeting hosted by the Worthe Real Estate Group, to sell their proposal for a 22-story hotel designed by Frank Gehry, on Ocean Avenue, will go the same way as the Miramar… Token compromise by the City Council, no matter who shows up to protest. Expect the council to also solicit input from residents and do what they’re going to do anyway.

Holbrook, Davis, O’Day and O’Connor were all endorsed by developers for a reason. McKeown will vote against, as will Vasquez and Winterer, UNLESS Davis develops a conscience, which is unlikely…  In that case, one of the swing votes could help “broker” a compromise and switch to the majority.

Jonathan Mann

Santa Monica

Previous Article

Bergamot Area Plan Pushes Forward At Santa Monica City Council:

Next Article

Macular Degeneration Support Group Meeting Set For April 9 In Santa Monica:

You might be interested in …

Thomas B. Elias, Columnist

Are Lying Voters Making Fate of Legal Pot Uncertain?:

When the Proposition 19 marijuana legalization initiative qualified for the ballot for the November election, its passage seemed almost a foregone conclusion. Tax the approximately $12 billion pot industry in this state and you could […]

SMa.r.t. Column: Fix Those Balconies!

About six years ago a fifth-floor balcony in a Berkeley apartment building collapsed. A group of students standing on the balcony died and several others were injured. Investigations into the tragedy suggested that the balcony […]