September
Automated Bus Lane Enforcement Launched — Santa Monica launched automated enforcement for bus lanes and stops. Following a 60-day warning period, cameras on Big Blue Buses captured vehicles blocking transit zones, issuing fines starting at $293 to improve safety and accessibility.
Men's Grooming Franchise Opened — Hammer & Nails opened its 51st location in Santa Monica, offering haircuts, shaves, and hand and foot care. The California franchise planned to expand to 100 locations by 2026.
Typhus Outbreak Reported — Santa Monica experienced a typhus outbreak following a countywide surge. Health officials urged residents to protect themselves and pets from fleas, which spread the disease, as clusters were expected to emerge.
First Palisades Fire Rebuild Permit Issued — Malibu issued its first building permit for a home destroyed in the Palisades Fire, marking a recovery milestone seven months after the blaze. The city had processed 100 planning rebuild submittals.
Autism Tennis Program Founded — A Santa Monica High School senior founded a local ACEing Autism chapter, providing specialized tennis programs for children with autism. The initiative engaged over 30 participants and 45 volunteers for physical activity and social development.
SMC Film School Ranked Nationally — MovieMaker magazine named Santa Monica College one of the top 30 film schools in North America, highlighting its affordability and location near the entertainment industry.
Malibu Event Rules Eased — The Malibu City Council voted 4-1 to ease restrictions on temporary events for businesses affected by the Palisades Fire, aiming to aid economic recovery despite some concerns about loopholes.
I-405 Lane Closures Announced — Caltrans announced closure of three northbound lanes on the I-405 Sepulveda Pass for pavement rehabilitation. Motorists were urged to use alternate routes during the extended weekend construction to avoid delays.
Italian Restaurant Opened Downtown — Restaurateur Francesco Zimone opened Florence Osteria Pizza e Vino in downtown Santa Monica. The 35-seat venue focused on an intimate Tuscan atmosphere and extensive wine program.
Malibu Meeting Times Changed — The Malibu City Council moved to change regular meeting start times to 4:30 p.m. to improve efficiency, though some members argued the earlier time excluded working residents from participating.
Historic Seafood Restaurant Closed — The Reel Inn, a historic Malibu seafood shack with rock music ties, permanently closed following damage from the Palisades Fire. Owners cited rebuilding restrictions as making reopening unfeasible.
Downtown Board Members Filed Lawsuit — Two former Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. board members filed a lawsuit challenging their removal. They argued the City Council violated bylaws and state law by firing six directors.
Santa Monica Classic Race Held — The 20th Santa Monica Classic drew 7,500 runners, with Mexico's Arely Reyes winning the women's 10K. Participants from 14 countries competed in the sold-out race benefiting neurological research.
Malibu Evacuation Plan Updated — Malibu approved a $159,729 contract to update its evacuation plan, prioritizing community engagement and medical facility integration. The update responded to lessons learned from past destructive wildfires.
Fiscal Distress Declared — Santa Monica City Council declared "fiscal distress" due to $229 million in sexual abuse settlements and declining revenues. The resolution served as a strategic communication tool addressing long-term financial liabilities.
School Maintenance Completed — SMMUSD achieved "good" ratings for all school facilities after completing 477 maintenance work orders over the summer, marking a significant turnaround from previous poor ratings at campuses.
Housing Pilot Reached Capacity — Santa Monica's off-site affordable housing pilot program reached its 1,000-unit capacity within two days. City planners sought to extend the program due to high demand from developers.
High Schools Ranked Nationally — Santa Monica and Malibu high schools ranked in the top 5% and 11% nationally in U.S. News & World Report's 2025 rankings, showing significant improvement over the previous year.
Wilshire Boulevard Project Approved — The Architectural Review Board approved a 260-unit mixed-use project on Wilshire Boulevard after the developer abandoned a controversial "Jenga" design. The new 8-story plan included 26 affordable units.
Wildfire Response Report Released — An independent report found that lack of resources and outdated alert policies delayed warnings during the deadly January wildfires. The review highlighted staffing issues and insufficient training with emergency software.
Federal Order Threatened Homeless Funding — LA County officials warned that a federal executive order ending "housing first" support threatened $150 million in homeless funding. The policy shift conflicted with the county's stable housing strategy.
Cannabis Zones Expanded — The City Council approved an ordinance expanding zones for cannabis dispensaries and removing the cap on retailers. The changes aimed to revitalize the struggling legal market by easing requirements.
Dune Restoration Project Approved — The Coastal Commission unanimously approved expanding Santa Monica's dune restoration project to 38.5 acres. The project aimed to combat sea-level rise using nature-based solutions covering 19% of beach.
Urban Farm Inaugurated — Mayor Lana Negrete inaugurated the Upward Bound House Urban Farm, integrating food security with housing services for homeless families. The farm provided fresh produce and therapeutic gardening opportunities.
Transit Weapon Detection Program Launched — Metro's pilot weapon detection program found multiple bladed objects and one firearm at rail stations. Security measures, including new barriers and ambassadors, were implemented to address rising crime.
Wildfire Relief Aid Distributed — A partnership between USC Credit Union Community Foundation and LA County provided $80,000 in cash aid to wildfire-impacted workers. Eighty individuals received $1,000 grants for urgent needs.
Charter Carrier Applied for Airport Operations — Charter carrier JSX applied to operate daily flights from Santa Monica Airport starting in 2025 using quiet turboprop aircraft. The city reaffirmed the airport would still close in 2028.
Aging Action Plan Adopted — Santa Monica adopted its first Aging and Disability Action Plan to support its growing senior population. The plan focused on housing stability, mobility, and accessible information.
Freeway Standoff Ended — Santa Monica police arrested a suspect brandishing a BB gun on the I-10 freeway, causing a complete closure. The standoff ended without injury after officers negotiated with the man.
Building Code Updated — The City Council approved raising the high-rise threshold to 75 feet and allowing single-stairway buildings up to six stories. The changes aimed to lower construction costs and enable family-sized units.
Immigration Protections Implemented — California schools implemented new protections and a toolkit to support immigrant families following incidents involving federal agents. New laws prohibited agents from entering non-public school areas without warrants.
Drug Paraphernalia Arrest Made — Police arrested a man after observing him handling drug paraphernalia in a vehicle. A search revealed a loaded handgun and multiple narcotics during the routine investigation.
Downtown Board Meetings Shortened — Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. board meetings became brief and light on agenda items following the City Council's removal of six members. Recent meetings lasted less than 30 minutes.
Filmmaker's Home Destroyed by Squatters — A Santa Monica filmmaker's home was destroyed by squatters who stole $25,000 in equipment and cut utility pipes. A GoFundMe was launched to help him recover his livelihood.
Councilmember Took Housing Advocacy Job — Councilmember Jesse Zwick accepted a director position with the Housing Action Coalition, a pro-development nonprofit. The move sparked conflict of interest concerns given his role voting on housing policies.
Acclaimed Restaurant Announced Closure — Birdie G's announced it would close on December 31, citing economic headwinds and civic neglect. Chef Jeremy Fox's restaurant was known for its comfort food and Jewish-influenced dishes.
Bathroom Vandal Detained Again — A homeless man accused of causing $10,000 in damage to beach bathrooms was detained again for vandalism after previously avoiding prosecution. He remained out of custody despite repeated incidents.
County Received Life Sciences Funding — Los Angeles County received $23.92 million from California's Jobs First Regional Investment Initiative to accelerate life sciences growth and create 10,000 high-quality jobs by 2030.
Wildfire Prevention Project Launched — Los Angeles and Ventura County fire departments launched a $3.2 million wildfire prevention initiative in the Santa Monica Mountains, deploying hand crews and 500 goats to clear 674.6 acres.
Major Latinx Photography Exhibition Opened — "Concrete Hope (Esperanza Concreta)" opened at Santa Monica College's Barrett Art Gallery, featuring 38 emerging Latinx artists from Southern California as centerpiece of FotoSoCal.
Emergency Rent Relief Approved — LA County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved nearly $30 million in emergency rent relief for wildfire survivors and immigrant families. The program provided up to $15,000 covering six months.
Santa Monica Man Arrested for Doxxing — A 68-year-old Santa Monica man faced federal charges for allegedly posting an ICE attorney's home address online and directing others to "swat" her residence. He faced up to five years.
Parks Expansion Vision Proposed — Santa Monica proposed adding 134-165 acres of parkland to its current 144-acre system, potentially more than doubling available space to address shortfalls below county and national standards.
Clean Air Vehicle Parking Program Ended — Santa Monica's 23-year-old free parking program for clean air vehicles expired September 30, aligning with federal program termination. Zero-emission vehicles increased from 1,003 to 6,495 since 2015.
Wilshire Boulevard Development Displaced Businesses — Multiple businesses on the 2500 block of Wilshire Boulevard closed by October's end to make way for Cypress Equity Investments' eight-story, 170-unit apartment complex with ground-floor retail.
Airport Closure Timeline Reaffirmed — Santa Monica reaffirmed its commitment to close the airport by December 31, 2028, while evaluating JSX's commercial permit application. The Airport Commission recommended delaying approval pending additional study.
Malibu Challenged Power Shutoff Disparities — Malibu officials demanded changes to Southern California Edison's public safety power shutoffs after experiencing outages three times more frequently than other SCE cities in 2024, lasting 30 times longer.