Santa Monica's 2026 election season is underway as Daniel Ivanov, Brett Morrow, Caroline Torosis and Derrick Townsend establish campaign accounts for City Council races. Incumbent Torosis reports $12,175 on hand as three council seats prepare to open.
Tuesday's Santa Monica City Council meeting features homelessness and wildfire emergency renewals, right to recall ordinance, and outdoor dining regulations, plus closed sessions on seven lawsuits and property negotiations.
Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur introduced legislation that would allow qualifying coastal cities to bypass California Coastal Commission approval for housing and transportation projects. The bill, sponsored by Santa Monica, targets urban areas with robust transit systems.
The race for Los Angeles mayor has erupted into turmoil this week as incumbent Karen Bass faces explosive allegations of altering a critical wildfire report, a frontrunning challenger withdrew following
Republican Steve Hilton raised $4.1 million for California's gubernatorial race, outpacing prominent Democrats including Rep. Eric Swalwell and former Rep. Katie Porter. Only billionaire Tom Steyer, who poured $28M of his own money into the race, raised more.
The Santa Monica City Council is exploring changes to its meeting procedures to improve public participation, including guaranteed two-minute speaking times and restructured closed sessions, though members remain divided on early meetings due to work constraints.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to raise the threshold for formal evictions in unincorporated areas from one month to two months of unpaid rent, offering additional protection to tenants facing economic hardship, particularly those impacted by immigration raids.
Santa Monica City Council unanimously approved a revised Memorial Park expansion plan, eliminating elevated tennis and pickleball courts to save $17M amid funding shortfalls. The 30-year project will expand the park from 10.3 to 13.2 acres but still faces a $45-58M funding gap.
Santa Monica Mayor Caroline Torosis has been selected for the prestigious 2026 Just City Mayoral Fellowship at Harvard, joining seven other mayors nationwide to advance equity-centered projects during a time of rapid change and uncertainty.
The Santa Monica City Council voted unanimously to establish a $3.5 million restorative justice program addressing decades of historical harms against African American residents and marginalized communities, funded through a development agreement with RAND Corporation.
Los Angeles County officials report the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades wildfires continue to have severe economic impacts, with rebuilding efforts expected to generate up to 209,000 job-years. Employment losses reached approximately 19% in Eaton and 26% in Palisades fire areas.
The Santa Monica City Council unanimously approved a 25-year Parks and Recreation Vision Plan but amended a key policy to re-evaluate existing artificial turf fields for potential replacement with natural grass alternatives at the end of their lifespan.
