Editor's Note: The Daily Press is currently running it's annual Year in Review coverage summarizing the news from 2025. Each month will have it's own summary posted to smdp.com and available in print.
Malibu School Separation
A county report recommended against the creation of an independent Malibu School District, stating it fails eight of nine state criteria. The report cited concerns regarding financial viability for both districts and equitable asset division, suggesting the separation should not proceed without significant new agreements.
Lawmakers target housing
California lawmakers introduced competing housing bills: Attorney General Rob Bonta and Assemblymember Matt Haney proposed AB 1248 to ban landlords from charging separate fees beyond base rent, requiring transparent pricing. Assemblyman Carl DeMaio introduced AB 897 to expedite squatter removal from private property, circumventing lengthy eviction processes in California's rental market.
Santa Monica Place Management
Prism Places was appointed to manage Santa Monica Place after Macerich defaulted on a $300 million loan. The firm, experienced in repositioning distressed assets, aims to revitalize the mall by balancing global brands with local businesses and utilizing event-driven strategies to draw visitors.
Downtown Zoning Changes
The City Council approved zoning amendments to aid downtown recovery, eliminating restrictions on community assembly spaces and standardizing digital signage rules. These changes aim to fill vacancies by allowing businesses more flexibility regarding hours and signage, matching standards of competing regional districts.
County votes to replace LAHSA
Los Angeles County supervisors voted 4-0-1 to create a consolidated homeless services department, centralizing functions from 14 county departments and absorbing LAHSA operations by July 2026. The restructuring, modeled after Housing for Health's successful program, aimed to improve accountability and efficiency amid criticism of LAHSA's contract delays and funding issues.
Bail Reform Success
A year after implementing the Pre-Arraignment Release Protocols (PARP), which eliminated cash bail for non-violent offenses, a court report showed a 10% reduction in new criminal activity. The system prioritized risk assessment over financial means, keeping high-risk individuals detained while releasing low-risk suspects.
SMMUSD Federal Funding
District officials warned that potential federal education cuts under the Trump administration could impact vulnerable students. While federal funds comprise a small percentage of the overall budget, they support critical services for low-income and special needs students at the district's Title One schools.
Edison Award
SMMUSD's Edison Language Academy, a Spanish dual immersion school, was named a 2025 California Distinguished School by the state Department of Education. Principal Elizabeth Ipina said the recognition affirmed dual immersion education's impact. Edison was among 336 statewide schools honored for closing achievement gaps and demonstrating exceptional student performance.
Beach violence
Santa Monica City Council requested staff explore implementing a nighttime beach curfew following recent violence. Mayor Lana Negrete and councilmembers cited murders, rapes, accidental deaths, and maintenance equipment incidents involving sleeping beachgoers as reasons for the proposed restrictions, which would require coordination with state agencies overseeing Santa Monica State Beach.
New rules for nuisance property
Santa Monica City Council introduced an ordinance strengthening public nuisance laws, expanding violation definitions and creating correctable citation programs offering 50% fine reductions. Code Enforcement Manager Daniel Mick said changes would address problem properties better. Council members questioned enforcement capacity and repeat violator tracking. Staff announced plans for a vacant properties task force.
Homeless Fraud Task Force
A new federal task force investigated fraud and corruption in homelessness funding across Southern California. Following an audit revealing mismanagement at LAHSA, the unit said it would scrutinize federal grants and private donations to ensure funds are properly used to combat the homelessness crisis.
Fatal Dog Attack
The community mourned a toy poodle named Dublin after it was killed in a vicious dog attack on Main Street. The incident has devastated the owners and sparked outrage and concern among residents regarding pet safety in public spaces. The owner of the violent dog fled the city and due to lax laws over dog attacks faced no charges.
Rent Control Report
The Rent Control Board's annual report indicated a slight increase in units returned to the market but highlighted ongoing affordability challenges. While eviction notices decreased and buyout agreements hit a record low, high market rents continue to make housing inaccessible for many income levels.
Entertainment Zone Approved
The City Council approved a permanent downtown "entertainment zone" allowing open alcohol consumption during permitted events. Overriding the police chief's request for a pilot program, the council established the zone to boost economic recovery and foot traffic on the Third Street Promenade.
Freeway Shooting
SMPD investigated an early morning shooting near Lincoln and Pico Boulevards. A driver was fired upon by an unknown suspect but suffered only non-life-threatening injuries from shattered glass.
1441 Lincoln Development
Developers submitted revised plans for 1441 Lincoln Blvd, proposing a smaller six-story building with 86 apartments. The project, now led by Hankey Capital, replaces an earlier 12-story proposal and adds to the construction congestion along the Lincoln Blvd corridor.
Olympic Volleyball Venue
Negotiations to host the 2028 Olympic beach volleyball tournament in Santa Monica ended, with the event moving to Long Beach. City officials cited a projected $1.45 million financial shortfall as the reason for failing to reach an agreement with LA28 organizers.
PCH Reopening
Governor Newsom announced an accelerated timeline to fully reopen Pacific Coast Highway, utilizing US Army Corps of Engineers crews. The effort involves removing debris and demolishing damaged structures 24/7 to restore access to wildfire-impacted coastal communities.
Palisades Rebuilding Stalls
A Palisades resident warned that rebuilding was stalling due to high costs and policy barriers, with data showing a glut of unsold lots compared to other fire zones. There were fears that without policy changes, the recovery would be slow and property values will decline.
Rite Aid Closure
Rite Aid closed its second location in Santa Monica, reducing pharmacy access for residents. The closure follows the company's broader financial struggles and restructuring efforts nationwide.
Soil Contamination
Preliminary testing in the Palisades fire zone revealed isolated hotspots of arsenic and cadmium, likely predating the fire. Meanwhile, soil samples from the Eaton fire zone showed elevated lead levels, attributed to older housing stock in the area.
DTSM breaks with City Hall
Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. approved a $9.39 million budget, eliminating $1.2 million for city parking structure maintenance despite warnings from Assistant City Manager Susan Cline. The balanced budget avoided reserve withdrawals and shifted security funding to outreach services. The decision defied the city and was the start of tension between the organizations that culminated later in the year.
Bomb threat arrest
Santa Monica resident Davis Darvish, 40, was arrested early Sunday after threatening to bomb Coachella Festival. Cathedral City police tracked his Tesla using license plate recognition technology following a casino security report. No explosives were found in his vehicle. Darvish was jailed on $1 million bail for making bomb threats.
Fogo de Chão Opens
Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chão opened a new location on Ocean Avenue. The restaurant features an enclosed patio design to manage street noise while offering its signature all-you-can-eat meat service and a South American-focused wine list.
Vehicle Rollover
Two vehicles overturned in a collision near 9th and Broadway after one car struck a parked vehicle at high speed. The driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and police are investigating potential DUI involvement.
Asterisk Development
Developer Jacmar Companies proposed "Asterisk Santa Monica," a 13-story residential project on Santa Monica Blvd. The modern design includes 100 units, with 16 designated as affordable, utilizing density bonuses to increase housing stock.
Fire Recovery Summit
Local leaders gathered at the Luskin Summit to mark 100 days since the Palisades fire, emphasizing the need to close gaps in aid. Officials highlighted the progress made but stressed that legislative changes are needed to ensure a fair and fast recovery.
Construction Labor Shortage
Experts warned that labor shortages and logistical challenges threatened to delay wildfire rebuilding. Developers proposed a "Builders Alliance" to share resources and called for self-certification of permits to accelerate the process and prevent displacement.
Metro Housing Project
Metro received four proposals to develop affordable housing on its 17th Street/SMC station lots. The plans range from 180 to 324 units, utilizing modular construction to reduce costs and timelines while providing deep affordability and community amenities.
Sling Pilot Academy
Sling Pilot Academy opened its fourth flight training center at Santa Monica Airport Thursday, drawing aviation leaders and community supporters. The academy offered career pathways with starting salaries of $100,000, emphasizing aviation's economic benefits despite the airport's uncertain future beyond 2028.
Waymo Complaints
Residents complained about noise from a Waymo charging station, citing disturbances from backup beepers and cleaning operations. The city has limited jurisdiction but was working with Waymo on mitigation measures like planting sound buffers and adjusting operational hours.
Bank of America Closure
Bank of America announced the closure of its downtown Santa Monica branch, directing customers to online services. The site is slated for redevelopment into a major affordable housing project by mid-2026, marking a significant shift for the downtown area.
Bill to protect mobile home residents after disasters advances in State Senate
California's Senate Housing Committee passed SB 749, authored by Senator Ben Allen, requiring mobile home park owners to offer land to resident groups or nonprofits before conversion after disasters. The bill responded to January's Palisades Fire, which displaced thousands. It aims to protect residents who own homes but not underlying land from permanent displacement following natural disasters.
With homelessness top of mind for lawmakers, local students want more action
Santa Monica students criticized the city's homelessness policies, favoring housing solutions over criminalization following a Supreme Court ruling enabling stricter camping regulations. The City Council ratified an emergency proclamation extending through December 2026. Los Angeles County's Board of Supervisors created a separate homelessness department after withdrawing from LAHSA amid transparency concerns.
Local teens leverage Santa Monica community for a global impact
Crossroads students Melese Light-Orr and Shiv Munjal raised over $120,000 for Ethiopia's Kololo School, which they helped establish in 2011. The school provided education and daily meals to children in Kembata. They organized a May 3 benefit concert at the Crow to raise $20,000 for solar panels, rallying 50 students and strong Santa Monica community support.
Fireworks show fizzles out as cash-strapped organizers cancel annual event
Santa Monica College cancelled its July 4 Celebrate America fireworks event due to funding shortfalls after traditional sponsors withdrew. The event cost approximately $100,000 annually, previously split between sponsors and the college. College officials explained they couldn't use general funds for non-educational events, ending Santa Monica's only public fireworks display.
Future of Santa Monica Airport sparks debate over parks and affordable housing
Santa Monica Democratic Club formed a committee to study Santa Monica Airport's future after its 2028 closure. Airport2Park Foundation advocated for a complete park transformation, while Cloverfield Commons proposed splitting the 227-acre site between affordable housing and parkland. Both groups cited environmental justice and community needs, with legal and political challenges expected.
Race is on to shape affordable housing near 17th Street/SMC Metro station
Four development teams submitted proposals to transform Metro parking lots near 17th Street/Santa Monica College Station into affordable housing, ranging from 180 to 347 units. Community Corporation of Santa Monica, West Hollywood Community Housing, Bridge Housing, and Decro Corporation presented plans exceeding Metro's 50 percent affordability requirement, with construction potentially starting by 2027.
More than 50,000 Los Angeles County workers take to picket lines demanding higher pay
Over 50,000 Los Angeles County workers staged a two-day strike demanding higher pay, causing closures at libraries, clinics, and administrative offices. SEIU Local 721 accused the county of 44 labor violations. The county cited unprecedented budget pressures including wildfire costs and a $4 billion settlement, while negotiating fair compensation.