SMa.r.t. Column: Water Woes Not Be Gone
Re-visiting a column of ours from 2014. The more things change, the more they stay the same. “Water Woes” from 12/29/14 “By now everyone knows about the drought, although some people seem to be […]
SMa.r.t. Column: Warning Water Wars Ahead
Until it rains again, all the western states (including California) are being fried by a deadly drought. We have seen this before: seven years ago we had to reduce the entire State’s water consumption by […]
SMa.r.t Column: Blind Upzoning’s False Promise
SMa.r.t. is proud to introduce this essay by a Commissioner and former Chair of the Santa Monica Rent Control Board, and a Past Commissioner, Commission on the Status of Women, Nicole Phillis. As we have […]
SMa.r.t. Column: A Meeting of Two Worlds
The end of 2001 was a very tough time in Argentina. The national currency was devaluated, interest rates ballooned, and bank deposit holders could no longer access their savings. A quarter of Argentines were unemployed […]
Low-Cost Housing? State Keeps Ignoring the New Realities
From Sacramento comes word that the median price for a single-family home in California skyrocketed by 24 percent over less than one year, topping $810,000 in May, a rise of almost 30 percent from the […]
Zone Wars: The Return Of Common Sense
Zoning has been an accelerating controversial issue, especially when weighing the acceptable levels of local municipal control versus State control. First and foremost, our city has a legitimate interest in ensuring that all commercial and […]
Opinion: City Manager Lane Dilg’s Leadership Saw Us Through Our Darkest Days
By Mayor Sue Himmelrich and Mayor Pro Tem Kristin McCowan This week, we say goodbye to Lane Dilg, who for the last four years has served the Santa Monica community with keen intellect, clear foresight, […]
SMa.r.t. Column: Does Increased Density Lead to Increased Affordability?
Much of recent debate in Santa Monica has centered around the idea that changing zoning in single-family zones would result in lower-priced housing units. Recent projects, however, suggest the actual situation may be more complex […]
Guest Columnist: A Perspective…
Six or so years ago, I started reading some pieces in a local Santa Monica paper. I was struck by those pieces. They were articulating the issues of how a city approaches development that reflected […]
Letters to Editor: Main Street Closures
The following are two letters sent to the Santa Monica Mirror, one in support and one in opposition, regarding a plan to close down portions of Main Street to traffic on weekends. Letter in Support […]
Urban Jungle: Deck The Halls This Holiday Season With Plants
The holiday season is fast approaching. To make your holidays more sustainable, Urban Jungle, an indoor and tropical plants nursery...
Read more
Santa Monica Is Stronger Than Anonymous Attacks
By Mayor Pro Tempore Caroline Torosis I entered public service because I love Santa Monica. I believe in its people,...
Read more
