Santa Monica’s housing debate is no longer just about zoning, density, or state mandates. It has become a test of basic political ethics—and of whether residents can trust how major land-use decisions are being made […]

By CHARLES ANDREWS THESE ARE HISTORIC DAYS Our young children or grandchildren will be reading about this time, and the account they get in schoolbooks depends on how it plays out in the next few […]

One question echoed through City Hall’s chambers Tuesday night, asked almost four dozen different ways by four dozen different residents who stayed until nearly 1 AM: Why is this Council going beyond the already transformative […]

By CHARLES ANDREWS A REVEALING, IMPORTANT COUNCIL MEETING LAST TUESDAY A City Council member, JESSE ZWICK, who took a six-figure salary position as an advocate for a housing developer, which he revealed last October just […]

By CHARLES ANDREWS WORRIED YET? Tough week. And who knows what will happen between when I write this and the next 12 hours. I check my TV way too frequently these days. Finally, white folks […]

By CHARLES ANDREWS GREAT NEWS! Legendary jazz bassist STANLEY CLARKE is putting together the Santa Monica International Jazz Festival for May of this year, promising big names, master musicians, and he can deliver it. He […]

By CHARLES ANDREWS NOW, HOLD ON… Before you blow a fuse and frantically start looking for the phone number for The Mirror, and the Mayor, and the Pope, let me assure you I am trying […]

This year S.M.a.r,t, wrote about the Civic Auditorium, the Airport, City governance, Preservation, overdevelopment, and its impact, among many other topics listed below. We hope you enjoyed reading our 52 weekly articles, and if you […]