When the COVID crisis struck, it cut the city’s income in half, demolishing many businesses and causing widespread layoffs and suspension of popular services. Faster than a speeding locomotive, certain groups who like to weigh […]

As well described by Paul Krugman, all cities have a core competency: things they do well or better regionally or internationally than other cities. Think Atlanta for logistics, London for finance, and  Los Angeles for […]

Quartz countertops are super popular because they’re tough and can handle stains, scratches, and heat. But there’s a big problem: the people who make these countertops are getting sick and even dying from lung diseases […]

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 […]