Every 8 years, the state requires cities to update their planning code’s “housing element” to reflect the number of dwelling units that SCAG (Southern California Association of Governments) determines each city within their countywide jurisdiction […]
Between crafting COVID-era return-to-school plans, fine-tuning Distance Learning, developing major district-wide campus improvements, giving fair process to the Santa Monica High School History Building (slated to be bulldozed this summer along with the cafeteria, main […]
[We wrote this article 6.5 years ago. Today, the issues it raises continue to bedevil the city, and with more impact than ever. The results of the pandemic and the State-imposed requirement to provide building […]
It’s that time of year again, but tragically this year so many things are staggeringly different and difficult on many levels for the people and businesses here. The joy, peace and good spirits we normally […]
Tuesday night Santa Claus brought Santa Monica a gift that we have waited 7 years for. That evening the City Council voted to end negotiations with the developer who wanted to put an oversized 12 […]
As most of you know the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is now forcing Santa Monica to permit 8873 new housing units (of which about 6000 need to be affordable) in the next 8 […]
On Tuesday, December 8th, shortly after 5:30 PM, Oscar de la Torre, Christine Parra, and I will be among the Council Members sworn in to make decisions on your behalf as we try to right […]
As the weather chills, we enter a Holiday Season like no other that the City of Santa Monica has seen in the last 40 years. For the first time in that long period, the residents […]
SMart has always looked for ways to do more with less and to live within our means on our way to a truly sustainable City. One way to do this is to try to recycle […]
The extraordinary results of our municipal election signal a deep desire, by many residents, for a change in the city’s direction. Three members of City Council with longtime and deep institutional connections were replaced at […]
The holiday season is fast approaching. To make your holidays more sustainable, Urban Jungle, an indoor and tropical plants nursery...
Read moreBy Mayor Pro Tempore Caroline Torosis I entered public service because I love Santa Monica. I believe in its people,...
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