Category: Inside Santa Monica

Expert says Santa Monica’s declaration of support for the undocumented has some holes in it By Beige Luciano-Adams A recent city resolution expressing support for diversity and outlining (non-)cooperation with federal immigration authorities sounds potent: Another act of resistance from this progressive enclave within a progressive enclave. But, like Los Angeles, Santa Monica stops short of declaring Sanctuary City status — even as political pressure builds for a more forceful rebuke of plans to escalate deportations and enlist local police officers to help. President Trump has vowed to cut federal funding to states and cities that give him agita,...

 Crisis and Opportunity By Beige Luciano-Adams The Curse of Living in Interesting Times With Santa Monica City Manager Rick Cole and former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros at the podium, the Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of the City event on Monday took on a philosophical tone. Cole offered an ancient Chinese curse: “May you live in interesting times,” noting that the Chinese word for “crisis” includes characters for both “danger” and “opportunity.” The opportunity Cole and Cisneros see is Santa Monica emerging as a national model of a city driven by progressive values — a place that can evolve...