🌟 Santa Monica Weekly with Mayor Lana Negrete

📅 January 26, 2026

Hello Santa Monica,

Last night, I sat with my daughters at our kitchen table and answered the question no parent wants to hear: "Is it safe to go to school tomorrow?" A voicemail threat referencing explosives at Santa Monica High School had just been reported to police—and like so many of you, I felt the weight of it in my chest before I even had all the facts.

I want to start this week's update there, because it matters. What happened, what we did about it, and what comes next. Then we'll get into the real progress happening across our city: faster permitting, libraries thriving, a completed safety project on Pico, and a community that raised $4,000 for a family in need through a kid-led lemonade stand.

There's a lot to cover—and I need a favor.

(Spoiler: scroll down to peak at “⭐ I Need You Tuesday Night.”)

Okay, welcome back. Let's dig in.

🚨 Public Safety

🔹 Samohi threat: Here's what we know. On Sunday morning, SMPD received a voicemail threat referencing explosives on the Santa Monica High School campus. Officers responded immediately, deploying an explosive-detection K-9 team, a drone, and conducting a systematic search of the entire campus in coordination with school leadership. No explosives or suspicious devices were found. Additional police patrols and a visible law enforcement presence were stationed on and around campus Monday morning. The threat is being actively investigated as a crime.

→ 🎯 My take as a mom: My daughters attend Samohi. The fear families feel in these moments is real; I felt it too. But facts matter: the campus was thoroughly searched, no threat was found, and law enforcement continues monitoring the situation. If you see something concerning, say something. Our police department, school administrators, and city leadership are aligned: student safety comes first, always.

🔹 Early 2025 data shows progress. While staff is finalizing full year-end 2025 statistics for a February briefing, early indicators are encouraging:

→ 💡 What this means: More calls reflect increased community engagement. More arrests reflect more focused, proactive enforcement. This is the Realignment Plan in action.

🔹 City Attorney follow-through strengthening. In December 2025, referrals to the Criminal Division increased 40% compared to December 2024. In Q4 2025, the City Attorney's Office filed on approximately 88% of all fileable cases—up from roughly 65–70% previously. Enforcement without follow-through doesn't work. This alignment is something I’ve been working on for 2.5 years!

🔹 Downtown deployment stabilized. As of January 11, the Downtown Services Unit (DSU) now consistently deploys 7–11 officers per day within the downtown core. That staffing stability allows officers to maintain presence, recognize patterns, and intervene earlier. DSU officers have averaged approximately 40+ arrests per week in downtown alone, with particular impact on retail theft and narcotics enforcement.

🔹 7 new officers sworn in. Last Wednesday, I attended the swearing-in ceremony for 7 new Santa Monica police officers—another tangible step in our Realignment Plan to strengthen public safety and build department capacity.

🔹 Homelessness response this week. Our teams made 108 outreach contacts, conducted 29 welfare checks, and addressed 4 encampments. Individuals were connected to shelter, treatment, IDs, and housing—including a veteran linked to a VA housing voucher.

→ 🎯 Update on Tommy: Remember Tommy, the 87-year-old man I shared about last week? He's now indoors—in transitional housing for seniors in Los Angeles through SaMo Bridge and Exodus Recovery, while he waits for permanent placement. This program works because it's structured, time-limited, and accountable. Not everyone accepts services. But when they do, there's a real path forward.

🔥 Fire Department Update

🔹 Weekly activity. SMFD responded to 308 total incidents this past period, with the majority being medical emergencies, followed by hazardous situations and public service calls.

🔹 Battalion Chief exams completed. The Fire Department recently completed promotional examinations for Battalion Chiefs, including the Tactical Exercise—with support from HR and regional partners from Culver City, Burbank, Monterey Park, Long Beach, Redondo Beach, Pasadena, and Ventura County.

🔹 Fire Nuggets Conference coming to Santa Monica. From January 28 through February 1, over 200 firefighters and industry-leading instructors will gather in Santa Monica for "Long Live the Engine, Dogtown"—the first conference of its kind in our area. This will bring over $150,000 in local commerce to restaurants, hotels, and businesses. Proud of our firefighters for making this happen.

Fire Prevention Weekly Data:

💼 Economic Development & City Operations

🔹 Permitting just got faster—way faster. Here's a number I'm genuinely excited about: plan check turnaround times have improved from 50.7% on-time to 92.5% on-time in just four months. That's a 40+ percentage point improvement. Mechanical and plumbing reviews saw the most dramatic gains. A new plan check system deploys in April 2026.

→ 💡 Why this matters: Faster permitting supports housing production, helps small businesses open or expand more quickly, reduces project carrying costs, and rebuilds confidence in our system. This is the Realignment Plan translating into real results & a focus I’ve had since I came on council and joined in on our round tables and task forces to address real issues for businesses and residents related to permitting.

🔹 Internal reorganization to strengthen mobility and permitting. Staff is advancing a reorganization to shift the full Mobility team from the Department of Transportation into Public Works. This will streamline capital project delivery, accelerate "quick-build" safety projects, and simplify permitting for development, encroachment, right-of-way, and street closure permits. Fewer handoffs, clearer accountability, better service.

🔹 Google Rewards Tour hits the Promenade. Mark your calendars: January 30 through February 2. It's a free, interactive experience at the Google Store location on Third Street Promenade.

🔹 Business investments continue. Trapeze School is relocating to a permanent home at the Santa Monica Airport (final Pier classes March 14). Mercedes-Benz is converting its Colorado Avenue facility to a service-only center while maintaining its Wilshire showroom. These are signs of confidence in Santa Monica's future.

🔹 CNN names Santa Monica one of the best places to visit in 2026. The feature highlights Santa Monica as the western terminus of historic Route 66 during the highway's 100th anniversary, with imagery anchored by the Pier and Pacific Park. I'll take that headline.

👉 Read the CNN Travel feature

🔹 Major Events Team established. We've formally created a Major Events Team housed in the City Manager's Office to coordinate FIFA World Cup 2026, a major Goldenvoice music festival in 2026, Super Bowl LXI in 2027, and the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics. The team transitions in early February with dedicated staff for events, partnerships, and coordination.

🔹 Vacant Property Task Force update. The Task Force met this week and reviewed the 25 vacant properties in the poorest condition citywide. Current tracking identifies 166 known or suspected vacant properties:

Progress at the most concerning end of the spectrum, with poor-condition properties down by two since October.

🔹 Downtown parking structure stairways getting upgraded. Resurfacing is underway in Parking Structures 4 and 5—which collectively serve more than 800,000 parkers annually. The aging blue vinyl is being replaced with a new Silikal floor system for better slip resistance and durability. Work concludes in April 2026.

🔹 Realignment "Glow Up" generating strong response. The visible improvements—landscaping, sidewalk repairs, off-ramp cleanups—are getting noticed. Multiple media outlets have covered the work, and City social media content has generated thousands of views and hundreds of reactions.

👉 Watch Westside Today coverage

🚗 Broadway Paving Project Starts Today

🔹 Heads up for commuters. Phase 1 of roadway improvements on Broadway between Ocean Avenue and 9th Street begins Monday, January 26. Expect traffic delays, especially near Lincoln Boulevard. Some work will occur during early morning hours.

Street Grinding Schedule:

Street Paving Schedule:

The broader Broadway paving and protected bike lane project continues through May 2026.

👉 Broadway Safety Project updates

🚴 East Pico Safety Project Complete

🔹 A Vision Zero milestone. Construction has wrapped on the East Pico Safety Project—a major step toward eliminating traffic-related fatalities and injuries on this vibrant corridor. The project included extensive community outreach: walk audits, pop-up events, hands-on demonstrations, and an interactive online mapping tool.

→ ✅ Completed improvements: Hardened centerlines, speed feedback sign, select median gap closures, and new paint-and-post curb extensions to improve visibility and slow vehicle speeds.

A community celebration event on the Pico corridor is planned for early spring. Stay tuned.

🏠 Housing & Tenant Protection

🔹 Flexible Financial Assistance Program moving forward. The Housing and Human Services Department released an RFP this week to identify an administrator for this new Measure GS-funded program designed to prevent homelessness before it occurs.

→ 💡 What it provides:

• Emergency one-time assistance: up to $5,000/household/year for immediate housing crises
• Ongoing monthly assistance: up to $10,000/household annually for stabilization
• Eviction-prevention assistance: up to $20,000 for households in unlawful detainer cases receiving Right to Counsel legal services
• Supportive services including case management

The RFP closes February 20, 2026, with implementation anticipated within months. This is a cornerstone of our Measure GS investments.

🔹 SB 9 and SB 1123 engagement plan set. The Planning Commission process begins March 4, 2026 with a study session. A technical working group will be formed, consultant studies will run March–April, a second study session is planned for May 6, and a draft ordinance comes to Commission on June 17. Council consideration expected late July/early August.

📚 Education & Libraries

🔹 Libraries are back—and thriving. Last week we celebrated two big milestones: the Fairview Branch Library (my own neighborhood library in Sunset Park) and the Ocean Park Branch Library both returned to full in-person service. That means librarian staffing, technical assistance, programs, and community events.

→ 📍 Current hours:

• Fairview Branch: Tuesday & Wednesday, 12–8 PM | Friday, 10–5 PM
• Ocean Park Branch: Wednesday & Thursday, 12–8 PM | Friday, 10–5 PM

Starting July 2026, these branches (plus Montana) will expand to four full-service days per week.

👉 Library locations and hours

🔹 "Demystifying A.I." draws strong interest. The Main Library recently hosted an introductory program on artificial intelligence led by tech entrepreneur Jacob Catalano. Attendees expressed interest in follow-up programming and hands-on workshops—highlighting the Library's role as a hub for lifelong learning.

🏛️ City Council Meeting — Tuesday, January 27

🔹 What's on the agenda. We have a full City Council meeting Tuesday night at 5:30 PM. Key items:

→ Parks and Recreation Vision Plan: Council will receive and consider approval of the 2025 Parks and Recreation Vision Plan.

→ Memorial Park Redevelopment: Voting on the revised plan for Phases 1 and 2, including EIR certification.

→ Parcel Tax Polling: This item has been pulled from the agenda and will return later this spring after further review. The City and SMMUSD need additional time to assess details related to the Joint Use Agreement financial arrangement.

→ Measure GS/YY Agreement: A modification to extend the existing agreement with SMMUSD through 2038 (at the District's request).

→ ONESAMO People's Academy: I've asked staff to provide an update on this civic education program's timeline and launch.

⭐ I Need You Tuesday Night — Item 16.H

🔹 My proposal: Respecting residents' time. I've put forward Item 16.H focused on process improvements for City Council meetings. This is about expanding public speaking opportunities and adjusting how closed sessions are scheduled so we get to business during hours when working families can actually participate.

→ 🎯 Why this matters: Your time is valuable. If you can't show up until 8 PM and we're still in closed session, that's not transparency—that's a barrier. I want to fix that.

If you support giving residents their time back—show up Tuesday night and make your voice heard. Please attend in person, call in, or submit written comment. This is about making City Hall work for you.

👉 View the full City Council agenda

👉 How to participate in a City Council meeting

💛 Community Spotlight

🔹 $4,000 raised for the Garcia family. This weekend, one of my neighbors—a Will Rogers student—organized a lemonade stand fundraiser with his friends to support a family in need. Young students came together at 26th & Pearl in Sunset Park and raised approximately $4,000 in a single afternoon. This is Santa Monica at its best: grassroots, kid-led, community showing up for community.

🔹 MLK Day Pop-Up Pool Day exceeds expectations. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Annenberg Community Beach House hosted a Pop-Up Pool Day in response to the warm weather. The event reached capacity by 11:45 AM—just 45 minutes after opening—with 300 pool passes sold. Staff featured a display of Dr. King's quotes at Guest Services, offering a moment of reflection alongside recreation.

🔹 Temporary art installation on the beach. Local artist Kate Mueller's String of Light That Connects All Things appeared along the shoreline near Lifeguard Station 13 last weekend—funded through our Art of Recovery program. The installation invited beachgoers to pause and engage with the coastline during a brief low-tide window.

👉 Watch the Santa Monica Closeup video

🔹 Swim Center Splash Pool closure Jan 28–30. The Splash Pool and adjacent deck showers will be temporarily closed for planned maintenance (pump replacement and deck repairs). All other Swim Center amenities remain open. Reopening expected Saturday, January 31.

📱 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: Show Up for the City to Glow Up

This week tested us. A threat to our children. Hard questions at the kitchen table. The kind of moments that remind you why civic trust matters.

I believe in transparency—even when the news is complicated. Especially then. You deserve to know what's happening, what we're doing about it, and where I stand. That's why I support the practice of reporting out closed sessions publicly whenever possible. That's why I push for meetings scheduled when working families can actually attend. That's why I write these newsletters.

And that's why I'm asking you to show up Tuesday night. Item 16.H is about your time, your voice, your access to your government. More voices help our city shine more for the good of all. If that matters to you, please be there—in person, on the phone, or in writing.

Santa Monica is still worth fighting for. Thank you for reading. Thank you for showing up. And if you have kids at Samohi or anywhere in our schools, give them an extra hug this week. I know I did.

See you Tuesday. 💙

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