Four Santa Monica City Council seats up for grabs
The Santa Monica city council election takes place Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. With four out of the seven city council seats up for reelection, a change in Santa Monica’s leadership is possible.
For 40 years, Santa Monicans for Renters Right (SMRR) dominated local elections. While the slate is most recognized for its unwavering support of rent control, the renters’ rights organization holds democratic socialist values. In 2020, in reaction to poor responses to homelessness, rising residential crime and overspending, residents voted out the far left slate. Incumbents Anna Maria Jara, Terry O’Day and Ted Winterer were replaced by Phil Brock, Oscar de la Torre and Christine Parra. Brock, Parra and de la Torre ran under the Change Slate, a new political group with an emphasis on law and order and an ideology closer to the American Democratic Party.
SMRR: the renters’ rights organization pulling the ropes
Santa Monicans For Renters’ Rights (SMRR) has doubled as a renters’ rights organization and the leading voting slate in Santa Monica for the past 40 years.
What’s going on around Samo?
Santa Monica Fire Department welcomes new chief, 2024 Club Row introduces new clubs to Samo, Samo brothers make scientific strides, PBL holds their student government elections, and Waymo: Is the future in safer "hands?"
Samo teachers begin to crack down on phones
Students may have noticed that more of their Samo teachers have implemented cell phone pockets in their classrooms this school year. This practice is one way that teachers can uphold the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s (SMMUSD) electronics policy that students may only use their devices for academic purposes during class.
Smmusd and Malibu finalize school separation agreement
On Sept. 12, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) and the City of Malibu announced they would finally separate, allowing Malibu to become an independent district. The current separation package is ready for public review.