Screen Shot 2014-06-04 at 8.30.07 AM

This week, Santa Monica’s City Council will deliberate a major decision that will impact the city for decades to come. And, our city, along with the Chamber of Commerce and Sustainable Works, will celebrate its most sustainable businesses.

Determining the Future of our City

There has been a lot of noise made recently about Santa Monica’s proposed zoning ordinance update, and rightly so, as it will be the first comprehensive update to the city’s zoning in more than 30 years.

It will determine how Santa Monica will change over the next few decades. Among many other things, the update will determine how Santa Monica does its fair share to alleviate Los Angeles County’s housing crisis or if we will, by preventing new homes from being built, set the stage for even more dramatic rent increases and even the loss of rent controlled homes through the Ellis Act. The update will also determine if there will ever be another child care center built near homes and whether our commercial boulevards will become vibrant neighborhoods or remain mostly inaccessible, except by car.

If you have something to say about any of these issues, this week is the time to start letting your voice be heard. Email the City Council at council@smgov.net or you can reach each individual Council member here. Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., the Council will start hearing public comment on the proposed zoning ordinance update.

When: Tuesday and Wednesday, April 14 and 15 at 5:30 p.m.

Where: City Hall, 1685 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Sustainability Quality Awards

Celebrate Santa Monica’s commitment to a sustainable future this Thursday at the 20th annual Sustainable Quality Awards at Le Meridien Delfina Hotel.

About 250 people are expected to join the City of Santa Monica, the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, and Sustainable Works, in celebrating more than a dozen businesses that are leading the way in sustainability, including the three grand prize winners, Capital Intelligence Associates, Locanda del Lago, and the Shore Hotel.

The Santa Monica Bike Center is sponsoring the first 35 people who commit to arriving to the event on bike to highlight the role of active transportation in long-time sustainability. For tickets or more information, visit SMSQA.com.

When: Thursday, April 16 at 11 a.m.

Where: Le Meridien Delfina Hotel, 530 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica

Learn More