1 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, April 11, 2022 3:30 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Christine Parra; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; Lana Negrete; Gleam Davis; Kristin McCowan; Denise Anderson-Warren; Nikima Newsome
Subject: Item 14: Public Comment for 12 April 2022 City Council Meeting
EXTERNAL
Dear City Councilmembers,
I'm writing to express concern about the sudden inability of Santa Monicans to share public comments at City Council meetings by telephone, which is a violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Written comments are not equivalent or comparable to verbally addressing our City Council members in real time, and cannot substitute for access to that medium.
In light of the virtual accommodations that have been made until now to ensure public participation during the pandemic, it is not credible that public comments cannot continue by telephone. I urge you to remedy this serious accessibility issue immediately to minimize the damage of excluding remote public input, to this month's meeting.
Furthermore, it is crucial that remote access continue permanently for all City Council, commission, and board meetings for the same reasons. Santa Monica prides itself on being a progressive, inclusive city, but denying participation to disabled people and others unable to attend meetings in person is neither progressive nor inclusive.
Finally, I'm discouraged by the City Council's disregard of the COVID‐19 pandemic, which still exists and continues to sicken people, kill many, and disable millions more via post‐viral illness (long covid and others). Vaccinations alone are insufficient protection against transmission, and resuming events like public in person meetings contribute to the recent increase in COVID‐19 cases in Los Angeles County. Despite the CDC's failure of leadership, I expect better from local leaders in Santa Monica. Please reexamine the dangers of lax COVID‐19 protocol and adjust course accordingly.
Meanwhile, and regardless of pandemic status, please enable all Santa Monicans to participate in public political engagement by immediately resuming remote access for those who need it. This kind of broadly accessible design benefits those who would offer public comment this way as well as the City Council and community at large. We can only thrive when all voices are heard.
Thank you very much for your attention to this urgent matter.
Best wishes,
Michelle Gray
Item 14
4/12/22
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1 Vernice Hankins
From: William Johnson <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2022 10:31 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: April 12 City Council Meeting
EXTERNAL
I am unable to attend tonight’s meeting. I am submitting the following written public comment about an important member of the Santa Monica community which I ask be read and followed by the period of silence requested which is itself an integral part of my comment:
I attended USC Law School with Rosario Perry where we both served on the Law Review. Rosario was at the top of his class and could easily have gone to work for a high paying corporate law firm but instead dedicated his life to fighting against injustices suffered by the average person who could not otherwise afford or obtain the services of a first rate legal advocate. And he did all he could to help landlords understand their rights and responsibilities and how to navigate the ever changing byzantine and oppressive rules they were subject to. He made the world and Santa Monica a better place. I have never known a kinder more selfless person. Please observe one minute in silence in Rosario’s honor. ‐ William Johnson
Item 14
4/12/22
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