By Tom Elias More than a year after it took effect, the landmark housing density law known as SB 9 has drawn many derogatory labels: a usurper of local powers, a neighborhood wrecker, a destroyer […]
Recent early-morning tremors off the Malibu coast, and the huge and terrible earthquake in Turkey and Syria have made us take another look at Santa Monica’s earthquake-retrofit program for vulnerable buildings. This program, started in […]
Six years go we discussed, in these pages, the city’s then-renewed earthquake-retrofit rules. At the time we argued that the anticipated volume of building permit applications would create a serious challenge for the city’s staff. […]
By Tom Elias It’s a phenomenon from New York to Dallas to Fresno and Los Angeles, one that seemed inevitable to some from the moment millions of Californians became the first Americans ordered to work […]
By Tom Elias If you’re looking for sure things among bills under consideration in the state Legislature, think of one word: housing. It’s not yet certain just which new housing measures will be proposed this […]
Santa Monica – a progressive city 20 years ago, a chaotic city today! A city that is struggling for its identity and life is a titanic struggle for the heart and soul of our city. […]
The picture shown above is the future of Santa Monica. Large tall buildings along the Boulevards and Avenues plus Downtown and in the Bergamot Area will be massed to completely shade adjacent low-rise smaller homes […]
Your City is busy rewriting much of its zoning code to implement our new Housing Element as demanded by the State of California. That laborious rewrite has been going on for months because every line […]
January 27, 2023 Dear Santa Monica Community, The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Tyre Nichols and the entire Memphis community. SMPD […]
By Tom Elias All over California last fall, hundreds of the civic minded spent thousands of hours and millions of dollars running for posts on city councils and county boards. Some of them may now […]
The decision follows weeks of criticism from residents and city leaders, including Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete, who voiced concerns...
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Detectives are continuing to search for two remaining suspects with additional arrests expected Two men were arrested and $50,000 worth...
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