🌟 Santa Monica Weekly with Mayor Lana Negrete

📅 Sep 15–22, 2025

Dear Neighbors,

Santa Monica is never boring — and this week proved it. From public safety updates to cultural festivals, from policy fights to pink dye in the ocean (yes, really!), here’s what I’ve been working on with and for you.

🛡️ Public Safety & Transparency

🔹 Police Department Updates
 Our Santa Monica Police Department, under Acting Chief Jacob, has been busy — and effective. In one week, they made key arrests tied to robberies and narcotics, helped place an unhoused resident into a 12-month rehab program, and reconnected another long-time Santa Monican with their family out of state.

 This is exactly why I push for accountability paired with compassion. We need safety in our neighborhoods, and we need real second chances that stick.

🔹 Accountability for Repeat Offenders
 Let’s be real — people tell me all the time they’re tired of seeing the same repeat offenders back on the streets. I agree. I’ve been in direct talks with the District Attorney about tighter coordination with our City Attorney and SMPD. Justice has to mean consequences and pathways to recovery.

🔹 Beach Lot 1 North: Lights Back On
 When I heard half the lights were out at Beach Parking Lot 1 North (1550 Appian Way), I asked for answers and a fix. Our Facilities team found a burned electrical cabinet with a 16–20 week lead time — so our electricians engineered a temporary solution by rerouting overhead power to restore lighting now, while the new cabinet is on order.

Safety first, creativity always.

💼 Economic Development & Recovery

🔹 Hollywood Chamber Forum
 At the Hollywood Chamber Forum, I asked County leaders a blunt question: when will we stop funding needle hand-outs and invest those dollars in detox beds and recovery programs that actually help people? You can’t build a strong economy if people don’t feel safe walking down the street. Safety and recovery go hand in hand.

 ➡️The short version of what I heard: There may be federal cuts ahead, but the County still supports the program. My stance remains the same — those who need substance abuse outreach are better served with safe detox methods and sobriety programs.

🔹 Community Festivals Fuel Recovery
 I also made it to Thai Fest at the Pier — two full days of food, music, and joy (and yes, I danced a little 💃🏽). These festivals aren’t just fun; they support local businesses and show off the best of Santa Monica’s culture. Same with Douglas Day at the airport, where we honored aviation history and our fire-fighting heroes.

🎓 Education & Community Growth

🔹 Urban Farm for Families
 The UBH Urban Farm is back and thriving thanks to Roque & Mark and so many community partners. With its teaching kitchen, greenhouse, and lush garden beds, it’s producing 100+ pounds of fresh food every two months while giving families a place to heal and reconnect. I was proud to celebrate this milestone — proof that solutions to homelessness can be nourishing, creative, and hopeful.
👉 Read More — Santa Monica Daily Press

🔹 Financial Help for Neighbors Impacted by Federal Immigration Policies
 If you or someone you know has been hit by recent federal immigration policies, HAVEN Neighborhood Services launched flexible emergency assistance for Santa Monicans. In the first two weeks, 19 local households applied — serving 63 people. Our Human Services Division is partnering with nonprofits, community groups, VAP, and SMMUSD to reach those who need it. This is what a real safety net looks like.
👉 Program Details — City/HAVEN Partnership

🔹 The Human Connection
 I keep saying it: tech is great, but it can’t replace eye contact, a neighborly laugh across a dinner table, or a block-party conversation. If we want a city that listens and cares, we have to show up for each other — in person.

🌊 Clean & Sustainable Santa Monica

🔹 Pier Water Study
 Yes, the Pier turned pink — on purpose! With the City’s support, UCLA and The Bay Foundation released a non-toxic dye to study currents under the Pier. While most of our beaches earn A’s, the area around the Pier too often lands on the “Beach Bummer” list. This data gives our Pier Water Task Force the tools to fix what’s not working.
👉 More Info — Santa Monica Bay Turns Pink

🔹 Community Cleanup
 We held our second cleanup this month. Early mornings, sandy shoes, trash bags — not glamorous, but powerful. Every wrapper off the sand is one less hazard for our ocean and wildlife. Santa Monica is gorgeous, and it takes all of us showing up to keep it that way.
👉 Check It Out — Clean LA With Me (Reel)

📅 What’s Next

🔹 Council Meeting — Sept. 30
 First reading of a new Dog Bite Ordinance — requiring owners of biting dogs to share contact + rabies info with victims or face penalties. It’s common sense, and it keeps people and pets safer.
👉 See Agenda

🔹 My Additional Items I’m Bringing on Sept. 30
 – Community Trash Clean-Up Program (including Caltrans right-of-way): I’m asking Council to direct the City Manager to design a volunteer-powered, City-supported cleanup program that complements our professional crews — with neighborhood groups, schools, nonprofits, and businesses rolling up sleeves together. Civic pride is a verb.
– Stronger On-Site Notices for Development Projects: Residents want earlier, clearer info. I’m proposing larger, more readable site signs with easy-to-understand descriptions and QR codes/links to details, environmental docs, and ways to participate. Transparency you can see.
– Citywide Citizen’s Academy (with Youth-in-Government): Let’s demystify City Hall, build trust, and grow the next generation of civic leaders. A multi-week academy that connects residents to departments, facilities, and real-world problem-solving — including a dedicated youth track.

🔹 Coastal Resiliency
 Phase 3 of our dune restoration project is up for review at the Coastal Commission.   Data so far shows stronger climate resiliency and better protection against sea level rise. I’m all for this.
👉 More Info — City Programs

🔹 Housing Transparency Tool
 We now have a public website to track off-site affordable housing projects — a tool I personally asked for at Council. Transparency is non-negotiable, and now we can all see how we’re delivering on housing.
 👉 Housing Transparency Tool (Link should be live this week.)

🔹 Oktoberfest on the Promenade — Sat, Sept. 27 @ 2 PM (Downtown SM)
 Guten Tag! This Saturday there will be live music, games for all ages, and a Bavarian-style Entertainment Zone on Third Street Promenade. Bring friends — let’s fill downtown with good cheer (lederhosen and dirndl optional, but strongly encouraged!).
👉 Event Details / Tickets — Oktoberfest

💙 Closing Thought

Being Mayor comes with plenty of noise — radio hosts blaming me for “the last 10 years” (even though I’ve only been in office since 2021 🙃), critics looking for easy villains, and sometimes even threats. I don’t fret. I show up.

I believe in safe neighborhoods, open books at City Hall, and a city where our kids can grow up with clean beaches, good schools, and real opportunity. Thank you for walking this path with me.

Together, we’ve got this.