In today’s cities, silence isn’t golden—it’s extinct. From sunrise to insomnia, we’re trapped in a nonstop symphony of shrieking car alarms, roaring leaf blowers, and sirens that sound like the sky’s being torn in half. […]

How Santa Monica’s Growing Light Pollution Is Eroding Human Health, Safety, and Sanity There was a time when our coastal night meant something—when day left, stars emerged, and the world, at last, exhaled. Now, the […]

California’s ambitious housing mandates were supposed to solve the affordability crisis. Instead, they’re creating a vicious cycle that’s killing public transit and pushing working families further from opportunity.  New UCLA research reveals a stunning pattern: […]

Santa Monica, once celebrated for its blend of coastal charm and progressive ideals, is slowly bleeding out — not from one dramatic failure, but from a thousand small, systemic ones. Mismanagement, unchecked spending, and leadership […]

Our Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow (SMa.r.t) articles have, over the past 12 years, collectively presented a critical analysis of the extensive development transforming Santa Monica. While critical of current development trajectories, SMa.r.t. […]

Santa Monica is known for its ocean views, sunny skies, and strong environmental values. But there’s a challenge on the horizon that could test the city’s priorities: water. If Santa Monica follows through on California’s […]

SMO: Fantasy, Fact, and the Fog of Wishful ThinkingBy someone who read the fine print Every few months, a headline appears in Santa Monica promising that the airport—Santa Monica Airport (SMO)—will shut down by the […]

Almost every year, we see new cities, regions, and countries that make the list(s) of our planet’s happiest and healthiest places to reside and visit. Since World Happiness Day occurred on March 20th, it seems […]

Santa Monica dazzles with its ocean views, sunshine, and laid-back charm. But beyond the postcard image lies a more complicated reality—one where the city’s infrastructure often falls short of supporting the people who live there. […]