Michael Pena stars in 'Cesar Chavez.' On Saturday at 7 p.m., Santa Monica High School’s Barnum Hall will host a preview screening of “Cesar Chavez” as part of a fundraising effort for the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation, Edison Language Academy, John Adams Middle School and Santa Monica High School’s dual immersion... Read more →

BIG CHUNK: The west end of Santa Monica Airport marked off by white lines could be closed by city officials in 2015. (Image courtesy Google Earth) SMO — Whether you’re on Team 2023 or Team 2015, it’s unlikely that the Santa Monica Airport will close entirely anytime soon, city officials said in a recent report. The Federal... Read more →

PALISADES PARK — When Angela Parker shows up for her early morning fitness class at Palisades Park it’s quiet. Too quiet. “We all stay together in a group,” said Parker, head of Body Inspired Fitness. “It’s dreamy and quiet, so much so that I’m a little nervous being out there alone at 6 in the morning.” Last year,... Read more →

PALISADES PARK —The holiday season is getting a little less stressful for City Hall. City Council’s ban of unattended displays at Palisades Park went even smoother last December than it did the year before, city officials said in a recent report. For years, local church groups set up nativity scenes in the park but in 2012, council... Read more →

The Junipher Building on the Third Street Promenade was recently named a landmark. (Daniel Archuleta daniela@smdp.com) CITYWIDE — Santa Monica aced its preservation exam. The city by the sea topped the list of jurisdictions in Los Angeles County that were graded by the Los Angeles Conservancy for their commitment to historic... Read more →

PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY — Police were “proud” to report Tuesday that during a sting operation targeting adults who are asked to buy kids alcohol no one was arrested for doing so. Vice investigators also reported that in some cases clerks at liquor stores and other places that sell booze went outside to confront decoys, telling them... Read more →

City officials are encouraging people to fix that leak this week. As part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s ongoing “We’re for Water” campaign, this year’s Fix a Leak Week encourages Americans to help put a stop to the more than 1 trillion gallons of water wasted from household leaks each year. “Leaks can account for... Read more →

If you plan to travel south on the 405 Freeway between Santa Monica and National boulevards, you better think again. The contractor working on the I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project plans to fully close the freeway on the southbound side to install an overhead sign and conduct other roadway construction activities along the median,... Read more →

CITYWIDE — City officials got good news from the annual homeless count but they’ll push to do more at tonight’s City Council meeting. While homelessness rose in Los Angeles County, it fell 5 percent in the city by the sea in 2013 and city officials said that the Police Department was among several organizations helping to curb the... Read more →

Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing series that tracks the city’s expenditures appearing on upcoming Santa Monica City Council consent agendas. Consent agenda items are routinely passed by the City Council with little or no discussion from elected officials or the public. However, many of the items have been part of public... Read more →