1 Vernice Hankins
From: Natalya Zernitskaya <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2023 2:10 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; Christine Parra; Oscar de la Torre; Lana Negrete; Phil Brock; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis
Cc: David White
Subject: City Council Agenda 3/14/23- Items 16B, 16C, 16D, 16E
EXTERNAL
Good Afternoon Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, and City Councilmembers, I wish to express my support for Items 16B, 16C, 16D, and 16E on this evening's agenda. Please see my additional comments on these items below:
Item 16B‐ Students should be able to attend and participate in Grad Nite activities regardless of their incomes.
This would be an excellent use of $10,000 of Council discretionary funds Item 16C‐ Santa Monica held its first Pride event in 2019 and unfortunately, COVID derailed the celebration of Pride over the last 3 years. I would be happy to see City funds used toward a celebration of inclusivity and diversity like Pride.
Item 16D‐ Anyone who has ever met me knows that I love animals and strongly believe that pets fundamentally improve our sense of wellbeing. Helping animals at the Santa Monica Animal Shelter by improving the facility with a properly turfed play area will help find their "furever" homes and I enthusiastically support such efforts. Item 16E‐ Santa Monica has so many incredible artists and we should support ways to help them showcase their work such as the Montana Art Walk. Supporting artists and small businesses along Montana Ave. by helping to offset costs for the Art Walk is a great use of City funds. Additionally, I would encourage the Council and Staff to work with Montana Avenue Merchants Association to explore potentially closing sections of Montana Ave. to vehicular traffic during the Art Walk to provide an even better experience for the artists, businesses, and attendees of the event.
Thank you,
Natalya
Natalya Zernitskaya (she/her)
[email protected]