# SMDP
> Award-winning local journalism covering Santa Monica, Venice, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Marina del Rey. Trusted by Westside readers since 2001.
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## Posts
- [Santa Monica's Big Match Day Ends in a Draw](https://www.smdp.com/santa-monicas-big-match-day-ends-in-a-draw.md) - Santa Monica hosted its COAST open streets event last weekend alongside World Cup watch parties on the Third Street Promenade, and while the day produced some roaring goals, it also revealed the city has forgotten some basic lessons on how to run a match-day operation. Goal! The Promenade was the s…
- [World Cup ends with a celebration in Downtown Santa Monica](https://www.smdp.com/world-cup-ends-with-a.md)
- [Care Predictor Nominated for Best Healthcare SaaS (Software as a Service)](https://www.smdp.com/care-predictor-nominated-for-best-healthcare-saas.md) - Care Predictor just got nominated for Best Healthcare SAAS (Software as a Service), and it feels a bit like that quiet kid in class suddenly aceing a big test—surprising, but also well-deserved. It doesn’t make noise for attention; it simply delivers results where it matters. Now, let’s keep this s…
- [Soundwaves series presents two emerging composer-performers](https://www.smdp.com/soundwaves-series-presents-two-emerging-composer-performers.md) - The Soundwaves new music series will present groups led by two composer-improviser-performers on Tuesday, July 21, at 7:30 p.m. at the Westside Music Conservatory. Local Occurrence is led by tuba player Henryk "Harry" Golden, with Corey Fogel on percussion, Myra Hinrichs on violin, Michael Matsuno…
- [LA County Updates Collection Costs for Delinquent Property Taxes](https://www.smdp.com/la-county-updates-collection-costs-for-delinquent-property-taxes.md) - Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector Elizabeth Buenrostro Ginsberg has updated the collection costs for recovering delinquent unsecured property taxes to reflect actual costs, the department announced. The changes take effect Sept. 1, 2026, starting with unsecured property tax bills due i…
- [Celebratory weekend ends with murder by the Pier](https://www.smdp.com/celebratory-weekend-ends-with-murder-by-the-pier.md) - A man was shot and killed early Monday in a parking lot near the Santa Monica Pier, police said, capping a weekend that drew the city's largest crowds in recent memory. Santa Monica police officers responded at about 12:32 a.m. Monday to a report of a possible shooting in Parking Lot 1 North, locat…
- [Santa Monica teen cellist earns Carnegie Hall spot](https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-teen-cellist-earns-carnegie-hall-spot.md) - Maxwell Prado, a 14-year-old cellist and incoming Santa Monica High School freshman, has been selected to perform at Carnegie Hall this summer through the Honors Performance Series and chosen for featured solo passages — a distinction drawn from nearly 10,000 nominations submitted from around the w…
- [Santa Monica council sends rent-control eviction protections to November ballot; new-occupant measure splits vote](https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-council-sends-rent-control-eviction-protections-to-november-ballot-new-occupant-measure-splits-vote.md) - The City Council voted Tuesday to place three proposed rent-control charter amendments on the November ballot, advancing a package of expanded eviction protections that drew a wave of impassioned opposition from small landlords even as council members split over how far the changes should go. Three…
- [Malibu Council Unanimously Curbs New Cell Sites Near Homes](https://www.smdp.com/malibu-council-unanimously-curbs-new-cell-sites-near-homes.md) - The City Council voted unanimously Monday to bar most new wireless facilities in Malibu's residential neighborhoods, approving a pair of resolutions that supporters hailed as a long-sought first step toward keeping cell equipment away from homes. The vote enacts what officials have called Phase 1 o…
- [Ottobock Named Official Paralympic Repair Provider for LA28](https://www.smdp.com/ottobock-named-official-paralympic-repair-provider-for-la28.md) - Ottobock, a global MedTech company specializing in prosthetics, neuro-orthotics and exoskeletons, has been named an Official Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Wheelchair Repair Service Provider and Official Supporter of the LA28 Paralympic Games. The designation formalizes a role Ottobock has filled at t…
- [Community Collective Inaugural Builders Breakfast coalition to help turn the World Cup, Olympics and global events into economic opportunity](https://www.smdp.com/community-collective-inaugural-builders-breakfast-coalition-to-help-turn-the-world-cup-olympics-and-global-events-into-economic-opportunity.md) - More than 50 civic, business and community leaders gathered for the inaugural Community Collective Builders Breakfast at 1212 Santa Monica on the Third Street Promenade, focusing on partnerships, downtown revitalization and Santa Monica's global future. The monthly breakfast series aims to position…
- [COAST 2026 caps Santa Monica’s World Cup celebration with a look toward LA28](https://www.smdp.com/coast-2026-caps-santa-monicas-world-cup-celebration-with-a-look-toward-la28.md) - After more than a month of welcoming the world, Santa Monica is preparing for one final celebration that reflects how global sporting events can transform a city. On Sunday, the city will close out its six-week World Cup programming with COAST 2026, a free open streets festival that will transform…
- [Democratic Club fails to endorse City Council candidates](https://www.smdp.com/democratic-club-fails-to-endorse-city-council-candidates.md) - The Santa Monica Democratic Club declined to endorse any candidate in the City Council race after two rounds of voting, with the top vote-getter falling short of the required 55% threshold and club rules barring further balloting. In the final round of voting, 324 individuals cast ballots for Counc…
- [Puppy Yoga Studio to Reopen in Santa Monica, with Ticket Proceeds Aiding Rescues](https://www.smdp.com/puppy-yoga-studio-to-reopen-in-santa-monica-with-ticket-proceeds-aiding-rescues.md) - Puppy Sphere, a wellness events company that pairs yoga with puppy playtime, will open a new studio in Santa Monica this month, returning to a Los Angeles market its founders say holds a special place in the company's story. The studio opens July 18 at 2400 Main St., steps from the beach. To mark t…
- [Traffic Stop Leads to Loaded Firearm Arrest](https://www.smdp.com/traffic-stop-leads-to-loaded-firearm-arrest.md) - A routine traffic stop near the 300 block of Pico Boulevard led to the recovery of a loaded firearm and the arrest of a passenger, according to the Santa Monica Police Department. Officers stopped a vehicle at about 11:25 p.m. on July 7 after observing traffic violations, police said. During the in…
- [13 Independent Bookstores to Launch First Los Angeles Indie Book Crawl](https://www.smdp.com/13-independent-bookstores-to-launch-first-los-angeles-indie-book-crawl.md) - Thirteen independent bookstores across greater Los Angeles will join forces July 24-26 for the inaugural Los Angeles Indie Book Crawl, a free weekend event inviting readers to explore the region's literary scene. The crawl, held during regular store hours, stretches from Manhattan Beach to Montrose…
- [Around Town: Massive COAST World Cup Event, National Ice Cream Day, & More!](https://www.smdp.com/around-town-massive-coast-world-cup-event-national-ice-cream-day-more.md) - SMDP's Weekly Guide to Food & Entertainment Goings-On In & Around Town includes the massive COAST 2026 World Cup finale, expanded downtown entertainment zones, fresh culinary debuts, and hot summer concert series, and much more! Annenberg Beach House Sunset Picnic - Route 66 Edition: Bring your own…
- [The Killers, Olivia Dean to Headline First-Ever Santa Monica Beach Music Festival](https://www.smdp.com/the-killers-olivia-dean-to-headline-first-ever-santa-monica-beach-music-festival.md) - Goldenvoice announced Thursday that The Killers and Olivia Dean will headline the inaugural Ocean Way Festival, the first major music festival to be held on the city's shoreline on Sept. 26-27. The complete lineup is 54 Ultra, Alvvays, Austin Millz, BLOND:ISH, Carlita, Coco & Breezy, DJ Harvey, Dur…
- [In a policy paradox, council pushes density into single family neighborhood to delay statewide housing law](https://www.smdp.com/in-a-policy-paradox-council-pushes-density-into-single-family-neighborhood-to-delay-statewide-housing-law.md) - The Santa Monica City Council voted 5-1 early Wednesday to pursue upzoning of single-family neighborhoods near the Metro E Line's Expo/Bundy station rather than adopt a planning staff recommendation that would have increased density on multifamily parcels, reversing course on how the city plans to…
- [Palisades Village to Celebrate Grand Reopening Aug. 15](https://www.smdp.com/palisades-village-to-celebrate-grand-reopening-aug-15.md) - Palisades Village, Caruso's coastal mixed-use destination in Pacific Palisades, will celebrate its grand reopening Saturday, Aug. 15, marking an emotional return for one of the area's most distinctive shopping and dining hubs. Set in a walkable, open-air environment moments from the Pacific Ocean,…
- [LA28 Opens Applications for Up to 60,000 Games Volunteers](https://www.smdp.com/la28-opens-applications-for-up-to-60-000-games-volunteers.md) - LA28 began accepting volunteer applications for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, opening the search for up to 60,000 people to join the Volunteer Crew as the two-year countdown to the Games begins. Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis, who won at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, has been named an offi…
- [Gibson Dunn Announces Partnership With LA28 and Team USA](https://www.smdp.com/gibson-dunn-announces-partnership-with-la28-and-team-usa.md) - Gibson Dunn announced Thursday that it has partnered with LA28 and Team USA in connection with the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. The firm will provide legal services to support LA28 as it prepares to host the Games, which will mark the return of the summer Olympics to the United…
- [Divine Vintage adds a food menu to its Santa Monica wine bar](https://www.smdp.com/divine-vintage-adds-a-food-menu-to-its-santa-monica-wine-bar.md) - Divine Vintage, the Montana Avenue wine bar and boutique known for its globally sourced wines and intimate neighborhood atmosphere, has launched an expanded food program built around shareable small plates, artisanal cheeses and meats and a new lineup of signature flatbread pizzas. The move marks a…
- [Place your bets for the November election](https://www.smdp.com/place-your-bets-for-the-november-election.md) - There’s good news for those who like both horse races and democracy. The first candidate debates for the local fall election took place at the Santa Monica Democratic Club, and no animal cruelty was involved, unless you include the risk to fragile egos. There’s even better news, which is that the d…
- [Lobster poachers arrested on the Pier](https://www.smdp.com/lobster-poachers-arrested-on-the-pier.md) - Wildlife officers from across Southern California teamed up to catch lobster poachers at the Santa Monica Pier, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Tuesday. Spiny lobster season closed March 18, but that hasn't stopped some people from breaking the law, according to the departm…
- [Semifinal 2: England vs. Argentina](https://www.smdp.com/semifinal-2-england-vs-argentina.md) - It's hard to oversell today's matchup. Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" in 1986, four years after the Falklands War. David Beckham's red card in 1998. England and Argentina haven't met at a World Cup in more than 20 years, but the rivalry has never really faded. England desperately seeks its first Wo…
- [What's in a name? For the Ocean Way festival its celebration of Santa Monica](https://www.smdp.com/whats-in-a-name-for-the-ocean-way-festival-its-celebration-of-santa-monica.md) - Nic Adler was standing on a corner of Ocean Way contemplating the new music festival he’s bringing to Santa Monica recently and while the small intersection is easy to miss on day to day activity, it would soon be mere steps from hundreds of thousands of music lovers. "I was looking for a sign, for…
- [Los Angeles to bake under mid-week heat wave](https://www.smdp.com/los-angeles-to-bake-under-mid-week-heat-wave.md) - Dangerous heat is expected to build across the region this week, with the National Weather Service issuing a Heat Advisory for coastal and beach areas, including Santa Monica, from 10 a.m. Tuesday to 8 p.m. Thursday. While Santa Monica will stay cooler than most places, temperatures are forecast to…
- [Semifinal 1: France vs. Spain](https://www.smdp.com/semifinal-1-france-vs-spain.md) - For the first time since rankings were introduced in 1992, the World Cup semifinals will feature the top 4 teams: Argentina, Spain, France and England. Today's semifinal features Spain and France and though the former is ranked a notch above Les Bleus, odds are heavily in France's favor as Spain's…
- [Pacific Park and '47 Brand Launch Exclusive Dodgers Hats for All-Star Week](https://www.smdp.com/pacific-park-and-47-brand-launch-exclusive-dodgers-hats-for-all-star-week.md) - Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier will launch an exclusive Los Angeles Dodgers hat collection in collaboration with '47 Brand on July 14, timed to the MLB All-Star Game. The collection features two styles: a classic Dodgers blue cap and a limited-edition white cap. Both feature the Dodgers logo…
- [Cruisin' Route 66](https://www.smdp.com/cruisin-route-66.md) - The Petersen Auto Museum celebrated 100 years of Route 66 Sunday morning with an auto parade from the museum to the Santa Monica, followed by a car show at the pier. An eclectic range of vehicles representing different eras of the auto industry were on display.
- [Zimmer, tech executives back Santa Monica piano school eyeing L.A. growth](https://www.smdp.com/zimmer-tech-executives-back-santa-monica-piano-school-eyeing-l-a-growth.md) - Payam Music, whose Santa Monica school teaches beginners to play piano through a proprietary alphanumeric notation rather than traditional sheet music, said it has partnered with composer Hans Zimmer and raised funding from a group of technology and media executives to expand across Southern Califo…
- [New movie shoot marks largest production in Santa Monica history](https://www.smdp.com/new-movie-shoot-marks-largest-production-in-santa-monica-history.md) - A large-scale studio production currently filming on Ocean Avenue has become the largest production Film Santa Monica has coordinated since taking over the city's permitting duties — and the largest in Santa Monica's history, according to Evan Edwards, chief operating officer of Film Santa Monica.…
- [Folk Legend Tom Rush to Play McCabe's on July 25](https://www.smdp.com/folk-legend-tom-rush-to-play-mccabes-on-july-25.md) - Tom Rush, the singer-songwriter credited with helping shape the folk revival, will perform at McCabe's in Santa Monica on July 25. The show comes as Rush promotes "Gardens Old, Flowers New," his first album of new music since 2018's "Voices." Released March 1, 2024, on Appleseed Records, the album…
- [SMC Emeritus Acting Troupe to present free virtual showcase July 18](https://www.smdp.com/smc-emeritus-acting-troupe-to-present-free-virtual-showcase-july-18.md) - Santa Monica College's Emeritus Acting Troupe will present its showcase, "Conversations: Scenes from Film and Theater," as a free, live virtual event at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 18. The performance will be presented online via Zoom. A link at the July 18 event listing at smc.edu/calendar takes guests…
- [Santa Monica Sets July 23 State of the City on Main Street](https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-sets-july-23-state-of-the-city-on-main-street.md) - The city of Santa Monica will hold its State of the City 2026 on Thursday, July 23, from 4 to 7 p.m. as a free, open-street celebration on Main Street between Hollister Avenue and Ocean Park Boulevard. The event will highlight 2026 achievements, including expanded full-service hours at the Santa Mo…
- [LA uses World Cup to show off upgraded public transit and test plans to hold car-free Olympics](https://www.smdp.com/la-uses-world-cup-to-show-off-upgraded-public-transit-and-test-plans-to-hold-car-free-olympics.md) - When Matthew Smith took his five-year-old son to a World Cup game in the Los Angeles area earlier this month, they opted to take public transit instead of driving from their nearby coastal city. It was Smith's first time on the LA Metro in a decade, and the experience exceeded his expectations. "Se…
- [Santa Monica City Council to weigh dueling ballot measures, downtown development rules and Civic Auditorium deal Tuesday](https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-city-council-to-weigh-dueling-ballot-measures-downtown-development-rules-and-civic-auditorium-deal-tuesday.md) - The Santa Monica City Council will consider placing two significant measures before voters this November when it meets Tuesday, July 14, at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers, alongside a slate of development-related zoning changes and a possible deal over the future of the Civic Auditorium. I…
- [Hotel guests, not day trippers, drive Santa Monica's tourism economy](https://www.smdp.com/hotel-guests-not-day-trippers-drive-santa-monicas-tourism-economy.md) - Editor’s Note: As the city touts the success of World Cup tourism, the Daily Press is taking a look at the city’s overall tourism industry. Yesterday we covered the city’s ongoing failure to rebound from a Covid-induced decline in tourism and the reasons why officials say Santa Monica remains at 50…
- [Free Fiber Arts Gathering to Take Over Will Rogers Beach This Weekend](https://www.smdp.com/free-fiber-arts-gathering-to-take-over-will-rogers-beach-this-weekend.md) - Fiber artists, their friends and their families are invited to the sand this weekend, as Los Angeles fiber artist Alexis Kavros hosts the first LA Fiber Clubs Beach Takeover, a free community gathering at Will Rogers State Beach. The event begins at 11 a.m. Sunday, July 12, near Lifeguard Tower No.…
- [Man dies in freeway fall](https://www.smdp.com/man-dies-in-freeway-fall.md) - A person died Thursday night after falling from the an overpass onto Interstate 10, according to the Santa Monica Police Department. Officers responded to the overpass at about 9:41 p.m. Thursday after receiving a report of a person who had fallen onto the freeway, police said. The person was struc…
- [Santa Monica Police Locate Felony Vehicle Tied to Whittier Robbery](https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-police-locate-felony-vehicle-tied-to-whittier-robbery.md) - Santa Monica police located a felony vehicle wanted in connection with an armed robbery in Whittier and arrested its driver the evening of June 22, the department said. Officers used resources from the department's Santa Monica Analytical Real-Time Center, or SMART Center, to locate the vehicle. Wi…
- [Santa Monica Block Fest Returns to Energize Downtown with Music, Food, Local Businesses and World Cup Spirit](https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-block-fest-returns-to-energize-downtown-with-music-food-local-businesses-and-world-cup-spirit.md) - What began as a series of creative pop-up events has quickly evolved into one of Downtown Santa Monica's signature community gatherings. This Saturday, July 11, Santa Monica Block Fest Vol. V, "SMBF," will transform three blocks of the Third Street Promenade into an open-air celebration of music, f…
- [Fairmont-Miramar Returns to the Big Screen — Under an Assumed Name](https://www.smdp.com/fairmont-miramar-returns-to-the-big-screen-under-an-assumed-name.md) - The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, a fixture of Santa Monica's skyline for more than a century, is heading back to Hollywood — though moviegoers won't see it billed under its own name but instead will see “L’AZURINE” on the screen. The oceanfront hotel is serving as a filming location for "Par…
- [Around Town: Block Parties and Beach Bashes](https://www.smdp.com/around-town-block-parties-and-beach-bashes.md) - SMDP's Weekly Guide to Food & Entertainment Goings-On In & Around Town includes the massive Santa Monica Block Fest, World Cup beach fan zones, Michelin-grade grand openings, and much more! Golden Hour at Third Street Promenade: Designed to complement the Pier fan experience with free pre- and post…
- [LA County Transitions to Behavioral Health Services Act](https://www.smdp.com/la-county-transitions-to-behavioral-health-services-act.md) - Los Angeles County's departments of Mental Health and Public Health have joined counties statewide in transitioning from the Mental Health Services Act to the voter-approved Behavioral Health Services Act, part of a broader state effort known as the Behavioral Health Transformation. The change stem…
- [State budget secures $5 million for UCLA reproductive health center](https://www.smdp.com/state-budget-secures-5-million-for-ucla-reproductive-health-center.md) - California's 2026-27 state budget includes $5 million in one-time funding for the UCLA Center for Reproductive Health, Law and Policy, Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair Rick Chavez Zbur, D-Hollywood, announced. Zbur said he championed the investment throughout this year's budget hearings. The money…
- [ABC awards nearly $3 million in grants to fight alcohol-related crime](https://www.smdp.com/abc-awards-nearly-3-million-in-grants-to-fight-alcohol-related-crime.md) - The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control will award nearly $3 million in the 2026-27 fiscal year to 43 local law enforcement agencies to combat alcohol-related crime, the agency announced. The grants go to police and sheriff's departments through ABC's Alcohol Policing Partnership Pr…
- [Santa Monica welcomes World Cup tourism boost amid longterm decline in visitors](https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-welcomes-world-cup-tourism-boost-amid-longterm-decline-in-visitors.md) - Editor’s Note: With the World Cup driving a surge in local tourism, SMDP will publish several stories this week about the city’s relationship with visitors. The first looks at the city’s current boom and precipitous fall from pre-pandemic peaks. While Santa Monica is known for its great weather, th…
- [Morgan-Wixson Theatre Stages 'Shrek The Musical' This Summer](https://www.smdp.com/morgan-wixson-theatre-stages-shrek-the-musical-this-summer.md) - The Morgan-Wixson Theatre will present "Shrek: The Musical" in Santa Monica this summer as part of its 80th anniversary season, opening June 27 and running through July 26. The production arrives 25 years after the original "Shrek" movie premiered at the Mann Theatre in Westwood. The musical, with…
- [Malibu opens candidate nomination period July 13 for November City Council election](https://www.smdp.com/malibu-opens-candidate-nomination-period-july-13-for-november-city-council-election.md) - The city of Malibu will open its candidate nomination period July 13 for the 2026 General Municipal Election, when voters will fill two City Council seats. The election is set for Tuesday, Nov. 3. The nominating period opens Monday, July 13, and closes Aug. 7. If one or more incumbents does not fil…
- [Southbound I-405 reduced to two lanes through Sepulveda Pass July 17-20](https://www.smdp.com/southbound-i-405-reduced-to-two-lanes-through-sepulveda-pass-july-17-20.md) - Caltrans will reduce southbound Interstate 405 to two lanes through the Sepulveda Pass during an extended weekend of work, from 10 p.m. Friday, July 17, to 5 a.m. Monday, July 20. Northbound I-405 will not be affected. Motorists are strongly urged to seek alternate routes and consider public transp…
- [Venice Family Clinic dermatologist shares summer skincare tips, warns against online fads](https://www.smdp.com/venice-family-clinic-dermatologist-shares-summer-skincare-tips-warns-against-online-fads.md) - As summer brings stronger sun and more time outdoors, Venice Family Clinic skin specialist Dr. Zaira Ortega is urging Los Angeles residents to protect their skin now — and year-round. "Summer is an especially important time for skincare, but this guidance applies year-round," Ortega said. She said…
- [Zbur welcomes state budget investments in community colleges, including SMC and LACCD](https://www.smdp.com/zbur-welcomes-state-budget-investments-in-community-colleges-including-smc-and-laccd.md) - Assemblymember and Democratic Caucus Chair Rick Chavez Zbur, D-Hollywood, welcomed new community college investments in California's 2026-27 state budget, including enhanced Proposition 98 Block Grant funding expected to benefit Santa Monica College and the Los Angeles Community College District. Z…
- [SMC to Stage 'The SpongeBob Musical' for Young Audiences July 17-26](https://www.smdp.com/smc-to-stage-the-spongebob-musical-for-young-audiences-july-17-26.md) - The Santa Monica College Theatre Arts Department will perform "The SpongeBob Musical: Theatre for Young Audiences Edition" July 17-26 on the Theatre Arts Main Stage at the SMC Main Campus, 1900 Pico Blvd. Show times are 7 p.m. on Friday, July 17 and July 24, and Saturday, July 18 and July 25, with…
- [Hatchet wielding man subdued by officers on Ocean](https://www.smdp.com/hatchet-wielding-man-subdued-by-officers-on-ocean.md) - Santa Monica police used a less-lethal launcher to detain a man armed with a hatchet Monday morning after he ignored orders to drop the weapon, according to the department. Officers responded to the area of Ocean Way and Bay Street around 6:58 a.m. Monday after a report of a man with blood on his f…
- [Two former councilmembers run for new offices](https://www.smdp.com/two-former-councilmembers-run-for-new-offices.md) - Santa Monica politicians are hoping to play a game of musical chairs this year with two former members of the City Council filing paperwork to run for other local offices. As of this week, Former mayor Sue Himmelrich has filed paperwork to run for Rent Control Board and former Councilmember Oscar d…
- [LA28 Day of Sport Goes National, Draws Record 13,000 Young Athletes](https://www.smdp.com/la28-day-of-sport-goes-national-draws-record-13-000-young-athletes.md) - More than 13,000 young athletes took part in LA28's Day of Sport on June 23, the highest participation since the event began in 2023 and the first time it expanded beyond California. Held in recognition of National Olympic and Paralympic Day, the celebration reached 180 sites, including 120 PlayLA…
- [Santa Monica artist turns mermaids and octopuses into ocean advocacy](https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-artist-turns-mermaids-and-octopuses-into-ocean-advocacy.md) - A hometown artist is enlisting a dancing octopus and a sunlit mermaid in the fight to save the oceans. Andie Dinkin, who grew up walking distance from the beach here, has teamed with the nonprofit Artists Support to release a collection of limited-edition prints and apparel benefiting Oceana, the l…
- [Santa Monica 4th of July parade 2026](https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-4th-of-july-parade-2026.md) - Santa Monica came out to celebrate the annual 4th of July Parade this weekend. The route was reversed but the enthusiasm and crowds were just as strong. If you were in the parade, then SMDP probably has your photo so check out our gallery below to see if we caught your entry.
- [City terminates negotiations with California Roadhouse for new Pier restaurant](https://www.smdp.com/city-terminates-negotiations-with-california-roadhouse-for-new-pier-restaurant.md) - The city of Santa Monica has called off lease negotiations with California Roadhouse, Inc. for the vacant restaurant space at 256 Santa Monica Pier, City Manager Oliver Chi said, citing the company’s attempts to negotiate over worker-protection terms approved by the City Council. In a letter to Roa…
- [FEMA Extends Housing Aid for LA Fire Survivors Into 2027](https://www.smdp.com/fema-extends-housing-aid-for-la-fire-survivors-into-2027.md) - State Sen. Ben Allen, D-Pacific Palisades, praised FEMA's decision to extend housing assistance for survivors of last year's Los Angeles fires through July 2027. Under the extension, eligible homeowners may receive additional financial housing assistance through July 9, 2027, and renters may receiv…
- [Former Rival Ellen Evans Endorses Goldsmith in State Senate District 24 Race](https://www.smdp.com/former-rival-ellen-evans-endorses-goldsmith-in-state-senate-district-24-race.md) - Brian Goldsmith has won the endorsement of Ellen Evans, a civil rights advocate and neighborhood leader who ran against him in the primary for California's 24th State Senate District. She is the first primary challenger to weigh in on the general election. "California is facing extraordinary challe…
- [LA County Moves to Ease Permitting for Restaurants](https://www.smdp.com/la-county-moves-to-ease-permitting-for-restaurants.md) - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion by Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath aimed at helping restaurants navigate the county's permitting and plan check processes and making it easier to open new food establishments across the region. "Every restaurant starts with someone sharing…
- [From high school dropout to 4.0 and commencement speaker: an SMC student's turnaround](https://www.smdp.com/from-high-school-dropout-to-4-0-and-commencement-speaker-an-smc-students-turnaround.md) - Madeline Davis spent years convinced she was not smart enough for school. She dropped out at 16, certain that trying and failing would only confirm it. She earned a 4.0 grade point average at Santa Monica College and was chosen as student speaker for the school's 96th commencement. "It's been a lon…
- [First factory-built home installed in Pacific Palisades offers new path for families rebuilding after wildfire](https://www.smdp.com/first-factory-built-home-installed-in-pacific-palisades-offers-new-path-for-families-rebuilding-after-wildfire.md) - The first factory-built home since January's devastating wildfires was installed recently in Pacific Palisades, marking a milestone in the community's recovery and offering a faster path home for families navigating the long rebuilding process. Built by California-based The Home Gallery, the custom…
- [Gas prices are high for July 4. California’s price-gouging fixes are still on the shelf](https://www.smdp.com/gas-prices-are-high-for-july-4-californias-price-gouging-fixes-are-still-on-the-shelf.md) - By Alejandro Lazo, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Drivers are heading into the Fourth of July weekend with national gas prices at their highest level for the holiday in four years. In California, where prices remain well above the nation…
- [Happy 4th of July](https://www.smdp.com/happy-4th-of-july.md) - Santa Monica kicked off it's holiday celebration this year with the annual parade on Main Street. The event is part of a busy holiday weekend that includes a new festval in Tongva Park and World Cup watch parties throughout the city.
- [Fireworks, heat, hot dogs and politics: America celebrates its 250th birthday](https://www.smdp.com/fireworks-heat-hot-dogs-and-politics-america-celebrates-its-250th-birthday.md) - The 250th anniversary of American independence is colliding with a country gripped by political polarization and a heat wave bearing down on millions of people across multiple states as celebrations got underway Saturday throughout the United States. The signing of the Declaration of Independence,…
- [Santa Monica adopts 2025 water plan, says supplies secure through droughts](https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-adopts-2025-water-plan-says-supplies-secure-through-droughts.md) - The City Council on Tuesday adopted a long-term water blueprint that officials say ensures the city will have enough water to meet demand through 2045, even under sustained drought, while assuring residents the plan carries no immediate cost or rate increase. The 2025 Urban Water Management Plan an…
- [Renew DBA Filing Now or Risk Losing Your Business Name Forever](https://www.smdp.com/renew-dba-filing.md) - Your business name isn’t just branding. It’s a legal identity. It sits on your storefront, your invoices, your bank account, and your online presence. Lose it, and you don’t just lose recognition. You lose continuity. Now, what happens if you wake up and find that name legally belongs to someone el…
- [Should coastal commission get more power over rebuilding after wildfire? Some lawmakers say yes](https://www.smdp.com/should-coastal-commission-get-more-power-over-rebuilding-after-wildfire-some-lawmakers-say-yes.md) - By Nadia Lathan, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. $3.3 million. That’s how much May Sung estimates it’ll cost to rebuild her Pacific Palisades home. With her two-bedroom house atop a hillside abutting the Pacific Ocean, she had what she co…
- [Pacific Wheel to Launch America 250 Tribute With July Fourth Light Show](https://www.smdp.com/pacific-wheel-to-launch-america-250-tribute-with-july-fourth-light-show.md) - Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier will mark Independence Day and the start of the nation's 250th birthday commemoration with a patriotic lighting program on its Pacific Wheel Ferris wheel from July 2 through July 5. The nine-story wheel will display a 90-foot-tall animated American flag, red, w…
- [Melanie Lang Nominated for Best Female Executive of the Year. The Engineer Rewriting Manufacturing.](https://www.smdp.com/lang-nominated-best-female-executive-of-the-year.md) - Some leaders chase titles, while others hunt for problems. Melanie Lang belongs to the second group. As the Co-Founder and CEO of FormAlloy, she’s racked up a nomination for Best Female Executive of the Year. This award shines a spotlight on her journey, sparked by one question: What if we could wh…
- [Residents urged to celebrate safely this Fourth of July](https://www.smdp.com/residents-urged-to-celebrate-safely-this-fourth-of-july.md) - As Independence Day festivities get underway, Santa Monica and Los Angeles County officials are urging residents to leave fireworks to the professionals — warning that illegal use carries stiff fines, potential jail time and the risk of catastrophic injury or death. All fireworks are illegal in San…
- [City Hall hopes to shield residents from mask wearing lunatic with parking tickets](https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-approves-overnight-permit-parking-on-larkin-place.md) - The City Council has unanimously approved a new overnight permit parking zone on a residential cul-de-sac in response to a man the city manager said had been repeatedly driving onto the street at night to intimidate residents. The council voted June 23 to establish Preferential Parking Zone AAA on…
- [MRCA Deploys 80-Plus Personnel to Patrol Parklands on Fourth of July](https://www.smdp.com/mrca-deploys-80-plus-personnel-to-patrol-parklands-on-fourth-of-july.md) - The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority will deploy more than 80 wildland fire-trained personnel to patrol its parklands on the night of the Fourth of July, part of an annual effort to protect visitors and natural resources during the holiday. The deployment focuses on public safety, fi…
- [Around Town: 4th of July Weekend Happenings!](https://www.smdp.com/around-town-4th-of-july-weekend-happenings.md) - SMDP's Weekly Guide to Food & Entertainment Goings-On In & Around Town celebrates the historic 100th anniversary of the Mother Road with a packed holiday schedule of parades, park festivals, and coastal celebrations. Point Break Night Market: This night market is part block party, part food fest, a…
- [The coast is clear for COAST 2026 in downtown Santa Monica](https://www.smdp.com/the-coast-is-clear-for-coast-2026-in-downtown-santa-monica.md) - COAST 2026, Santa Monica’s grand finale for the World Cup, won't have access to an expanded zone for public drinking after a recent vote by the Downtown Santa Monica Inc. Board gave staff authority to fully activate the city’s Entertainment Zone (EZ) but staff have declined to do so. The event enco…
- [Big Blue Bus to Run Weekend Schedule on July 4 Holiday](https://www.smdp.com/big-blue-bus-to-run-weekend-schedule-on-july-4-holiday.md) - Big Blue Bus will operate a normal weekend schedule on Saturday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. Blue: The Transit Store and Customer Service will be closed Friday, July 3, and normal hours will resume Monday, July 6. Riders should note that Routes 1, 2, 3, 8 and 18 may be on detour beca…
- [Sen. Allen Defends Plastic Waste Law After 17-State Lawsuit](https://www.smdp.com/sen-allen-defends-plastic-waste-law-after-17-state-lawsuit.md) - State Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, defended California's plastic packaging law, SB 54, after 17 attorneys general and the National Association of Wholesale-Distributors filed a lawsuit challenging it. "For decades, producers have been able to shift costs onto ratepayers and escape accountability…
- [Santa Monica Leaders Rally Around Shared Vision for City’s Comeback at Chamber Gala](https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-leaders-rally-around-shared-vision-for-citys-comeback-at-chamber-gala.md) - As Santa Monica works to reshape both its reality and its reputation, city and business leaders gathered recently with a shared message: the city’s comeback will not be driven by a single project or marketing campaign, but by rebuilding confidence through collaboration, investment and a renewed foc…
- [Venice Beach Set to Welcome the World as Los Angeles World Cup 26 Fan Zone Comes to the Coast](https://www.smdp.com/venice-beach-set-to-welcome-the-world-as-los-angeles-world-cup-26-fan-zone-comes-to-the-coast.md) - Venice Beach will become one of Los Angeles’ biggest stages during the FIFA World Cup, welcoming thousands of fans from around the globe for the Los Angeles World Cup 26 Fan Zone at Venice Beach July 10 to 11. The two-day celebration will bring quarterfinal match broadcasts, internationally recogni…
- [JSX Adds Nonstop Santa Monica-Oakland Flights in September](https://www.smdp.com/jsx-adds-nonstop-santa-monica-oakland-flights-in-september.md) - JSX will begin nonstop flights between Santa Monica Airport and Oakland on Sept. 14, the air carrier announced. Seats are now on sale. The service will operate up to three times a day, and twice a day on Saturdays, on JSX's ATR 42-600 aircraft, which seats 30 and offers free Starlink Wi-Fi. Introdu…
- [Big box tinderboxes: Warehouses are exposing more Californians to costly, toxic disasters](https://www.smdp.com/big-box-tinderboxes-warehouses-are-exposing-more-californians-to-costly-toxic-disasters.md) - Automation, exploitation and the sheer size of today’s warehouses are magnifying fire risk. A half-dozen recent warehouse fires demonstrate that warehouse fires can no longer be considered a bug in the system. They are a feature. A 2025 analysis by the insurance company Zurich describes how “too de…
- [Santa Monica 4th of July Parade reverses course for 2026](https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-4th-of-july-parade-reverses-course-for-2026.md) - The Annual Santa Monica 4th of July Parade will take a new path this year, reversing its traditional route as organizers tie the celebration to a new post-parade festival and a pair of milestone anniversaries. The 2026 parade will begin at Marine Street and travel north on Main Street, concluding a…
- [Musco Lighting Named Official Lighting Provider of LA28 Games and Team USA](https://www.smdp.com/musco-lighting-named-official-lighting-provider-of-la28-games-and-team-usa.md) - Musco Lighting has been named the official sport presentation and broadcast lighting provider of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Team USA, the company announced June 16. Musco will provide field-of-play lighting as well as sports presentation entertainment lighting for the Games. "Musco's…
- [Oscar Ramirez Nominated Again For Best Lawyer in California 2026](https://www.smdp.com/oscar-ramirez-nominated-california-best-lawyer-2026.md) - What does it take to snag the same big-time legal honor two years in a row? Hard work, skill, a sprinkle of trust, or maybe all three working in harmony? Oscar Ramirez is back at it, earning another nod for Best Lawyer in California 2026. And let’s face it: That’s no small win. Think about all the…
- [Matthew Blair Nominated for Best Lawyer in California for 2026](https://www.smdp.com/matthew-blair-nominated-california-best-lawyer-2026.md) - Matthew Blair did not wake up one morning and become a name people recognize in California courtrooms. That reputation took years to build, one case at a time, across injury claims, workplace disputes, and legal battles that often carry more emotional weight than legal complexity. Think about a wor…
- [Blair & Ramirez LLP Nominated for Best Law Firm in California  2026](https://www.smdp.com/blair-ramirez-nominated-california-best-law-firm-2026.md) - Los Angeles legal circles rarely agree on anything. Law firms come and go like pop stars, changing names, merging, or just fading into the background noise of flashy ads. But one name keeps popping up: Blair & Ramirez LLP. This year, they earned a nomination for “Best Law Firm in California 2026,”…
- [Santa Monica approves Swiss holiday market on pier, extends Pier Corporation deal](https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-approves-swiss-holiday-market-on-pier-extends-pier-corporation-deal.md) - The City Council has approved a license agreement to bring a large-scale Swiss-themed holiday market to the Santa Monica Pier this winter, part of a broader push to expand major events on the oceanfront that is also reshaping the city's longtime relationship with the corporation that runs pier prog…
- [Local martial arts studio grounds dragons and sorcery TV show producer](https://www.smdp.com/local-martial-arts-studio-grounds-dragons-and-sorcery-tv-show-producer.md) - HBO’s Game of Thrones TV show may take place in the fictional and far off realm of Westeros; but among the dragons, swords and sorcery there’s a hint of Santa Monica as one of the show’s producers has developed a deep bond with a local martial arts school. Ryan Condal is a producer on the Game of T…
- [LA28 Unveils Paralympic Competition Schedule Featuring Record 560 Medal Events](https://www.smdp.com/la28-unveils-paralympic-competition-schedule-featuring-record-560-medal-events-2.md) - Los Angeles organizers have released the full competition schedule for the 2028 Paralympic Games, the first Paralympics ever to be held in the city and the largest in the event's history. The LA28 Paralympic Games will feature 560 medal events — the most since Seoul 1988 — across a record 23 sports…
- [Vice President passes through Santa Monica today](https://www.smdp.com/vice-president-passes-through-santa-monica-today.md) - Vice President JD Vance will pass through Santa Monica today as part of his Southern California tour. The VP will be in Downtown Santa Monica for a recorded interview and the area will have temporary street closures while he is in the area.
- [Mistrial declared after jury deadlocks in arson trial over deadly 2025 Palisades Fire in Los Angeles](https://www.smdp.com/mistrial-declared-after-jury-deadlocks-in-arson-trial-over-deadly-2025-palisades-fire-in-los-angeles.md) - A federal judge declared a mistrial Friday in the arson case against the man accused of sparking the deadly 2025 Palisades Fire in Los Angeles after the jury said it could not agree on a verdict. Prosecutors said they will try again. Jurors said a day prior they had come to a standstill in delibera…
- [Santa Monica Police arrest Florida sex offender wanted on child molestation charges](https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-police-arrest-florida-sex-offender-wanted-on-child-molestation-charges.md) - Santa Monica police arrested a Florida man wanted on felony charges of lewd or lascivious acts with a minor under the age of 12 during a routine patrol stop at a city park Monday afternoon. Officers assigned to the Downtown Services Unit were patrolling the lower portion of Crescent Bay Park at app…
- [Santa Monica Council Adopts $908.8M Budget, Sets Stage for World Cup, Olympics](https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-council-adopts-908-8m-budget-sets-stage-for-world-cup-olympics.md) - The Santa Monica City Council adopted a $908.8 million citywide budget this week for fiscal year 2026-27, a spending plan that officials say positions the city for a structurally balanced future while preparing for an unprecedented run of major events including the FIFA World Cup, the 2027 Super Bo…
- [Malibu council holds off on wireless moratorium, pivots to 'residential fix'](https://www.smdp.com/malibu-council-holds-off-on-wireless-moratorium-pivots-to-residential-fix.md) - The Malibu City Council declined June 22 to adopt an emergency moratorium on new wireless telecommunications facilities, instead directing city staff and legal counsel, in consultation with an attorney representing residents, to finalize an alternative measure known as the "residential fix" for a p…
- [Around Town: Sun, Sand, and Pier 360](https://www.smdp.com/around-town-sun-sand-and-pier-360.md) - SMDP's Weekly Guide to Food & Entertainment Goings-On In & Around Town includes the massive Pier 360 Beach Festival, a late-night Pride dip at the Beach House, World Cup fan zones, and fresh summer pop-ups, and much more! Michelob ULTRA Pitchside Club "Last Call": The massive, immersive FIFA World…
- [Trump renews push to shift homelessness funding. What’s at stake](https://www.smdp.com/trump-renews-push-to-shift-homelessness-funding-whats-at-stake.md) - By Marisa Kendall, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. The Trump administration is renewing its push to change the way it funds homeless shelters and housing in California and other states, and several agencies say it could disrupt their serv…
- [Coastal advocates sound alarm over reported Newsom trailer bill that would gut Coastal Act protections in Santa Monica](https://www.smdp.com/coastal-advocates-sound-alarm-over-reported-newsom-trailer-bill-that-would-gut-coastal-act-protections-in-santa-monica.md) - Santa Monica officials and coastal advocates scrambled this week to organize opposition to what they described as an extraordinary move by Gov. Gavin Newsom to exempt all multi-unit housing development in the city's coastal zone from the California Coastal Act until the city completes a certified L…
- [Man shot in armed robbery at smoke shop](https://www.smdp.com/man-injured-in-armed-robbery-at-smoke-shop.md) - A Santa Monica police officer applied a tourniquet to an injured employee after an armed robbery at a smoke shop on Lincoln Boulevard Wednesday morning. Officers responded at approximately 8:13 a.m. to Smoke World, 1914 Lincoln Blvd., following reports of an armed robbery involving two suspects. An…

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