CITY HALL — Less than three weeks into the top job at City Hall, Rod Gould says he’s already learned at least one valuable lesson about Santa Monica — “a small city that acts like a big city in many ways,” as he put it.
CITY HALL — Advocates for better public parks in Santa Monica are pressing the City Council to increase a tax on new residential units that pays for recreational facilities.
CITY HALL — Painful spending cuts could be on the horizon as City Hall grapples with a bleak financial outlook, though officials said Santa Monica is in a better fiscal position than most cities.
CITY HALL — When he puts the last box of personal items in his car today and hands over the keys to City Hall to his successor, outgoing City Manager Lamont Ewell will take comfort in knowing that his 34 years of public service are ending on a high note.
CITY HALL — A popular series of neighborhood-centric budget meetings with City Manager Lamont Ewell will return for a fourth round on Monday when issues of parking, traffic and development are sure to make their way into discussions yet again.
CITY HALL — Mayor Pro Tem Pam O’Connor learned a valuable lesson in 2006 — don’t wait until the last minute to launch a campaign. So in her re-election bid to serve a fifth term on the City Council, O’Connor is starting more than a year in advance, allowing more time to raise money and complete some
CITY HALL — The economic downturn continues to hurt businesses in Santa Monica where city officials are expecting to see less money come in from the state this month because of declining sales tax revenues.
CITY HALL — After 34 years of public service, City Manager P. Lamont Ewell — who is widely credited with improving customer service in City Hall — plans to resign from his post at the end of the year.
CITY HALL — While city officials just last month celebrated the upgraded bond ratings for two local redevelopment zones, the mood has changed substantially in the days following the state’s budget adoption.
CITY HALL — While the recession has led to the downgrading of bond ratings for agencies across the state, two local redevelopment project zones in Santa Monica are enjoying a rare pat on the back.
