From: [email protected]
To: councilmtgitems; Caroline Torosis; Christine Parra; Gleam Davis; Jesse Zwick; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Phil Brock
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: City Council 6/13 agenda item 16-F: SUPPORT
Date: Friday, June 9, 2023 5:20:36 PM
EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Davis and City Council members,
I support this agenda item to find a way to make swim lessons available to elementary school children whose families may not be able to to afford the fees. Living so close to the ocean, this is not merely a matter of recreation but of safety.
When I was teaching elementary school in downtown Los Angeles, one of my students, Gregory Gilliard, was finally able to afford to attend a church-related summer camp for the first time after completing 5th grade, but he drowned in the camp swimming pool. No one even realized what had happened until the end of the afternoon, when the pool was cleared and his body was spotted, lying at the bottom.
Thank you for your consideration.
Zina
16F. Request of Councilmembers Brock & de la Torre that the City Council direct the City Manager to develop an estimate of resources needed to provide financial assistance to eligible families and/or partner with community non-profits to provide free and/or reduced-cost swim lessons at Santa Monica Aquatics facilities to ensure that elementary school-age children have access to learn how to swim. New Item Received. 6/09/2023
Staff Report Printout
a. Swim Lessons_06132023