📬 Mayor Dan O’Brien — Culver City  November 11, 2025

Hi Neighbors,

Dan here. I’m kicking off this new weekly update to bring City Hall closer to you: more transparency, plain-English context, and simple ways for you to plug in.

If you don’t know me, I’m your mayor, and I’m also that guy you’ll see taking a run around Culver City—and will stop mid-block to ask how your street is working. I am proud to actually answer emails when you have a question or concern—that kind of accessibility is what I think makes living here so great. And you’ve probably seen me having follow-up conversations with constituents at any one of our many coffee shops—I want to be seen in public, supporting our local businesses. This newsletter is another way to keep the conversation going.

Last week ended with a powerful sight: over 100 US flags at Veterans Memorial Park’s Tribute to Heroes. And on Thursday at the Culver Theater, our State of the City felt like Culver City at its best—creative and candid.

A quick highlight I’m proud of: the Wende Museum hosted the opening of its latest engaging exhibit. This community jewel is free to the community, offering its use to local non-profits, while holding 10-15 events every week. Stay in the loop here: https://wendemuseum.org

Also, seeing the city awash in Dodger Blue after their inspiring World Series victory created such a contagious collective good energy; I’d like to keep that momentum going. Let’s get to the updates and a few concrete ways you can jump in this week.

🛡️ Public Safety & Service

🔹 Tribute to Heroes at Veterans Park. Walking the field of flags is humbling—and the sponsorships support homeless veterans. If you can, bring a kid, a parent, a neighbor. It matters because service binds us together.
 👉 View the post (Facebook)

🔹 How to participate in meetings. I want speaking, watching, and commenting to be simple. This one-stop page shows exactly how.
 👉 How to watch meetings
 👉 View Meetings & Agendas

🏛️ City Hall & Collective Good

🔹 State of the City—thank you! From student musicians to a sports-diplomacy panel, Thursday felt like Culver City was shining bright: creative, kind, forward-looking. I’m proud of what we’ve built and clear-eyed about the work ahead—housing that fits our values, streets that move safely, parks that welcome everyone.
 👉 View the post (Facebook)
 👉 Read the article

🚦 Streets, Housing & Growth

🔹 Planning Commission (Wed, Nov 12, 7 pm). Decisions this week touch how we grow—design, traffic, and where homes belong. My stance is simple: add housing thoughtfully, protect neighborhood safety, and demand mitigations that actually work. Join if you can; your voice helps shape the outcome.
 👉 View meeting details
 👉 View Meetings & Agendas

🔹 Street sweeping refresher. Quick nudge to double-check your block before the holidays. Fewer tickets, cleaner curbs, happier neighbors. I’m asking staff to keep signage and alerts crystal-clear.
 👉 View the Street Sweeping page
 👉 View the daytime map (PDF)

🎓 Youth & Schools

🔹 Farragut 2nd graders at City Hall. Their questions were sharp and hopeful—and a reminder of who we’re building for. When kids see how local government works, they see themselves in it. That’s the win.
 👉 View the post (Facebook)

🎭 Arts, Parks & Community

🔹 Why public spaces matter to me. I grew up biking to parks and later led Boy Scout campouts—that’s where I learned what safe, welcoming spaces do for kids and families. I’ll keep pushing for clean parks, well-lit paths, and spaces that invite us to gather.
 👉 Explore Arts & Culture

🔹 “Summon the Heroes” (Sat, Nov 15). Close Veterans Week with music at Veterans Memorial Auditorium. If you’ve never been, it’s beyond uplifting. I think it’s necessary.
 👉 Event details

🛍️ Local Business Corner

🔹 Choose Culver City. As holiday errands ramp up, a small habit makes a big difference: shop and dine local. It keeps dollars circulating here and strengthens the backbone of our economy. I’ll spotlight a few favorites each week.
 👉 Small Business Spotlights

📅 Dates & Community Events

🔹 Tue Nov 11 — Veterans Day. With gratitude to all who served, and the families who serve alongside them.
 👉 Community events directory

🔹 Wed Nov 12, 7 pm — Planning Commission. Help shape how we grow.
 👉 View meeting details

🔹 Sat Nov 15, 7:30 pm — “Summon the Heroes.” Community music night.
 👉 Event details

🔹 Tuesdays — Downtown Farmers Market. Neighbors, produce, and a good excuse to stroll.
 👉 Visit the Farmers Market page

🙌 Closing Thought

Thanks for the conversations at the market, the hellos in the park, and the ideas you keep sending. If something here sparks a thought, hit reply. If there’s a pothole, a policy idea, or a favorite small business to spotlight, tell me—this only works if we do it together.

Thank you again for being a vital member of this community.

Together, we can build a stronger, more connected Culver City. Thank you for being part of our community.

Dan O'Brien
Mayor, Culver City
dan.obrien@culvercity.org