In partnership with
June OPA Monthly Meeting Next Monday (June 8): The meeting is at the Ocean Park Library @ 2601 Main St. starting with food and mingling at 6:00pm. We will also be hybrid on Zoom. Click here to add the OPA monthly meeting and Zoom link to your calendar. Here's the zoom link, and here's the schedule:
6:00 - 6:30: Food, refreshments and mingling
6:30 - 7:30: Guest Speakers:
City Attorney Heidi von Tongeln
SaMo Police Department
SaMo Fire Department
Barbara Wallace, Street Repaving
Others TBD
7:30 - 8:30: Board business, including the Summer SOULstice event (June 20), Make Music Day (June 21), July 4 parade, & more)
June is LGBTQIA+ Pride Month!
This City Post contains this year’s “2026 Santa Monica Pride Month Proclamation.”
SaMo Public Library has a variety of event throughout the month, including Pride on the Promenade Pop-Up Library for all ages on Saturday, June 13 at the 3rd Street Promenade and a Pride Month YA Author Panel for teens on Thursday, June 18 at the Main St. Ocean Park Branch.
This City post also highlights many more events scheduled this month, including Pride on the Promenade, BlockFest, and Cabaret at the Crow.
City to launch $6 million Santa Monica Renter Aid program: The program is the first major funding allocation from Measure GS and will be a partnership with The People Concern. Santa Monica Renter Aid is part of the city’s broader investment in homelessness prevention and renter protections, originally approved by the City Council in March 2025. The program is expected to launch in summer 2026 and will provide targeted financial assistance and housing stabilization services to eligible renter households facing housing instability or at risk of homelessness. The program is expected to assist approximately 150 vulnerable renter households each year. More details here.
Vote Centers Open across L.A. County ahead of this Tuesday’s (June 2) Primary Election:
“The L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk recommends voters mail their ballots at least 7 days before Election Day. Voters can avoid postmark risk entirely by using one of more than 400 official 24-hour drop boxes throughout the county or dropping off a ballot at any Vote Center. Voters can also cast their ballots in person at one of the 122 Vote Centers…For a complete list of Vote Center locations, drop box sites, registration status, and other election information, visit lavote.gov.
LA Times "Your last-minute voter guide to California’s 2026 primary election": This page attempts to answers last-minute questions about the voting process, including who is running, where and when to vote, etc.
Santa Monica doubles down on major events strategy with additional Olympic activations: "Santa Monica is cementing its place on the global sports calendar, with the City Council approving negotiations for an ESPN broadcast hub during the 2027 Super Bowl and a Swiss Olympic hospitality house during the 2028 Games — the latest in a growing portfolio of major activations the city is banking on to drive economic recovery." More details here.
College Board Erupts over Layoffs as Financial Crisis Deepens: “Accusations of anti-labor bias, a decade of poor financial stewardship and a leadership vacuum collided at Santa Monica College’s Board of Trustees May meeting, as members traded sharp criticisms over mass layoffs while the institution’s financial reserves continued a four-year slide toward insolvency. The board voted 6-2 to finalize the termination of 45 classified employees — custodians, administrative assistants, parking enforcement officers, tutors and other support staff — effective June 30, as the college grapples with a projected $14.7 million deficit heading into the 2026-27 fiscal year….” More details here.
Police Investigate Possible Hate Crime after Man Uses a Bat and Dog in Promenade Assault (with video): “A man was arrested Sunday after allegedly threatening two pedestrians with a baseball bat and unleashing a dog that bit one of them in the thigh, as investigators examine whether the attack was motivated by hate. Tar Nay, whose age was not immediately available, was booked into Santa Monica Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and criminal threats following the 5:20 PM incident near 3rd Street and Broadway. More details here.
May 2026 SMMUSD Wave: Here is the monthly newsletter of all things going on in the school district. For the first time this year, there is actually mention of the Ocean Park School House. While there is no substantive update on timing or scope of opening, it states “Ocean Park School House (formerly SMASH) welcomed students and their families for an exhibition of learning showcasing their Westward Movement project-based learning work in the school’s new multipurpose room. The program covers the history of the American West, the concept of Manifest Destiny and the impact on Native Americans.”
Mountain lion runs through North Santa Monica: This video report details how NOMA is literally turning into a jungle with the animal spotted in a backyard at 14th & Montana. 😜
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.
Apply now to be appointed by City Council to a Board or Commission: Appointments scheduled for the June 23 Council meeting. Here is a list of expected openings and requirements. Click here to apply on-line. Applications are due by noon on June 16.
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Things to Do This Week
Read Between the Wines (Monday 6pm): Bring your favorite book — romance, sci-fi, smut, whatever you're to Reading Rhythms at Bodega Wine Bar and settle in for a night of reading with wine, food, and good company as the backdrop. Happy hour pricing all night long. 📗 @ 814 Broadway luma.com/reading-cpn6
Winemaker Dinner at Shutters with Turnbull & Shypoke (Wednesday 7pm): Celebrate Napa Valley craftsmanship with winemaker Peter Heitz as Turnbull and Shypoke wines take center stage in a dynamic, flavor-driven dining experience. Turnbull and Shypoke represent generations of Napa Valley heritage, known for artisanal, small-lot wines that reflect uncompromising quality and authenticity. @ 1 Pico Blvd. More details here.
Route 66 Steak Challenge (Thursday 4 - 8pm): Texas Meets Santa Monica: Straight from Texas to Santa Monica, the legendary 72 oz Steak Challenge, from the Big Texan Steak Ranch is taking over Route 66-where brave contenders attempt to devour a massive steak dinner in under one hour on a live stage. @ Santa Monica Pier More details here.
Santa Monica Animal Shelter Foundation Fundraiser (Saturday June 6, 12 - 3pm): The fundraiser is a fun afternoon to help the animals at the Santa Monica animal shelter. Adoption fees will be reduced, for a small donation you could win fantastic prizes in the raffle and bid on unique experiences in the silent auction. There will be face painting by The Magical Atelier, balloon animals from Wild About Balloons LA, burgers from Troop 2 Santa Monica, you can meet the Santa Monica Police Department's Mounted Unit and more activities. @ 1640 9th St. www.smasf.org
Coastal Crossroads: A Self-Guided Tour of History and Art (Sunday): The Coastal Crossroads Tour debuts June 7th. For the inaugural event, four sites related to Santa Monica’s Black experience will be docented by Dr. Alison Rose Jefferson and her team of storytellers. smc.givecloud.co/coastalcrossroads
Intrepid Travel's new Premium Family range brings together immersive cultural experiences, feature stays and kid-focused activities across eight destinations — with small groups of three to five families and Intrepid's most experienced guides. Morocco, Borneo, India, Vietnam and more.
OPA & City Meetings
Upcoming Calendar of Events
Upcoming OPA Book Club Meetings: Planned dates are June 3 (Remarkably Bright Creatures), July 8 (Trust), Aug 5 (The Night Watchman). Email [email protected] for more info. All meets are at 6pm at the Ocean Park Library (2601 Main St.).
OPA Monthly Meeting: Monday, June 8, 6pm @ Ocean Park Library
Ocean Park Social Club 2nd Annual June Gloom Chili Cookoff: June 7. Last year, our Chili Cookoff was a raging success with over 15 submissions of delicious cornbread and chili recipes by our neighbors! Come back to reignite the community and the competition. Click here to email Tess if you'd like to volunteer and RSVP here.
Ocean Park Social Club - The Jar Returns to Ocean Park: After a wonderful first event with the national non-profit, The Jar, our friends are back for another dinner & salon on June 24. This next session will be a "Convener" model, where we invite you to bring 2-3 guests with you. This model broadens the community further, allowing us to create a more diverse room of voices. Tickets are $10/person (and includes dinner and dessert!).
RSVP HERE and direct questions to [email protected] and our partner [email protected].
Ocean Park Social Club Summer Picnic Series: Mark your calendars for our bi-weekly summer evening picnics at Hotchkiss Park on the following Thursdays 5:30-7:30pm: July 9, July 23, Aug 6, Aug 20, and Sep 3.
Want to Volunteer for Future OPA-Sponsored Heal The Bay Adopt-A-Beach Clean-Ups? Contact Dave Tann at [email protected]. He is the coordinator for the OPA/Heal The Bay events, always meeting at Tower 26. Dates this summer are 6/28, 7/26, & 8/30.
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 Fitoor and Junior Cookies. Check out the full list here and expect more to come!
