Santa Monica · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Santa Monica public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Zoning and Development Policy Commentary
Santa Monica’s City Council is moving on big density and zoning changes to comply with state housing mandates like SB 79, and a local architect says that’s happening before residents get a real say. If neighborhood control matters to you, this is a fight over who actually decides what gets built.
City Council Election Campaign Finance
Money is pouring into Santa Monica’s City Council race, with Doug Trussler topping the field thanks to a $225K self-funded campaign while Lana Negrete leads in actual donor support. The winners will help set city policy for years, so the cash race matters beyond Election Day.
City Council Meeting Summary
Santa Monica Next used an automated reporter to recap the Oct. 27 City Council meeting, including direct quotes from the recording. If you want a quick, quote-backed look at what the council actually did, this is the item to check.
City Council Election Candidates
An opinion column runs down Santa Monica’s November ballot — City Council, Rent Control Board, and more — praising some candidates’ empathy and calling out SMC trustees for dodging accountability. Think of it as a biased but useful cheat sheet for figuring out who’s actually showing up.
Homelessness emergency proclamation continuation (4K)
The council ratified the ongoing homelessness local emergency on the consent calendar, keeping emergency tools in place for the city's response.
Hotel worker $25 wage
The city withdrew its proposed ordinance amendments and will instead interpret existing law to raise the hotel worker wage to $25 an hour on July 1, 2026, matching Los Angeles. A small-hotel operator asked for a small-property exemption like LA's.
Building inspector staffing crisis
Contractors and the city's own inspectors described two-to-three-week inspection delays driven by pay gaps with neighboring cities — a bottleneck that slows housing and business openings. It fed directly into the staff vacancy hearing.
AB 1740 co-sponsorship
The council discussed accelerating the LCP with the Coastal Commission, possibly producing a framework by May 26. Surfider and residents pushed the city to complete the LCP and abandon support for AB 1740, which would exempt many coastal developments from Coastal Commission review.
Tierra Apartments affordable senior housing
The TEFRA hearing cleared the way for $28 million in tax-exempt bonds for 82 units of affordable senior housing, including 40 supportive housing units, starting construction this July.
Council rules and public comment
A 41-page rules overhaul — covering public comment timing, closed-session scheduling and a two-councilmember requirement for agenda items — drew heavy public opposition and was continued, with only the state-mandated Brown Act updates returning June 23.
I-10 freeway cap study (Reconnecting PICO)
The city accepted a $2 million federal grant to study capping the freeway between 11th and 20th Streets in the Pico neighborhood. Councilmember Raskin pushed for studying full freeway removal, calling the freeway the city's most significant environmental hazard.
Santa Monica Renter Aid program
A $6 million, five-year Measure GS-funded program giving rental assistance and case management to households up to 120% AMI facing homelessness, administered by The People Concern. Up to 150 households a year, launching summer 2026.
Virginia Avenue apartments rehabilitation accountability
Displaced residents of the 40-unit CCSM rehab project — funded with roughly $37 million in city housing trust funds — demanded transparency amid a $3 million cost overrun, mold and communication failures. The council directed staff to engage CCSM and build a permanent accountability framework.
Coastal Commission LCP framework MOU
A deal with the Coastal Commission to get the city a certified Local Coastal Program by end of 2027, cutting the two-step coastal permitting process to one and giving the city local permit authority. Non-binding, but a major step after years of stalemate.
Proposed Santa Monica Sports Community City at the airport
Although not on the agenda, hundreds turned out — pilots, students, Venice residents battered by training flights, and park advocates — ahead of the planned 2028 closure. Council members and the city manager noted the FAA, not the city, controls the training patterns over East Venice and Mar Vista.
Santa Monica Boulevard Safety Study
The council adopted a rebuilt safety plan for one of the city's most dangerous corridors — narrower lanes, extended bus lanes, pedestrian recall signals, and better crossings. Quick-build turn restrictions near McKinley Elementary are targeted before the next school year, and a state grant application rides on the June 22 deadline.
City Manager Appointment
Santa Monica has hired Irvine’s city manager, Oliver Chi, to be its new top administrator. He’ll run day-to-day city operations and make key calls on homelessness and the budget. In plain terms: a new power player is taking over City Hall’s staff side.
City Manager Departure
Santa Monica’s city manager is stepping down in February, leaving a big hole at the top of day-to-day city operations. The next hire will help decide how the city tackles homelessness, the budget, and other core services.
Voting Rights Redistricting Litigation
A Santa Monica neighborhood is using the California Voting Rights Act to challenge how the city runs local elections. If it succeeds, the city could switch to district-based elections or redraw representation, changing who represents you on the City Council. It’s a local voting-rights fight with real stakes for neighborhood power and city spending.