🌟 Santa Monica Weekly with Councilmember Lana Negrete

📅 February 9, 2026

Hello Santa Monica,

Thirty-seven commercial brokers walked into a hotel last Monday. No, it's not the start of a joke — it's the start of something I've been working toward for a long time. This past week, the City brought together brokers from 25 firms to talk openly about what Santa Monica needs to attract and retain great businesses. That kind of candid, cross-departmental collaboration doesn't happen by accident. It happens because we're operating differently now.

This week I'm also sharing a deep dive into what the Metro Expo Line has actually meant for our public safety — with a decade of data to back it up — plus updates on our downtown police substation, the relaunch of SMPD bike patrols, and a new milestone for our ambulance program. We interviewed candidates for our permanent City Attorney on Friday, we have a regular Council meeting tomorrow night, and I'm excited to announce that the People's Academy is officially launching, with sign-ups coming online in the next week.

There's a lot in here. Let's get into it.

🚨 Public Safety

🔹 Over 100 arrests this past week from proactive enforcement. SMPD officers and specialized units — including the Crime Impact Team, Downtown Services Unit, and K-9 — ran coordinated operations across the city. A significant share of these arrests came from data-informed, officer-initiated contacts rather than reactive calls. That's the model we've been building: smarter policing, not just more policing. Key incidents included an organized retail theft operation downtown that resulted in six arrests with recovered merchandise, a firearm arrest near 1400 Santa Monica Boulevard following a disturbance and assault involving two victims (including an elderly individual), and a weapons/warrant arrest of a suspect carrying a knife and a barbed-wire-wrapped bat with a $60,000 outstanding warrant.

→ 🎯 My take: Proactive, intelligence-driven enforcement is what moves the needle. I've pushed for this approach for years — and the results speak for themselves.

🔹 Samohi bomb threat: resolved, unfounded. Officers responded to a threatening voicemail received overnight, searched the campus with K-9 resources, patrol teams, and SMART Center support. No devices were found. Classes resumed on schedule. As a SamoHi alum and a mom, I know these moments shake families — but I'm grateful for the swift, thorough response.

🔹 Traffic enforcement stayed aggressive this week. Officers ran distracted driving operations resulting in 46 citations (39 for cell phone use), DUI saturation patrols with 22 traffic stops and 2 drug arrests, and continued school zone enforcement. The Traffic Section also coordinated with state and federal agencies regarding a serious autonomous vehicle collision that has drawn national attention and independent review.

🔹 Homelessness response by the numbers. Our Homeless Liaison Program conducted over 100 field contacts, issued 30 citations, and made 13 arrests. Ten mental health evaluations were completed with 8 hospitalizations. In one coordinated effort along Alley 13, HLP officers and Department of Mental Health partners successfully placed a chronically intoxicated individual — who requested help after repeated emergency medical contacts — into an inpatient detox program. That's what accountability paired with compassion looks like.

🚔 Metro Expo Line: A Decade of Data — and Why It Matters

🔹 Staff completed a comprehensive review of Expo corridor crime data from 2015 to 2024, and the findings confirm what many of us have felt for years. The opening of the Expo Line in 2016 coincided with an immediate and measurable increase in crime and service demand near our transit stations and downtown.

→ 💡 What this means: While today's totals appear similar to pre-2016 levels, that's not because the problem went away — it's because the City has spent nearly a decade absorbing the impact through enforcement, outreach, and resources. The type of activity has fundamentally shifted: more transit-adjacent disorder, more late-night and early-morning demand, and more labor-intensive calls that strain patrol resources without resulting in arrest.

→ 🎯 Why I'm pushing for platform policing authority: Metro's Tap-to-Exit program shows roughly 13% compliance at our end-of-line station. That's not working. We need SMPD to have enforcement authority on Metro platforms within city limits. The MOU we've been negotiating with Metro is expected to come to Council for review at our first meeting in March. This is a critical step — and the data now gives us the evidence to back it up.

🏢 Downtown Police Substation: Opening Early March

🔹 We're close. The downtown substation at Santa Monica Place is now on track to open in early March 2026 — a few weeks behind our original timeline, primarily due to coordination with PRISM (the project representative for the mall ownership group) navigating a complex approval structure. Those approvals are now in place.

→ ⚡ Where things stand: City permits have been approved. Payment authorization from PRISM is expected any day. Contractor selection is underway this week. Once construction begins, the buildout is estimated at four weeks. City staff and Community Relations are walking the site this week to begin signage and branding.

→ 🎯 Why this matters: This substation creates a permanent SMPD presence in the area most impacted by Metro activity. It will improve response times, visibility, and coordination downtown — and it's the operational foundation for the Metro platform policing agreement. This has been a priority for years. We're almost there.

🚲 SMPD Bike Patrols Are Back

🔹 Following the mid-January shift realignment, SMPD bike patrol units are back on the streets downtown and along the Pier and beach areas. If you've spotted officers on bikes engaging with the community recently — that's by design. Bike patrols increase visibility, improve response times in dense pedestrian areas, and create more natural, face-to-face interactions between officers and residents. They're a proven best practice in community policing, and I'm glad to see them fully back in rotation. As we continue hiring Public Safety Officers in the coming months, we'll look to expand the program further.

🔥 Fire Department Update

🔹 357 calls for service this past week. The Fire Department maintained a steady operational tempo, with year-to-date call volume at 1,777 incidents — tracking in line with projected annual demand. On a single 24-hour period (February 4–5), the department handled 65 calls.

🔹 The Ambulance Operator program is now the real deal. As of February 1, all six City ambulances are fully staffed, deployed, and integrated into our 9-1-1 response system. This isn't a contract swap — it's a fundamentally different model. By bringing ambulance transport in-house, we now have direct control over staffing, deployment, and service quality. BLS ambulances respond alongside ALS fire engine companies, freeing engines more quickly for higher-acuity calls. And the City now retains an estimated $7 million per year in transport revenue that previously went to a private provider. Better care, better coordination, stronger fiscal footing.

🔹 Second Advanced Provider Unit nearing deployment. Our APU program — staffed by a firefighter-paramedic and a nurse practitioner — handles complex medical and behavioral health calls that don't always need a traditional ER response. We're about to bring a second unit online and expand to seven-day-per-week coverage. This means more capacity during peak demand, fewer avoidable ambulance transports, and better integration across Fire, Police, and Mental Health.

Fire Prevention Weekly Data:

💼 Economic Development

🔹 Broker convening signals a new chapter for business attraction. On Monday, February 2, the City hosted 37 commercial brokers from 25 firms at the Sandbourne Hotel for a candid working session on where Santa Monica is headed — not just policy-wise, but operationally. Deputy City Manager Peter James, Police Chief Darrick Jacob, and leaders from Homelessness Prevention, Community Development, and Economic Development walked the room through how the Realignment Plan is translating into real shifts on the ground: from public safety and permitting to a more proactive Business Concierge program designed to give brokers and businesses a clear, navigable point of contact.

→ 🎯 My take: As a small business owner myself, I know that the first question any operator or investor asks is: "Is the city going to work with me or against me?" Events like this send the right message — and the fact that most attendees stayed after the formal session to continue conversations with staff tells me we're building trust.

🔹 New businesses open around town. Spry Fitness is now open at 222 Pico Boulevard offering personal training and small-group sessions by appointment. Trotta-Bono Contemporary has opened a private exhibition and advisory space at the Gehry-designed Edgemar Complex on Main Street. And Garden Safaris is offering private garden and architecture walking tours highlighting Santa Monica's unique landscapes.

👉 Learn more about Spry Fitness 

👉 Visit Trotta-Bono Contemporary 

👉 Explore Garden Safaris

🔹 Our Route 66 sign got a glow-up. The Public Works team reinforced and refreshed the iconic Route 66 sign on the Pier — strengthening the post for long-term structural integrity and adding decorative touches. A small but meaningful example of the pride our teams take in caring for Santa Monica's most recognizable landmarks. Kudos to Anthony Zepeda, Willy Guerrero, and Jim Nuñez.

🔹 Resource Recovery & Recycling is exceeding its goals. Following a deep operational review in mid-2025, our RRR team set internal 311 SMART goals — and by February 1, they'd not only met them but surpassed them. RRR handles the highest volume of 311 requests citywide (over 20,000 last fiscal year), so service reliability here matters. Cleaner streets start with teams who care about the work — and ours does.

📚 Education & Community

🔹 Cradle to Career convened 60+ leaders on February 3. I joined City leaders, Board of Education members, Santa Monica College leadership, nonprofit partners, and service providers gathered to review data on youth mental health, family stability, homelessness, and the impact of immigration enforcement concerns on local families. One of my teens amongst a few other students were also there, and the conversations reinforced what I keep hearing from parents across this city: our kids need more accessible mental health support, earlier intervention, and fewer barriers to navigating the system.

→ 💡 What caught my attention: The group heard a presentation on Stanford's allcove model — a youth-centered, walk-in care approach for ages 12–25 that integrates mental health, physical health, substance use, and education services in stigma-free spaces. Working groups will now explore whether elements of this model could work for Santa Monica. This is exactly the kind of forward-thinking investment our kids deserve. I hope we can integrate it with what we have already in place.

👉 Learn more about Cradle to Career

🔹 Libraries continue to be community lifelines. Tech & Tasks sessions at Pico Branch and Main Library assisted approximately 40 patrons with everything from immigration-related support and job searching to device troubleshooting and college class registration. The Main Library also hosted a well-attended lecture by UCLA's Dr. Edward Dunbar on the psychology of authoritarian leadership — drawing more than 60 community members for a thoughtful, timely discussion. And a retirement planning workshop at the Pico Branch brought in about 20 residents for practical guidance on financial well-being.

→ 🎯 My take: Libraries aren't just about books. They're trusted, accessible spaces where people get real help with real life. That's worth protecting and investing in.

🏠 Housing Update

🔹 Virginia Avenue Apartments rehabilitation is underway. Community Corporation of Santa Monica's Virginia Avenue Apartments (2033–2101 Virginia Ave) are undergoing a comprehensive rehab supported by a significant City Housing Trust Fund loan. Work includes roof replacement, in-unit upgrades, new windows, a new laundry room, full transition from gas to all-electric, accessibility improvements, and HVAC/plumbing upgrades. During early phases, contractors discovered more extensive water intrusion, termite damage, and mold than originally anticipated — but catching these issues now protects residents long-term and avoids far greater costs down the road.

→ 💡 Why this matters: Preserving existing affordable housing is just as important as building new units. Projects like this keep homes safe, livable, and sustainable for decades to come. More importantly it keeps generations of families here in the city instead of pushing them out!

🏛️ City Council & Government Updates

🔹 City Council meets tomorrow — Tuesday, February 10, 5:30 PM. It's a regular meeting, and as always, your voice matters. Show up in person, call in, or submit written comment.

👉 View City Council meeting info 

👉 How to participate in a City Council meeting

🔹 We spent all day Friday interviewing candidates for our permanent City Attorney. This is a critical hire — the City Attorney advises Council, manages litigation, and ensures we're operating within the law. I take this seriously, and I was glad to spend the time getting it right. More to come as the process moves forward.

🔹 The ONESAMO People's Academy is officially launching. I've been working on this for a while, and I'm thrilled to share that the People's Academy — designed to give residents a deeper look into how city government actually works — is live. Sign-ups are coming online in the next week. If you've ever wondered how decisions get made, how the budget works, or how to make your voice heard more effectively, this is for you. Stay tuned for details.

🔹 ARB met February 2 — both items continued. The Architectural Review Board reviewed proposals for 122 Hart Avenue (a two-story single-unit residence) and 1633 26th Street (an eight-story, 353-unit residential development). Both items received board comments and will return for further review following applicant revisions.

📅 Dates & Community Events

🔹 Tuesday, February 10 — City Council Meeting, 5:30 PM

🔹 Saturday, February 14 — ATTUNE: Sound + Light Experience at Tongva Park, 4:30–7:30 PM (free). Santa Monica is one of ten sites across LA County hosting this synchronized public art experience featuring live sound performances and light installations. Bring a blanket and enjoy a creative Valentine's Day evening under the sky.

👉 Learn more about Tongva Park events

🔹 Saturday, February 14 — Pico Farmers Market, 8 AM–1 PM. I'll be there this weekend — stop by, support local farmers and small businesses, and tell me what's on your mind. I love hearing directly from you.

👉 Pico Farmers Market info

🔹 Monday, February 16 — Presidents' Day (City offices closed)

🔹 Saturday, February 28 — Santa Monica Reads author event with Michiko Aoyama, 2–4 PM at Main Library (free)

👉 Santa Monica Reads info

🔹 Coming soon — Coffees with the Councilmember and more opportunities to meet. Watch my Instagram for dates and locations.

📱 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

🌟 Closing Thought: The Data Doesn't Lie

One of the things I've learned — as a business owner, a mom, and your councilmember — is that feelings are valid, but data is what drives action. This week's Metro Expo Line analysis confirmed what so many of you have been telling me for years: the transit impacts on our downtown are real, measurable, and ongoing. And now we have the evidence to do something about it.

Transparency means sharing the numbers even when they're uncomfortable. Civility means using those numbers to build solutions, not just assign blame. That's how I operate, and that's how I'll keep leading.

Tomorrow night is Council. This Saturday I'm at the Pico Farmers Market. The People's Academy sign-ups are almost here. There are a lot of ways to plug in right now — and I hope you will.

Thank you for reading, for showing up, and for caring about this city as much as I do.

See you out there, Santa Monica. 💙

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