Welton (David) Becket (1902-1969), pictured above, backed by a picture of our Civic Auditorium, was the designer of that famed building. While his name might not be currently well known, most people would recognize his […]

Civic Center Debate Last year, the City declared the Civic Center Auditorium surplus property after a decade of neglect and disuse. The auditorium had been closed because of seismic concerns and the lack of accessibility. […]

This week SMa.r.t. is focusing on the historic Civic Center Auditorium and residents’ efforts to save it from a misdirected effort by the City Council to sell it to generate revenue. Revenue shortfalls are due […]

Last week’s article discussed why we need to continue our program to slow down our streets to save lives, given the increasing traffic pressures on our existing streetscape (see https://smmirror.com/2023/08/s-m-a-r-t-column-the-30-mph-city-part-one/ ).  This week, we will […]

Some ideas sound extreme when first presented but acquire more credibility when you think about it, and particularly when conditions change. One of our City’s mobility goals is called Vision Zero, which is the City’s […]

By Oscar de la Torre Like many Santa Monicans and Californians who care about fair elections, I watched the California Supreme Court’s June 27 arguments in Pico Neighborhood Association & Maria Loya v. City of […]

Santa Monica Civic Auditorium: A Historic Gem That Shaped Our City’s Cultural Legacy. Save Santa Monica’s Heritage The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is an enduring testament to Santa Monica’s rich cultural heritage. This iconic venue […]

This week, our SMa.r.t. column is authored by concerned resident Nikki Kolhoff. Nikki has been an active voice in the community for many years, focusing on both City and SMMUSD issues that impact us all. […]

As someone who’s always out and about, whether walking, biking, or driving, this writer has noticed a worrying trend that affects how we use our public spaces. Private companies are taking up more and more […]