Dear Neighbors,

As your Mayor, I want to speak from the heart. This week reminded me once again how resilient, caring, and connected our community is. We faced challenges together and also found moments to celebrate—on the Pier, in our parks, and in the everyday ways we look after one another. It's this spirit of belonging that makes Santa Monica feel like home. 🏡

Thank you for your passion, your questions, and your commitment to Santa Monica.

🛡 Public Safety, Youth & Community

🔷 Acting leadership at SMPD: Following Chief Ramón Batista's resignation announcement in late August, Deputy Chief Darrick Jacob is serving as Acting Police Chief as the City begins a transition process. We'll continue to share ways to stay engaged and informed about public safety priorities.

🔷 Statement on antisemitic assault at the Pier - Sept. 2nd: SMPD condemned all forms of hate and antisemitism after an assault during a demonstration at the Palisades Park/Pier. Detectives are reviewing video and pursuing leads; anyone with information or footage can contact the Criminal Investigations Division or the Watch Commander at 310‑458‑8427. Our shared expectation is simple: everyone who lives in, works in, and visits Santa Monica deserves to feel safe.

🔷 SMPD announced an arrest in the Sept. 3rd, Ocean Front Walk stabbing investigation. Thank you to the officers and investigators who moved quickly to restore a sense of safety near the beach. (The separate hate‑crime incident from the same day remains under active investigation.)

🔷 Fresh courts at Virginia Avenue Park: Public Works completed a refresh of the VAP basketball courts and added benches—drop by for a pickup game and to check out the upgrades.

🔷 On Sunday (Sept. 7th), I participated in the North of Montana (NOMA) neighborhood meeting that brought out well over 200 people—a true success and a reminder of how vital our neighborhood organizations are. They keep our civic life strong, connect neighbors, and, especially in this post-Covid world, remind us how important it is to meet face-to-face. I was glad to join Acting Chief Derek Jacobs for an "Ask the Chief" conversation, and later participate in a panel with Senator Ben Allen where we discussed housing bills and their impact on Santa Monica. These gatherings show the real value of our neighborhood groups in shaping dialogue and strengthening community. Please join your local Neighborhood Group today!

🏥 Homelessness, Health & Housing Stability

🔷 I joined neighbors in support of County efforts to expand rent‑relief tools—because housing stability is foundational to safe, healthy communities. Specifically assisting those impacted by ICE raids.

🔷 I remain deeply concerned about LA County's needle-distribution activities in and near our parks. Harm-reduction must come with common-sense placement, accountability, and real treatment—psychiatric and substance-use care people can actually access. I'm pressing for stronger state/county hospital capacity and for Santa Monica to have a clearer voice in decisions that affect our neighborhoods. If you saw the recent Spectrum News segment, you know why this matters—I'll keep pushing for solutions that protect health and respect our community.

💼 Economic Development

🔷 City staff joined an LA County economic‑development walk on the Promenade to highlight recent progress, i.e., streamlined permitting, zoning updates for today's retail climate, the Entertainment Zone, and the new Business Concierge Program—a single point of contact to help small businesses open and thrive in Santa Monica.

🚍 Mobility & Getting Around

🔷 Santa Monica Blvd. Safety Plan – Open House (Sept. 6th, Santa Monica YMCA, 6th St.): DOT completed a 10‑year crash‑pattern study and is gathering input on crosswalks, flashing beacons, lighting, traffic‑calming and more. Your feedback will shape the final safety plan.

🔷 Santa Monica Classic – Sept. 7th: Ocean Avenue and the Promenade played host to the 5K/10K and Kids Run. Big Blue Bus detoured Routes 1, 2, 8, 9 & 43 during the event window; normal service resumed by early afternoon. If you ran, walked, volunteered, or cheered—well done!! 💪

🔷 Bus lane & bus‑stop camera enforcement is live: As of Sept. 1st, automated citations are being issued for parking or stopping in bus lanes or at bus stops within city limits. Please leave these lanes clear for transit riders and emergency access.

🎨 Arts, Culture & Downtown Activation

🔷 'Pierfect' fundraiser - a full-circle moment: I grew up in a little apartment on 4th Street, and we'd walk down to the Pier for the Ferris wheel, birthdays in the arcade, and concerts at the Boathouse and on the Pier. Twenty years after getting engaged there—and now with our firstborn about to head to college—standing on those boards felt like coming full circle. I'm grateful for the storytellers, workers, musicians, and small businesses who keep the Pier alive. This was more than a fundraiser; it was a love note to a place that anchors so many Santa Monica lives, mine included. 💌

🔷 Downtown foot‑traffic keeps building: Promenade visitation remains solid heading into fall. Thanks to our hospitality workers and small businesses who kept the long weekend welcoming and walkable. We also saw an uptick in participation in our free programming like the Movie Night at the promenade. These free activations at our public spaces are growing in attendance by both locals and visitors and we hope it will bring more businesses to want to open here.

🔷 Library programs resumed post‑holiday: From toddler storytimes to tech help and conversation classes, our libraries are back in full swing after Monday's closure.

🌱 Families & Everyday Resources

🔷 Grandparents Day Celebration - Sept. 7th: It was a family-friendly afternoon featuring an ice-cream social, photo booth, arts & crafts, and music, benefiting The Memory Connection and Alzheimer's Los Angeles.

🔷 Farmers Markets (CalFresh EBT at all; Market Match at Saturday Pico & Sunday Main)

• Downtown (Arizona Ave.) — Wed & Sat, 8:00 am–1:00 pm
• Pico / Virginia Avenue Park — Sat, 8:00 am–1:00 pm
• Main Street — Sun, 8:30 am–1:30 pm

🎯 What's next & how to plug in

🔷 Fiscal distress resolution
This week, the City of Santa Monica declared a fiscal distress resolution. What does that mean? In short, it allows us to move faster on measures that raise revenue and protect city services. For example, a parking rate increase or changes to downtown free-parking time limits normally require review by outside agencies like the Coastal Commission—a process that could take a year or more. Under an emergency declaration, those same steps can be fast-tracked.

That said, I will raise the concern that moving quickly can also mean bypassing the longer public processes that give our community a chance to weigh in. While efficiency is important, I believe we also need to shine a light on how these decisions affect residents and businesses. My goal is to make sure that in the urgency of solving our budget challenges, we don't lose sight of transparency, accountability, and community trust.

🔷 Film Santa Monica - concierge support for productions
In collaboration with Santa Monica Travel & Tourism, the City is launching a one‑stop concierge to make filming here easier—from permitting to scouting—keeping production spending local while showcasing our city's culture and coastline.

🔷 Upcoming Events

• 9/11 Remembrance - Sept. 11th (7:00am, Fire Station 1): Join SMFD for a brief ceremony honoring the lives lost and the service of first responders.
• Americana in the Park - Sept. 14th (1:30–6:30pm, Gandara Park): Free, family‑friendly music; bring blankets, snacks, and sunscreen.

🔷 Next Council Meeting - Sept. 9th
I'll be bringing forward a couple of transparency items:

• A public list of all development projects (with attention to offsite inclusionary housing).
• A request to hear back with a detailed Clean & Safe Measure report—how much was raised and where funds are going.
• A real investment in existing Rent Controlled housing stock by using Housing Trust Fund dollars to help offset funds needed for landlords struggling to maintain their buildings.

🔷 Stay engaged

• Use 311 for maintenance & quality-of-life issues.
• For non-emergencies, contact SMPD non-emergency; use 911 for emergencies.
• Shop and dine local to accelerate downtown recovery as parking/activation changes roll out.
• Subscribe for weekly look-aheads & recaps (events, safety notes, and more).

🎂 Santa Monica 150th — Microgrants for Community-Led Events (Apply Now)

To mark our city's 150th, microgrant applications opened this week for public events created by community members. If you've been dreaming up a block-party, pop-up history walk, youth performance, or neighborhood art moment that celebrates Santa Monica—this is your nudge to make it real.

• Who: Open to all community members (residents, students, artists, neighborhood groups)
• What: Microgrants for public events tied to the city's 150th-anniversary themes
• How: Apply at santamonica150.com — short form, big ideas welcome

Let's mark 150 years by lifting up the people and places that make this home.

🫶 A closing thought

As always, thank you for showing up for one another—checking on a neighbor, shopping local, taking transit or biking when you can, and keeping our shared spaces clean. That's how we keep Santa Monica feeling like home. 🫶

A heartfelt thank you to our first responders, public servants, and each of you who help keep our city thriving. I'm proud to serve you—and so grateful for the journey we're on together.

As always, stay informed with Santa Monica news and civic events you can participate in, and have your voice heard.