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SaMo Pier Hosting MAJOR World Cup Fan Activation
There will be no OPA Update on Christmas Thursday. Hope you have a fantastic holidays!
2026 OPA BOARD: The results are in! We have tabulated the votes and we are proud to welcome / re-elect the following people for the OPA Board of Directors in 2026:
Andrew Lee (new)
Dave Tann (re-elect)
Jeff Jarow (re-elect)
Lucy Stone (re-elect)
Mary Burch (new)
Robbie Leer (re-elect)
Tess Nelson (new)
The next OPA meeting is January 12th and all newsletter readers are encouraged to join as we set key agenda items for the year.
Wishing all of you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
Consider OPA for End of Year Charitable Giving: We're proud of the year we've had that included multiple “Open Main St.” street closure festivals, our 4th of July Parade, publishing about 100 newsletters, expanding our newsletter reach to nearly 3000 community members, advocating to the city on a variety of neighborhood issues, and much more! And we've done it all on a shoestring budget with all the work being done by community volunteers. As you make your end of the year donations, please consider joining and/or donating to YOUR neighborhood organization. OPA is a 501(c)(3) and all donations are tax deductible. CLICK HERE TO GIVE OR JOIN
NBC Channel 4 Covers the “Large-scale music festival coming to Santa Monica”: This video report details how “Santa Monica could soon be home to a major music festival” along with other events.
Acting Police Chief Jacob to Hold Post on Permanent Basis: “Acting Police Chief Darrick Jacob has been appointed as Santa Monica's next police chief, making him the first member of the force to be elevated to the top post in nearly half a century. A 21-year veteran of SMPD, Jacob was appointed by City Manager Oliver Chi as acting chief on August 25, three days after Police Chief Ramon Batista resigned… A U.S. Navy veteran, Jacob began his law enforcement career with the CSUN Police Department in 1996. More details here.
SaMo Police Data for the Week of November 30 – December 6: Of note in this weekly SMPD report, data analysis indicates the following key considerations – while overall calls for service are down, arrests YTD are up ~21% when compared with the prior year.
115,880 Calls for Service Year to Date (down 4.3% from last year)
3,162 Arrests YTD (up 20.7% over last year)
Sexual Abuse Cases Against City to Go to Trial: "In earlier rounds, plaintiffs were required to answer a City-prepared fact sheet, providing details about their claim, and participate in an interview with the City’s attorneys," ...Plaintiffs had to sign the fact sheet under penalty of perjury. This round goes further. Plaintiffs must not only complete a fact sheet under penalty of perjury, they must also provide sworn testimony in a formal deposition, where they are questioned under oath.” More details here.
Westside Waldorf School, displaced by the Palisades Fire, is relocating permanently to Santa Monica: After 10 months of classes held in tents, park pavilions and borrowed rooms, students at Westside Waldorf School will return to a permanent campus when a new Grades 1–8 facility opens Dec. 1 in Santa Monica’s Colorado Center district at a 26,000-square-foot campus at Colorado Avenue and 26th Street. More details here.
JSX to begin passenger flights amid legal challenge: JSX launched passenger service out of the Santa Monica Airport last week, marking a new chapter for the facility despite a resident lawsuit challenging the commercial service. More details here.
New Santa Monica Fire Department Advanced Provider Unit increases efficiency and enhances emergency response: The program, which began early mobilizing efforts last month, represents a key milestone in the implementation of the city of Santa Monica’s Realignment Plan, a two-year budget stabilization and renewal effort approved by the Santa Monica City Council in October that focuses on restoring public safety by strengthening essential services. The APU pairs a nurse practitioner with a firefighter-paramedic to deliver advanced medical assessment, treatment, and follow-up care directly in the field. This innovative model allows patients with non-life-threatening conditions to receive comprehensive evaluation and treatment on scene, often avoiding an emergency department visit while ensuring continuity of care. More details here.
Application requirements preview now available for new cannabis retail: The City released this post with details to help prepare businesses for the Jan. 26, 2026, opening date for applications.
Santa Monica advances Digital Display District Ordinance for Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Place: This City post details the new ordinance. Big picture (pun intended!): "Each display is capped at 1,000 square feet, with a maximum of 16 displays districtwide."
Santa Monica’s Digital Holiday Pass: Santa Monica's Digital Holiday Pass is a free mobile program by Visit Santa Monica, launched for the 2025 holiday season (through Jan 4, 2026), offering users instant access to exclusive discounts, BOGO deals, and freebies at local shops, restaurants, and attractions, plus a gamified points system to win prizes and explore the city, all redeemed easily from their phones. Learn more and download it here.
Last Minute Gift Idea: LA County Shop Local Gift Card Program: Holiday shoppers are encouraged to buy gift cards for their loved ones through the LA County Shop Local Gift Card Program to help boost our region’s economy and support small businesses impacted earlier this year by the Los Angeles wildfires. For a limited time, gift cards purchased at specified incremental amounts will include a bonus gift card equal to 50% of the original amount. A $100 gift card receives a $50 bonus gift card, a $50 gift card receives a $25 bonus gift card and a $20 gift card receives a $10 bonus gift card. Explore the full list of businesses here, including Santa Monica favorites bG Gallery, Casa Martin, Huckleberry, Milo + Olive and more. https://shoplocal.la/recover-local
The Street Seen: Crystal Plunge (Kintz) (Ocean Front Walk @ Pico Blvd.): From 1887 to 1908, on Ocean Front Walk at the end of Pico Boulevard, George Kintz’s Crystal Plunge is an open-air, heated saltwater swimming pool. Kintz dies in 1906, and the Crystal Plunge, is demolished in 1908. In 1926, the Casa Del Mar beach club is built on the site. More details here along with some super cool pics!
BBB Offers Free Rides on NYE: Celebrate the New Year with a safe ride home on Big Blue Bus! Beginning Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at 9:00 p.m. until Thursday, January 1, 2026, at midnight, customers can enjoy FREE RIDES on Big Blue Bus! Visit BigBlueBus.com to their our trip planner and plan your celebration.
November 2025 edition of the SMMUSD Wave: Here is the monthly newsletter that surprisingly and disappointingly has no mention of the Ocean Park School House.
ON A LIGHTER NOTE: Tom Lehrer sings his famous “Hanukkah in Santa Monica": Click here to enjoy this one-minute song.
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Things to Do This Week
Christmas Restaurant Offers:
Jameson's Pub All You Can Eat Christmas: You get your choice of turkey, ham, or prime rib with all the fixin's for $19.99 per person while getting to watch all the games. 2702 Main St. santamonica.jamesonsirishpub.com
Christmas Morning Brunch at Fitoor: The festive brunch features abundant buffet stations including Burmese Khow Suey, Chaat, Frankie & Dips, Dosa, Mains, and Desserts, ensuring guests head into the holiday fully satisfied. $105/person.
Christmas Dinner at Orla by Michael Mina: On Christmas Day 12/25, enjoy menu items that combine the best flavors of the California Coast and the Mediterranean Sea that honors Chef Michael Mina’s Egyptian and Greek Heritage, such as Spiced Turkey Confit, Butternut Squash Risotto, with Pumpkin Pie and Passion Fruit Labneh Cheesecake. 1700 Ocean Ave. More details here.
Other Christmas Restaurant Options: Here’s my weekly SMDP column with a variety of Christmas offerings from local restaurants.
Main St. Farmers Market (Sunday 8:30am - 1:30pm): Get ready for the pre-New Years count down with the Triple B Band back at Main Street this Sunday 10am-1pm. We have plenty of snack items for New Years party trays with an array of f fresh fruits, veggies, nuts and cheeses. Looking for an easy way to entertain, check our food vendor for to go options and pre-orders.
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OPA & City Meetings
Note that the City is closed today until January 4.
OPA Connects Meeting (Wednesday 12pm): Here is the Zoom link.
Upcoming Calendar of Events
Upcoming OPA Book Club Meetings: Planned dates are January 7 (Lessons in Chemistry), February 4 (Project Hail Mary), March 4 (The Vanishing Half), April 1 (The Maid), May 6 (Demon Copperhead). Email [email protected] for more info. All meets are at 6pm at the Ocean Park Library (2601 Main St.).
New Year's Brunch Potluck and Square Dancing (Jan. 4 12 - 2:30pm @ Church in Ocean Park (235 Hill St.)): Join your Ocean Park neighbors for a brunch potluck followed by a lively square dance — no experience needed! And no need to worry if you’re not bringing a partner; you can find one when we can square up! More details here.
Ocean Park Library Reopening Celebration (1/21)
