Santa Monica grapples with rising safety concerns after a fatal Promenade shooting, beach closures due to poor water quality, and $10,000 in public bathroom vandalism. Officials respond with enhanced security while local businesses face separate economic challenges.
Santa Monica and Malibu face challenges as county officials recommend against school district separation. Meanwhile, Santa Monica approves downtown zoning changes to aid recovery while several businesses close and new developments advance.
Santa Monica is facing a structural deficit requiring $33.2 million from General Fund reserves over five years despite new taxes. The city is grappling with legal settlements, declining tourism, and reduced daytime population while council considers drastic measures.
Santa Monica and Malibu continue recovering from the Palisades Fire with PCH reopening after a month-long closure. Residents express concerns about debris storage sites while local businesses struggle with economic impacts despite avoiding physical damage.
Front & Center
SMPD prevent downtown suicide
The Santa Monica Police Department prevented a suicide in the Downtown area on Saturday when they pulled a man off a..READ
Better
California should fund college pipeline programs for first-generation students by taxing non-resident owners of million-dollar homes. While wealthy families spend up to $100,000 on college consultants, most low-income students lack access to these resources.
PACE (Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly) is helping thousands of California seniors age at home with comprehensive medical and social services. Despite saving $369.4 million in 2024 and reducing hospitalizations by 44%, only 10% of eligible seniors use it.
2025 began with a catastrophic disaster as the Palisades Fire ravaged Los Angeles, destroying over 6,800 structures and killing at least 12 people. Santa Monica residents faced evacuations, toxic contamination concerns, and began the long process of recovery.
