SANTA MONICA—On Monday, March 23, the Santa Monica City Council will consider a comprehensive update to the City’s Realignment Plan at its meeting on Tuesday, March 24.

The update reports on significant progress achieved since the plan was adopted in October 2025 and recommends a series of new investments and policy actions designed to transition the city from organizational stabilization toward economic revitalization.

Since the Realignment Plan was adopted six months ago, Santa has delivered measurable results across its five strategic priorities.

-Part I crime has declined 12.5 percent.

-The Santa Monica Police Department has achieved full sworn staffing for the first time in over 20 years.

-The City Attorney’s Criminal Unit is now filing on approximately 88 percent of all legally fileable cases, up from 65-70 percent previously.

-Building plan check turnaround has improved to 92.5 percent on-time for first-round reviews—an improvement of more than 40 percentage points in just four months.

-And all public library branches are open for the first time since 2020.

The City’s General Fund is now projected to achieve a structurally balanced budget by the end of FY 2026-27—a full year ahead of the original plan—driven by approximately $28.8 million in new programmatic revenues secured over the past several months.

“The Realignment Plan is working. Crime is down, libraries are open, and for the first time in years Santa Monica’s finances are on solid ground,” said Mayor Caroline Torosis. “Now we’re going further—welcoming new businesses by making it as easy as possible to open and operate here and building a real path out of homelessness that the city controls end to end. This is Santa Monica’s Renaissance. And we’re just getting started.”

The Realignment Plan Update includes 22 recommended actions organized around four themes.

1. Organizational Adjustments to embed enhanced service levels as the City’s permanent operating standard. Key efforts on this front include:

-A comprehensive Public Works Department reorganization that expands enhanced maintenance (including pressure washing, sidewalk cleaning, and landscaping) to commercial corridors citywide, including Montana Avenue, Main Street, Pico Boulevard, and Ocean Park Boulevard.
-Additional investments include Police Department operational enhancements, staffing to launch the rent registry program, and positions to support Citywide training and employee engagement.

2. New Economic Development Strategies to catalyze private sector reinvestment. Key initiatives being recommended include:

-Establishment of a $3 million Economic Development Fund.
-Waiver of wastewater fees for new restaurants and restaurant expansions.
-A new Retail to Restaurant Activation Program.
-Elimination of fees for simple tables-and-chairs sidewalk dining.
-Expansion of the Entertainment Zone to the full Downtown core, the Pier, Main Street, and Montana Avenue.
-Modernization of the City’s Transportation Demand Management program.
-Modified Downtown parking rates with new validation programs for fitness businesses and schools.
-A temporary waiver of film permit fees.

Major event programming investments tied to the FIFA World Cup, the Goldenvoice music festival, and the 2028 Olympics.

3. New Public Safety Policies to enhance public safety. Key programs to be discussed include:

-Authorization for a Memorandum of Understanding with Metro to enable SMPD enforcement on train platforms within the city.
-An overview and update on vehicle habitation and vanlording regulations.

4. New Housing and Homeless Response Strategies to study for implementation locally. Key elements of these program areas include:

-Launch of community outreach for a proposed housing-first system of care that would transition the city from managing homelessness impacts to managing housing outcomes.
-Direction to study the creation of a city-aligned nonprofit housing development entity to expand affordable and mixed-income housing production.

All recommended investments are fully funded within the city’s updated fiscal framework, which is projected to maintain a structurally balanced General Fund through FY 2029-30.

The Santa Monica City Council meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall and can also be viewed live on YouTube.

 

By Danny Jones

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On Monday, March 23, the city of West Hollywood announced that they will host a community blood drive in partnership with UCLA Health, a nationally recognized leader in healthcare and medical innovation.

The community blood drive will take place on Friday, April 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Doheny Room at the West Hollywood Park Aquatic & Recreation Center, located at 8750 El Tovar Place, adjacent to West Hollywood Library. Advance registration is strongly encouraged. Community members may reserve an appointment by visiting the UCLA Blood & Platelet Center blood donor website.

Each year, the UCLA Blood & Platelet Center collects approximately 60,000 blood and platelet donations, supplying roughly 75 percent of the transfused blood used across its hospital system. These donations play a critical role in ensuring that patients receive life-saving care without delay or cancellation, supporting a wide range of medical services.

Since opening in 1975, the UCLA Blood & Platelet Center has served as a vital part of the region’s healthcare delivery system, collecting, processing, and distributing blood products for Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, and Santa Monica UCLA Hospital.

For more details about this event contact Jennifer Del Toro, West Hollywood Community Affairs Supervisor, at jdeltoro@weho.org or at (323) 848-6549. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing dial 711 or 1-800-735-2929 (TTY) or 1-800-735-2922 (voice) for California Relay Service (CRS) assistance.

 

By Danny Jones

BEVERLY HILLS—On the morning of Sunday, March 21, the officers from the Los Angeles Police Department responded to reports of a gun being fired within a home that is located near Beverly Hills.

When the officers arrived at the home, located near the corner of 3rd Street and La Peer Drive, it was in the shopping district of Beverly Grove.

According to KTLA, when officers from the LAPD arrived at the house, they found a woman who had been shot as a result of a domestic dispute.  She was taken to a hospital where she later died.

In addition, the LAPD found a dead dog when they arrived at the property. According to reports a suspect has been arrested, but details about the suspect has not been disclosed to the public.

The Los Angeles Police Department has declared the shooting a homicide and the investigation is ongoing.

 

By Daniel Diquinzio

BEVERLY HILLS—On Sunday, March 22, at approximately 8:30 a.m., the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a call of shots fired in the Beverly Grove neighborhood on La Peer Drive and Third Street. According to reports, officers arriving at the scene discovered a woman approximately 40 years of age suffering from a gunshot wound. Paramedics with the Los Angeles Fire Department transported the patient to an area hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. Upon further investigation, police found the woman’s dog, shot dead also. The name of the victim has not been released to the public. According to reports, a suspect described as a 30-year-old male was taken into custody. Police were still investigating the scene. Witness reports indicate that at 2 p.m., officers were seen searching a black Lamborghini parked in the driveway. This case remains under investigation. Anyone with more information should contact the LAPD.   By Sharon

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On Friday, March 20, the city of West Hollywood is partnering with regional agencies to improve bus speed, reliability, and rider experience ahead of the LA28 Olympics, and is asking for community feedback.

Share ideas at a Westside Bus Connections Community Workshop on Wednesday, March 25 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the West Hollywood Aquatics & Recreation Center and on Saturday, March 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Culver City Senior Center.

Workshops will cover the same information. Spanish interpretation + light refreshments provided.

The project will explore improvements like bus lanes, signal upgrades, and safety enhancements along key corridors, including Santa Monica Boulevard, Sepulveda Boulevard, and La Cienega/Jefferson. To learn more visit: www.weho.org/calendar.

 

By Danny Jones

WEST HOLLYWOOD—The city of West Hollywood announced on its Facebook page on March 21 that the Holloway Interim Housing Program provides safe housing and supportive services for community members experiencing homelessness, and you can help make a difference.

The drop-off event donation will take place on Friday, March 27 from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at West Hollywood City Hall Community Plaza.

Items being collected brand new include:

-Hygiene products
-Clothing (socks, underwear, T-shirts, hoodies)
-Linens & bedding
-Individually packaged snacks & drinks
-Phone chargers & basic essentials

The Holloway Interim Housing Program is the result of years of planning under the city of West Hollywood’s Five-Year Plan to Address Homelessness, adopted in 2018 with input from community members, stakeholders, and the West Hollywood City Council. A top priority of the plan was to create supportive service space within city boundaries, including interim housing.

In 2022, West Hollywood received a State of California Homekey grant, which enabled the purchase and conversion of the Holloway Motel into an interim housing and supportive services site. The West Hollywood City Council approved the property purchase using the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund and directed staff to begin rehabilitation of the site. Community listening sessions held that year further shaped the program’s design.

To learn more or get involved visit: weho.org/Holloway. For more information or to inquire about available services contact Ascencia at holloway@ascenciaca.org or call (310) 424-5979.

 

By Danny Jones

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills is inviting the public to attend the installation ceremony of new Mayor, Craig A. Corman and Vice Mayor, Mary N. Wells on Tuesday, April 14.

Councilmembers John A. Mirisch, Lester J. Friedman and Sharona R. Nazarian will be in attendance. The ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. at Beverly Hills High School at the L. L. Peters Auditorium located at 241 S. Moreno Drive. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

There will be complimentary parking at BHHS. Enter at the security gate at Durant/Moreno and check with security for directions.

 

By Danny Jones

SANTA MONICA—On Saturday, March 21, the Santa Monica Fire Department announced that Roger, the department’s first Peer Support K-9 officer, has retired and has since died.

As a Peer Support K-9 officer, Roger’s job was to provide emotional support to members of the Santa Monica Police Department.

Per the statement that was released by the Santa Monica Fire Department on its website, the department decided to retire Roger, as it had been determined that his spinal column was being attacked by an aggressive cancer.

Members of the Santa Monica Fire Department paid their respects to Roger, and he was euthanized by the Santa Monica Police Department to end his suffering on March 20.

The Santa Monica Police Department decided to honor Roger’s service by establishing the Roger Peer Support Memorial Fund, which provides financial support to future Peer Support K-9 officers.

 

By Daniel Diquinzio

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On March 19, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department West Hollywood Station announced it will be conducting a traffic safety operation next week.

According to the post on the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station page, the operation will occur on Monday, March 23, starting at 4 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. The operation is intended to protect bicyclists and pedestrians.

Deputies conducting this operation will stop West Hollywood drivers who fail to stop or yield at stop signs or stoplights, make illegal turns, speed, or failing to stop for pedestrians or bicyclists.

 

By Daniel Diquinzio

BEVERLY HILLS—On Wednesday, March 18, the Beverly Hills Police Department informed Canyon News via email that they are alerting residents and business owners to a serious financial scam involving IRS tax payment checks that are stolen from the mail and fraudulently altered.

The BHPD has identified multiple incidents impacting Beverly Hills residents and businesses, consistent with similar cases reported throughout the United States, in which large IRS tax payments, often ranging from $100,000 to $500,000, were mailed through the United States Postal Service (USPS) but never reached the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In these instances, the IRS payment checks were intercepted from the mail, altered, and deposited into the suspect’s bank account.

Victims often do not discover the crime until several months later, when they receive notice from the IRS that their tax payment was never received. By that time, the altered check has already cleared, the funds have been withdrawn in cash, and the suspect account has been closed.

Due to delays in discovery, bank surveillance footage and other investigative leads are often no longer available, making the prosecution of these crimes unlikely. It is vital to understand that once these funds are withdrawn, the loss is usually permanent. If you fall victim to this scam, law enforcement and financial institutions are typically unable to recover the stolen funds.

The BHPD strongly encourages residents and businesses to submit IRS tax payments electronically whenever possible by visiting the official IRS website at irs.gov. Electronic payment is the most secure way to ensure tax payments are received by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

If a physical check must be mailed, residents should regularly review their bank statements and examine the deposited check image in their banking portal to confirm it was processed by the intended recipient, the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Reviewing the cleared check image in a timely manner may be the only opportunity to detect suspicious activity before funds are withdrawn.

The BHPD is asking residents and businesses to take immediate precautions and report any suspected mail theft or check fraud. Police reports can be filed with BHPD at the station or by calling the non-emergency line at 310-550-4951 to request an officer to respond to you.

For concerns related to mail theft within the postal system, reports may also be submitted to the USPS Office of Inspector General at hotlineform.uspsoig.gov.

 

By Danny Jones