Under California’s density bonus laws and recent state legislation, affordable housing projects already qualify for significant height bonuses. Combined with AB1740’s elimination of  Commission oversight, buildings far taller than current norms could be approved without the independent review that has shaped coastal development for five decades. 

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2026/02/the-battle-for-santa-monicas-coast-two-governments-two-visions-one-shoreline/

The six-week course explores "City operations, priorities and civic engagement opportunities" and will accept 25 "Santa Monica residents, college students, business owners, or community leaders."

The program "aims to build understanding, transparency and trust between Santa Monica residents and their local government," City officials said.

Applications for the program are due by March 16. 

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2026/February-2026/02_26_2026_City_Seeks_Applicants_for_Peoples_Academy.html

The poll of "civically minded" residents conducted on February 17 also found stiff opposition to a potential statewide “billionaire tax” and to relocating homeless facilities to the Pico and Sunset Park neighborhoods.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2026/February-2026/02_23_2026_Poll_Finds_Strong_Opposition_to_Airport_Housing.html

Zbur’s Assembly Bill 1740 would allow cities designated as ‘urban multimodal communities’ to bypass California Coastal Commission review for housing projects, transportation changes, and parking modifications. Under the bill, mixed-income housing developments in multifamily zones more than 300 feet from the beach could proceed without Commission oversight, provided they meet the lenient minimal affordability thresholds. 

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2026/02/sm-a-r-t-column-the-battle-for-santa-monicas-coast-two-governments-two-visions-one-shoreline/

No potential candidates are listed in the races for the College and Rent Control boards. No elections were held for those boards in 2024 becasuse no candidates challenged the incumbents.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2026/February-2026/02_19_2026_Election_Season_Kicks_Off.html

The plan, developed by the County's Chief Sustainability Office, focuses on three core strategies: cooling outdoor spaces through expanded tree canopy and shade infrastructure, improving heat-resilient indoor environments in housing and public buildings, and expanding public education about heat risks and safety measures.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/la-county-adopts-heat-action-plan-as-extreme-temperatures-kill-200-annually/

My point is this: Council just approved a new Parks and Recreation Vision Plan. We have good Memorial and Airport Park Expansion plans. But they are just plans. They don’t mean a thing until shovels hit the dirt. We plan, plan, plan, then wait, wait, wait. We keep pushing park projects further and farther down the road as costs keep rising. Why do parks here take twice as long, and twice the effort, and cost twice as much? Because all of us: Council members, the District, SMC, residents, and others, don’t work well enough together.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2026/02/sm-a-r-t-column-parks-plans-and-potential/

In a letter to the City Council, the group's Board said it had voted to forgo the City Neighborhood Grant "in order to be free to continue to act as an independent voice and forum for the residents of Santa Monica."

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2026/February-2026/02_10_2026_Neighborhood_Group_Pulls_Out_of_City_Grant_Program.html

A virtual public meeting on February 11 will gather community input on the proposal.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/national-park-service-to-hold-public-meeting-on-potential-la-coastal-park/

Residents can visit the online portal to book a 20-minute meeting with Mayor Torosis.

Read More: https://www.santamonica.gov/blog/meet-with-mayor-caroline-torosis