SMa.r.t. Column: History Repeats Itself
Santa Monicans today understand there is a titanic struggle going on for the heart and soul of their City. And it’s not the first time this has happened. The battle manifests itself in infinite ways […]
SMa.r.t. Column: Santa Monica’s Precarious Business Plan
As the City’s budget season gets underway, it is helpful to step back from the minutiae of an annual process and reflect on the emerging financial trends from City management decisions that will impact the […]
Time for the School District to Adopt 20th Century Capital Project Financial Reporting
There has been significant confusion and debate surrounding the financial performance of the many SMMUSD facilities projects. The absence of clear and accessible financial performance reporting is the cause. The issue is not just […]
SMa.r.t. Column: The City of Santa Monica Monica – “Progressive” in 1989, “Chaotic” in 2021
The STATE of our CITY Are we to be a city of gardens, recreation, the arts, with courtyard housing and boulevards as linear parks. Can we turn our boulevards into parkways or will our downtown […]
Zapped! A Promising Proposal Bites the Dust
Santa Monica has long touted its credentials as a “green” city, always in earnest pursuit of solutions to ongoing environmental problems. Back in 2017 the City introduced the Electric Vehicle Action Plan. The intent was […]
SMa.r.t. Column: SB 9 &10 Doom R1 Districts
Like zombies that refuse to die, every year Scott Weiner, the California Senator from San Francisco, comes up with new bills to wreck our City and State. His latest incarnations are SB 9 and SB10. […]
A Field of Dreams: Realized
It is finally here, it is beautiful, and it is a testament to tenacity. The new field at the Civic Center is an example of how a number of individuals with no official support, budget, […]
SMa.r.t. Column: Texas Comes to SMMUSD
Last week Texas suffered a dramatic blow out between the loss of power and the related water system collapse caused by climate change. Just to be clear, climate change includes a relentless increase in average […]
Promenade now – Back to the Future?
Last week, this column reviewed the backstory of the Promenade within the context of Downtown Santa Monica. This week, we discuss ways of looking at the future. The Promenade today resembles the Santa Monica Mall […]
SMa.r.t. Column: The Promenade – Leaving the Past to Reimagine its Future
PART I This week the City Council started discussing the next move for the Santa Monica Promenade, our beleaguered and onetime downtown city jewel. Beset by collapsing sales, contagious vacancies, safety and sanitation issues, the […]
Horvath Terminates Controversial Ocean Avenue Housing Projects, Orders Search for Alternative Sites
The decision follows weeks of criticism from residents and city leaders, including Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete, who voiced concerns...
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Two Arrested, $50K in Stolen Copper Wire Recovered After Mission Hills Theft
Detectives are continuing to search for two remaining suspects with additional arrests expected Two men were arrested and $50,000 worth...
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