🌟 Santa Monica Weekly with Councilmember Lana Negrete

📅 June 8, 2026

Hello everyone,

Summer is starting to show up all over Santa Monica, and this week you can see it everywhere you look. On Friday, crews opened a brand new temporary front door to the Santa Monica Pier. Caps are about to come off at Samohi. Summer Reading and pool season are just days away. And on Tuesday night, your City Council takes up changes to how we run our own meetings, including when the public gets to speak and how an item even makes it onto the agenda.

That last one is why I keep coming back to two words: transparency and civility. You do not have to agree with me, or with anyone on the dais, to deserve a clear look at what is being decided and a real chance to weigh in. So here is my one ask. Read Tuesday's agenda, and if something matters to you, show up and say so. 

Wednesday's Coffee with your Councilmember at One Cedar was that idea in practice: neighbors, business owners, a couple of our SMPD officers, and City staff, all trading questions over a really good cup of coffee. Government works best when it's accessible.

Here is what is worth your time this week.

🚔 Public Safety

🔹 SMPD by the numbers, May 24 through 30. Proactive enforcement held its pace, with officer-initiated work edging out resident calls again and year-to-date arrests now running nearly 75 percent ahead of last year.

→ 📊 What you are seeing: Officer-initiated activity is up nearly 30 percent year to date, which is the signature of a department with the staffing to go to the problem instead of only answering the radio. The work this week ran the full range, from organized retail theft to a recovered loaded firearm.

🔹 A few of this week's enforcement outcomes. A CVS theft call on Wilshire ended with three suspects identified and more than ninety additional stolen items recovered from a vehicle. Officers contained and arrested a suspect after an assault with a pocketknife near Pico Boulevard, recovering the weapon. And a traffic contact near Appian Way turned up a loaded handgun with a round chambered.

→ 🎯 My take: None of these make headlines, and that is sort of the point. Steady, proactive police work is how a city stays safe on an ordinary day, and our officers delivered a lot of those days this week.

🔹 A summer safety word, gently and seriously. Traffic teams logged a felony hit-and-run on Cloverfield where a pedestrian was struck and the driver later arrested, plus two separate e-bike injuries involving kids, including an eight-year-old whose foot caught in the chain. With school letting out and more young riders on the road, please slow down, helmet up the kids, and give our crosswalks the respect they are built for.

🔹 Outreach that ended with two people going home. Our Homeless Liaison Program logged thirty-eight radio calls and more than two hundred self-initiated contacts this week, and two of them stand out. Officers identified a man who had been sleeping near a church for over a year as a missing person out of Sacramento, reconnected him with his brother, and got him a clinical evaluation. A second man was connected through Project Homecoming and the Salvation Army to family in Michigan.

→ 🎯 My stance: This is the model I have pushed for since my time on the Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission. Enforcement where it is warranted, a real hand back to family and services where that is the better path, and a regional crisis that Santa Monica cannot keep carrying alone. We need the county and the state to meet us with more treatment beds and mental health capacity, and I will keep saying so.

🔹 It is CPR Awareness Week, and our Fire Department met it head-on. SMFD crews hosted three Sidewalk CPR events, at the end of the Pier, the Downtown Farmers Market, and the Virginia Avenue Park Market, teaching hands-only CPR to more than two hundred residents, kids and adults alike.

→ ⚡ Why this matters: Bystander CPR saves lives in the minutes before an ambulance arrives. Two hundred more neighbors now know what to do when those minutes count, and that is exactly the kind of quiet readiness that makes a community stronger.

🔹 Prevention work kept humming in the background, too. Beyond the CPR demos, our Fire Department logged 152 annual fire inspections, 21 alarm and sprinkler plan checks, 13 new construction plan reviews, and 12 special event plan reviews this week. It is the kind of work that heads off the emergency before it ever starts, and with a busy summer and World Cup crowds on the way, I am grateful our crews are this far ahead of it.

💼 Economic Development

🔹 New businesses are opening. 

The Win-Dow, the Venice-born smashburger favorite, opens its first Santa Monica location at 930 Montana Avenue on Tuesday, June 9. Raising Cane's opens its first Westside spot Downtown at 1401 Third Street Promenade on Wednesday, June 10. Big Sur Grill is now serving live-fire dinners on Wilshire, Pontu is bringing Peruvian rotisserie to Ocean Park Boulevard in the old OP Cafe space, and Paperlove Boutique just celebrated its grand opening on Pico, the maker's very first brick-and-mortar.

→ 🎯 My take: A smashburger window and a chicken-finger chain will not rebuild an economy by themselves. But national names and first-time local makers choosing the same city in the same month is notable. Every lease signed here is a vote of confidence, and I do not take a single one for granted.

🔹 A new, temporary front door to the Pier. On Friday, June 5, City crews finished a temporary pedestrian bridge that now serves as the main public entrance to the Pier, about thirty feet south of the original near The Lobster. The Pier stays fully open, every shop and restaurant included, and the new crossing was designed with colorful artwork, clear wayfinding, and spotlights on local Pier businesses to turn a detour into a decent arrival.

→ 💡 What is next: With the temporary bridge open, crews will close the Ocean Avenue entrance and begin prepping the 1939 bridge for demolition around mid-June. Bikes and skateboards should use Seaside Terrace, and additional access stays open via Ocean Front Walk and the Lot 1 North ramp. The roughly $35 million replacement is on track for late 2027.

👉 Track the Pier Bridge project

🔹 Our Most Loved businesses got their flowers. Wednesday brought the 13th annual Most Loved Santa Monica Businesses ceremony at Santa Monica Brew Works, celebrating more than 270 local establishments chosen by the people who know them best. Watch for the Most Loved 2026 publication hitting the streets this week and the winner decals going up in shop windows around town.

→ ⚡ Why this matters: Every dollar spent at a local business loops back to fund the police, fire, parks, and libraries we all rely on. Most Loved is a yearly reminder, and a great excuse, to shop local and back the places that make this town feel like home.

🔹 The biggest capital investment since the pandemic. The City unveiled a proposed $109.8 million Capital Improvement Program for the coming year, the largest in years and one of the clearer signs the Realignment Plan is working. The 77 projects span event readiness ahead of the 2028 Games, parks and open space including the Memorial Park redevelopment and a new Virginia Avenue Park playground, infrastructure renewal, and Vision Zero mobility work.

→ 🎯 My stance: For several lean years, our capital budget was about basic upkeep and not much more. Moving back to proactive, strategic investment in this city's bones is the right call, and I will be watching closely to make sure the dollars land where residents actually feel them. Council takes up the final budget on Tuesday, June 23.

🔹 Parking signs back online, right on time. Our Parking Division restored the City's dynamic parking signs at the beach lots, structures, and across Downtown after years of spotty service, with all beach signs and most garage signs now working. The timing is no accident, with summer here and World Cup matches arriving in the region this month.

🔹 Transit holding strong, MODE surging. Big Blue Bus delivered roughly 901,000 rides in May and is on pace to near or top ten million for the second straight year, a real rebound after a tough stretch. Our MODE on-demand service for seniors and residents with disabilities is up a remarkable 40 percent year to date, now running seven days a week. A modest MODE fare adjustment begins July 1 to keep the program sustainable as demand climbs.

🎓 Education

🔹 Congratulations to the Santa Monica High School Class of 2026. This one is personal. As a proud Santa Monica High School alumna from the Class of 1997 and a Samohi parent celebrating my own daughter's graduation this year, this milestone holds a special place in my heart. To the graduates: you have navigated challenges, embraced opportunities, and grown into a generation of thoughtful, resilient, and talented young adults. Whether your next chapter leads to college, a career, trade school, travel, or a path uniquely your own, know that your community is proud of you and excited for what comes next.

→ 🙏 The village behind the moment: Thank you to the teachers, counselors, staff, coaches, families, and friends who helped guide and support these students along the way. Graduation is not only a celebration of individual achievement, but also a reflection of the village that helped make it possible. For nearly 130 years, Samohi has helped shape generations of Santa Monicans, and today the Class of 2026 joins that proud tradition. Dream big, work hard, stay curious, and never forget where you came from. Congratulations, Vikings. The future is yours.

🔹 Summer Reading is here, and our littlest readers are ready. Before the school year even ended, our Youth Services Librarians took the Summer Reading Program on the road, reaching more than 1,500 students across every SMMUSD elementary and middle school and a local private school. It is a smart, proactive way to fight the summer slide, by meeting kids where they already are.

→ 📚 Mark your calendar: The Summer Reading Kickoff Party lands Saturday, June 13, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Main Library, which happens to be turning 20 this year. Expect cupcakes, a magic show, balloon twisting, and family fun. Registration opens citywide that same day at any branch or online, and in-person sign-ups get a birthday goody bag while supplies last.

👉 Register for Summer Reading

🏛️ At City Hall: Your Voice This Week

🔹 1 major policy change worth your attention this Tuesday. The Council meets Tuesday, June 9, at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, and two items  were coming forward that deserve public attention. One that could significantly impact our hotel industry 11A, workers, and local economy- has now been removed from the agenda after a loud response to the last min drop. The other 11B could change how your elected representatives bring issues forward for public discussion and staff direction, along with how and when the public gets to speak.

→ 🎯 My take: Whether you agree with me or not, I encourage you to read the agenda, review the staff reports, and make your voice heard. Democracy works best when residents are informed and engaged, and I hope you'll take a few minutes to look at these items before Tuesday's meeting. The rules of the room are never a small thing. They shape who gets to participate, and how.

👉 Find the June 9 Council agenda

👉 Hear my thoughts on these items (Instagram)

🔹 The SB 79 map is out, and the comment window is short. The Southern California Association of Governments has released its preliminary draft map showing where the State's new transit-oriented housing law, SB 79, will apply across Los Angeles County. Santa Monica's four Metro E Line stations all qualify, which means the half-mile zones around Downtown, 17th Street/SMC, Bergamot, and Expo/Bundy would be subject to new State minimum heights and densities once the law takes effect July 1. Documented map corrections are due to SCAG by Friday, June 12.

→ 🎯 My stance: I have been clear that I am wary of State mandates that override local planning and the neighborhoods most exposed to displacement. The map decides exactly where these standards land, so its accuracy matters enormously. City staff have met with HCD and SCAG and will submit our comments before the deadline, and I will keep pushing to protect local input every step of the way.

👉 See the City's SB 79 map and details

🔹 Architectural Review Board, June 1 recap. The Board approved the design for a mixed-use project at 2800 28th Street near Clover Park, replacing an aging office park with 390 homes and ground-floor commercial space,

🔹 Meet James, the first of the Artists Among Us. I've driven past James countless times at Virginia Avenue Park and always admired the handmade cars displayed on top of his van. This week I finally stopped to ask about them, and what I discovered was an incredible story of perseverance, loss, creativity, and hope. Using recycled cardboard, paper mâché, and found materials, James creates astonishing works of art by hand. What inspired me most wasn't just the art itself. It was the reminder that creativity, purpose, and human connection can endure even through life's most difficult chapters. So I'm launching a recurring series, the Artists Among Us, to celebrate the people whose creativity and resilience help shape our city. Sometimes the most remarkable people are hiding in plain sight.

👉 Meet James and hear his story (Instagram)

🔹 A block party fifty years in the making. The City is inviting families to a neighborhood block party on Sunday, June 14, from 1 to 5 p.m. to open the new 19th Street Community Farm and Wellness Garden at 2018 19th Street, and to mark fifty years of community gardens in Santa Monica. Expect a welcome ceremony, food trucks, music, garden activities, and the chance to get your hands in the dirt, with a SaMo Pride table on hand too. Parking is available at SMC, and walking, biking, or the bus is encouraged.

🔹 The Beach House is dressed up for summer, and the pool is about to open. The Annenberg Community Beach House just got a season-ready refresh, from new banners and restored historic chandeliers to fresh paint throughout. The heated pool opens for daily recreational swimming on Sunday, June 14, anchoring a summer calendar that includes the Cardboard Yacht Regatta and Sunset Swims.

🔹 🌈Pride is in full swing. June is Pride Month, and the celebrations keep building toward Pride on the Promenade on Saturday, June 13, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a drag brunch, community booths, games, and a Library pop-up with Rainbow Storytime. The day rolls into the evening with the Santa Monica Block Fest, a free, family-friendly Pride and World Cup party on the Promenade.

👉 Find a SaMo Pride event near you

🔹 A legendary stage, brought back to life at Pico Branch. Author Peter Alan Lesser shared his new book on McCabe's Guitar Shop, the beloved local venue that has welcomed folk, blues, and bluegrass greats to its stage since 1969, alongside live performances from musicians who have played there for decades. As anyone who loves this city's music history knows, our libraries do so much more than lend books. They keep that history alive and within reach.

📅 Dates & Community Events

🔹 Tuesday, June 9, 5:30 p.m.: City Council regular meeting in Council Chambers (rule changes  item on the agenda).

🔹 Tuesday, June 9: The Win-Dow opens at 930 Montana Avenue.

🔹 Wednesday, June 10: Raising Cane's opens Downtown at 1401 Third Street Promenade.

🔹 Friday, June 12: Deadline for documented SB 79 map corrections to SCAG.

🔹 Saturday, June 13: Summer Reading Kickoff Party at the Main Library, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Summer Reading registration opens citywide. Pride on the Promenade runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the Santa Monica Block Fest that evening.

🔹 Sunday, June 14, 1 to 5 p.m.: 19th Street Community Farm and Wellness Garden block party at 2018 19th Street. The Annenberg Community Beach House pool also opens for daily summer swimming.

🔹 Tuesday, June 23: Council is set to adopt the final Capital Improvement Program and year-two operating budget.

🔹 Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays: Downtown, Pico, and Main Street Farmers Markets. Come find me on a weekend. No appointment needed to start a conversation.

👉 Browse more City events

💙 All In Through November

A quick campaign note, because the work does not take the summer off. My name is on the ballot this November 3, and I am running for re-election for one plain reason: there is still plenty left to build. The momentum is real, from safer corridors to storefronts filling back in, and so is the list of what is still ahead on housing, homelessness, and keeping Santa Monica a place where working families and small businesses can actually afford to stay.

We have a whole summer to do this together. If this is the kind of common-sense, show-up leadership you want in your corner, I would be honored to have your support. Every contribution, large or small, helps carry us to November.

👉 Support the campaign

📱 Stay Connected

Got an issue to report? Want to make sure the city hears you?

👉 Report an Issue

If you haven't already, be sure to follow me on Instagram too for behind-the-scenes updates, event highlights, and my thoughts along the way as I continue to go on this journey with you.

👉 Follow me on Instagram

🔹 Book time with me. Virtual, in person at City Hall, or catch me at the farmers market on weekends.

👉 Book Office Hours with Councilmember Lana Negrete

🌟 Closing Thought: The Whole Village

I told our graduates this week that a diploma is never a solo achievement, that there is always a village standing behind it. The same is true of a city. A new bridge to the Pier, a pool ready for summer, two hundred neighbors learning CPR, a garden fifty years in the making, two people who found their way home this week. None of it happens because of any one of us. It happens because a lot of people quietly show up and do their part.

So consider this my nudge into a season full of reasons to work together. Read the agenda before Tuesday. Bring your kids to Summer Reading. Plant something at the farm on the 14th. And if you see me at the market on a Sunday, come say hello. We build this city the same way the Class of 2026 reached that stage: together, and one good week at a time.

Together, we're building a Santa Monica that works for everyone — a city where families can thrive, businesses can grow, and community comes first.

With gratitude and determination,
Lana Negrete
Councilmember, City of Santa Monica