In partnership with
NEXT OPA MEETING (Monday, Nov. 9): We are planning an in-depth discussion of the history and potential for the city to develop the Main St. parking lots for our November 9 meeting. Jing Yeo (Community Development Director for the City) will be there to discuss projects, permits, etc. See you there!
OPA is Looking for 2027 Board Nominations: November 6 is the deadline for 2027 OPA Board Nominations: Email [email protected] asap if you're interested in joining the board and want to learn more about it and/or want to nominate someone else.
Message from OPA Platinum Member Raphael Barragan: His latest newsletter highlights how "The Westside Real Estate Market Has Changed." "Today’s Westside market favors property-specific value over market timing. Key opportunities lie in prime locations with untapped potential—like dated Santa Monica homes or extended Brentwood listings—where strategic renovations, realistic pricing, and thorough due diligence yield maximum long-term upside." Read the rest of his analysis here.
OPA Book Club This Wednesday: Next planned dates are 11/4 (James), and 12/2 (The Year of Living Danishly). Email [email protected] for more info. All meets are at 6pm at the Ocean Park Library (2601 Main St.).
General Election Information from the City of Santa Monica: santamonica.gov/elections includes information on local candidates and ballot measures as well as Vote Center and Vote by Mail Drop Box locations.
La Diperie is now open on Main St.: Here is thei fun Insta post announcing their opening last Friday at 2441 Main St.
Great Park Coalition backs draft master plan for Santa Monica Airport site: The Coalition says it supports the Draft Illustrative Master Plan for the future Great Park, which was unveiled Oct. 17 at the Santa Monica Airport Conversion Project's Phase 4 Community Event at Memorial Park Gym. More details here.
City Council expands senior rent aid, steers $23.5M to affordable housing but shelves final paycheck ordinance: The City Council on Tuesday approved most of a broad affordability package, expanding a cash assistance program for low-income senior renters and moving $23.5 million in Measure GS housing money toward new affordable projects, but declined to introduce an ordinance that would have let workers name someone to collect their final paycheck. More details here.
Historic Santa Monica Clock Tower Building sells for $28.5 million: Commercial real estate investors Simon, Daniel and Joseph Mani have acquired the landmark Santa Monica Clock Tower out of court-ordered receivership for $28.5 million, marking a steep 51% drop from its prior trade value, as reported by The Real Deal. The 50,000-square-foot tower was operating at only 43% occupancy and failed to generate sufficient revenue to service its underlying obligations. Overall office vacancies across Santa Monica stand at 28.5%, according to commercial brokerage Colliers. More details here.
Get ready to give back this holiday season through the 2026 Santa MoniCARES Annual Food & Gently Loved Clothing Drive (Sunday, November 1, through Thursday, December 31): Community members are invited to donate non-perishable food items to support Westside Food Bank, as well as new or gently loved professional clothing to Chrysalis. Donations can be dropped off daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Santa Monica Travel & Tourism Visitor Information Center, located at 2427 Main Street. Curbside drop-off assistance is also available seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; please text 424-443-8830 at least 15 minutes before arrival. santamonicares.org
El Niño / Winter Weather Resources From the City’s Office of Emergency Management:
Free empty sandbags (10 per Santa Monica resident) are available for residents at all Santa Monica fire stations. Sand is located any time in the large bin in Clover Park’s parking lot at 2600 Ocean Park Blvd. More information can be found here: santamonica.gov - Where to Get Sandbags in Santa Monica
The City has published an Extreme Weather Preparedness webpage that can be found here: santamonica.gov - Extreme Weather Preparedness in Santa Monica
Sign up for emergency alerts (including major storm information) by registering for SM Alerts
General emergency preparedness information can be found here: santamonica.gov - Emergency Preparedness
The Street Seen: 1673 Ocean Ave (Atlanta Hotel): The Atlanta Hotel, a historic lodging facility built in 1895 on Ocean Ave at Olympic Blvd, is demolished in 1987. More details here.
FREE Recycling and Paper Shred (November 7, 9am - 2pm @
City Yards, 2500 Michigan Ave.): Santa Monica residents only. Questions? Call (866) 311-7266. Accepted items: Up to 5 banker boxes of paper; Phones, laptops, and tablets; DVD & VHS players; Radios & stereo equipment; Printers (remove ink cartridges); Batteries (in a separate container); CRT, LCD, OLED, and plasma screen TVs and monitors; Mattresses and box springs. Prohibited items: Microwaves & blenders; Coffee pots & Keurigs; Ink cartridges; Washing machines; Bread makers; Waffle irons; Refrigerators and mini-fridges; Household hazardous waste (including paint). Household hazardous waste: Call Clean Earth at (877) 443-2371 or click here for complimentary residential household hazardous waste and
e-waste collection.
Councilmember Dan Hall Newsletter: Here is his weekly newsletter, with his thoughts on news in and around the city over the past week, upcoming calendar of events, and much more.
Things to Do This Week
FREE College Application Workshop (Tuesday 6 - 7pm @ Virginia Avenue Park Teen Center, 2200 Virginia Avenue): This workshop is open to high school students and their parents and will provide helpful information about navigating the U.S. college application process. College Application Timeline -- What Colleges Look For -- Building a Strong Application – RSVP to [email protected] and include the number of family members attending so they can plan accordingly.
Online Safety & Scam Prevention Workshop (Wednesday 11am): The internet has made it easy to connect with family, shop, and access services—but it’s also created new opportunities for scammers. Join us for this workshop on staying safe online and preventing fraud through awareness, confidence, and simple habits. @ Main Library (601 Santa Monica Blvd.) More details here.
Estate Planning Basics Workshop: What You Need, What Can Go Wrong, and How to Protect Your Family (Wednesday 4pm): Financial representatives presents Estate Planning Basics, how to help protect your assets, and strategies to distribute assets directly to your family and friends. And an attorney presents Estate Planning Made Simple. Q&A with them to follow. Open to all, including families. Fairview Branch Library (2101 Ocean Park Blvd) More details here.
Frost on Fifth Brings Holiday Skating Downtown: SaMo’s outdoor ice-skating rink returns for the holidays, bringing a winter tradition to a decidedly less wintry setting just steps from the beach and Third Street Promenade. Grand Opening is Thursday, Nov. 5 and it skates through Monday, Jan. 18, 1324 Fifth St. frostonfifth.com
SMPD in the Community - Route 66 Celebration with Joy Automotive (Saturday 8am-12pm): As Santa Monica celebrates 100 years of Route 66, local business Joy Automotive Service & Repair is helping keep the Mother Road’s spirit alive with its Get Your Kicks feature, highlighting the history, landmarks and local businesses connected to the iconic highway. Check out the stories and discover more about Santa Monica’s place at the western end of America’s most famous road. 1325 Pico Blvd. joyautomotiverepair.com/getyourkicks
Santa Monica Conservancy 2026 Preservation Awards (Sunday 2pm): Celebrate the people, projects, and architectural milestones protecting our city's unique heritage at the Santa Monica Conservancy's upcoming annual awards event. Hosted at the historic Santa Monica Bay Woman's Club, this year's program explores the intersection of historic preservation, community storytelling, and sustainable urban stewardship. @ Santa Monica Bay Woman's Club, 1210 4th St. Tickets and info here.
Let’s Have an Honest Conversation About Breasts
Breasts are among the most talked about and medically researched parts of the human body, yet many of us are embarrassed to discuss our breast health openly.
Allure Perspectives, a new podcast hosted by Allure editor-in-chief Jessica Cruel, spends its first season exploring how breasts intersect with beauty, health, identity, sexuality, and culture. Episodes feature Olivia Munn on the test she says to take even if your mammogram is clear, sex educator Ericka Hart on reclaiming her body after breast cancer, and a Beverly Hills surgeon on why GLP-1s are driving a surge in breast lifts. All episodes available now.
OPA & City Meetings
Upcoming Calendar of Events
OPA Book Club: Next planned dates are 11/4 (James), and 12/2 (The Year of Living Danishly). Email [email protected] for more info. All meets are at 6pm at the Ocean Park Library (2601 Main St.).
OPA Monthly Meeting: Monday, Nov. 9, 6pm @ Ocean Park Library
OPA Holiday Party: Sunday Dec. 6, 3pm. Details TBD.
Resources
Police non-emergency Phone #: Call 310-458-8491 or click here for more info.
Santa Monica 311. Submit non-emergency requests to the City.
Santa Monica Alerts. Sign up for emergency text and email alerts.
SaMoNews. Subscribe to the official newsletter of the City of Santa Monica.
Board and Commission Openings. Volunteer to serve the community!
City of Santa Monica Career Opportunities. Get paid to serve the community!
Santa Monica Animal Shelter. Support our municipal Animal Shelter!
Locals Discount Program is Back! OPA has partnered with the SaMo Public Library to launch a Community Discount Program. Local Ocean Park participating businesses include Junior Cookies, Crudo e Nudo, Kafe K, and Bike Attack. Check out the full list here and expect more to come!
