1 Vernice Hankins
From: Lisa Alexander <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2022 3:48 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: City Council July 26 Agenda - Ballot Measures
EXTERNAL
Dear Council Members,
I am a tax‐paying business owner in Santa Monica. I shop here, I support our local restaurants and I use our increasingly troubled parks. I urge the Council to place the measures described in Agenda Item 11B on the November ballot. Due to economic damage caused by Covid‐19, the City needs additional revenue to deal with problems associated with public safety, after‐school programs for our kids and the restoration of the full operations of libraries; the measures described in 11B will help fill that gap.
In addition, as a member of the Board of Governors of the Santa Monica Boys and Girls Club, I am very concerned by the steep transfer tax provision of the competing measure described in Agenda Item 8A with no exemption for sale by a charitable organization. This would impact our Club’s options in planning for a new, state of the art facility to deliver quality programming to the children of our community and their families.
Please vote to place 11B on the November ballot!
Thank you,
Lisa
Lisa C. Alexander, Esq.
JAKLE, ALEXANDER & PATTON, LLP
1250 Sixth Street, Suite 300
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Main Line: (310) 395-6555
Direct Line: (310) 656-4310
Fax: (424) 238-6140
[email protected]
https://www.jaklelaw.com
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Item 8.A
07/26/22
1 of 8 Item 8.A
07/26/22
1 Vernice Hankins
From: Daniel Hall <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 10:55 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra
Subject: Yes on 8A, No on 11A, No on 11B, Yes on 11D, No on 16D
EXTERNAL
Mayor Himmelrich, Mayor Pro Tem McCowan, and City Councilmembers, I urge you to consider the following for July 26th's Agenda Items:
8A ‐ Vote YES ‐ 10,000+ Santa Monica voters have said through the Citizens' Initiative that they want to tax extremely high‐value real estate in order to subsidize rent‐burdened, low‐income Santa Monicans to prevent homeless, ensure our community does not become economically gated, and to continue to guarantee high quality schools following Malibu unification. This measure is critical to establishing long term and substantial funding for deed restricted affordable housing and our school system.
11A ‐ Vote NO ‐ Removing the Personnel Board from the Charter will subject what ought to be non‐political work to the whims of a political Council. This was not the recommendation that the Personnel Board themselves brought forward, which sought only to allow greater participation from non‐resident community stakeholders on an oft understaffed commission. I do not think risking the politicization of the Personnel Board is wise and encourage you to vote against the staff recommendation as written.
11B ‐ Vote NO ‐ This measure is in direct competition with the Citizens' Initiative which 10,000+ Santa Monica residents have indicated their support for as indicated by the poison pill which would allow for this measure to win out with one more vote, even if both measures get majority support. As written, there are too many carve outs and, my main concern, too few rules about how the funds would be spent. We need a dedicated stream of funding for affordable housing construction; this measure simply adds to our General Fund, where the advisory measure could be entirely ignored by future Councils.
11D ‐ Vote YES ‐ While I am disappointed Council did not work with their sister body, the duly (and independently!) elected Rent Control Board and adopt their full requested Charter Amendment, the proposed measure will still help Santa Monica renters now and in the future. We are a city that is majority renter; we must support our renters in order to prevent our community from becoming economically gated. 16D ‐ Vote NO ‐ The measure proposed in 16D shows a basic lack of understanding of how the market economy works and masks anti‐housing policies in the language of social justice. As someone who volunteers and leads in diversity, equity, and inclusion‐oriented organizations, this is incredibly disappointing and disturbing. I am pro‐labor; I support collective bargaining and higher minimum wages for workers. This proposal, however, will block economic feasibility for any new development projects... benefitting the very landlord Councilmembers bringing this proposal forward. No projects equates to no construction jobs. Let's be realistic about what the market can bear.
Thank you for your consideration,
Dan
Daniel Hall
Santa Monica Mid‐City Resident
Item 8.A
07/26/22
2 of 8 Item 8.A
07/26/22
2 Pronouns: he/him
Item 8.A
07/26/22
3 of 8 Item 8.A
07/26/22
1 Vernice Hankins
From: Patricia Hoffman <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 7:33 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: No on 11B and 16D, Yes on 8A and 11D
EXTERNAL
July 26
Mayor Himmelrich, Councilmembers:
I am updating my letter to you regarding the July 12 agenda to make it appropriate for the July 26 agenda. The issues remain the same but the item numbers have changed.
I again want to add my voice to the chorus of hundreds who have asked that you vote against putting Item 11B on the ballot. Please vote no on 11B. 11B is in direct competition with and could kill the people’s initiative in 8A. I also hope that you do not move forward with Item 16D.
It is too late to adequately study the consequences, both intended and unintended, of this item.
As a reminder, more than 10,000 Santa Monica voters have said that they want to tax extremely high-value real estate in order to subsidize rent burdened low-income Santa Monicans to keep them from becoming homeless, to build more affordable housing for our local work force, and to continue to guarantee high quality schools even if Malibu takes its money and runs. I strongly support Item 8A. I know you will be voting yes on it but I hope you will do so enthusiastically and that you will enthusiastically support the measure since you will be helping so many of your constituents by doing so.
Right now you will also have the opportunity to help many of the tenants of Santa Monica by voting yes on Item 11D. You can also place a 3% cap on general adjustments to the maximum allowable rents, in addition to the other components of Item 11D.
You have a rare opportunity to be heroes to thousands of struggling Santa Monicans in this very scary moment of uncertainty. Please vote no on Item 11B and 16D. Please vote yes on Item 8A and Item 11D.
Thank you,
Patricia Hoffman.
Item 8.A
07/26/22
4 of 8 Item 8.A
07/26/22
1 Vernice Hankins
From: Daniel Hall <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 10:55 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra
Subject: Yes on 8A, No on 11A, No on 11B, Yes on 11D, No on 16D
EXTERNAL
Mayor Himmelrich, Mayor Pro Tem McCowan, and City Councilmembers, I urge you to consider the following for July 26th's Agenda Items:
8A ‐ Vote YES ‐ 10,000+ Santa Monica voters have said through the Citizens' Initiative that they want to tax extremely high‐value real estate in order to subsidize rent‐burdened, low‐income Santa Monicans to prevent homeless, ensure our community does not become economically gated, and to continue to guarantee high quality schools following Malibu unification. This measure is critical to establishing long term and substantial funding for deed restricted affordable housing and our school system.
11A ‐ Vote NO ‐ Removing the Personnel Board from the Charter will subject what ought to be non‐political work to the whims of a political Council. This was not the recommendation that the Personnel Board themselves brought forward, which sought only to allow greater participation from non‐resident community stakeholders on an oft understaffed commission. I do not think risking the politicization of the Personnel Board is wise and encourage you to vote against the staff recommendation as written.
11B ‐ Vote NO ‐ This measure is in direct competition with the Citizens' Initiative which 10,000+ Santa Monica residents have indicated their support for as indicated by the poison pill which would allow for this measure to win out with one more vote, even if both measures get majority support. As written, there are too many carve outs and, my main concern, too few rules about how the funds would be spent. We need a dedicated stream of funding for affordable housing construction; this measure simply adds to our General Fund, where the advisory measure could be entirely ignored by future Councils.
11D ‐ Vote YES ‐ While I am disappointed Council did not work with their sister body, the duly (and independently!) elected Rent Control Board and adopt their full requested Charter Amendment, the proposed measure will still help Santa Monica renters now and in the future. We are a city that is majority renter; we must support our renters in order to prevent our community from becoming economically gated. 16D ‐ Vote NO ‐ The measure proposed in 16D shows a basic lack of understanding of how the market economy works and masks anti‐housing policies in the language of social justice. As someone who volunteers and leads in diversity, equity, and inclusion‐oriented organizations, this is incredibly disappointing and disturbing. I am pro‐labor; I support collective bargaining and higher minimum wages for workers. This proposal, however, will block economic feasibility for any new development projects... benefitting the very landlord Councilmembers bringing this proposal forward. No projects equates to no construction jobs. Let's be realistic about what the market can bear.
Thank you for your consideration,
Dan
Daniel Hall
Santa Monica Mid‐City Resident
Item 8.A
07/26/22
5 of 8 Item 8.A
07/26/22
2 Pronouns: he/him
Item 8.A
07/26/22
6 of 8 Item 8.A
07/26/22
1 Vernice Hankins
From: Patricia Hoffman <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 7:33 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: No on 11B and 16D, Yes on 8A and 11D
EXTERNAL
July 26
Mayor Himmelrich, Councilmembers:
I am updating my letter to you regarding the July 12 agenda to make it appropriate for the July 26 agenda. The issues remain the same but the item numbers have changed.
I again want to add my voice to the chorus of hundreds who have asked that you vote against putting Item 11B on the ballot. Please vote no on 11B. 11B is in direct competition with and could kill the people’s initiative in 8A. I also hope that you do not move forward with Item 16D.
It is too late to adequately study the consequences, both intended and unintended, of this item.
As a reminder, more than 10,000 Santa Monica voters have said that they want to tax extremely high-value real estate in order to subsidize rent burdened low-income Santa Monicans to keep them from becoming homeless, to build more affordable housing for our local work force, and to continue to guarantee high quality schools even if Malibu takes its money and runs. I strongly support Item 8A. I know you will be voting yes on it but I hope you will do so enthusiastically and that you will enthusiastically support the measure since you will be helping so many of your constituents by doing so.
Right now you will also have the opportunity to help many of the tenants of Santa Monica by voting yes on Item 11D. You can also place a 3% cap on general adjustments to the maximum allowable rents, in addition to the other components of Item 11D.
You have a rare opportunity to be heroes to thousands of struggling Santa Monicans in this very scary moment of uncertainty. Please vote no on Item 11B and 16D. Please vote yes on Item 8A and Item 11D.
Thank you,
Patricia Hoffman.
Item 8.A
07/26/22
7 of 8 Item 8.A
07/26/22
1 Vernice Hankins
From: Bill Dawson <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 2:28 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: City Council Agenda Items No. 8A and 11B
EXTERNAL
Dear Council Members,
The ballot measure described in Agenda Item No. 8A includes an extremely high transfer tax which will hurt me and my family significantly should we elect to sell our property. Had it been in effect over the last 10 years, it would have raised hundreds of millions of dollars for low‐income housing and subsidies for tenants but not one nickel for public safety or after school recreational programs for our kids to provide revenue to restore community priorities lost during the pandemic such as the full reopening of libraries. Also, I am troubled by this ballot measure as it does not have an exemption for religious organizations and nonprofit organizations. I urge the Council to support the more moderate tax which is contemplated in the measure under consideration in Agenda Item No. 11B. Not only will it be fairer to property owners but when coupled with the advisory measure described in Agenda Item No. 11B, it will direct the funds to those programs deemed most important to our residents.
Please add the moderate tax measure to the ballot! Let the people that have to pay this big bill decide.
Bill Dawson
Santa Monica resident, property owner and voter
Item 8.A
07/26/22
8 of 8 Item 8.A
07/26/22