Tag: Caroline Torosis

SANTA MONICA—Santa Monica’s summer event, “State of the City 2026: From Realignment to Renaissance,” will take place Thursday, July 23, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Ocean Park Branch Library located along Main Street between Hollister Avenue and Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica.

This family-friendly event invites residents and visitors to support local businesses, explore the corridor, and even take part in fun activities and exhibits celebrating the city of Santa Monica’s accomplishments. There will even be special meet-and-greet opportunities with ESPN personality and NFL Network reporter Taylor Bisciotti to celebrate the launch of ESPN Beach next year.

ESPN Beach is scheduled to launch next year as the state-of-the-art multiplatform hub for Super Bowl coverage and will simultaneously serve as an immersive fan experience. ESPN Beach will be located at the Santa Monica Pier and Beach.

Goldenvoice, a division of AEG Presents and creator of Coachella, will offer a preview of Ocean Way Festival, a new music festival coming to Santa Monica this September.

Mayor of Santa Monica, Caroline Torosis, will deliver a speech during the event addressing its importance and attendees. Torosis explains the significance of “State of the City” being held on Main Street.

“Santa Monica is on stronger footing than we’ve been in years, and this year’s State of the City is about what we do with that. We’re holding it on Main Street, outside the newly reopened Ocean Park Branch Library, because the future of this city gets built in neighborhoods like this one. I’ll be sharing where we’re headed on housing, public safety, and a local economy that works for the people who live and work here,” said Torosis. 

The city of Santa Monica will also distribute a limited number of vouchers that are redeemable for one eligible purchase per person, excluding alcohol, at participating Main Street businesses while supplies last. 

The Main Street Entertainment Zone will allow adults 21 and older to purchase alcoholic beverages from participating businesses and consume them on sidewalks between Strand Avenue and Pier Avenue as well as in the closed section of Main Street. Wristbands are required, and outside alcohol is prohibited. 

Due to the event, Main Street will be closed from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. For more information on “State of the City,” including parking, transportation, and accessibility, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/state-of-the-city-2026-tickets-1991414932671

By Ryley Metten

SANTA MONICA—The city of Santa Monica posted on its website that on Tuesday, December 9 that Caroline Torosis will be sworn in as the next mayor of Santa Monica and Jesse Zwick will take the position of Mayor Pro Tem.

Torosis was elected to the Santa Monica City Council in 2022 and served as mayor pro tem for the past year. She previously served as commissioner on the Santa Monica Rent Control Board. She will take the helm from outgoing Mayor Lana Negrete, who has served in the position since 2024.

Born and raised in Santa Monica, Negrete owns Santa Monica Music Center. She previously served on the Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission.

During her tenure, Mayor Negrete served as part of the city’s response to the Palisades Fire, including recovery efforts focused on business support. She focused on involving young people in government and on educating community members about the city’s processes. She was appointed to the SM City Council in 2012 and was Mayor Pro Tem from 2022-2024, and will transition back to the role of councilmember.

Torosis is a UCLA alumna and is a government affairs attorney and workforce and economic development expert with a juris doctorate from Washington University. She has a full-time job as the Policy Director for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Mitchell. She is also a member of the County’s Women’s Leadership Council.

Zwick was elected in 2022. He grew up in Santa Monica, graduated from Harvard University, and worked as a journalist in Washington D.C. before returning home to write for film and television. He currently works as Southern California Director for the Housing Action Coalition.

Under council rules, the longest continuously serving councilmember will serve as mayor for a one-year term. If two or more councilmembers were elected in the same election, the councilmember receiving the higher number of votes shall be considered as having served longer for purposes of the rule.

A reception will be held in the City Hall lobby on December 9 from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. with light snacks and refreshments. The reception is free and open to the public.

 

By Danny Jones