Santa Monica EV Station Opens with 20 Hyper-Fast Chargers, Among Nation’s Most Powerful
Santa Monica Approves $34.8M Loan to Rehabilitate Rent-Controlled Apartments
The approval will fund extensive renovations, including upgrades to gas, water, and electrical systems, heating and cooling, plumbing, sewage, structural repairs, and accessibility features
The Santa Monica City Council on Tuesday authorized a $34.8 million Housing Trust Fund loan to the Community Corporation of Santa Monica (CCSM) for the rehabilitation of a 40unit rent-controlled apartment complex at 2033-2101 Virginia Ave., ensuring longterm affordability and improved living
conditions for residents.
The property, built in 1947-48, was acquired by CCSM in 2020 with a $15.2 million city loan to prevent displacement of low-income tenants after the previous owners listed it for sale. The additional $19.6 million approved Tuesday will fund extensive renovations, including upgrades to gas, water, and electrical systems, heating and cooling, plumbing, sewage, structural repairs, and accessibility features. The project also includes $1.8 million for temporary tenant relocation and moving support.
“These are individuals and families who have lived in Santa Monica for generations, many growing up in the same apartment they are now raising their own families in,” Mayor Lana Negrete said. “We are pleased the city is able to facilitate this rehabilitation, in partnership with CCSM, to keep these Santa Monicans housed and ensure they have safe and habitable living conditions.”
Existing tenants will return at their current rent-controlled rates, subject to annual adjustments allowed by city code. Once vacated, units will be restricted to extremely low, very low, and low-income households earning up to 80% of the area
median income. The project may also help Santa Monica meet its state-mandated affordable housing obligations, pending approval from the California Department of Housing and Community Development, as 21 of the 40 units were found unfit for habitation during a July 2025 inspection due to issues like severe deterioration and faulty utilities.
The total loan exceeds the city’s Housing Trust Fund per-unit guidelines, requiring council approval. It includes a $1.25 million state matching grant and accounts for cost escalations since 2020 due to construction, relocation, and insurance increases. CCSM secured an additional $850,000 federal grant and a $24,999 city sustainability grant, and anticipates a $200,000 reimbursement from California’s
Palisades High Parents Frustrated by $450 Parking Fees at Temporary Santa Monica Campus
While the city touts the 72% discount off its standard $20 daily rate as an accommodation, some Palisades parents say it’s still an unmanageable cost and that other options are limited
As Palisades Charter High School students return this week to their temporary campus in downtown Santa Monica, some parents are raising concerns over
transportation logistics—particularly the steep price of parking, which runs more than $450 per semester.
The parking passes, which allow students to use Santa Monica’s public structures near the former Sears building on Colorado Avenue, were offered at a discounted rate of $5.50 per day. That adds up to $451 for the 82-day fall semester, plus a $6 fee for the required access card.
While the city touts the 72% discount off its standard $20 daily rate as an accommodation, some Palisades parents say it’s still an unmanageable cost and that other options are limited. One parent, who requested to remain anonymous due to privacy concerns, called the situation “untenable.”
“My son starts school Wednesday and, at the moment, his only real option is that I drive and pick him up—or he pays daily to park,” the parent said. “That was the suggestion from the school, but this just isn’t a realistic long-term solution for us or
many other families.”
The parent, whose family recently moved to the South Bay, said the school gave little advance notice before releasing the limited number of parking passes, which reportedly sold out within minutes.
“It felt random,” the parent said. “They announced it last Tuesday and the passes were gone right away. Only 250 spots were available.”
The City of Santa Monica says it worked with school officials to offer discounted parking in response to the emergency relocation of Palisades High, which is temporarily housed in Santa Monica while construction continues at its original Pacific Palisades campus.
In addition to the paid option, the city pointed families toward the GoPass program, which offers K-12 students free rides on LA Metro and Big Blue Bus lines. The Metro E Line and several bus stops are located near the school, providing a nocost public transit option.
Low-Income Weatherization Program.
Construction is set to begin in October, with tenant relocation planned for December 2025 to January 2026. The project is expected to be completed by March 2027, with tenants returning between December 2026 and January 2027. The loan is repayable after a 55-year term, and 20 project-based vouchers from the Santa Monica Housing Authority will support ongoing affordability.
The council’s decision follows a February closed-session discussion and cost-reduction efforts by CCSM, which cut estimated rehabilitation costs by $5.9 million through competitive bidding. The project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under Section 15301 for existing facilities.
However, the anonymous parent said Metro access isn’t viable for many Pali families who don’t live near train lines or have reliable connections to transit hubs.
“We don’t live anywhere near a Metro station, and these systems weren’t designed for park-and-ride use like in other cities,” the parent said. “The school hasn’t provided any assistance or realistic alternatives.”
The city says it is also emphasizing pedestrian safety and promoting carpooling, biking, and walking as part of its “Back in Motion” campaign ahead of the school year. But with Palisades High students returning to class ahead of most Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District students, many parents feel unprepared for the shift in routine.
As High School Resumes, Santa Monica Businesses Offer Discounts to Faculty and Students
Restaurants and cafes near the schools are offering 10% off purchases with a valid high school ID, while retailers are also joining the initiative
As high school students return to classrooms in Santa Monica this month, dozens of local businesses are welcoming them with discounted meals, retail deals, and special offers tailored to students and faculty from Palisades Charter High School and Santa Monica High School. Palisades High, displaced by the January wildfires in the Pacific Palisades, will resume classes Wednesday, August 13, at its temporary campus in the former Sears building on Colorado Avenue. Santa Monica High School students are
set to return on Thursday, August 21.
The return of thousands of students and staff to the downtown Santa Monica and Civic Center area has prompted city officials to encourage commuters, residents, and business owners to plan ahead and expect heavier foot traffic around school zones.
In an effort to support students and families—particularly those still recovering from the wildfire displacement—the City of Santa Monica, in partnership with local businesses, has launched a wide-ranging discount program for the fall semester.
Restaurants and cafes near the schools are offering 10% off purchases with a valid high school ID. Participating establishments include Goodboybob Coffee Roasters, The Curious Palate, Sbarro, Espresso Cielo, and Sensible Healthy Food, among others. Most deals are valid through the end of the semester on December 19.
Retailers are also joining the initiative. The Bike Shop Santa Monica is offering 20% off bikes, along with repair discounts. Sand N Surf on Third
Pepperdine Crash Defendant Hires HighProfile Attorney, Pleads
Facing multiple murder and manslaughter charges, Malibu resident Fraser Michael Bohm entered a not guilty plea Wednesday in the deaths of four Pepperdine University seniors killed in an October 2023 crash on Pacific Coast Highway.
Prosecutors allege the then–22-year-old was driving his BMW at 104 mph in a 45 mph zone when he lost control near “Dead Man’s Curve,” striking and killing Alpha Phi sorority members Niamh Rolston, Asha Weir, Deslyn Williams, and Peyton Stewart.
Bohm appeared in Los Angeles County Superior Court with his new attorney, Alan Jackson, a high-profile defense lawyer known for winning the recent acquittal of Karen Read in Massachusetts and
previously representing Kevin Spacey in a sexual assault case. Jackson also served on the prosecution team that convicted music producer Phil Spector of the murder of actress Lana Clarkson.
The defense contends Bohm was fleeing a road rage incident that began outside a Malibu restaurant several miles from the crash site. His former attorney claimed the aggressor had been identified; however, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department has not confirmed the story. Jackson told reporters he intends to challenge the prosecution’s evidence and will seek to reduce Bohm’s $4 million bail.
In addition to the criminal case, Bohm, now 24, could face civil lawsuits from the victims’ families. His next court date is set for Sept. 5.
Street Promenade is offering 15% off all purchases, including snacks and Santa Monica souvenirs. Cox Paint Inc. and Sea of Silver are also offering studentfriendly pricing on supplies and gifts.
“These discounts are one small way our city is working to restore a sense of normalcy for families adjusting to a new school year, especially those who’ve been through so much,” said Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete.
The temporary relocation of Palisades High to Santa Monica was made possible through an emergency order approved by the City Council earlier this year. It is one of four wildfire-affected schools
currently operating in the city.
To help ease the transition, the city has also expanded safety and transportation support, including the return of crossing guards at all Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District campuses and the promotion of the free GoPass transit program for all K–12 students using Metro or Big Blue Bus.
Construction of pedestrian improvements at six elementary school campuses was completed earlier this year, and Santa Monica Police are sharing back-to-school safety tips for drivers, parents, and students alike.
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Santa Monica EV Station Opens with 20 Hyper-Fast Chargers, Among Nation’s Most Powerful
The launch comes as the state continues to lead the nation in EV ownership, accounting for roughly half of all electric vehicles in the U.S.
Electrify America has opened its first electric vehicle charging station in Santa Monica, introducing one of the largest public high-speed charging facilities in the region amid growing demand for faster, more accessible EV infrastructure.
The site, located at 1802 Santa Monica Boulevard near the I-10 freeway, includes 20 chargers capable of delivering up to 350 kilowatts—among the highest power levels currently available to the public. For compatible vehicles, that speed can translate to about 20 miles of range per minute, depending on battery capacity and state of charge.
The station operates 24/7 and includes on-site security cameras. It is part of a broader strategy by Electrify America to develop larger-scale charging hubs in urban and high-traffic areas as electric vehicle adoption rises across California and the United States.
Robert Barrosa, CEO of Electrify America, said the Santa Monica station reflects the company’s push toward highercapacity locations that can accommodate more vehicles simultaneously.
Electrify America, which launched in 2018 as part of a Volkswagen emissions settlement, now operates more than 1,000 stations and over 5,000 individual chargers across 47 states and Washington, D.C. The company reported a 65% year-overyear increase in energy delivered in 2024, totaling more than 600 gigawatt-hours through 16 million charging sessions.
Other recent high-capacity station openings in California include locations in San Francisco and San Diego, with additional sites planned throughout 2025.
The launch comes as the state continues to lead the nation in EV ownership, accounting for roughly half of all electric vehicles in the U.S.
The Rhetoric of Municipal Control
SMa.r.t.
Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow
“I’d like to respond to that because I used the word character, and as a brown person, you stating that as someone who has not experienced that…I really resent that comment and take it personally. I’m not going to allow people or yourself to take vocabulary words and weaponize them because you’ve defined it differently in your world.
When I say character, it means making it more unaffordable, a city I grew up in that I don’t recognize, that I can’t afford to live in, that my kids can’t afford to live in, that my business can’t sustain because we have no parking. That’s what I’m talking about. So, when I talk about character, it’s about the loss of character. It’s about me seeing the elderly people leave this town in droves because they can’t afford a cup of coffee down the street because we’re building development that down below has to sustain a coffee place that sells lattes for $12. It’s about my kids not being able to live here like I was. It’s about brown and black people being displaced even today. So, you guys can sit here and talk about all this inclusivity, and you can knock someone for using a word like character, but don’t you dare say it’s about racism. I take deep offense to that and I don’t appreciate it.”
Mayor Lana Negrete answering Council Member Dan Hall, City Council meeting, July 8, 2025.
The thing about local politics is that it’s where you can see power in its purest form—no grand ideologies or national movements to muddy the water, just the raw mechanics of who gets to decide what happens where you live. Which is why what’s happening right now in Santa Monica is so instructive. The City Council majority has figured out how to execute a perfect institutional takeover, even against the mayor, and they’re doing it with the cold precision of Americanstyle authoritarianism: why bother with jackboots when parliamentary procedure can do the job without making too much noise?
Consider July 29, when six board members of Downtown Santa Monica, Inc., the nonprofit managing the Promenade (partially funded by the city), were dispatched with the efficiency of a bowling strike, given twenty-four hours’ notice and told it was an “emergency.” Their crime was not incompetence but the unforgivable sin of having been appointed by the wrong City Council, an incurable case of political “misalignment.” In the process, the city abruptly swept away not just individuals and business owners but the institutional memory they carried—that inconvenient repository of how things were done before the new order arrived..
The Council majority’s bid to throttle
city-funded neighborhood associations— those occasional irritants that dare to oppose City Hall, especially on real estate development—follows a simple, ruthless logic: financial assassination. At the July 23 meeting, the proposed cuts arrived gift-wrapped in queries about the groups’ legal and tax status, their right to make political endorsements, and gauzy talk of “fiscal responsibility,” as if budgets were divine acts of nature rather than exquisitely engineered political weapons. The genius lies in the deniability: how exactly does one prove homicide by spreadsheet?
The Linguistic Inquisition
Most revealing has been the alchemy by which ordinary planning language is recast as thoughtcrime. When Mayor Lana Negrete dared to utter the phrase “neighborhood character” in critiquing zoning changes that threatened the sustainability and livability of local streets, Councilmember Dan Hall swooped in like an avenging coastal Torquemada. The words, he charged, were racist dog whistles—coded language meant to keep minorities and workers out.
Now here’s the thing: if “neighborhood character” is now verbal contraband— despite its enshrinement in the city’s own foundational law, the Santa Monica Municipal Code—what about the rest of the code? “Deed restrictions” (Chapter 4.90) positively drips with exclusionary history. “Covenant” (Chapter 6.96), “single-family residential property” (Chapter 4.04), “single-family residence” (Section 1.16), “historic preservation” (Chapter 9.56)— all have, at various times, served as tools for shutting people out, even if they aren’t wielded that way today.
Follow this logic to its end, and you arrive at a citywide vocabulary purge worthy of Joseph McCarthy—zealous censors scouring ordinances until planning language is boiled down to sanitized Newspeak, unintelligible to anyone outside City Hall. “Neighborhood character” will vanish first, then “front yard,” and finally “door.” It’s the perfect trap of weaponized language: either tiptoe through a linguistic minefield where standard terms can be rebranded as moral crimes, or bow out of the conversation entirely. Many sensible people pick the latter.
The effect on city staff could be chilling. Why risk career suicide by offering inconvenient expertise when silence guarantees survival? The result is an omertà more complete than anything the Mafia ever achieved—a conspiracy of selfprotection masquerading as professional discretion.
The Battle for Space and Voice
These machinations, of course, are merely the tactical expression of a larger strategic war: the increasingly vicious fight over who controls both public and private space in Santa Monica, and—perhaps more crucially—who gets to have a say about it. Every purged board member, every defunded advocacy group, every linguistically squashed resident represents
another voice eliminated from what was once called public discourse.
In a city where luxury developments sail through on rubber stamps and longtime community businesses disappear with every zoning rewrite, controlling the conversation about development has become almost as valuable as controlling development itself. Why endure the tedium of democratic debate over density, affordability, or community character when you can simply delete the debaters?
The Council majority’s attempt to dismantle its opposition serves a perfectly rational purpose: to clear the field for their preferred vision of revolutionary urban transformation across every part of Santa Monica, unencumbered by inconvenient voices asking inconvenient questions. Residents who object to having their neighborhoods bulldozed are labeled “NIMBYs.” Small business owners concerned about catastrophic displacement become “obstructionists.” Anyone daring to suggest that local neighborhood input might matter—especially if it opposes City Hall—becomes a racist, the ultimate conversation-stopper in Santa Monica.
The Institutional Fade
By demanding ideological loyalty even in supposedly technical roles, the Council majority has wiped out the idea that independent expertise can exist outside politics. In a direct echo of current national politics, every board and commission becomes a loyalty test. Independent voices become suspect; dissent, dangerous. This is how institutions in America actually die: not with a coup, but with a thousand tiny cuts, each bandaged in supposed virtue.
A critic labeled racist here, an advocacy group defunded there, a staff member deciding it’s safer to keep quiet.
The most dangerous authoritarians are the ones who never see themselves that way. These municipal Robespierres have perfected petty tyranny and called it progress. By the time anyone realizes what’s happened, the game is over and the winners are already writing the rules for the next round, with a press release about how much better everything is going to be now.
Daniel Jansenson, Architect For SMa.r.t.
Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow
Daniel Jansenson, Architect (former Building & Fire-Life Safety Commissioner); Robert H. Taylor, Architect AIA; Thane Roberts, Architect; Mario Fonda-Bonardi, Architect AIA (former Planning Commissioner); Sam Tolkin, Architect (former Planning Commissioner); Michael Jolly AIRCRE; Jack Hillbrand, Architect AIA, Landmarks Commission Architect; Phil Brock (former Mayor); Matt Hoefler, Architect NCARB
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BEHIND THE SCREEN
By Kathryn Whitney Boole
The Naked Gun plays to high expectations due to its historic legacy, but its creative pedigree brings us the height of comedy with the concept, a director with an SNL background, and two extraordinary actors as the leads. The original movie, The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! starring Leslie Nielsen and Priscilla Presley, came out in 1988 and is now a classic - a tough act to follow some 37 years later. Rest assured, the modern version is just as hysterical as the original, the new cast and story delivering the same satiric rapid-fire send-ups of everything in our culture that’s taken too seriously.
The first half launches rapid-fire jokes, leaving watchers rolling in the aisles. The opening features a joke based on formulaic screenwriting, leading to voluminous satire on action films, screen violence, and any other device that’s gone too far in all styles of filmmaking…well, the whole movie is a sendup of overused plotlines, derivative screenplays, scenes that we have sat
almost 100 Saturday Night Live episodes and directed over 65. He was once a rapper with the Lonely Island comedy team with Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone, hence his ability to conduct rapid-fire verbal patter.
The style parodies the film noir movies of the 1940s and 1950s, highly stylized and deadly serious murder mysteries played out mostly at night against dark backdrops. Schaffer and cinematographer Brandon Trost took the brightness down a notch from a normal comedic environment.
Neeson’s Drebin is the “innocent” who everything happens to. He just stays the course, unscathed and unaware, where anyone else would have been shellshocked, quite the same as in his serious action roles. Anderson so gets the body language and voice of her sexy ’50s lounge singer character, she’s a joy to watch.
Neeson is an actor who can kill it as a serious action star and is not afraid to turn the page and parody himself, which makes this movie especially funny. In the earlier Naked Gun movies, Nielsen (the similarity in their names is uncanny) was able to do the same, having made his reputation as a dramatic actor first, and then sliding into comedy with Airplane! (1980) prior to
through a zillion times in as many movies. But here, they have a twist or surprise that leaves you in stitches - there’s even a joke built on the word ‘laughter.”
In the second half, the characters’ stories move to the forefront. Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson as “Frank Drebin Jr.” and “Beth Davenport,” both play “straight men” to the hilt, with the movie itself as the comedian, while generating a great onscreen heat.
CCH Pounder as the beleaguered police chief provides the realism that sets up much of Neeson’s antics. Everyone in this movie, and probably the crew too, was obviously having a blast shooting it, and the humor in the film puts the world in perspective, at least for those 85 minutes you spend in The Naked Gun’s realm.
Director Akiva Schaffer brings great credentials to this film, having written
starring in the original Naked Gun trilogy. This illustrates my oft-repeated point that tragedy and comedy are super-close cousins.
Neeson didn’t grow up intending to be an actor. As a young man in his home country of Northern Ireland, he was a forklift driver for Guinness, a truck driver, an assistant architect, and an amateur boxer. He decided to do a play at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin for fun, and was spotted by film director John Boorman, who was at the time living in Ireland, and cast him as “Sir Gawain” in Excalibur (1981). Neeson has worked in film steadily ever since.
Anderson is known worldwide for her roles on Baywatch (1992-1997) and Home Improvement (1991-1997). Few realize that she is a consummate performer, constantly studying and perfecting her craft, with years of experience in film, TV,
and musical theatre. Her family couldn’t afford dance or acting lessons when she was a child, so she persuaded a friend to teach her what she learned in class.
In 2022, Anderson played “Roxy Hart” in Chicago on Broadway. At this point in her career, she says, “I’m just a sponge right now. Even at my age, I feel I’m just beginning.” She was nominated for Best Actress at the 2025 Academy Awards for The Last Showgirl. At 58, she’s working more than ever.
In so many action movies, characters seem unable to laugh at themselves. This movie offers welcome relief, with a parody of so many classic action flicks. You will recognize a lot of Tom-Cruise-style “impossible” antics, and scenes mirroring James Bond, Jason Bourne, and Neeson’s three Taken movies.
One of Schaffer’s favorite spy movies, the 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies, was an inspiration for this film, as was the Mission: Impossible franchise. For The Naked Gun, Schaffer even hired Lorne Balfe, the composer who scored two of those Mission: Impossible films.
This version of The Naked Gun is not a rehash – it stands on its own. See it in a theatre so you can roll in the aisles with the rest of the audience. Yes, there is a message: We don’t laugh enough. World leaders take note.
Kathryn Whitney Boole has spent most of her life in the entertainment industry, which has been the backdrop for remarkable adventures with extraordinary people. She is a Talent Manager with Studio Talent Group in Santa Monica. kboole@gmail.com
Mountain Lion Euthanized After Attacking
11-Year-Old Outside Malibu Home
Wildlife Officials Say the Girl Was Bitten Near Her Family’s Chicken Coop
Wildlife officers shot and killed a mountain lion Sunday after it attacked an 11-year-old girl outside her Malibu home, injuring her arm, leg, and lower back, authorities said.
The child was near a chicken coop on her family’s property in the 32500 block of Pacific Coast Highway around 5:30 p.m. when the cougar lunged at her from behind, according to Peter Tira, a spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Lost Hills Station and emergency crews rushed to the scene.
The girl’s mother, alerted by her screams, ran to help with one of her other children. A family member discharged a stun gun, and the noise drove the animal away, Tira said. The victim was taken to a hospital with what officials described as minor injuries and is expected to recover.
Fish and Wildlife officers later located a mountain lion in the area and euthanized it.
DNA samples collected from the girl will be compared with the animal to confirm its involvement.
State data show mountain lion attacks on
humans are rare, with 27 confirmed cases since 1986, most of them nonfatal. The last deadly incident occurred in March 2024, when a 21-year-old man was killed near Georgetown in Northern California.
In recent months, there have been
other encounters in Southern California, including a July incident in Ojai where a cougar approached a hiker and a September attack at Malibu Creek State Park that left a 5-year-old boy injured.
Entertainment Firm Extends Long-Term Commitment to Santa Monica
The property underwent extensive renovations in recent months, including a full seismic upgrade, a redesigned main lobby
The Swig Company has renewed a 17,000-square-foot lease with Provident Financial Management for the top floor of 3130 Wilshire Boulevard, a creative office property in Santa Monica, the company announced Aug. 5.
Provident Financial, which provides business management services to highprofile clients across the entertainment industry—including musical artists, producers, actors, and executives—will continue its occupancy at the six-story, 97,000-square-foot building.
Deron White of CBRE represented The Swig Company in the lease renewal, while Jeff Cowan of Savills, Inc. represented Provident Financial.
Acquired by Swig in 2022, 3130 Wilshire has undergone extensive renovations in recent months, including a full seismic upgrade, a redesigned main lobby, and the addition of an outdoor patio, wellness room, mother’s room, and a tenant lounge featuring gaming tables and two conference rooms. The flexible lounge space can also host meetings and events for up to 91 people.
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Mr. Charlie’s Brings Plant-Based Fast Food to 26th Street With Grand Opening Giveaway
Plant-Based Favorite Opens Brentwood Adjacent Spot With Opening Day Perks
Mr. Charlie’s, the fast-growing plantbased fast-food chain known for its bright red-and-yellow design, will open its newest location in Brentwood on Saturday, Aug. 16, offering free meals to early arrivals. The first 111 customers in line when doors open at 11:11 a.m. will receive a complimentary “Not A Cheeseburger” and fries. The giveaway is part of a grand-
opening celebration that will also feature a live set from DJ WÖVEN and appearances by surprise guests.
Located at 262 26th St., the Brentwood restaurant marks the latest expansion for the Los Angeles-based brand, which has built a following on its playful approach to plant-based comfort food.
In addition to the free meals for the first 111 customers, visitors can expect photo-friendly interiors in the company’s signature bold style. The restaurant says they are on a mission to deliver feel-good, fast, and familiar food, without the meat, and that Mr. Charlie’s is redefining plantbased food with bold design, tongue-incheek branding, and an unapologetic menu.
Santa Monica Public Library Announces September Events
Among the events is Puppets in the Library, classes on how to write engaging scenes, celebrations of Hispanic Heritage Month, and more
The Santa Monica Public Library is offering a variety of exciting events for kids, teens, adults, and families this September, featuring educational workshops, book readings, and cultural celebrations. Highlights of the month include activities for all ages, from creative writing and sensory wellness for youth to cultural events and book groups for adults.
Among the events for kids and families is Puppets in the Library, set for Friday, September 5, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Ocean Park Branch. The puppet show will celebrate Library Card SignUp Month and highlight the importance of having a library card. After the show, children can create their own paper bag puppets. This event is designed for children ages 4 to 11.
For teens, Scene by Scene Storybuilding on Tuesday, September 16, from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Main Library will teach participants how to write engaging scenes and use them to build their own stories. Young adult book author Erika Lewis will lead the workshop, open to ages 13 to 18. The following day, teens can enjoy a Dungeons & Dragons session at the Main Library from 4:30 to 6 p.m., where they can create characters and embark on an adventure.
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, I Am, Yo Soy will take place on
Saturday, September 20, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Pico Branch. Author and illustrator Mirelle Ortega will read from her book and host an interactive art demo for families. Another activity in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Piñata Party, will be held on Saturday, September 27, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Main Library, where kids can make their own piñatas and fill them with treats.
Adults can look forward to a range of events, including a Young Musicians Showcase on Saturday, September 13, from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Main Library’s MLK Jr. Auditorium. Local emerging musicians will perform live, including violinists, pianists, and vocalists.
On Thursday, September 18, from 5 to 7 p.m., the library will screen the documentary Carlos (2023), telling the story of Mexican American musician Carlos Santana. Following the screening, there will be a discussion about the guitar’s roots in the Americas.
On Saturday, September 20, from 1 to 3 p.m., the library will present The Mexican Presence in Santa Monica Project, a special event that explores the cultural history and contributions of Mexican American families in the city. Attendees can learn about the project’s community members and how they can contribute to documenting this rich cultural history.
For those interested in wellness, Roots & Wellness: A Cultural Aroma Blending Experience will take place on Saturday, September 27, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Main Library’s Central Courtyard. The immersive art installation, created by sensory artist Parisa Parnian, will engage visitors with themed aroma-blending stations inspired by cultural traditions and local landscapes. Participants will create their own custom aroma blends while learning about the emotional connections to scent and memory.
The library is also offering a variety of book groups for adults. The Main
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Library Book Group will meet virtually on Monday, September 15, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. to discuss Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa. The Mystery & Thriller Book Group will meet on Tuesday, September 16, at 7 p.m. on Zoom to discuss We Lie Here by Rachel Howzell Hall. For fans of nonfiction, the Montana Branch Book Group will discuss The Art Thief by Michael Finkel on Thursday, September 18, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Additional events for adults include computer classes, legal research assistance, and career services. The library’s LA Law Library Office Hours will be held on Thursday, September 25, from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Main Library, where legal specialists will provide dropin assistance.
The Tech & Tasks program offers volunteer tutoring for adults needing help with reading, writing, and digital tasks. Sessions are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the month. Adult learners can also enroll in the Career Online High School program, allowing them to earn a fully accredited high school diploma online.
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