Ocean Park Social Club Summer Picnic Series (Thursday): Join your neighbors every other Thursday in Hotchkiss Park from 5:30 - 7:30pm. Next one is this Thursday (Aug 6), followed by Aug 20, and Sep 3. Email Tess with any questions.

August OPA Monthly Meeting Next Monday (Aug. 10): 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. Expected guest speakers are Ericka Lesley (Rent Control Board),

Update on “Coastal Commission Staff Fumes at ‘Unpermitted’ Turf Replacement at Ocean Park School House” Report: Last week we shared this SaMoNext column regarding apparent unpermitted turf installation at the Ocean Park School House (known by many names locally, but most famously as the Santa Monica Alternative School House or SMASH). SMMUSD’s Carey Upton contends there is more to the story and wrote this “Letter to the Editor” to in response to the story.

City pursues homeless services at Palm Motel while voting to delay closure of downtown shelter: The Santa Monica City Council voted late Tuesday to bring the Palm Motel under city control as part of a new local homeless services system, while adding a directive that the city not shut down its longtime SaMoShel shelter until officials identify replacement housing and present a more concrete transition plan. More details in this SMDP post and in this Insta video Councilmember Lana Negrete posted explaining her vote/position.

Electric Aviation Fuels New Push to Keep Santa Monica Airport Open: This Westside Current report discusses a variety of viewpoints regarding whether and when to close the airport and what to do with the land post-closure.

The Blue Notebook - A Weekly SMPD Recap - July 12-18: Here is the weekly recap of police activity. "Notable activity included arrests involving residential burglary, robbery, domestic violence, narcotics possession, parole and warrant violations, and retail theft. Detectives and specialized personnel also continued investigations involving an at-risk missing juvenile, felony stalking, and the July 3 road rage shooting."

Possibly illegal tenancy rules force council to rewrite ballot measure for November election: "The City Council and the Rent Control Board voted this week to pull back the most contested piece of a ballot measure headed for the November election, after city attorneys warned the proposal was untested in court and would likely invite a lawsuit. Meeting jointly in a special session, the two bodies voted to strip out language that would have let additional household members remain in a unit after the original tenant moved out for any reason, and would have expanded who qualifies to stay behind. In its place, council members directed staff to draft a narrower measure that would extend just-cause eviction protections to single-family homes and condominiums and bring owner move-in rules for those units in line with existing rent-control law — provisions city officials said carry far less legal risk." More details here.

The Street Seen: 2219 3rd St (Frances Court) @ Strand St: In 1920, Frances Court, a six-building 6-unit apartment court, is built on a large lot on the east side of 3rd St between Strand and Pacific. The property remains in the builder’s family for 90 years. More details here.

Main St. Crudo e Nudo chef Brian Bornemann is opening Bar Fortuna, a pasta restaurant, at 2917 Main St. this fall: Forbes reported that Bar Fortuna will focus on handmade pasta, farmers-market plates, Italian-style cocktails and a wine list curated by specialist J.D. Plotnick in the former Vamos Vamos space. More details here.

Message from OPA’s Platinum Sponsor Raphael Barragan: Elevating the Luxury Standard Why Tailored Strategy Wins in LA: "Despite a seasonal luxury market lull, LA County's high-end real estate offers stable year-over-year momentum. With prime properties continuing to move in the ultra-luxury brackets, strategic positioning and bespoke marketing remain powerful tools for savvy sellers to stand out." https://www.raphaelbarragan.com/luxury-real-estate-6/

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.