Every Tuesday, our city council convenes in chambers that embody civic memory—mid-century architecture from when cities believed in public purpose. There, dedicated public servants wrestle with impossible choices between state mandates and community character. Citizens […]

Last Friday (December 5), we lost one of our own: Frank Gehr,y who passed away at age 96, is probably the most recognized American architect. His storied local, national, and international career started and blossomed […]

By CHARLES ANDREWS R.I.P. JIMMY CLIFF I landed in L.A. from New Mexico, 11-year-old son Chris in tow, August 1980, a rocknroll-blues-country-classical-jazz full blown reggae fan (short for “fanatic”), eager to launch my career as […]

Twenty years ago, at dismissal time, school intersections bustled with parents and children, the afternoon ritual of family life. Last June of this year, during the many new mixed-use projects along Lincoln Blvd., I’d expect […]

By CHARLES ANDREWS “GIVING TUESDAY”? Just another day invented to separate us from our money? Probably. But if you were involved with a group trying to improve the world, wouldn’t you jump all over it? […]

By Mayor Pro Tempore Caroline Torosis I entered public service because I love Santa Monica. I believe in its people, its neighborhoods, and its future. That belief has guided every decision I have made as […]

By CHARLES ANDREWS HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Of course, that means different things to different people. My family has gathered every year for 75 years at my cousin’s home in Tempe, AZ. Two of the cousins were […]

As we approach Thanksgiving, we are more aware of those who deserve our gratitude. There are always your personal favorites, but this year, we would like to highlight everyone in our City who donates their […]

By CHARLES ANDREWS IN CASE YOU WONDER Why I keep pounding on the City Council vote last month to abandon an extraordinary, exciting possibility to bring our famous Civic Auditorium back to performance status, at […]

Professor Horst Rittel of UC Berkeley’s School of Architecture coined the term “wicked problems” to describe planning challenges in constant flux with many moving parts and stakeholders. He taught that effective problem-solving requires defining the […]