From COVID-19 and development to crime and politics as usual, 2021 was a busy year in the Santa Monica news cycle. As the year comes to a close, here are the top stories from each month.
Anti-Maskers Protest at Westfield Century City
January 4, 2021 – A group of anti-maskers protested at the Westfield Century City mall over the weekend, harassing employees and customers. Full article here.
Village for Vets: Making Headway on Homelessness
February 1, 2021 – Brentwood resident Marcie Polier-Swartz runs a nonprofit called “Village for Vets.” She started it in 2016 some time ago, with an initial goal of helping veterans (her family is full of them) and forging stronger connections between Brentwood Village merchants and the adjacent VA. Full article here.
UCLA Slowly Reopening Campus Following Over Year-Long Closure
March 16, 2021 – After almost a year to date of virtual learning and exclusively closed facilities, UCLA is allowing limited reopening for some of their buildings. Full article here.
Efforts to Curtail Street Racing ‘Epidemic’ in Rancho Park Area After Fatal Collision
April 22, 2021 – A handful of efforts are underway to present street racing in the Rancho Park area following the death of Monique Munoz, a young woman who was killed while driving home from work, allegedly by a 17-year-old traveling at approximately 120 miles per hour in his Lamborghini. Full article here.
Purple Line Extension Breaks Ground
May 27, 2021 – Officials this week broke ground on a 2.5-mile subway extension of the Purple Line (Metro’s D Line) from Century City to Westwood. Full article here.
Westwood, Rancho Park-Palms Libraries Reopen
June 4, 2021 – The Los Angeles public library system recently reopened 50 locations, including the Westwood and Rancho Park-Palms branches. Full article here.
West LA Permanent Supportive Housing for Seniors, Veterans Breaks Ground
July 12, 2021 – A five story supportive housing project for seniors and veterans recently broke ground in West Los Angeles. Full article here.
UCLA Hospitals Rank No. 1 in State, No. 3 in Nation
August 3, 2021 – UCLA Health hospitals have ranked No. 1 in both Los Angeles and California and rose to No. 3 nationally in U.S. News & World Report’s annual report, the highest set of rankings UCLA has received in its history. Full article here.
Los Angeles Metro To Construct New Westwood Station for Purple Line
September 30, 2021 – New construction of the Metro Purple Line (D Line) will actively continue in the coming months. LA Metro has decided on two stations to be constructed in West Los Angeles, at the corner of Westwood and Wilshire, as well as at the West LA Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Full article here.
Lawmaker Calls for Enforcement of Anti-Camping Laws in Westwood
October 19, 2021 – A Los Angeles lawmaker representing Century City and Westwood is calling for enforcement of anti-camping laws in Westwood. Full article here.
Undercooked Meat and Mislabeled Pre-Packaged Issues at Reopened UCLA Dining Halls
November 3, 2021- Undercooked meat and mislabeled pre-packaged to-go foods are causing doubts among some students returning to UCLA and the reopened dining halls. Full article here.
New LA County District for Century City-Westwood More Conservative
December 20, 2021 – Last week a new map for LA County Board of Supervisors districts went into effect with changes that make Century City-Westwood’s district more conservative. Full article here.
