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.
The Malibu City Council voted 4-0 to develop plans for temporary regulation-sized soccer fields at the Ioki property while continuing design work on a multigenerational community center at Heathercliff, balancing community needs with post-fire recovery efforts.
Protesters across the United States staged a nationwide “blackout” strike calling for no work, no school and no shopping to oppose the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement on Friday. Santa
State Sen. Ben Allen of Santa Monica is criticizing federal legislation that would undermine California's truth-in-labeling law for recyclable products, warning it would increase costs for consumers and create more pollution.
A Superior Court judge ruled in favor of Los Angeles County in a lawsuit filed by the City of Calabasas challenging the use of Calabasas Landfill for Palisades Fire debris removal, finding all safety protocols were followed.
Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur introduced the Right to Human Customer Service Act requiring large California businesses to provide human customer service within five minutes. The bill aims to end situations where consumers are trapped in automated systems.
Applications are now open for cannabis retailers in Santa Monica with a first-come, first-served process. The program includes a social equity component and a 4% cannabis business tax that was approved by 66% of Santa Monica voters in 2022.
The Santa Monica City Council voted 6-1 to adopt new worker recall and retention protections for hospitality businesses on the city-owned pier, requiring employers to rehire laid-off workers and retain existing staff for 90 days after ownership changes.
