Think of yourself walking into a Los Angeles County courtroom feeling prepared. Your paperwork looks clean. Deadlines look met. Then the judge asks a simple question. “Do you have proof
After losing 20% of her real estate portfolio in the Pacific Palisades fire, developer Elaine Culotti is spearheading a movement for the community to secede from Los Angeles, citing the city's inadequate disaster response and structural failings.
City Manager Oliver Chi has appointed Darrick Jacob as Santa Monica's next chief of police. Jacob, who has served with SMPD since 2004 and as acting chief since August 2025, is the first internal candidate selected for the position in over 40 years.
Santa Monica City Council unanimously approved a self-certification program allowing businesses to obtain building permits in as little as one day, bypassing weeks of city review. The program launches April 2026 for commercial renovations, including restaurants.
NoScrubs, an AI-powered laundry delivery service promising 4-hour turnarounds, has launched in Santa Monica with $4.2M in funding. The service uses AI for quality control and partners with local laundromats to clean and fold clothes for less than $1 per day.
Santa Monica has published application and operational requirements for new cannabis retailers ahead of the January 26, 2026 application period. Applications will be processed first-come, first-served, with social equity provisions and a 4% cannabis business tax.
Registration for the LA28 Olympic Games ticket draw opens January 14, 2026, marking the first opportunity for fans to secure access to purchase tickets. Los Angeles area residents will receive priority through a special early access window.
The eighth annual Polar Bear Plunge returns to Santa Monica's Annenberg Community Beach House on January 10, 2026, featuring an ocean plunge, 300-yard swim, heated pool access, and hot chocolate for participants of all ages.
One year after devastating fires affected Pacific Palisades and Altadena, Grammy Award-winning violinist Anne Akiko Meyers and other talented artists will perform at St. Matthew's Church for Concerts of Remembrance, Healing and Renewal on January 7, 2026.
Faux Sweets, founded by Japanese American artist Mae Hirota, is launching hands-on food-replica workshops at Venice Beach's Albion Garden beginning January 2026. The series will teach participants to create hyper-realistic Japanese-style food replicas.
The Malibu City Council has appointed Joseph 'Joe' Irvin as the city's next city manager following an extensive recruitment process. Irvin, who brings over 20 years of municipal leadership experience, will begin his tenure March 2, 2026.
