SMa.r.t. Column: Failure to Plan…
Over the last approximately two years your City has been busy trying to respond to new California laws that are completely destroying the urban fabric and quality of life of our City. Specifically, the State’s […]
Letter to Editor: Your “Standing Firm With Santa Monica” Initiative
The following is an open letter to Councilmember Sue Himmelrich from Santa Monica resident Arthur Jeon regarding a proposed transfer tax ballot initiative. I just received your “Standing Firm For Santa Monica” flyer, which I […]
SMa.r.t. Column: Planning The Real Future
In the 1970s, renowned USC architecture professor Ralph Knowles developed a method for planning and designing cities that would dramatically reduce the use of fossil fuels, while retaining the qualities that people find most attractive […]
SMa.r.t. Column: New City Financial Plan: The Resident Homeowner Bank
Part II: Who pays the proposed transfer tax and where does the money go? Last week, we introduced the proposed tax as a key element in the fundamental ongoing restructuring of the city’s commercial and […]
Column: NIMBYs Getting a Bad Rap
By Tom Elias Rarely has a major group of Californians suffered a less deserved rash of insults and attacks than the myriad homeowners often described as “NIMBYs” – an acronym for folks who may favor […]
SMa.r.t. Column: New City Financial Plan – The Resident Homeowner Bank
Part 1 of 2 In this two-part article, we will discuss both the proposed transfer tax ballot initiative and the fundamental shift in city residential/commercial composition that will drive further emphasis on direct taxation of […]
Column: Tackling Childcare Costs
Finding affordable, quality childcare is essential for many working parents. The current shortage of care options is helping drive up costs for parents across the nation. If you know you will be needing childcare coverage […]
SMa.r.t. Column: Tunneling for Mobility
Editor’s note: this is an April Fools Day column and is intended to be satire. Starting this year permits from the Santa Monica Planning Department will require a new additional fee called “Travel Demand Forecasting […]
SMa.r.t. Column: The Value of Our Boulevards
Following is a composite of past articles dealing with the accelerated demise of our beachfront environment together with the increasing control of the development community over City Council and Planning staff, and the re-direction we […]
Column: Demise of R-1 Zoning Will Lead to New Blockbusting
By Tom Elias, Columnist Blockbusting. A technique used to encourage people to sell their property by giving the impression that a neighborhood is changing for the worse, causing property values to decline. The property is […]
Sweet Laurel Bakery Will Not Reopen in Palisades, Closes Santa Monica Pickup Spot
Sweet Laurel opened its flagship store in Palisades Village in 2018 and built a strong following across West Los Angeles....
Read more
SM.a.r.t. Column: Santa Monica Isn’t Rebounding Yet. It’s Replacing
Santa Monica officially reports numerous new business openings, often highlighted by the media as signs of economic recovery. However, a...
Read more
