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# Newsletter: Dec 31, 2025
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/newsletter-dec-31-2025/
- Published: 2025-12-31T19:33:49.000Z
- Updated: 2025-12-31T19:33:49.000Z
- Author: Editor

🎉

Wishing all our readers a very happy New Year! Thank you for all your support. We have plenty in store for 2026\. Stay tuned.

### **Front & Center**

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2025/12/image-11.png)

### **Controversial developer defaults on Promenade loans**

Leo Pustilnikov, a developer who has clashed repeatedly with Santa Monica city officials over downtown governance and housing projects, has defaulted on a $37.5 million loan..[READ](https://www.smdp.com/controversial-developer-defaults-on-promenade-loans/)

### 🎶 **"seems it ~~never~~ *always* rains in Southern California"*..***🎶

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2025/12/image-12.png)](https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/us/ca/santa-monica?ref=smdp.com)

### **Close to Home**

[FAA rules Santa Monica violated federal law over feesThe FAA ruled Santa Monica illegally accumulated $19M in airport surplus revenue it planned to use for city services after closure rather than aviation purposes.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/icon/New-logo-stacked-square-52.png)SMDPMatthew Hall![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/thumbnail/DSC_0084-12--1.JPG)](https://www.smdp.com/faa-rules-santa-monica-violated-federal-law-over-fees/)

[Topanga Canyon Boulevard to Close Ahead of New Year’s Eve StormsCaltrans will close a 3.6-mile stretch of Topanga Canyon Boulevard between Pacific Coast Highway and Grand View Drive starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday in advance of predicted rainstorms and potential debris flows.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/icon/New-logo-stacked-square-53.png)SMDPMatthew Hall![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/thumbnail/image002.png)](https://www.smdp.com/topanga-canyon-boulevard-to-close-ahead-of-new-years-eve-storms/)

### **More year in review**

[Santa Monica Homelessness Increases as Venice Sees 22% DeclineSanta Monica saw a 5% increase in homelessness in July 2024, contrary to countywide trends, with more people living in vehicles while Venice experienced a 22% drop in unsheltered residents.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/icon/New-logo-stacked-square-49.png)SMDPMaaz Alin![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/thumbnail/DSC_0572.JPG)](https://www.smdp.com/year-in-review-july-homelessness-increases-despite-county-declines/)

### **In Case You Missed**

[Trader Joe’s Expands in Santa Monica, Buys Wilshire Rite Aid for $22MTrader Joe’s purchased the former Rite Aid at 1331 Wilshire Blvd in Santa Monica for $22 million, adding a fourth location in the city after zoning issues were resolved.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/icon/New-logo-stacked-square-42.png)SMDPMatthew Hall![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/thumbnail/TJs-Wilshire-1.webp)](https://www.smdp.com/trader-joes-buys-former-rite-aid-for-22-million/)

[SMPD prevent downtown suicideThe Santa Monica Police Department prevented a suicide in the Downtown area on Saturday![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/icon/New-logo-stacked-square-51.png)SMDPMatthew Hall![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_5785-1.jpg)](https://www.smdp.com/smpd-prevent-downtown-suicide/)

### 

[![photo of sunset from Palisades Park](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2025/12/sunset-on-2025.webp)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2025/12/sunset-on-2025.webp?ref=smdp.com)

Goodbye 2025