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The
city of Santa Monica is the essence of the Southern California
beach community. It is a politically active community with
a fiercely independent city council . While its laws are changing,
Santa Monica has a reputation for having some of the strictest
rent control laws in the country. Santa Monica has its own
school system which is known for the quality education it
offers its students. It also administers its own public transportation
and governmental infrastructure. All of this gives the city
a real feeling of community. Santa Monica is bordered on the
north by Pacific Palisades, on the east by West Los Angeles,
on the south by Venice, and of course on the west by Santa
Monica Bay and some of the most beautiful, sandy beaches to
be found anywhere. From the top of the bluffs of Palisades
Park, one can enjoy panoramic views of all of coastal Los
Angeles.
Up
until World War II, Santa Monica was a small beach community
connected to the City of Los Angeles by the Red Car, a trolley
line which was used to bring beachgoers to the seaside community
for day trips. When Douglas Aircraft built their Clover Field
manufacturing plant on the site of what is now the Santa Monica
Airport, the city went through a building boom to accommodate
the influx of people who came to build airplanes during the
war.
The
town continued to develop through the '50s and '60s into a
city known for its innovative and active population. Santa
Monica is a city of neighborhoods. Residents in every part
of the city identify strongly with the neighborhood they live
in, adding to the strong sense of community to be found throughout
the city. North of Wilshire are the exclusive neighborhoods
while the southern part of the city is characterized by a
mix of homes and apartments. Shopping areas include exclusive
Montana Avenue, the Third Street Promenade, which attracts
people from all over Los Angeles, the Santa Monica Place Mall,
and Main Street. Additionally, Santa Monica boasts three different
Farmer's Markets and a pleasure pier.
DRIVE
TIMES
Downtown Los Angeles: 35 minutes
LAX: 15 minutes
Burbank Airport: 50 minutes
Sherman Oaks: 30 minutes
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