Santa Monica Forward / Santa Monica Next
Communications Director for Santa Monica Forward and Editor of the website Santa Monica Next
PROFILE
Jason Islas
Guest
FROM Jason Islas
Design and Architecture
The southland's growing pains Angelenos are in the midst of an epic battle over what kind of city they want to live in, suburban or urban. They are also battling over which of these two cities can keep the region's housing affordable as the middle class is hollowed out. In Santa Monica, Measure LV , also known as LUVE, is being watched with great interest all around the region by those who think development has gotten out of control.
Design and Architecture
Does LUVE hurt or help Santa Monica? Downtown Santa Monica is being transformed from a Central Business District into a dense, walkable community of three- to seven-story mixed-use buildings attractive to young and old urban dwellers. But many Santa Monica residents are angered by what they see as over-development and traffic congestion. They are supporting Measure LV , or LUVE (Land-Use Voter Empowerment), a November ballot initiative that is being watched around the Southland. (We hear from Santa Monica residents Elena Christopoulos, Jeremy Stutes, Brian Derro, Shari Mattingly, Gary Llewellyn, Amy Utani and Ida Riley.)
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Santa Monica: To Grow or Not to Grow? How much should a city grow to prosper but also remain livable? That’s the central question for Santa Monica, also known as a key part of Silicon Beach, the tech-heavy oceanside business corridor. Now, some of those tech companies are getting frustrated by the city’s low-growth rules that result in relatively few new developments, either housing or commercial. It was a hot topic at Santa Monica’s recent “state of the city” event, and we get perspectives from both sides.
Recommended
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Trump says goodbye Paris Accord: What does it mean for U.S. and the planet? President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the U.S. will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, the landmark international agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Trump was to renegotiate a new deal, but will that happen?
The Business
Revisiting showrunner Steven Bochco on his memoir Steven Bochco, the writer-producer behind record-breaking Emmy winners Hill Street Blues, LA Law and NYPD Blue, fought battles with everyone from out-of-control actors to network censors in his long career. He isn’t afraid to tell those tales in his memoir, Truth Is a Total Defense. This week we revisit the conversation where he shared some of his favorite stories with us.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Why did Jared Kushner want a back channel with Russians? News broke Friday that President Trump’s son-in-law and senior advisor, Jared Kushner, tried setting up a back channel between the Trump transition team and the Russian government. What are the consequences for Kushner, President Trump, and the investigation into Russian meddling?
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Why is Trump so behind on filling staff jobs, establishing concrete policies? Yesterday Donald Trump signed a “decision memo” to revamp the air traffic control system. But there was little legislative detail in the plan. There’s not much to other splashy announcements from the White House, including tax cuts and the arms deal with Saudi Arabia. And hundreds of positions are unfilled in federal agencies.