Caroline Torosis

Caroline Torosis
Mayor of Santa Monica, California
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 9, 2025
Preceded byLana Negrete
Mayor Pro Tempore of Santa Monica
In office
December 11, 2024 – December 9, 2025
Preceded byLana Negrete
Succeeded byJesse Zwick
Member of the Santa Monica City Council
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 8, 2022
Commissioner, Santa Monica Rent Control Board
In office
2016 – December 2022
Personal details
BornCaroline Torosis
Santa Monica, California
PartyDemocratic
OccupationAttorney
Politician

Caroline Torosis is the mayor of Santa Monica, California. Since 2022, she has served on the city council, and she previously served as Mayor Pro Tempore from 2024 to 2025.[1][2][3] Tororis was sworn in as mayor on December 9, 2025.[4]

Background and career

Caroline Torosis holds a Juris Doctor degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and she also holds a degree from UCLA.[2] In 2016, Torosis was elected to the Santa Monica Rent Control Board.[5] Torosis was re-elected to the Rent Control Board in 2020.[6] She was then elected to the Santa Monica City Council in 2022, receiving the highest number of votes among all candidates.[7] In 2025, Torosis was sworn in as mayor[8] by California State Assemblyman Rick Zbur.[9]

In 2025, Torosis received a California Assembly District 51 Community Excellence Award for her work coordinating the regional response to the Palisades Fire.[10] In 2026, Torosis was one of eight United States mayors selected to participate in the Just City Mayoral Fellowship at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.[11]

In addition to her role as Mayor, Torosis also serves as a policy director on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.[2] She has been described as a "workforce and economic development expert."[2]

Housing policy

In 2020, the Santa Monica Daily Press reported that Torosis was focused on preserving the availability of Santa Monica's rent controlled housing and protecting tenants.[12] Torosis has backed programs that support affordable housing.[13] Following public reports that a local developer planned to develop interim supportive housing on Ocean Avenue, Torosis voted to support "transparency standards for supportive and transitional housing projects."[4][14] Plans for interim housing at the Ocean Avenue sites were later withdrawn.[15] In January 2026, along with Councilmembers Dan Hall and Ellis Raskin, Torosis introduced an "Affordability Agenda" that would deliver programs to address rising housing costs and the rising cost of living in Santa Monica and the Southern California region.[16]

Economic development

In 2025, the Santa Monica City Council unanimously approved a plan to revitalize the City's downtown area through new investments in public safety and economic development.[17] Torosis described the program as a "renaissance" plan for Santa Monica.[17] According to the Los Angeles Times, the plan implemented the goal of Torosis and allied councilmembers to "boost economic activity in the city."[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Santa Monica to Swear in New Mayor". MSN. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  2. ^ a b c d "Caroline Torosis to Be Sworn as New Santa Monica Mayor". Canyon News. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  3. ^ "Councilmembers Torosis and Zwick to Begin Mayoral Transition Amid Controversy". MSN. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  4. ^ a b Seedorff, Matthew (December 9, 2025). "Santa Monica's new mayor sworn in amid backlash over Ocean Avenue housing plan". FOX 11 Los Angeles.
  5. ^ "Santa Monica Council Incumbents Sweep, LV Loses Big". Santa Monica Lookout. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
  6. ^ "New Council to Be Seated, Mayor Picked Tuesday". Santa Monica Lookout. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
  7. ^ "Liberal Establishment Makes Comeback". Santa Monica Lookout. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
  8. ^ Santa Monica City Council Meeting December 9, 2025. City of Santa Monica – YouTube. 2025-12-09. Event occurs at 1h33m22s. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  9. ^ Santa Monica City Council Meeting December 9, 2025. City of Santa Monica – YouTube. 2025-12-09. Event occurs at 1h32m1s. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  10. ^ "Assembly District 51 Community Excellence Awards". Rick Chavez Zbur, Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair, 51st District. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
  11. ^ "Mayor Torosis Selected for National Fellowship on Urban Equity". Santa Monica Daily Press. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
  12. ^ "Re-elected rent control board talks shop". Santa Monica Daily Press. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
  13. ^ Alin, Maaz (January 21, 2026). "Santa Monica Council Approves Expanded Affordable Housing Pilot". Santa Monica Daily Press. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  14. ^ Hall, Matthew (December 9, 2025). "New emails further link Councilwoman Caroline Torosis to controversial housing development, despite her public denials of prior knowledge". Santa Monica Daily Press. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  15. ^ Hall, Matthew (October 27, 2025). "Supervisor cancels controversial Ocean Ave. housing projects". Santa Monica Daily Press. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  16. ^ "Opinion: Mayor Torosis, Councilmembers Hall and Raskin Unveil Bold Cost-of-Living Agenda to Ensure Everyone Can Thrive in Santa Monica". Santa Monica Next. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  17. ^ a b "Caroline Torosis to Be Sworn as New Santa Monica Mayor". Santa Monica Lookout. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
  18. ^ "Struggling Santa Monica's recovery plan: More cops downtown, luring back lost business shop". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
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