October 28, 2025
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SM.a.r.t Column: Climbing The Vertical Learning Curve

The city is facing a financial crisis, the roots of which stretch back decades but have been made worse by the pandemic’s budgetary strains. Years of mismanagement, skyrocketing pension obligations, and over $220 million in […]

SM.a.r.t Column: It’s Time To Inspect Balconies

About nine years ago, a fifth-floor balcony in a Berkeley apartment building collapsed, tragically killing several students gathered on it and injuring others. Investigations suggested that poor construction and maintenance, especially problems with waterproofing that […]

S.M.a.r.t Column: Your City is Broke

On December 10, the new City council will be seated fresh from their dominant win in the recent elections. There are surprising parallels between the national elections where MAGA swept the board and the Santa […]

SM.a.r.t Column: Moving Ahead to the Future

As we write this, the election results are still trickling in. We’ll leave the deep analysis to others, but the reality of our city’s tough challenges looms large, regardless of who sits on the Council. […]

Opinion: Fact Check: Why Vote Yes on Measure QS

Despite living in a famously progressive region, Santa Monicans are not immune from the same political misinformation and disinformation that afflicts civil discourse elsewhere in the United States. As backers of Measure QS, we feel […]

SM.a.r.t Column: Lack of Oversight and No Accountability

S.M.a.r.t. periodically invites guest columnists to write opinion articles on topics of particular interests to our readers. Below is an article written by Nikki Kolhoff about the controversial ½ billion dollar Santa Monica School District […]

SM.a.r.t. Column: Vote

In a polarized country or City every vote counts. Regardless of which side of any issue or candidate you support, your viewpoint will not prevail unless enough of you and your supporters actually vote. Voting […]