SMa.r.t. Column: Politics as Usual
Friday, October 11, 2019, was a warm, pleasant day in the Bay Area town of Newark, California. Midday temps were in the mid-70s, but the folks working in the office of a local attorney were […]
Letter to Editor: State Housing Mandates and Santa Monica
Dear Editor, State housing mandates and Santa Monica: The state wants the city to build 6000 affordable housing units at the city’s cost. At $400,000 per unit (a typical cost for city construction) Total cost: […]
Food Review: A Cluckin’ Good Chicken Taco
Breaking down chicken, pork and beef tacos from LOQUI By Kerry Slater A Westside taco spot, while a bit pricey, serves up a chicken taco worth every cent and pork and beef options that hit […]
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 […]
Opinion: Critical Time Regarding Malibu Unification Efforts
By Dr. Ben Drati, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Superintendent Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff and Community Members, I am writing this letter to explain the status of unification efforts from my perspective as superintendent of […]
Cities Chip Away at R-1 Zoning
It’s become like a rite of spring: Every year, state legislators reject the most radical of many proposals set forward by Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco to make housing far more dense […]
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 […]
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. […]
The first protest at René Redzepi’s Noma pop-up at the Paramour Estate (Video)
The protest was organized by Jason Ignacio White and One Fair Wage after the owner and chef of Noma, René...
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Film Review: Oscars Landscape 2026
My Oscar choices and predictions. The 98th Academy Awards, Sunday, March 15th at 4:00 PM, on ABC, and streaming on...
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