The city said the swells from Hurricane Marie stripped away too much sand to safely hold the beach festival.

A 550-foot-long mural by Daniel Alonzo extends from 3rd to 5th Street along Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica. Known as "Whale of a Mural," this vibrant artwork depicts Pacific gray whales and pilot whales, accompanied by bottlenose dolphins, Pacific white-sided dolphins, and common dolphins, all swimming together in harmony.

Located at Ocean Park Boulevard and 4th Street, the mural has democratized art by bringing it into public space, standing as a symbol of resilience, creativity, and communal spirit. It is a cherished feature of Santa Monica, a testament to the city’s rich artistic history and its community’s passion for environmental conservation. Its depiction of marine life native to Santa Monica Bay has inspired countless residents and visitors alike.

Unfortunately, over the years, this iconic mural has suffered from neglect and exposure to the elements, leaving it in dire need of restoration. Its gradual deterioration has been heartbreaking for the community. Beyond its artistic beauty, it serves as a continuous reminder of our responsibility to protect both our natural environment and the art that celebrates it.

To ensure future generations can experience its beauty, we urge the City of Santa Monica to allocate funding and resources to restore Whale of a Mural to its original glory.

Restoration efforts would require collaboration with the original artist, Daniel Alonzo, his assistants, conservation experts, and the City Council to ensure an accurate, respectful, and long-lasting refurbishment of this treasured landmark.

Recognizing the mural as a historical landmark would further highlight its significance and facilitate future maintenance, ensuring it receives the care it deserves. Such designation would protect the mural from potential threats, including urban development or changes in city ordinances that could otherwise jeopardize its existence.

Help us breathe new life into Whale of a Mural and secure its place in Santa Monica’s cultural landscape for years to come. Sign the petition calling on the City of Santa Monica to act now to preserve this irreplaceable masterpiece for the benefit of our community, the greater Los Angeles area, and the many who visit our beautiful city.

Let’s unite to honor our past, celebrate this artist’s achievements, and protect our environment. Your signature will make a difference.

Click Here for more info.

Bernhard Eugen Fritsch, 65, the founder and CEO of a Santa Monica-based tech company called StarClub Inc., was charged federally in Los Angeles in August 2017 for defrauding investors out of more than $20 million between 2014 and 2017 by lying to them about his company’s financial performance. Fritsch convinced victims to invest in his company’s application, known as StarSite, technology he claimed could help celebrities and social media influencers monetize their brand endorsements. He also claimed the app would deliver advertising content and share ad revenue with the celebrity poster.

While pitching to investors, Fritsch made several false and fraudulent claims, including that StarClub was on the verge of entering into commercial deals with or obtaining investments and buyout offers from major media companies, such as Disney; or that StarClub had earned $15 million in revenue in 2015; and that StarClub’s current investors included major media companies and a global investment banking firm. 

Rather than using investor money to build out StarClub’s technology, Fritsch used much of investors’ money to enrich himself and support his luxurious lifestyle, including by purchasing luxury cars such as a McLaren and a Rolls-Royce, by upgrading his yacht, and by renovating his Malibu mansion, located near Carbon Beach. The FBI seized the yacht, McLaren, and the Rolls-Royce.

One victim invested more than $20 million in StarClub over the course of two years, based on Fritsch’s false statements. This victim also introduced Fritsch to other victims who invested millions of additional funds in the company. Prosecutors estimate that Fritsch caused at least approximately $26.8 million in victim losses due to his scheme.

"Southern California is a target-rich environment for fraudsters—among them Bernhard Fritsch, who was convicted of ripping off investors of millions and fleeing the United States prior to his sentencing," said Patrick Grandy, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. "Regardless of how long it takes for Mr. Fritsch to serve his sentence, the FBI will unrelentingly seek his whereabouts and is offering a significant reward of up to $150,000 in exchange for information leading to his apprehension and conviction." 

Fritsch was found guilty by a jury in Los Angeles in April 2025. While awaiting sentencing, he fled to Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico in June 2025, prior to a bond revocation hearing. A federal arrest warrant was issued for Fritsch in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles after he failed to appear for a post-conviction bond revocation hearing.

“Placing Fritsch on the Most Wanted Fraudsters list reflects our commitment to pursue those who attempt to outrun the law. Fleeing the United States will not shield him from justice,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “We will find him and he will answer for his conduct in a court of law.”

In September of 2025, Mexican law enforcement detained Fritsch, who was found with false identification, in violation of Mexico’s immigration laws. He was released from immigration custody and ordered to check in with the immigration court in Mexico every two weeks; instead, however, Fritsch fled to Munich, Germany, on October 6, 2025.

On October 20, 2025, Fritsch was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in federal prison, fined $35,000, and was later ordered to pay $26,806,901 in restitution.

In June 2026, Fritsch’s girlfriend, Lucinda Jane Weist Manera, 63, of Malibu, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact for helping Fritsch hide from the FBI, hide in Mexico, and then flee to his native Germany to avoid incarceration.

The Most Wanted Fraudsters list was created and launched in June 2026 to generate public interest and assistance with information leading to the location and apprehension of fraud fugitives. A large reward of up to $150,000 is being offered in exchange for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of a member on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters list.

Since the inception of the list of the Most Wanted Fraudsters list, 15 fugitives have been added, to include the ones being announced today. Four fugitives have since been captured and, currently, there are 12 fugitives on the list.

Santa Monica Police are investigating a report of shots fired at approximately 6 p.m. on September 4, 2026, in the 000 block of Bay Street. Preliminary information indicates the incident followed an argument between two individuals. No injuries were reported, and there is no indication of an ongoing threat to the community. The investigation remains active.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact SMPD at 310-458-8491.

On the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, the Santa Monica Fire Department invites the community to come together to remember the lives lost, honor the courage and sacrifice of first responders, and reflect on the resilience and strength of communities in the face of tragedy.

Each year, the Santa Monica Fire Department holds a Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony as part of the National Day of Service and Remembrance. This year, as the nation marks 25 years since the attacks of Sept. 11, the ceremony offers an especially meaningful opportunity to pause and remember those who lost their lives, including the 343 firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice while responding to the World Trade Center.

The Fire Department will host this year’s community remembrance ceremony at Fire Station 1, bringing together firefighters, city officials, community members and local public safety partners for a morning of reflection and remembrance.

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 11
TIME: 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
WHERE: Fire Station 1, 1337 7th St.

Community members are warmly invited to attend and stand in solidarity with Santa Monica’s firefighters and public safety community as we mark this significant anniversary. The ceremony will include moments of reflection and remembrance honoring the lives lost on Sept. 11 and recognizing the courage and selflessness of first responders who answered the call that day.

Fire Station 1 is also home to a steel artifact recovered from the World Trade Center site, which is on permanent display outside the Fire Department’s community room. The artifact serves as a tangible reminder of Sept. 11 and the lives, service, and sacrifice remembered on this anniversary. It is available for public viewing during normal business hours.

Twenty-five years later, the Santa Monica Fire Department continues to honor the legacy of Sept. 11 by remembering those who were lost, recognizing those who served, and reaffirming the importance of community, service, and resilience.

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here

The beach bike path in Santa Monica will be shut down and re-routed for almost 2 weeks for the 4 day Ocean Way Festival.

On August 23, 2026, at approximately 7:49 p.m., Santa Monica Police Department officers responded to a reported shooting near the Pier ramp.

The preliminary investigation indicates that a male victim in his 20s was approached by a group of individuals and an altercation occurred during an attempted robbery. During the altercation, one individual fired a weapon, striking the victim in the leg.

Officers provided emergency medical aid, and the victim was transported to a local hospital with injuries believed to be non-life-threatening.

A juvenile suspect was taken into custody later that evening in connection with the incident. Investigators are working to determine the juvenile’s role in the attempted robbery and shooting. Detectives continue working to identify and locate the remaining individuals involved.

This remains an active investigation

Santa Monica Police Department officers responded to Palisades Park near the 1400 block of Ocean Avenue regarding a reported domestic violence incident. While officers were interviewing witnesses, an unrelated individual armed with a knife charged at the officers. An officer discharged their firearm, striking the individual.

Santa Monica Fire Department personnel provided emergency medical care, and the individual was transported to a hospital, where they were pronounced deceased. The involved officer was not injured.

The scene remains active as investigators preserve evidence and conduct the preliminary investigation. The public is asked to avoid the area. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Pico Youth & Family Center (PYFC) presents the 6th Annual Santa Monica Classic Car Show on the Santa Monica Pier. Lowride for a Cause!

Saturday, August 29th from 10am to 4pm.

Lowride for a Cause. All proceeds will benefit youth services and after-school programming for underserved youth in Santa Monica and Los Angeles County.

Last year, more than 5,000 people attended this family-friendly event. The event is free for all spectators and guests on foot. This year, over 200 classic cars of various makes and models, some dating back to 1930’s will be on display.

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here

On August 14, 2026, the Santa Monica Police Department will conduct a driving under the influence (DUI) Checkpoint from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at an undisclosed location.

DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes. The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints is to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road.

Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk. Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improve traffic safety.

SMPD reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.

Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Los Angeles County Lifeguards had the privilege of being recognized by Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath for the tremendous commitment, courage, and teamwork demonstrated by our personnel during an exceptionally busy stretch from July 24–28.



During that time, Los Angeles County Lifeguards performed nearly 2,000 ocean rescues along the Los Angeles County coastline, demonstrating the skill, professionalism, and dedication required when our beaches and ocean conditions are at their busiest.
Photos: Doug Morrison, LACoFD Photographer

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here

Below is the text of Mayor Caroline Torosis' State of the City Address, given on July 23, 2026.

STATE OF THE CITY - A City that Works, Belongs and Welcomes

Good evening, Santa Monica.

A few days ago, thousands of us gathered on Ocean Avenue for COAST.

Tonight, we are here together on Main Street.

Look around.

Neighbors are meeting neighbors. Local businesses are connecting with new customers. City employees are helping residents face-to-face. Children are playing in the middle of a street that normally belongs to cars.

This is more than the setting for tonight’s speech.

It is a glimpse of what is possible when we bring people together and make government feel closer to the community.

Before I say anything about the state of our city, I want to thank my colleagues on the City Council: Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Zwick and Councilmembers Dan Hall, Ellis Raskin, Barry Snell, Lana Negrete, and Natalya Zernitskaya.

Thank you to our City Manager, Oliver Chi, and to our entire City team.

As mayor, I have tried to recognize the people whose work usually happens outside the spotlight.

Like traffic Services Officer Jeffrey Pinkerton and Officer Reagan Mena, who jumped into action and saved a choking child.

Like code enforcement supervisor Maurice Cochee (co-shay) and officer Benson Reed, who make sure vacant properties are maintained and buildings are safe.

Like Luis Acosta and other Virginia Avenue Park staff who help families find food and housing.

And Guest Services Assistants Olivia Frost and Nathaly Orozco, who run our amazing classes and camps.

Or Acting Downtown Maintenance Division Manager Jay Aguilar, who has spent more than three decades making sure our community’s public spaces are clean and sparkling.

There are so many more amazing people serving us every day.

In fact, there are City employees working throughout Main Street tonight.

If you are a City employee and you can hear me, please raise your hand.

Let’s thank them.

Council sets a direction, but these are the people who turn it into something residents can see, use, and feel.

Tonight, I do not want to give you a list of everything City Hall did this year.

We have a Scorecard for that.

I want to answer a more important question:

What kind of city are we becoming?

To the south of us is the Ocean Park Branch Library, one of the last Carnegie libraries in California still doing the job it was built to do.

We are here on purpose.

A public library is a promise that knowledge, imagination, help, and a place to belong should not depend on what you earn.

You walk through the door, and everything inside is already yours.

For five years, we could not fully staff this branch. Our library team kept window service operating.

But a window is not a library. It cannot lead story time, help someone write a resume, or help a student find the book that changes her life.

In January, librarians returned to this building. This month, Ocean Park expanded to four full-service days, and all five branches are now open for full service for the first time since the pandemic.

If you want the state of our city in one sentence, it is this:

We are turning the lights back on.

But tonight, I want to go further.

Turning the lights back on is recovery.

What we do with the light is our renaissance.

A year ago, Santa Monica was still fighting its way out of a historic crisis.

The pandemic hollowed out downtown, depleted reserves, and forced painful service cuts. Then came the fires.

Within hours, Santa Monica opened its doors to neighbors whose homes had turned to ash. Many are still not home and the recovery is ongoing - and I want to acknowledge that.

But we learned something about ourselves.

This city is strongest when we decide to face a hard problem together.

So we faced the ultimate question, as a council:

Were we going to manage decline, or create a path forward?

We chose a path forward.

We hired a new City Manager, and last October, this Council unanimously adopted the Realignment Plan.

The name may be bureaucratic. The work is not.

The plan put deadlines and resources behind cleaner streets, public safety, restored services, faster permitting, and support for local businesses, and required us to measure the results.

That is why we launched the Santa Monica Scorecard. You can pull it up now at santamonica.gov.

Government is very good at announcing a new initiative. The Scorecard asks the harder question:

Did it work?

Here is what the Scorecard is showing us.

Two years ago, a business could pay rent on an empty storefront for weeks while waiting for its first plan check.

Today, more than nine out of ten first-round plan checks are completed on time.

That is a forty-point improvement in four months.

For a small business owner, that can be the difference between opening in March and opening in July.

Sometimes, it is the difference between opening and not opening at all.

Our crews hauled away five hundred and two tons of debris in the past six months, more than ninety seven percent above the same period last year.

I don’t know what 502 tons looks like, but I can tell you it’s not still on our street.

Our Police Department reached full sworn staffing for the first time in more than twenty years, serious crime is down twelve and a half percent, and the Big Blue Bus carried ten million riders for the second year in a row.

And our General Fund is structurally balanced for the coming fiscal year, ahead of schedule.

That may not be the most dramatic accomplishment of the year. It may be the one that makes everything else possible.

A balanced budget is the difference between making promises and keeping them.

It is why we can invest nearly one hundred ten million dollars in parks, streets, libraries, public safety, transportation, and public spaces.

It is why we are moving forward with Memorial Park, replacing the Airport Park field, improving Virginia Avenue Park, restoring the Camera Obscura, renewing the Main Library, and repairing infrastructure throughout the city.

These numbers matter.

But the numbers are not the vision.

They are proof that we are once again capable of delivering one.

The vision is a Santa Monica renaissance.

Over the next year, judge us by three things:

Does this city work?

Can people still belong here?

And are we using this extraordinary moment to create something that lasts?

First, Santa Monica must work.

If our renaissance is real, you should not need a speech from me to know it.

You should feel it in a clean park, a repaired sidewalk, a safer walk home, and an answer when you call City Hall.

A business owner should get a timely answer. A parent should know our public spaces are cared for. When something is not working, City Hall should say so and fix it.

Clean and safe are not convenient slogans.

They are basic promises.

Second, people must be able to belong here.

Because a comeback only some people can feel is not a comeback.

It is a paint job.

Nearly seventy percent of Santa Monicans are renters. Renter stability is not a side issue. It is fundamental to the stability of our entire city.

Our renters should be able to put down roots and age in place here.

They should not lose their homes because of one missed paycheck, a medical bill, or an eviction proceeding they must face alone.

That is why we launched Right to Counsel, so tenants facing eviction do not have to stand alone.

And this week, we launched Santa Monica Renter Aid, six million dollars to reach families before one difficult month becomes an eviction.

Residents can walk to our Housing and Human Services booth tonight and learn how to apply. That is government showing up.

This year, we approved nearly eighteen hundred new homes, including more than four hundred fifty permanently affordable homes.

Affordability is not an abstract argument.

It is whether a teacher can live near her school, a hotel worker can raise a family here, a senior can remain near friends and doctors, and a young person can imagine a life here.

And belonging also means refusing to give up on people.

Through SaMo Bridge, more than four hundred sixty people were offered services, treatment, and housing instead of a path deeper into the criminal legal system. More than eight in ten accepted help.

We also created Santa Monica’s first Restorative Justice Commission and committed three and a half million dollars to address harms tied to the displacement of families from the Belmar Triangle and Pico neighborhood.

Residents with lived experience will lead that work, because we need to center those we have harmed to create meaningful repair.

I want to acknowledge the work ahead. People are still sleeping on our streets tonight. Property crime remains too high. Small businesses are still fighting to stay open.

Those problems are not solved. But we are no longer looking away from them or treating them as inevitable.

A city only works if the people who built their lives here can remain here.

That means protecting renters from eviction, helping families through a financial crisis, creating more affordable homes, and making sure every resident can access the services and public spaces that allow them to thrive.

Third, we must use this moment to create something that lasts.

You can feel new energy in Santa Monica.

You can see the recovery in the choices people are making.

Residents are choosing to stay. Entrepreneurs are opening businesses on blocks that had gone dark. A James Beard honored chef opened Seline. Raising Cane’s created a hundred jobs in our City. The first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pizzeria opened on Third Street.

These are not just new storefronts. They are signs that people believe in Santa Monica again.

Our business districts, Chamber of Commerce, Santa Monica Travel & Tourism, local businesses, and workers are all part of this recovery.

And the world is coming.

The World Cup brought thousands together throughout our downtown. This September, the Ocean Way Music Festival comes to our beach. On New Year’s Day, our float travels down Colorado Boulevard. Weeks later, ESPN broadcasts live from Santa Monica during Super Bowl week.

And in 2028, the Olympic and Paralympic Games will bring the world to our front yard.

For eight and a half square miles, this is an extraordinary opportunity.

But a city can host the world and leave its residents with nothing but road closures, traffic, and a cleanup bill.

We are determined to leave something more.

Every major event must produce a resident dividend: jobs, free public experiences, safer streets, better transit, and improvements that remain after the cameras are gone.

The events are not the prize.

The city we create because of them is the prize.

Our renaissance is what remains after the world leaves.

And we have another once-in-a-generation opportunity ahead of us.

At the end of 2028, the airport will close, and one hundred ninety-two acres will begin a new chapter.

This is a decision about what we want to leave behind.

Can we create a great public park where a child growing up in an apartment has room to run?

Can we create fields, trails, gathering spaces, and natural areas that bring neighborhoods together, restore habitat, and prepare for a changing climate?

We are not starting with a finished answer.

We are starting with a public promise.

This land will return to Santa Monica, and Santa Monicans are helping to shape what it becomes.

That is the future I want us to create.

A city that works.

A city where people belong.

A city that turns moments of enormous opportunity into something lasting.

And that brings me to the last thing I want to share tonight.

On New Year’s morning, for the first time in decades, a Santa Monica float will roll down Colorado Boulevard in the Tournament of Roses Parade.

Every visible inch of a Rose Parade float must be covered in something that was once alive: flowers, seeds, bark, leaves. Nothing artificial is permitted. The Rose Parade takes that rule very seriously.

It is attached by hand, one bloom at a time, in a cold warehouse in late December, by hundreds of people who mostly have never met.

So in December, we are going to run buses from Santa Monica to Pasadena.

I want you on one.

Not just to watch our float being created.

To help create it.

The theme of this year’s parade, which we did not choose but could not have chosen better, is one word: Welcome.

I have to tell you why that word stayed with me the way it did.

Every New Year’s Day of my childhood, my family watched the Rose Parade.

And every year, my mother told me the same story.

Growing up in Montreal, in the dead of a Canadian winter, she would turn on the television and see roses and sunshine.

In January.

She would sit there in the cold and imagine a life in California.

She was not from here.

That was the whole point.

She saw a place that looked like it would welcome her.

On New Year’s morning, my mom will watch that parade the way she has her entire life.

And this time, the float coming around the corner will be ours.

Welcome is not just a parade theme.

It is a governing principle.

A city that welcomes investment and imagination.

A city affordable enough for families to stay.

A city compassionate enough to welcome someone back after a difficult chapter.

A city confident enough to welcome the world without forgetting those already here.

It is the family facing an impossible rent increase that receives help to stay.

It is the business owner taking a chance on a storefront.

And it is a girl walking into the library across the street tomorrow, finding a librarian who knows her name and a book she did not know she was looking for, and understanding that there is no limit on what she is allowed to imagine.

That is the city we are choosing to be.

A city that works.

A city where people belong.

A city ready to welcome the future.

And now, it is time to see how Santa Monica will say welcome to the country with our Rose Parade float design.

This float will be uniquely ours because Santa Monicans helped create it, one living piece at a time.

And when it turns the corner on New Year’s morning, I want every Santa Monican watching to point at the screen and say:

I put that rose right there on the float

Because this city belongs to all of us.

Its recovery belongs to all of us.

And its future belongs to all of us.

Thank you, Santa Monica.

Venice Healer Daisy is officialy running for Santa Monica City Council. A Santa Monica that builds systems rooted in care: meeting basic needs with dignity, strengthening community bonds, protecting our environment, and ensuring no person or neighborhood is left behind.

"I've lived the survival stress of homelessness and the long path of recovery. I've learned firsthand what it means when systems are built on scarcity instead of care—how loneliness multiplies suffering, how shame replaces dignity. But I've also experienced the healing power of community, the resilience in human connection, and what becomes possible when people are met with compassion instead of judgment."

"I'm running because I want to build a Santa Monica where fewer people have to survive the way I did. Where everyone belongs. Where our systems are designed to meet needs, reduce suffering, and lift people up with their dignity intact. That's what a caring city looks like."

Click Here for more Stories about Venice Healer Daisy

On July 25, 2026, at approximately 5:21 p.m., the Santa Monica Police Department received a call regarding a woman in need of medical assistance inside an apartment in the 1900 block of Pico Boulevard.

Officers arrived and located an adult female with significant injuries. Santa Monica Fire Department personnel responded and attempted life-saving measures. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.

SMPD detectives and forensic personnel are investigating the incident as a homicide.

The victim’s identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The Santa Monica Police Department has taken a suspect into custody in connection with the homicide investigation.

There are no additional suspects being sought at this time. The investigation remains active and ongoing.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available

A 16-year-old male has been taken into custody in connection with the fatal shooting that occurred on July 20, 2026, in Parking Lot 1 North.

On July 20, 2026, at approximately 12:32 a.m., Santa Monica Police Department officers responded to a report of a possible shooting in Parking Lot 1 North, located at 1550 Pacific Coast Highway. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving efforts, the victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The preliminary investigation indicates that a physical altercation occurred between two groups prior to the shooting. During the investigation, SMPD detectives identified a 16-year-old male from Las Vegas as the suspect.

On the evening of July 21, 2026, the juvenile surrendered to Santa Monica Police Department detectives and was taken into custody in connection with the homicide investigation. Due to the suspect’s age, no additional identifying information will be released.

“Violence of any kind has no place in our community,” said Santa Monica Police Chief Darrick Jacob. “While nothing can replace the life that was lost, the swift and focused work of our detectives resulted in the suspect being safely taken into custody. This is an important step, but our work is not finished. Our beachfront is one of Santa Monica’s most heavily visited public spaces, and we remain committed to keeping it safe for residents, visitors, businesses, and everyone who comes to enjoy our community.”

This remains an active and ongoing investigation. Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact the Santa Monica Police Department at 310-458-8491.

The City of Santa Monica released this report:

The number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Santa Monica fell 18.7 percent over the past year, according to 2026 Point-in-Time Count data released today by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, or LAHSA. At the same time, the number of people in shelter in Santa Monica rose nearly 10 percent.

Taken together, the count identified 718 people experiencing homelessness in Santa Monica — 94 fewer than the 812 counted in 2025, an overall decline of 11.6 percent, and the lowest total recorded since LAHSA began administering Santa Monica’s count in 2024.

The 2026 Santa Monica results include:

222 people in shelter – up 20 people, an increase of 9.9 percent 389 people counted outdoors, including at city beaches – down 86 people, a decrease of 18.1 percent 59 occupied vehicles (cars, vans and RVs) – down 25 vehicles, a decrease of 29.8 percent 48 tents and makeshift shelters – down three

The steepest single decline was in people living in vans, which fell from 52 to 34. Vehicle-based homelessness had been the primary driver of Santa Monica's increase in the 2025 count.

“Behind every one of these numbers is a person, and behind this progress is a community that refuses to treat homelessness as inevitable,” Mayor Caroline Torosis said. “This is what happens when a city stays committed to keeping people housed. We’re proud of this milestone, and we are not slowing down.”

These results arrive as homelessness rose across much of the region. LAHSA’s 2026 findings indicate an increase of approximately 1.2 percent across the Los Angeles Continuum of Care, and 3.4 percent in the City of Los Angeles, where unsheltered homelessness rose 7.9 percent.

Rip City Skates has been in the same little building on Santa Monica Boulevard since 1978 — and it looks like it, in the best possible way. In this one, I take you inside one of the longest-running skate shops in the world: the shop you've seen in the Bones Brigade Video Show, packed floor to ceiling with nearly five decades of skate history. And I stop by the Skateboarding Hall of Fame and Museum, where founder Todd Huber explains just how rare it is for a skate shop to be inducted.

The Santa Monica Police Department invites residents, families, businesses, and visitors to join us for National Night Out 2026, a free evening dedicated to strengthening neighborhood relationships, building trust, and celebrating the community we serve.

This year's event will be held on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Santa Monica City Hall, 1685 Main Street, and features the movie-inspired theme, "Lights. Camera. Community."

National Night Out is an annual nationwide campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. The event provides an opportunity for residents to meet the officers, professional staff, and community partners who work together every day to keep Santa Monica safe while learning more about the programs, services, and resources available throughout the city.

Guests can enjoy an evening of family-friendly activities, including:

• Police vehicle displays

• Interactive games and activities for children

• Meet-and-greets with officers and professional staff

• Community resource booths

• Food, entertainment, and giveaways

• Crime prevention and emergency preparedness information

• Opportunities to explore specialized police equipment and programs

Hosted at Santa Monica City Hall, National Night Out brings together residents from across the community for an evening of fun, conversation, and connection. Whether meeting an officer for the first time, exploring a police motorcycle or patrol vehicle, collecting officer autographs in a special kids' autograph book, or learning more about public safety programs, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

"Public safety begins with relationships," said Chief Darrick Jacob. "National Night Out is an opportunity to meet your officers, connect with your neighbors, and strengthen the partnerships that help make Santa Monica a safer and more resilient community. We look forward to welcoming everyone for an evening of conversation, learning, and fun."

Admission is free, and all ages are welcome. Free parking will be available in the Civic Parking Structure.

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here

The Santa Monica Police Department has arrested a suspect in connection with a July 3, 2026, road rage shooting following a coordinated regional investigation and vehicle pursuit.

On July 3, 2026, at approximately 8:25 p.m., Santa Monica Police Department officers responded to a reported road rage incident near 18th Street and Broadway. During the incident, the driver of a black sedan allegedly fired one round at the victim. During the incident, the driver of a black sedan allegedly fired one round at the victim, striking both the victim and the victim's vehicle. The victim sustained a non-life-threatening injury.

The suspect fled the area before officers arrived. Santa Monica Police Department investigators immediately began an extensive investigation to identify and locate the suspect.

On the morning of July 21, 2026, investigators developed information that the suspect was in the Chatsworth area. Santa Monica Police Department personnel responded and located the suspect. When officers attempted to contact the individual, the suspect fled in a vehicle, initiating a pursuit.

The California Highway Patrol assumed primary responsibility for the pursuit, with Santa Monica Police Department personnel continuing to assist. The pursuit concluded safely, and the suspect was taken into custody by CHP officers.

The suspect has been identified as Andranik Nadimyan, 33, of Montrose.

The investigation remains active as detectives continue processing evidence and coordinating with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office regarding the filing of charges.

The individual taken into custody is not connected to the fatal shooting that occurred on July 20, 2026, at Santa Monica Pier Parking Lot 1 North.

Additional information, including the charges filed, will be released when appropriate and consistent with the ongoing investigation.