Agenda packet, first session — Santa Monica City Council, July 25, 2023 (part 1 of 8)

City of Santa Monica
City Council Meeting
AGENDA

GLEAM DAVIS
MAYOR

PHIL BROCK LANA NEGRETE

COUNCILMEMBER MAYOR PRO TEM

CHRISTINE PARRA CAROLINE TOROSIS

COUNCILMEMBER COUNCILMEMBER

JESSE ZWICK OSCAR DE LA TORRE

COUNCILMEMBER COUNCILMEMBER

DAVID WHITE

CITY MANAGER

DOUGLAS SLOAN

CITY ATTORNEY

DENISE ANDERSON-WARREN

CITY CLERK

STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR THAT PROMOTE CIVILITY AT ALL PUBLIC MEETINGS:
• Treat everyone courteously; • Give open-minded consideration to all viewpoints; • Listen to others respectfully • Focus on the issues and avoid personalizing debate; • Exercise self-control • Embrace respectful disagreement and dissent as democratic rights, inherent components of an inclusive public process, and tools for forging sound decisions
Regular meetings are broadcast live on CityTV cable channel 16 and on the internet at santamonica.gov. Cable television re-broadcasts air on Thursday and Saturday at 11:30 AM. The agenda will air on CityTV on Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM, and on Monday and Tuesday at 12:30 PM and 6:00 PM.

City of Santa Monica Generated: 7/31/2023 9:33 AM Page 2

RULES OF ORDER FOR THE CONDUCT OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS (Resolution No.11494(CCS))

WAYS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT
If you are interested in providing public comment at a City Council meeting, there are several ways to participate:
(1) Written public comment. In lieu of oral public comment, the public is strongly encouraged to submit written public comment on agenda items via email to [email protected]. Written public comment submitted before 12:00 pm on the day of the meeting will be available for online viewing. Please note the agenda item number in the subject line of your written comments. (2) Oral public comment. Persons wishing to address the City Council regarding items on the agenda must be present and submit their name and address (optional) to the City Clerk before the public comment section is opened for that item or before the public hearing is opened where one is required by law. Register to speak at the Speaker Kiosk prior to the meeting. Remarks from the public are limited to a total of 6 minutes per City Council meeting, with a maximum of 2 minutes and a minimum of one minute per item. Except for the author of the request, public comment on 15-items are limited to 1 minute. Except on Public Input, speakers appearing at the meeting in person, may donate 2 minutes to another person present in-person at the meeting, who may speak for a total of 4 minutes on that item.

Both the donor of time and the designated speaker must register at the Speaker Kiosk in person together.

Oral public comment from any one individual is limited to a total of 6 minutes per City Council meeting, with a maximum of 2 minutes per agenda item; under some circumstances, Council may change the maximum to 1 minute per agenda item.

ORDER OF BUSINESS (may not be changed except by majority vote of the City Council.)

1. General Public Input
(members of the public may address the City Council
only on items not on the agenda, but within the
subject matter jurisdiction of the City).

2. Public Comment for Closed Session, Special
Agenda, and Consent Calendar Items Only
(Commendations and Proclamations presented).

3. Closed Session.

4. Special Agenda Items (City Manager’s Report,
Presentations, etc.).

5. Consent Calendar (All items considered in one
motion unless removed by a City Councilmember for
discussion. Public comment shall be heard prior
to City Council discussion).

6. Public Comment on remaining Agenda Items

7. Study Session.

8. Continued Items.

9. Administrative Proceedings.

10. Ordinances:
• 1
st Reading
• 2
nd Reading

11. Staff Administrative Item.

12. Public Hearings.

13. Reports of Boards and Commissions.

14. Resolutions.

15. Written Communications (other than
Reports of Commission and Officers).

16. Councilmember Discussion Items.

Agendas and reports are accessible on the City's webpage at smgov.net/council/agendas. They are also available at the City Clerk's Office and in alternate formats upon request. For a free email subscription to the City Council Agendas, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (310) 458-8211 or [email protected].

Si desea comunicarse con alguien en español, llame a nuestra oficina al (310) 458-8211 y pida hablar con Esterlina Lugo.

City of Santa Monica Generated: 7/31/2023 9:33 AM Page 3

AGENDAS

CITY OF SANTA MONICA

REGULAR MEETING
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
1685 MAIN STREET, ROOM 250, SANTA
MONICA, CA 90401, AND 3027 DELAWARE
AVENUE
TUESDAY, JULY 25, 2023
MEETING BEGINS AT 5:30 PM
The Santa Monica City Council Meeting will be held at 5:35 P.M., on Tuesday July 25, 2023, in the City Council Chambers, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California, 90401 and at a teleconference site located at 3027 Delaware Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404, where one of the Councilmembers will be present and will participate by telephone.

HOW TO PROVIDE WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT:

Written public comment can be submitted via email to [email protected].

Written comments received prior to 12:00 pm on the day of the meeting will be available online. Please note the agenda item number in the subject line of your written comments.

CALL TO ORDER

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL

1. PUBLIC INPUT
(Public comment is permitted only on items not on the agenda that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City. State law prohibits the City Council from taking any action on items not listed on the agenda, including issues raised under this agenda item.)

1.A. Written Comments

2. PUBLIC INPUT (AGENDA ITEMS UNDER CLOSED SESSION, SPECIAL AGENDA

ITEMS, CONSENT CALENDAR ONLY)

3. CLOSED SESSIONS

3.A. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation – Gov. Code Section 54956.9(d)(1): Murcia v. City of Santa Monica et al.; United States District City of Santa Monica Generated: 7/31/2023 9:33 AM Page 4 Court, Central District of California, Case No. 22-cv-05253-FLA-MAR - New Item Received. 7/21/2023

3.B. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation, Deciding Whether to Participate as an Amicus – Gov. Code Section 54956.9(d)(1); L.W. et al., by and through her parents and next friends, Samantha Williams and Brian Williams v. Jonathan Skrmetti et al., Case No. 3:23-cv-00376, United States District Court, M.D. Tennessee - New Item Received. 7/21/2023

3.C. Conference with Real Estate Negotiator pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8: Property: 1855 Main Street, Santa Monica, California (Civic Auditorium) (APN 4290-013-901); City Negotiators: Jennifer Taylor, Economic Development Manager, and Nia Tang; Owner of Record: City of Santa Monica; Persons to be negotiated with: Cary Upton, Chief Operations Officer, Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District; Under negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment for Sale - New Item Received. 7/21/2023

3.D. Conference with Real Estate Negotiator pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8: Property: 1855 Main Street, Santa Monica, California (Civic Auditorium) (APN 4290-013-901); City Negotiators: Jennifer Taylor, Economic Development Manager, and Nia Tang, Senior Development Analyst; Owner of Record: City of Santa Monica; Persons to be negotiated with: Jesus Hernandez, Director of Housing Development, Community Corporation of Santa Monica; Under negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment for Sale - New Item Received. 7/21/2023
The following is the order of business for items to be heard no earlier than 7:00 p.m.

4. SPECIAL AGENDA ITEMS

4.A. City Manager's Report

5. CONSENT CALENDAR
(All items will be considered and approved in one motion unless removed by a Councilmember for discussion. In accordance with Charter section 615, the adoption of all ordinances and resolutions shall be by reading of title only unless a Councilmember present dissents.)

5.A. Award Construction Contract for the 2800 Airport Avenue Renovation Project Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:

1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities), of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.

2. Award Bid #SP2686 to Olympos Construction, Inc., for construction services for the 2800 Airport Avenue Building Renovation Project for the Public Works Department.

3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Olympos Construction, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $3,312,100 (including a City of Santa Monica Generated: 7/31/2023 9:33 AM Page 5 $301,100 contingency).

4. Authorize the Director of Public Works to issue any necessary change orders to complete additional work within contract authority.

5.B. Approval of First Modification to Agreement with Becnel Uniforms for Motor Coach Operators Uniforms
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:

1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.

2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a first modification to agreement #10734 in an amount not to exceed $95,000 with Becnel Uniforms for the provision of Motor Coach Operators (MCOs) uniforms for the Department of Transportation. This will result in an amended agreement with a new total amount not to exceed $776,000, with the original five-year term of the agreement remaining unchanged.

5.C. Adoption of Resolution Accepting Confidential Unrepresented Employees Pay Plan 2022
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:

1. Adopt the proposed Resolution (Attachment A) accepting the Confidential Unrepresented Employees (CUE) Pay Plan;

2. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15324 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines

5.D. City Council - Regular Meeting - May 9, 2023 5:30 PM - New Item Received. 7/21/2023

5.E. City Council - Regular Meeting - May 23, 2023 5:30 PM - New Item Received. 7/21/2023

5.F. City Council - Regular Meeting - Jun 13, 2023 5:30 PM - New Item Received. 7/21/2023

6. PUBLIC INPUT ON REMAINING AGENDA ITEMS

7. STUDY SESSION
No items

8. CONTINUED ITEMS

8.A. Annual Appointments to the following Boards and Commissions. Continued from 7/18/2023. - New Item Received. 7/21/2023
City of Santa Monica Generated: 7/31/2023 9:33 AM Page 6 Board/Commission No. of
Seats
Term
End
Date
Special Requirements
Airport Commission 2 6/30/2
027
Reside in the City.

Architectural Review
Board
1 6/30/2
027
Arts Commission 3 6/30/2
027
Reside or work in the City.

Commission on
Sustainability,
Environmental Justice
and the Environment
2 6/30/2
027
Reside or work in the City.

Disabilities Commission 1 6/30/2
027
Reside in the City.

Housing Commission 2 6/30/2
025
Two must be affordable
housing program participant
where one is 62-years or
older and the other is
unhoused or formerly
unhoused.

Human Services
Commission
2 6/30/2
027
Reside in the City.

Personnel Board 1 6/30/2
027
Reside in Santa Monica or
LA County that is employed
within the City, own
property or hold business
licenses in the City
Planning Commission 3 6/30/2
027
Reside in the City.

Public Safety Reform and
Oversight Commission
3 6/30/2
027
At least one shall be
between 18-22 years.

Recreation and Parks
Commission
1 6/30/2
027
Reside in the City.

Santa Monica Library
Board
1 6/30/2
027
Reside in the City.

Urban Forest Task Force 2 6/30/2
025
Must be current or past
certified arborist. All must
reside, work or hold
business licenses in the
City

8.B. Appointment to two annual Councilmember vacancies on the Audit Subcommittee for a term ending June 30, 2027. Continued from 7/18/2023. - New Item Received. 7/21/2023

9. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS
City of Santa Monica Generated: 7/31/2023 9:33 AM Page 7 No items

10. ORDINANCES
(Public comment is permitted on ordinances for introduction and first reading. No public discussion is permitted on ordinances for second reading and adoption. In accordance with Charter section 615, the adoption of all ordinances and resolutions shall be by reading of title only unless a Councilmember present dissents.)

10.A. Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Santa Monica Municipal Code 7.18.040 for Well Prohibition in the City - Attachment Added. 7/21/23
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached Ordinance.

10.B. Introduction and First Reading of an Interim Zoning Ordinance to Promote Economic Recovery in the City’s Downtown Districts, including the Third Street Promenade Area, and Provide Other Minor and Clerical Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance Related to Economic Recovery.

Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:

1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities), 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures), and 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.

2. Introduce for first reading an Interim Zoning Ordinance to promote economic recovery in the City’s Downtown Districts, including the Third Street Promenade Area, and provide other minor and clerical amendments to the Zoning Ordinance related to economic recovery.

10.C. Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance Amending the Text of the Zoning Ordinance to Provide Incentives for Certain Housing Projects That Filed an Application Prior to Implementation of the City’s 6th Cycle (2021-2029) Housing Element
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:

1. Adopt a finding that no subsequent environmental review is required pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section15162 based on a determination that the adoption of development incentives as set forth in the proposed ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance was analyzed as part of the 2021-2029 6th Cycle Housing Element Environmental Impact Report (EIR) [SCH No. 2020100575] that was certified by the City Council on October 12, 2021 with an Addendum to the EIR approved by the City Council on October 11, 2022.

2. Introduce for first reading an Ordinance amending the text of the Zoning Ordinance to provide incentives for certain housing projects that filed an City of Santa Monica Generated: 7/31/2023 9:33 AM Page 8 application prior to implementation of the City’s 6th Cycle (2021-2029) Housing Element.

10.D. Introduction and First Reading of Ordinance Amending SMMC Sections

4.08.270 and 4.12.180 to Authorize Electric Leaf Blowers Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council

1. Introduce for first reading the attached ordinance amending sections 4.08.270 and 4.12.180 of the Santa Monica Municipal Code to authorize the use of electric leaf blowers.

2. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) and finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15307 and Section 15308 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.

11. STAFF ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS

11.A. Approval of Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (“DTSM”) FY2023-24 Budget and Work Plan and Authorization of Various Agreements Between City and DTSM - New Item Received. 7/21/2023
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:

1. Adopt a finding of categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;

2. Approve the Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM) Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget and Work Plan;

3. Authorize the City Manager to execute proposed Master Services Agreement between DTSM and City to replace and supersede the Amended and Restated Services Agreement (CCS 9063) executed in 2019, (“Services Agreement”) to authorize DTSM to retain private security services for downtown Santa Monica for a one-year pilot program and also replace and supersede the existing Maintenance Services Agreement (CCS 9626), executed in 2012, by including in the Master Services Agreement the ongoing responsibilities of DTSM and City pertaining to custodial services for City’s parking structures and DTSM’s license to use a portion of parking structures 5 and 6;

4. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a First Modification to the Memorandum of Understanding with DTSM for community events at Lot 27 to extend the term for two additional years (to 2025) and expand the site area to authorize DTSM to temporarily activate the City-owned lot at 1318 4th Street for community events and activities consistent with DTSM’s roles and responsibilities under the proposed Master Services Agreement;

5. Authorize the City Manager to reinstate and amend the Third Street Promenade Public Services Program and Amenities License Agreement with DTSM to continue activation of the Promenade, including the addition of operating a Promenade vending cart program for four additional years, exercised by annual options (to 2027); and
City of Santa Monica Generated: 7/31/2023 9:33 AM Page 9

6. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Letter of Intent between the City, DTSM and Rooftop Cinema Club for the activation of the Parking Structure 6 rooftop space as an outdoor movie theater.

12. PUBLIC HEARINGS
No items

13. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

13.A. Santa Monica Housing Commission Report : Creating Equity - Affordable Homeownership in Santa Monica - Housing Commission Requesting to Pull & Continue.

14. RESOLUTIONS
No items

15. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS OTHER THAN REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND

OFFICERS
No items

16. COUNCILMEMBER DISCUSSION ITEMS

16.A. Recommendation to rescind the July 14, 2022, appointment of Sonya Wilson and Boyko Buchinsky to the Human Services Commission; and, consider new appointment to the vacancy on the Commission with a term ending June 30, 2026

16.B. Designation of voting delegate and alternate(s) for the League of California Cities Annual Conference and Expo, to be held September 20 - 22, 2023, in Sacramento, California.

16.C. Request by Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Negrete and Councilmember Zwick that the City Council direct the City Manager to explore and propose policy and regulatory changes needed to elevate Santa Monica's attractiveness as a major event venue. Positioning Santa Monica as a sought-after location to attract both local and international events would facilitate the City’s ability to proactively capitalize on several upcoming opportunities and support local businesses, stimulate economic recovery, further promote tourism, and provide new revenue sources to fund community programs and services for Santa Monica residents.

City of Santa Monica Generated: 7/31/2023 9:33 AM Page 10

16.D. Request of Councilmember Torosis, Mayor Davis and Councilmember Zwick that the City Council direct the City Manager to return to Council with recommendations addressing skilled and trained labor requirements for renewable energy projects and related infrastructure either City funded or placed upon City property to be installed by state-certified electricians. The City Manager should address proposed requirements outlined in attachment A in developing recommendations for Council consideration. - New Item Received. 7/21/2023

16.E. Request of Councilmember Brock and Councilmember de la Torre that the City Council direct the City Manager to assign unspent funds from the FY 2022-23 individual Councilmember travel budgets allocated to former Mayor Himmelrich and former Mayor Pro Tem McCowan to the FY 2022-23 travel budget for any Councilmembers whose expenditures exceeded the amount that each was allocated for the year. - New Item Received. 7/21/2023

ADJOURNMENT
Agendas and reports are accessible on the City's webpage at www.smgov.net/council/agendas. They are also available at the City Clerk's Office and in alternate formats upon request. For a free email subscription to the City Council Agendas, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (310) 458-8211 or [email protected].

Members of the public unable to attend a meeting but wishing to comment on an item(s) listed on the agenda may submit written comments prior to the meeting by meeting by mailing them to: City Clerk, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 or to [email protected]. Written comments received from the public by 2 PM on the day of the City Council meeting will be distributed to the City Council prior to the meeting and posted online.

City Hall and the Council Chamber are wheelchair accessible. If you require any special disability related accommodations to either attend or provide public testimony at a Council meeting (i.e. sign language interpreting, access to an amplified sound system, remote option, etc.), please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (310) 458-8211 or TDD: (310) 917- 6626 or via email at [email protected] at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled meeting. Best efforts shall be made to accommodate requests received after the 72-hour deadline. In the case of special meetings, requests should be submitted as early as possible, but no later than noon the day of the special Council meeting.

Si desea comunicarse con alguien en español, llame a nuestra oficina al (310) 458-8211 y pida hablar con Esterlina Lugo.

Santa Monica Blue Bus Lines #2, #3, #5, #9 and the EXPO Line serve City Hall. Parking is available on Main Street, on Olympic Drive, and in the Civic Center Parking Structure (validation free).

City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: July 25, 2023
Agenda Item: 1.A
1 of 1
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Denise Anderson Warren, City Clerk, Records and Election Services Department
Subject: Written Comments
Prepared By: Esterlina Lugo, Deputy City Clerk
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:

A. Written Comments

1.A
Packet Pg. 11
From: Francisco Juarez
To: councilmtgitems; Oscar de la Torre
Cc: [email protected]; Sennett Devermont; Ryan Thompson; Alfred Areyan; Shirrell McCarey; Gregory Santana; Agifstcmdrluis; Leona Flores; Yolanda Aguerrebere Subject: PUBLIC INPUT JULY 18TH - BEACHFRONT PROPERTY
Date: Thursday, July 20, 2023 9:34:06 PM

EXTERNAL
Councilmembers,
Last Tuesday, July 18, 2023, American GI Forum of the U.S. member, and Veteran, Alfredo Lugo and I provided Public Input as a follow-up to, as I mentioned, the beachfront property, Parking Lot No. 8.

That property, from the "mean-high-tide" to the intersection of Montana and Ocean, is deeded in perpetuity to the "residents of the home" for a "beach-house and a pavilion".

Council directed the City Manager to get correct information or to confirm our Veteran claim.

He and a City Attorney contracted an unknown source and, afterwards, met with Sennett Devermont, Ryan Thompson, and me.

These are facts, they have been presented, the City Manager knows this, and they require the same caliber of evidence to dispute the evidence we have in hand.

In that meeting, City produced documents and a summary, not a professional Title Search. The City showed us pictures of the wrong cliff area and their report is not backed up by a real title transfer.

The Chicago title search includes a deed from the benefactors, Senator Jones and Arcadia Bandini.

There are more unhoused Veterans in Los Angeles area than anywhere else in the country.

There is deed-restricted homeland that is part of a great vision to help Veterans.

Today, there is a real and immediate need for this land to be reunited with the inland Pacific Branch Homeland.

Please, there are lives, sanity, and Veteran families who need your help. Tell us what the City expects to do about this.

Respectfully,
Francisco Juarez
Commander,
El Camino Real Chapter,
American GI Forum of the U.S.,
Whittier, CA
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023

1.A.a
Packet Pg. 12
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5895 : Written Comments) From: Non
Subject: complaint
Date: Friday, July 21, 2023 10:32:34 AM

EXTERNAL
unfortunately i live in sm

1. why did you hire an an asshole for a security guard at your downtown santa monica big blue bus center

2. why do you even need a security guard there? your buses are empty. who would your ride buses due to the shitty infrequency schedule

3. samo turned to garbage when you let the expo line train into it. the train has turned samo into long beach. as you know long beach is a piece of shit. and now they extended the train, so now its going to get worse. what did you think was going to happen when you opened the train? that white privilege was going to take the train from westwood to samo to shop? lol. white privilege doesn't take the train

4. stay stupid samo govt. keep wasting taxpayer dollars. you're the best at it ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023

1.A.a
Packet Pg. 13
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5895 : Written Comments) From: Gary Davidson
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Armed Security For Santa Monica
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 6:39:18 PM

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council:

I am a 44 year resident of Santa Monica and support ARMED Security for The Promenade and Downtown area. The difference between unarmed and armed security is the difference between discouraging crime and stopping it. Lawless activity in Santa Monica with the increase of drug activity, and in-turn the attraction of hard-core drug dealers decries the need to step-up law enforcement as well.

Best,
Gary Davidson
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023

1.A.a
Packet Pg. 14
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5895 : Written Comments) From: Max Philips
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Armed Guards on the Promenade
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 6:55:46 PM

EXTERNAL
To all you “soft on crime” morons in Santa Monica city government that this concerns, YOU ARE THE REASON CRIME PLAGUES SANTA MONICA.

You fucking losers care more about your “woke image” than actually protecting the city.

I lived in Santa Monica for 5 years and left my job and life there because I was tired of my girlfriend and I regularly being assaulted and my personal belongings being stolen.

IF YOU THINK COTTON CANDY AND BUTTERFLIES IS GOING TO STOP THIS SHIT FROM HAPPENING, YOU ARE A FUCKING MORON.

I don’t know how any of you got elected into your positions and let one of the most beautiful cities in the world die.

So, as a former resident of Santa Monica, I SUPPORT ARMED GUARDS AT THE VERY LEAST! That’s the LEAST you can do. Wake the fuck up.

I’d drive up their from my beautiful city down south and call all you pussies out to your faces, but I’m afraid I’ll get my tires slashed and a hypodermic needle in my foot and get hepatitis.

Do your fucking jobs you WORTHLESS idiots.

GO HARD ON CRIME.

Sent from my iPhone
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023

1.A.a
Packet Pg. 15
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5895 : Written Comments) From: Ansh Nanda
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Armed guards
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 7:01:43 PM

EXTERNAL
I write to you as a resident of 2nd street near downtown santa monica to ARM the guards in the promenade.

You, our public leaders, have let us down by letting Santa Monica become a waste land.

Please give the guards some real guns and get rid of the crime in the promenade.

ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023

1.A.a
Packet Pg. 16
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5895 : Written Comments) From: Victoria Riego
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: City council meeting - July 25th - support of armed security at Promenade and Downtown Santa Monica Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 7:09:51 PM

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council,
I will not be able to attend tomorrow’s meeting but I would like to express my support to armed security at the promenade and downtown Santa Monica.

Thank you for taking the Santa Monica residents opinions into account.

Sincerely,
Victoria Riego
911 5th St, unit 102,
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Sent from my iPad
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023

1.A.a
Packet Pg. 17
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5895 : Written Comments) From: Mir Vahid Zibae
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: ARMED GUARDS FOR THE PROMENADE
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 7:15:49 PM

EXTERNAL
Please kindly provide armed guards for the safety and security of our children and women in the promenade area. DOing so will increase our confidence in shopping in Santa Monica and encourage others to do the same.

Best regards,
Mir Vahid Zibae, Ph.D.

Co-founder of Global Vision 2030
Former Member Of Caltech Associates
Member Of the Association For Psychological Science
TEL: 1 323 596 7419
DIR: 1 310 779 7419
www.GlobalVision2030.com
www.MedicalAcoustics.com
This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the entity or individual named. If you are not the named addressee please delete from your system immediately if you have received it by mistake
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023

1.A.a
Packet Pg. 18
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5895 : Written Comments) From: Kara Boccella
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Armed Patrol at the Promenade
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 7:56:44 PM

EXTERNAL
To whom it may concern,
I would like to express my support for armed patrol members at the Promenade and surrounding areas. Please vote to make this happen!
Best,
Kara
Kara Boccella
917-539-2411
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023

1.A.a
Packet Pg. 19
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5895 : Written Comments) From: Eddie M Turner
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Security at CENTRAL TOWER BUILDING
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 8:16:04 PM

EXTERNAL
I AM A BUSINESS OWNER AT THE CENTRAL TOWER BUILDING SINCE 1990.

As a woman, I have never felt so violated and afraid to even go out of the building now, just for a walk on the promenade. I was confronted by a person (think he was homeless, hard to say anymore!!!) tossing a blanket at passerby's and luckily a "guardian Angel" yelled at the man and said, we don't bother you, so please stop threatening to hit this lady with your blanket!!!" I turned around to thank him (my "Guardian Angel" for allowing me to get pass the man, but he was no where to be seen!!! On another occasion, as I was leaving the parking structure, Structure #5) to go to my office, pushed the elevator button to go to the ground level, another person was standing "NAKED" in the elevator. As a woman, what could I have done, if he had attempted to rape/attack me? Personally, I think after this year, I will bid my farewell to Santa Monica.!! And the increase in my business license, "TO DO BUSINESS IN A CITY YOU ARE AFRAID OF!!. GO FIGURE!!!!
Ms. Eddie M. Turner
((310) 458-9446
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023

1.A.a
Packet Pg. 20
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5895 : Written Comments) From: Kathleen Collins
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Unarmed guards
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 8:16:50 PM

EXTERNAL
Unarmed guards are as useless as a civilian walking down a block …… Sent from my iPhone
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023

1.A.a
Packet Pg. 21
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5895 : Written Comments) From: Desi Bain
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Armed security
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 9:24:54 PM

EXTERNAL
We the people of Santa Monica DEMAND we get armed security protecting us at the promenade. We are tire of being harassed by homeless men who are dangerous and aggressive. Stop protecting criminals and start protecting citizens.

Thank you
Desi Bain
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023

1.A.a
Packet Pg. 22
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5895 : Written Comments) From: Eleanor Sanchez
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Armed guards
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 10:29:30 PM

EXTERNAL
I am in total support of armed guards downtown and in the promenade. It is dangerous and I don’t feel safe parking and going to shop.

Sent from my iPhone
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023

1.A.a
Packet Pg. 23
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5895 : Written Comments) From: Shala O
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: We Need Armed Guards on Promenade
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 7:45:13 AM

EXTERNAL
We Need Armed Guards on Promenade,
Let’s keep SM Promenade SAFE by protecting it with “Armed Guards” Thx,
Shala O’Neil
302 23rd St,
SM, 90402
310-699-9972
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023

1.A.a
Packet Pg. 24
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5895 : Written Comments) From: Sheri Swist
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Safety in SM
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 8:07:34 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear City of SM Council Members,
Please do everything in your power to restore safety and security to SM. The policies this government has implemented have destroyed the city and it’s shameful. Hire ARMED guards for the promenade so criminals are stopped immediately and regular people can feel safe again.

Cordially,
Sheri Swist
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023

1.A.a
Packet Pg. 25
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5895 : Written Comments) From: sebastien
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Please allow for an armed guard patrol and presence on the promenade in Downtown Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 8:13:35 AM

EXTERNAL
Hello,
We need more law enforcement presence (end enforcement!) throughout the City, and especially at the crime-ridden Promenade and surrounding Downtown (including the palisades park).Fact:

Physical assaults and an average of 35 retail thefts occur each week during business hours on The Promenade.

Please allow for an armed guard patrol and presence on the promenade in Downtown.

Otherwise we need more trees too (I keep noticing more and more removed trees without replacements) and I am hoping that this will be on the council agenda very soon.

Thank you,
Sebastien Ballesteros
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023

1.A.a
Packet Pg. 26
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5895 : Written Comments) From: Michael Lushing
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Armed security on Third Street Promenade
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 9:15:16 AM

EXTERNAL
Having spent the past several years doing leasing on Third Street Promenade I can tell you that the situation with the homeless and vagrants has gotten so bad that the former Barnes & Noble still sits vacant….five years after Barnes left….in large part because the prospective tenants that I reach out to have been told, or know first hand, that opening a new business on the Promenade isn’t the most prudent thing to do seeing that the crowd of people who hang out on the Promenade scare away customers and they have to deal with lots of stealing too. Having armed security on the Promenade will be a strong deterrent to the problems the street is currently facing. I’ve even had to deal with a homeless person sleeping INSIDE the building….and that scared away the prospective tenant I was showing space to….that had flown out from New York to see. You can’t make this stuff up. Change is needed….and now!
Michael G. Lushing
Lushing Realty Advisors
269 S. Beverly Dr. Suite 138
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(310) 505-0565
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023

1.A.a
Packet Pg. 27
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5895 : Written Comments) From: [email protected]
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Comments for city council
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 11:28:33 AM

EXTERNAL
I am a new Santa Monica resident that just moved from New York City ~4 months ago. In that short time, there have been multiple incidents where I’ve felt unsafe and uncomfortable, to name a few: 1. An aggressive homeless man trying to sleep by my front door 2. Multiple times that I have been awoken in the middle of the night by screaming and angry rants 3. The standoff at the motel on Lincoln. I’ve called the police 6 times since moving here.

As a 30 year old woman, I feel extremely uneasy by these incidents which continue to occur. I have developed a fear of being home alone without my partner and am now unable to walk early in the morning or late at night as there are people shooting heroin at all hours of the day and their behavior is unpredictable.

I am shocked by the lawlessness of this city and the inability for a police force to ensure that residents feel safe at all times. We need to end the needle program and get police on the streets to take care of us who pay the taxes for the city and want to make it a better place.

Sent from my iPhone
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023

1.A.a
Packet Pg. 28
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5895 : Written Comments) From: CHAIM AARON LEVIN
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Guards; armed or unarmed
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 11:51:47 AM

EXTERNAL
Hello;
I am a 45-year resident of this city. I am strongly in favor of increasing the present of public safety officers throughout the city as well as the outdoor mall. As a victim of a crime in front of an unarmed officer I have personally seen and experienced how an
unarmed officer is helpless in the face of criminals.

The face of this city is becoming scarier and scarier every month. It is my prayer that G-d protect us all from harm.

C Levin
703 18th Street, S Monica, CA 90402
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023

1.A.a
Packet Pg. 29
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5895 : Written Comments) From: Sara Marino
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Santa Monica City Council Meeting
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 12:42:33 PM

EXTERNAL
Hello,
I am writing in regards to the Santa Monica City Council meeting. I live in Santa Monica and would like to support armed security guards because the promenade and downtown area does not seem to be safe. I personally have been chased by vagrants and feel unsafe shopping or even being anywhere near the downtown Santa Monica areas. I will only go if I am accompanied by multiple people and feel protected, even then I think it's still a constant concern of keeping eyes on all homeless people because you never know what type of harm or behavior they are capable of.
--
Sara Marino
PMI Properties
1000 Roscomare Road
Los Angeles, CA 90077
P: (310) 476-1703
F: (310) 471-4885
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023

1.A.a
Packet Pg. 30
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5895 : Written Comments) From: Michelle Schurgin
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: RE: Armed Guards on 3rd Street and DTSM
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 1:48:41 PM
Attachments: image001.png
image003.png
image009.png
image011.png
image012.png
image013.png

EXTERNAL
Please vote yes for “ARMED GUARDS” for 3rd Street and DTSM.

Clean up Santa Monica – as the first City to become safe.

Mark Schurgin
Michelle S. Schurgin (O): 310.665.9603
Executive Vice President [email protected] www.festivalcos.com
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023

1.A.a
Packet Pg. 31
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5895 : Written Comments) From: Loni Rush
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Safety
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 4:29:56 PM

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica is in a sad and desperate state. I am here only 15 years and it has changed from safe to dangerous.

Not just in one’s home but walking in the streets and dining at restaurants. I am an 82 year old who grew up in NYC and never have I been more afraid going about my daily chores, errands and appointments than I am now.

My alarm is now kept on in my home not just at night but during the day when I am alone.

This is unacceptable for a city with the funds like ours available to it. I can only blame leadership as this is their business.. If my business were run in this manner I would be shut down for lack of performance.

You have the message.

What are you going to do?
Not what are you going to promise and not do!!!
Thank you for your attention.

Loni Rush
Mother of Jennifer Rush who is suffering with 2 restaurants here in SM. I truthfully am nervous for her safety when she is at work.

Loni Rush - Director of Design

PMB LLC
3394 Carmel Mountain Rd. Ste. 200
San Diego, CA 92121
619.417.7874 (cell)
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023

1.A.a
Packet Pg. 32
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5895 : Written Comments) From: Elaine Briskey
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Crime in Santa Monica
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 6:31:15 PM

EXTERNAL
To City Council members:

The city's primary responsibility is to protect life and property. We need law enforcement presence throughout the city and especially at the crime ridden promenade and surrounding downtown.

Unarmed guards do not work and have allowed for the massive increase in crime.

SMPD Chief Batista needs more sworn officers to protect our residents and businesses.

Elaine Briskey
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 1
JULY 25, 2023

1.A.a
Packet Pg. 33
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5895 : Written Comments) City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: July 25, 2023
Agenda Item: 3.B
1 of 1
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Douglas Sloan, City Attorney, City Attorney's Office Subject: Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation, Deciding Whether to Participate as an Amicus – Gov. Code Section 54956.9(d)(1); L.W. et al., by and through her parents and next friends, Samantha Williams and Brian Williams v. Jonathan Skrmetti et al., Case No. 3:23-cv-00376, United States District Court, M.D. Tennessee
Prepared By: Esterlina Lugo, Deputy City Clerk
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:

A. Written Comments

3.B
Packet Pg. 34
From: Mathew Millen
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Oscar de La Torre; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Gleam Davis; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis
Subject: Opposition to Item 3B
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 5:31:40 PM
Attachments: Item3B.pdf

EXTERNAL
The plaintiffs are represented by very competent counsel and the United States Government.

The plaintiffs should prevail. However, why would a District Court Judge in the Middle District of Tennessee rule in favor of the Plaintiffs based on a Brief from the People's Republic of Santa Monica?
Seriously, if the City Attorney's office has free time, it would be better spent suing the NIMBY cities of La Canada Flintridge, San Marino, Bradbury etc. to provide homeless shelters so our city can transfer homeless persons who came here from EVERYWHERE to some of the other cities in Los Angeles County.

Sunday's Los Angeles Times had an interesting article. case workers place homeless all over LA County, not just in the City where they happen to be.

We all know the homeless in Santa Monica were not evicted from a SM apt. or lost a SM home to foreclosure. They come here from Everywhere
And if you don't want to file that lawsuit then use in house counsel instead of hiring Gibson, Dunn etc or other firms at $1,000 an hour.
respectfully submitted
Mathew Millen
ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023

3.B.a
Packet Pg. 35
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5896 : 3.B. - Closed Session: Samantha Williams and Brian Williams v. Jonathan Skrmetti) ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023

3.B.a
Packet Pg. 36
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5896 : 3.B. - Closed Session: Samantha Williams and Brian Williams v. Jonathan Skrmetti) ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023

3.B.a
Packet Pg. 37
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5896 : 3.B. - Closed Session: Samantha Williams and Brian Williams v. Jonathan Skrmetti) ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023

3.B.a
Packet Pg. 38
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5896 : 3.B. - Closed Session: Samantha Williams and Brian Williams v. Jonathan Skrmetti) ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023

3.B.a
Packet Pg. 39
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5896 : 3.B. - Closed Session: Samantha Williams and Brian Williams v. Jonathan Skrmetti) ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023

3.B.a
Packet Pg. 40
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5896 : 3.B. - Closed Session: Samantha Williams and Brian Williams v. Jonathan Skrmetti) ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023

3.B.a
Packet Pg. 41
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5896 : 3.B. - Closed Session: Samantha Williams and Brian Williams v. Jonathan Skrmetti) ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023

3.B.a
Packet Pg. 42
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5896 : 3.B. - Closed Session: Samantha Williams and Brian Williams v. Jonathan Skrmetti) ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023

3.B.a
Packet Pg. 43
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5896 : 3.B. - Closed Session: Samantha Williams and Brian Williams v. Jonathan Skrmetti) ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023

3.B.a
Packet Pg. 44
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5896 : 3.B. - Closed Session: Samantha Williams and Brian Williams v. Jonathan Skrmetti) ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023

3.B.a
Packet Pg. 45
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5896 : 3.B. - Closed Session: Samantha Williams and Brian Williams v. Jonathan Skrmetti) ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023

3.B.a
Packet Pg. 46
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5896 : 3.B. - Closed Session: Samantha Williams and Brian Williams v. Jonathan Skrmetti) ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023

3.B.a
Packet Pg. 47
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5896 : 3.B. - Closed Session: Samantha Williams and Brian Williams v. Jonathan Skrmetti) From: Dan Hall
To: councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Christine Parra; Phil Brock; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; David White; Douglas Sloan
Subject: Item 3B - Support
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 11:45:23 AM

EXTERNAL
Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, and Council,
I am writing to you in support of joining an Amicus Brief in L.W. v. Skrmetti, a federal case where legal advocates are suing the State of Tennessee over a law banning affirmative health care for transgender children. I was disappointed when there was no reportable action at your last Council meeting on this item, and am hoping to hear City Attorney Sloan announce the results of a vote tonight coming out of closed session to support transgender children in states that are actively harming them.

Last week, you received written comment from an individual who claimed this was a waste of city resources; I heartily disagree. This is a moment where we can make a statement of what our Santa Monica Values are and that we support transgender individuals. I believe this is particularly timely when just last week, later during your same meeting, the City's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager Lisa Parsons, stated "I always remember that when we added 'transgender' as one of the identities and data focus points in the Wellbeing index that they had the highest rates of not feeling like they belonged in their neighborhoods." Tonight you can make a statement that Santa Monica supports transgender individuals... that Santa Monica's City Councilmembers support transgender individuals.

Below is a summary of the case from the American Civil Liberties Union's website, that I encourage you to read (emphasis added):
"In April 2023, the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Tennessee, Lambda Legal, and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP sued the State of Tennessee to block the state’s ban on medically necessary gender-affirming care for Tennessee’s transgender youth.

The legal advocates are suing Tennessee on behalf of Samantha and Brian Williams of Nashville and their 15-year-old transgender daughter, two other plaintiff families filing anonymously, and Memphis-based medical doctor Dr. Susan Lacy.

In addition to banning best practice medical care for trans youth up to age 18, Public Chapter No. 1 would require trans youth currently receiving gender-affirming care to end that care within nine months of the law’s effective date of July 1, 2023, or by March 31, 2024. The law also establishes a private right of action against medical providers providing medically necessary care to trans youth.
“It was incredibly painful watching my child struggle before we were able to get her the life-saving healthcare she needed. We have a confident, happy daughter now, who is free to be herself and she is thriving,” said plaintiff Samantha Williams. “I am so afraid of what this law will mean for her. We don’t want to leave Tennessee, but this legislation would force us to either routinely leave our state to get our daughter the medical care she desperately needs or to uproot our entire lives and leave Tennessee altogether. No family should have to make this kind of choice.”
“I don’t even want to think about having to go back to the dark place I was in before I was ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023

3.B.a
Packet Pg. 48
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5896 : 3.B. - Closed Session: Samantha Williams and Brian Williams v. Jonathan Skrmetti) able to come out and access the care that my doctors have prescribed for me,” said Samantha and Brian Williams’ daughter. “I want this law to be struck down so that I can continue to receive the care I need, in conversation with my parents and my doctors, and have the freedom to live my life and do the things I enjoy.”"
Additionally, I provide an excerpt from a 2021 letter from the American Medical Association urging states against legislation interfering with transgender children healthcare (emphasis added):
"Empirical evidence has demonstrated that trans and non-binary gender identities are normal variations of human identity and expression. For gender diverse individuals, standards of care and accepted medically necessary services that affirm gender or treat gender dysphoria may include mental health counseling, non-medical social transition, gender-affirming hormone therapy, and/or gender-affirming surgeries. Clinical guidelines established by professional medical organizations for the care of minors promote these supportive interventions based on the current evidence and that enable young people to explore and live the gender that they choose. Every major medical association in the United States recognizes the medical necessity of transition-related care for improving the physical and mental health of transgender people...
...In addition, evidence has demonstrated that forgoing gender-affirming care can have tragic consequences. Transgender individuals are up to three times more likely than the general population to report or be diagnosed with mental health disorders, with as many as 41.5 percent reporting at least one diagnosis of a mental health or substance use disorder. The increased prevalence of these mental health conditions is widely thought to be a consequence of minority stress, the chronic stress from coping with societal stigma, and discrimination because of one’s gender identity and expression. Because of this stress, transgender minors also face a significantly heightened risk of suicide.

Transgender children, like all children, have the best chance to thrive when they are supported and can obtain the health care they need. Studies suggest that improved body satisfaction and self-esteem following the receipt of gender-affirming care is protective against poorer mental health and supports healthy relationships with parents and peers. Studies also demonstrate dramatic reductions in suicide attempts, as well as decreased rates of depression and anxiety. Other studies show that a majority of patients report improved mental health and function after receipt of gender-affirming care. Medically supervised care can also reduce rates of harmful self-prescribed hormones, use of construction-grade silicone injections, and other interventions that have potential to cause adverse events." Thank you for your consideration,
Dan Hall
(he/him)
Santa Monica resident and LGBTQ+ advocate
Sources:
https://www.aclu.org/cases/l-w-v-skrmetti
https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-states-stop-interfering-health-caretransgender-children ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023

3.B.a
Packet Pg. 49
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5896 : 3.B. - Closed Session: Samantha Williams and Brian Williams v. Jonathan Skrmetti) From: Tom Larmore
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; [email protected]; Gleam Davis; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Caroline Torosis; [email protected]
Subject: July 25, 2023 Agenda - Item 3B
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 4:40:18 PM

EXTERNAL
I don’t understand why the City should use its resources to prepare and submit an amicus brief in this matter pending the federal courts in Tennessee. While the matter relates to the constitutionality of a statute which may be seen as objectionable, the City of Santa Monica has nothing unique to offer. We’re constantly told the City has significant budget issues so even if the brief would be prepared by the City Attorney’s Office rather than outside counsel, it is a significant diversion from other matters and in which that Office has no expertise. This is simply an expenditure of public funds on a matter completely unrelated to the interests of the City and its residents and constitutes a waste of taxpayer dollars.

Thomas R. Larmore
ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023

3.B.a
Packet Pg. 50
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5896 : 3.B. - Closed Session: Samantha Williams and Brian Williams v. Jonathan Skrmetti) From: Gleam Davis
To: Tom Larmore; councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; [email protected]; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Caroline Torosis; [email protected]
Subject: Re: July 25, 2023 Agenda - Item 3B
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 5:16:38 PM
Tom, fyi, we would simply be adding our name. We would not be drafting a separate brief.

From: Tom Larmore <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 4:40:05 PM
To: councilmtgitems <[email protected]>; Phil Brock <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]>; Gleam Davis <[email protected]>; Lana Negrete <[email protected]>; Christine Parra <[email protected]>; Caroline Torosis <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: July 25, 2023 Agenda - Item 3B

Thomas R. Larmore
ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.B.

JULY 25, 2023

3.B.a
Packet Pg. 51
Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5896 : 3.B. - Closed Session: Samantha Williams and Brian Williams v. Jonathan Skrmetti) City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: July 25, 2023
Agenda Item: 3.C
1 of 1
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Douglas Sloan, City Attorney, City Attorney's Office Subject: Conference with Real Estate Negotiator pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8: Property: 1855 Main Street, Santa Monica, California (Civic Auditorium) (APN 4290-013-901); City Negotiators: Jennifer Taylor, Economic Development Manager, and Nia Tang; Owner of Record: City of Santa Monica; Persons to be negotiated with: Cary Upton, Chief Operations Officer, Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District; Under negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment for Sale
Prepared By: Esterlina Lugo, Deputy City Clerk
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:

A. Written Comments
B. More Written Comments

3.C
Packet Pg. 52
From: Noma Boardmember
To: councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; [email protected]; Jesse Zwick; Oscar de la Torre; [email protected]; Lana Negrete; [email protected]; David White; [email protected]; Phil Brock
Subject: Subject: Items 3E and 3F
Date: Monday, July 17, 2023 6:42:39 AM

EXTERNAL
To: Mayor Davis and Council Members
From: The North of Montana Association
Date: July 17, 2023
RE: Items 3 E and 3 F on the July 19 Council agenda
The NOMA Board asks that Items 3 E and F be removed from consideration.

Allowing negotiations to begin (or a “process” of negotiations) between the City and private or other public entities to “sell” or “lease” city-owned land without the public’s participation in that discussion is neither democratic nor acceptable and a disheartening violation of trust with its citizens.

The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium has been an important community asset since the early 1960s. It has been landmarked by the Council and has been recognized as a venue for plays, concerts, craft shows, conventions, the Academy Awards, and numerous other events. The future of this unique event center needs to be decided by open discussion and public participation, not in closed session.

Accordingly, the NOMA Board requests that items 3 E and F be removed from the Agenda and consideration of the Civic’s future be fully transparent and in public open session.
smnoma.org
[email protected]
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 53
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Jaleh MIRHASHEMI
To: councilmtgitems; Caroline Torosis; Christine Parra; Gleam Davis; Jesse Zwick; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Phil Brock; David White
Cc: [email protected]; Douglas Sloan; Jennifer Taylor; David Martin; Anuj Gupta; Ann Bowman ; Zina Josephs; Larry Arreola; Dr. Anna Rogers
Subject: City Council Meeting July 18, 2023 - Closed Session Items 3.E. and 3.F. (Negotiations for Sale of Civic Auditorium)
Date: Monday, July 17, 2023 10:15:22 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Davis and Esteemed City Council Members,
Our Civic Center is a symbolic part of our city. The civic land belongs to the community, and it should remain for the public and in the public use. The Civic Auditorium, as the landmark, can be revitalized as a cultural and economic center for the public the same as how it was before.

The city must retain the ownership of Civic Auditorium and make a public announcement for the possible philanthropist if the funding is an issue. However, any decision on the Civic Center land and Civic Auditorium should be through community input and not through closed doors.

As a concerned Santa Monica resident, I urge you to give a chance to our Civic Auditorium, to not sell it and plan to find a better solution. Please let us residents be involved and help if needed.

Thank you for your attention and your time.

Warmly,
Jaleh Mirhashemi
Santa Monica resident of 22+ years
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 54
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Wendy Dembo
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; David White; Anuj Gupta; Susan Cline; Douglas Sloan; Susan Cola; Jennifer Taylor; Nia Tang; Matthew Hall; [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: RE: Items 3 E and 3 F on the July 19 Council agenda Date: Monday, July 17, 2023 1:39:52 PM

EXTERNAL
Mayor Davis and Council Members:

Please removed Items 3 E and F from consideration.

The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium has been an important community asset since the early 1960s. I saw many exciting concerts there and went to Cat.con there as well. It was landmarked by a previous City Council and recognized as a venue for plays, concerts, craft shows, conventions, the Academy Awards, and numerous other events. The future of this unique event center needs to be decided by open discussion and public participation, not in closed session.

Accordingly, please remove 3 E and F from the Agenda and consideration of the Civic’s future to be fully transparent and in public open session.

Residents and taxpayers have a right to know what is going on in their city.

With regret,
Wendy Dembo
Santa Monica tax payer and resident
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Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: [email protected]
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; David White; Anuj Gupta; Susan Cline; Douglas Sloan; Susan Cola; Jennifer Taylor; Nia Tang Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: FOSP: City Council 7/18 items 3-E and 3-F: OPPOSE selling the Civic Auditorium Date: Monday, July 17, 2023 2:08:11 PM

EXTERNAL
July 16, 2023
To: Mayor Gleam Davis and City Council members
From: Board of Directors, Friends of Sunset Park
RE:
7/18/23 agenda items 3-E and 3-F: Negotiating the sale of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium to either SMMUSD or CCSM.

The FOSP Board opposes the sale of the Civic Auditorium. It appears that the city is looking to generate cash, not cash flow, therefore emphasizing sale rather than lease. But this would be a permanent, irreversible decision, done to partially solve a short-term issue.

The city already turned over a large section of the Civic Center to Santa Monica College for the large Early Childhood Center. We are against selling publicly-owned property in the Civic Center, especially a unique, landmarked venue intended for civic purposes.

Plus, it’s frustrating that these negotiations are taking place behind closed doors, out of the view of the public. We believe that the Brown Act allows for closed session ONLY with regard to pricing. Instead, the City and SMMUSD seem to have conducted discussions and feasibility analyses in private. We are not privy to those discussions, and we don’t know exactly how CCSM proposes to use the property. Deciding what to do with public property should be a public process, not a decision made in Closed Session.

Culver City has its Veterans Memorial Building, which includes an auditorium. https://wwwculvercityhistoricalsociety.org/veterans-memorial-building/ Glendale has a Civic Auditorium.
https://www.glendaleca.gov/government/departments/community-services-parks/parks-facilities-historicsites/glendale-civic-auditorium Pasadena has a Civic Auditorium.
https://www.visitpasadena.com/civic-auditorium/
Torrance has its Armstrong Theatre.
https://arts.torranceca.gov/our-city/general-services/cultural-arts/james-r-armstrong-theatre The City of Malibu now has the Malibu Civic Theater, a large auditorium that was previously privately owned. https://www.malibucity.org/facilities/facility/details/Malibu-City-Hall-3 The City of Los Angeles has the Greek Theatre.
https://www.lagreektheatre.com/connect/history-of-the-greek-theatre ITEM 3.C.

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Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) L.A. County has
-- Walt Disney Concert Hall
https://www.laphil.com/about/our-venues/about-the-walt-disney-concert-hall -- the Los Angeles Music Center, including
-- the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion,
-- the Mark Taper Forum,
-- the Ahmanson Theatre, and
-- the Kirk Douglas Theatre, plus
-- the Hollywood Bowl, and
-- the nearby Ford Amphitheatre.

Thousand Oaks has its Civic Arts Plaza.
https://www.toaks.org/departments/cultural-affairs/civic-arts-plaza-3340 The Bank of America Performing Arts Center at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza is one of the largest performing arts centers between Los Angeles and San Francisco, and is funded through a unique public/private partnership between the City of Thousand Oaks and the Alliance for the Arts.

It consists of the 1,800-seat Fred Kavli Theatre for the Performing Arts and the 394-seat Janet and Ray Scherr Forum Theatre, which combine outstanding arts and entertainment with state-of-the-art technology and acoustics. More than 300,000 patrons and 50,000 children attend more than 400 performances annually.

The Center's headliners include touring Broadway musicals, popular entertainers, award-winning children’s programs, international ballet, folk and modern dance companies, classical symphonic performances, chamber music, choral ensembles, civic light opera, comedy, distinguished speakers, films, magic, jazz, big band orchestras, live theatre, and community programs. In addition, the Fred Kavli Theatre Lobby doubles as a fine art gallery for exhibitions by both local and internationally acclaimed artists. “The Civic Arts Plaza is the realization of a 20-year dream by Thousand Oaks citizens to provide a facility to house quality cultural activities.” More than 30 million people have patronized the Civic Arts Plaza since its 1994 grand opening.

In 2011, the City contracted with Morley Construction Company for preconstruction and construction services required to remodel and seismically upgrade the Civic Auditorium facility. Unfortunately, the renovation was suspended due lack of funds after the state legislature dissolved the redevelopment agencies that were set up after the 1994 earthquake. (see below) Nevertheless, the Civic Auditorium should continue to be City-owned and for public use, as per the Civic Center Specific Plan.

Again, the FOSP Board opposes the City of Santa Monica giving up its Civic Auditorium, just because we have not yet figured out what to do with it.
****************************************************************************** Background:

From an FOSP Board member:

Selling the Civic Auditorium is a disgrace. It is NOT surplus. The “surplus” vote should be reversed and a new RFP issued, asking for solutions. An RFP hasn't been done in years, since before COVID, and before anyone realized the asset was up for grabs. Times have changed, and all options need to be on the table. The Civic Auditorium should not be sold in a fire sale to pay for child molestation settlements.

From another FOSP Board member:

Prior to the Civic Center, the area was known as the Belmar Triangle. It was probably the most important neighborhood in ITEM 3.C.

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Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Santa Monica's African American community, until the city acquired it via eminent domain. I think that history is important to remember.

From a NOMA Board member:

I am opposed to selling city property. Furthermore, the negotiations are being done in Closed Session, not in public. We already lost Civic Center property to SMC for the Early Childhood Center. The city should NOT be negotiating the sale of the Civic Auditorium.

From a Northeast Neighbors Board member:

The Civic is a valuable Santa Monica resource and asset that has been sorely missing from our cultural landscape -- completely mismanaged and neglected. Save the Civic!
From a Santa Monica Mid City Neighbors Board member:

The Civic was used for many trade shows, dog and cat shows, movie screenings, and catered events over the years. All these events brought money into the city’s hotels and restaurants. I attended many arts and crafts show and gem shows. The building would still be in use if an earthquake refit had been done. We could have recovered the money by now.

From another FOSP Board member:

I attended the annual SMMUSD “Stairway of the Stars” concerts at the Civic from 1996 until it closed, with about 1,000 student musicians from throughout the district participating in each concert. When she was in her 90’s, I took my mother to the annual Senior Prom. A friend and I attended a sold-out Pete Seeger concert at the Civic, and my husband and I attended a sold-out Peter, Paul, and Mary concert there. Numerous Academy Award ceremonies were broadcast from the Civic in the 1960s, including when Rita Moreno won an Oscar for “West Side Story” and when Sidney Poitier was the first African American to win an Oscar for Best Actor. (see below)
Closing the Civic Auditorium was a “big deal” judging from the numerous articles below in local newspapers.

Santa Monica Civic Auditorium -- on the city web site: http://www.smgov.net/departments/ccs/civicauditorium/ Civic Auditorium -- on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Monica_Civic_Auditorium Civic Auditorium Declared a Landmark in 2002:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_City_of_Santa_Monica_Designated_Historic_Landmarks "Curtains for the Civic" -- 5/19/13 -- Santa Monica Daily Press -- http://smdp.com/curtains-for-the-civic/122417 "To Preserve Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Revise Specific Plan, Says Expert Panel" -- 5/13/13 -- Santa Monica Lookout -- http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News2013/May2013/05_13_2013_To_Preserve_Santa_Monica_Civic_Auditorium_Revise_Specific_Plan_Says_Expert_Panel.html "Civic Center Will Have to Learn New Tricks to Survive" -- 5/10/13 -- Santa Monica Daily Press - - http://smdp.com/civic-center-will-have-to-learn-new-tricks-to-survive/122176 " 'Save the Santa Monica Civic' Group Steps Forward" -- 5/7/13 -- Santa Monica Patch -- http://santamonica.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/save-the-civic-santa-monica ITEM 3.C.

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Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) "American Film Market: Civic Auditorium Theater Essential to the Future" -- 1/24/13 -- Santa Monica Daily Press -- http://smdp.com/afm-civic-auditorium-theater-essential-to-the-future/117191 "City Council Sticks to Planned Closing Date for Civic Auditorium" -- 11/2/12 -- The Argonaut -- http://argonautnews.com/santa-monica-city-council-sticks-to-planned-closing-date-for-civic-auditorium/ "Santa Monica Civic Auditorium Will Close in June as Planned" -- 10/26/12 -- Santa Monica Lookout - -
http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2012/October2012/10_26_2012_Santa_Monica_Civic_Auditorium_Will_Close_in_June_As_Planned.html City Council -- 10/23/12 agenda item 4-A:

Options for the future of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium Recommended Action -- Staff recommends that the City Council review and provide direction on which options for the future of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium Council wishes staff to further analyze for future decision-making.

Executive Summary -- The $51.9 million renovation of the landmark Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (Civic) is suspended due to recent legislative actions related to the dissolution of redevelopment and the uncertainty of funds designated for this project. The facility is still scheduled to close on June 30, 2013. Since the August 14, 2012 meeting at which City Council authorized the suspension, staff has identified options for the facility and potential funding sources. These options fall under four broad categories:
1) partial renovation;
2) full renovation;
3) adaptive re-use; and
4) demolition.

This study session is intended to inform Council of the various options and seek direction to prioritize further research and planning efforts for the future of the Civic. http://www.smgov.net/departments/council/agendas/2012/20121023/s201210234A.pdf "Historic Civic Will Go Dark" -- 8/15/12 -- Santa Monica Patch -- http://santamonica.patch.com/groups/politics-andelections/p/historic-civic-will-go-dark "Council Stalls Civic, Samohi Improvements" -- 8/15/12 -- Santa Monica Daily Press -- http://www.smdp.com/councilstalls-civic-samohi-improvements/ City Council -- 8/14/12 agenda item 4-C:

Contingency Planning Related to the Dissolution of Redevelopment Recommended Action -- Staff recommends that the City Council: Authorize staff to proceed with certain priority projects while suspending other priority projects, in light of recent legislative actions related to the dissolution of redevelopment; and Direct staff to return to council at a future date with additional information, as well as necessary appropriations or adjustments to project budgets.

Executive Summary -- This report provides information about recent amendments to the State law that dissolved redevelopment agencies, the impacts of those amendments upon the City’s ability to fund priority capital improvement projects, and recommendations regarding continued work on each project. http://www.smgov.net/departments/council/agendas/2012/20120814/s2012081408-C.htm City Council -- 1/24/12 agenda item 3-M:

Revised Design-Build Contract for Civic Auditorium Remodel & Seismic Upgrade ITEM 3.C.

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Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Recommended Action -- Staff recommends that the City Council:

1. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a revision to the previously approved Design-Build Contract No. 9396 (CCS) with Morley Construction Company, a California-based company, in an amount not to exceed $51,944,432 (includes a 5% contractor contingency, a 10% owner contingency, and allowances). This not to exceed amount of $51,944,432 includes the previously Council approved amount ($35,000,000), preconstruction and design fee ($5,000,000), added scope ($4,000,000) and City’s owner contingency and allowances ($7,944,432).

2. Appropriate budget increases as outlined in the Financial Impacts & Budget Actions section of this report.

3. Authorize the Director of Public Works to issue any necessary change orders to complete the work within budget authority.

Executive Summary -- The City has contracted with Morley Construction Company for preconstruction and construction services that are required to remodel and seismically upgrade the Civic Auditorium facility. A Request for Bids was issued in April 2011, and upon evaluating bids, City staff recommended Morley Construction Company in June 2011. In error, the recommendation was for an amount not to exceed $35,000,000 based on the budget solely for construction services and exclusive of preconstruction and design services. At this time staff recommends adding $5,000,000 for preconstruction and design services; and $4,000,000 for construction to include additional scope of work which was removed in preliminary design due to cost constraints, but will serve to improve the facility’s future financial viability.

Additionally, staff recommends an additional $7,944,432 to fund the City’s cost of implementing this project during the construction phase. This includes an owner’s contingency of an additional 7% ($3,080,000) and allowances for inspections, testing, monitoring, geotechnical services and abatement costs ($4,864,432). The new contract amount will not exceed $51,944,432. This is a phased agreement with the final contract amount being modified by a construction Guaranteed Maximum Price amendment.htttp://www01.smgov.net/cityclerk/council/agendas/2012/20120124/s2012012403- M.htm
"Civic Auditorium: Once and Future Masterpiece" -- 6/30/11 -- Santa Monica Dispatch - - http://www.santamonicadispatch.com/2011/06/civic-auditorium-once-and-future-masterpiece/ "Santa Monica Civic to Get $47 Million Renovation" -- 5/30/11 -- Santa Monica Mirror - - http://www.smmirror.com/articles/News/Santa-Monica-Civic-Auditorium-to-Get-47-Million-Renovation/32286 “Home of the Academy Awards”: https://calisphere.org/item/0d8424127112a8e39250eede23132c7c/ 1961: The 33rd Annual Academy Awards at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Best Actor in a Supporting Role goes to Peter Ustinov. Shirley Jones accepts the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Greer Garson announces the award for Best Actor. Burt Lancaster receives the award for his leading role in “Elmer Gantry.” Yul Brynner announces Elizabeth Taylor as the winner of Best Actress for her role in “Butterfield 8.” Audrey Hepburn announces the winner for Best Picture. Billy Wilder, the producer of the film “The Apartment,” accepts the Oscar. 1962: The 34th Annual Oscars held at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Rita Moreno receives the award for the best supporting actress. The best actor award goes to Maximilian Schell and best actress award to Sophia Loren. The best picture award goes to “West Side Story.”
1964: The 36th Academy Awards at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Gregory Peck announces the Best Actress award for Patricia Neal…Frank Sinatra announces the winner of Best Picture. “Tom Jones” gets the Best Picture award…Anne Bancroft announces the winner of the Best Actor award. Sidney Poitier receives Best Actor award for his performance in “Lilies of the Field.” He is the first African American to receive the Best Actor Award. 1966: Santa Monica History Museum: The 38th Academy Awards ceremony, hosted by Bob Hope, was held at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. It was the first Academy Awards to be broadcast live in color. The two most nominated films were "Dr. Zhivago" and "The Sound of Music."
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Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Ann Hoover
To: councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Christine Parra; Phil Brock; David White
Cc: Susan Cline; Anuj Gupta; Douglas Sloan; Susan Cola; Jennifer Taylor; Nia Tang; David Martin; Roxanne Tanemori; Heidi von Tongeln; Melissa Spagnuolo; Sofia Klatzker; [email protected]; jaleh mirhasemi
Subject: July 18, 2023 Council Meeting - Items 3.E. and 3.F. - Closed Sessions Civic Auditorium Sale Negotiations Date: Monday, July 17, 2023 2:39:25 PM

EXTERNAL

OPPOSE - ANY SALE OF THE CIVIC AUDITORIUM
Dear Mayor Davis, Esteemed Councilmembers, and Mr. White - Please do not proceed any further with negotiations to sell the Civic Auditorium.

The City should never, EVER sell an asset of this magnitude. That's Real Estate 101.

Given its unique history & with a major acoustics upgrade, many of us believe that a restored Auditorium will be a massive tourist attraction if revived as a quirky but topnotch performance venue. It also would once again be able to support other arts, convention, sports, and community functions as it did for over 60 years. So many people (locals and tourists alike) in this increasingly soulless, ever-corporatized world are desperate for authenticity. For something real, with roots.

Let's please have the discussions and exchange elevated visions alongside concrete plans to make them happen. Possibly they will still involve community partners and/or corporate partners. There's an opportunity for cross-collaboration among City Staff departments, political leadership, and other local players as well. There also may be an opportunity for private philanthropy. Let's be a team. Maybe some civic boosters are back. To find out, you have to give them a chance.

We won't know how great we could make this if we don't sit down and get it all out on the table, give it the old college try. The community owns this land. You owe the community a chance to will something truly great into existence here that could end up juicing our civic life and super-sizing the entire Santa Monica economy for the next century. Don't miss this opportunity!
So THIS is your Plan A - listening to people who aren't economically self-interested who have IDEAS. The far distant Plan B, should all else fail, is picking back up talk of a sale. Which would be so lame and so sad. No more "done deals", please, ever.

PLUS, this would truly be a LEGACY PROJECT for this Council and Mayor and City Leadership. Please don't be the people who threw it all away.

Financial obligations due to Mr. Uller's crimes, staff gross negligence in ignoring ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
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JULY 25, 2023

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Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) them, and pressing unfunded pension obligations cannot ever justify the sale of something that is essentially priceless and once gone, would be gone forever, not just as a tangible asset but as an intangible locus of civic identity.

Additionally, the public has grown weary of the refrain that "well, the redevelopment money dried up." Well, yes it did, but recent Council, including Mayor Davis, and Staff also just spent $141 million on the City Hall Annex and gave away 3 acres of our Civic Center public land for FREE ($1 a year), alongside a multi-million dollar contribution towards construction of the private perk Early Childhood Lab School. The money to rehab the Auditorium could have been identified all along if Council/Staff had cared to make it so, but the will has been lacking.

Now, since October 2022 you've gone zero-to-sixty on this sale issue with no substantive public discussion or community input. The Auditorium has been the cornerstone of our City's civic identity since the late 1950s - HALF of our City's incorporated existence.

Please DO NOT allow yet another public-to-private (or with SMMUSD, effectively private) land grab like past Council and the City let happen with the ECLS. The most recent Civic Working Group process was a public land grab masquerading as a community input process. Getting ahold of this land has been one of private interests' main goals for well over a decade.

Key takeaways for Council and Staff: LEGACY PROJECT..... JUICE OUR ECONOMY..... RESTORE CIVIC LIFE.

Thank you for your time reading this and look forward to seeing you tomorrow night.

Sincerely,
Ann Bowman
Former corporate and entertainment attorney, PTA President, non-profit fundraiser, Co-Chair - Civic Center Task Force
Resident, 26+ years
IS BOOSTERISM BACK?
And in the immortal words of Peanuts' Lucy van Pelt:

ITEM 3.C.

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Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) ITEM 3.C.

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Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Carol Lemlein
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: July 18 Closed Session Items 3E and 3F: Conference with Real Estate Negotiator pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8: Property: 1855 Main Street, Santa Monica, California (Civic Auditorium) Date: Monday, July 17, 2023 2:49:29 PM
Attachments: 2023-07-18 Council Mtg - Civic Auditorium .pdf

EXTERNAL
Please include the attached letter from the Board of Directors of the Santa Monica Conservancy in the public comment for these items.

Thank you,
Carol Lemlein
Vice President
Santa Monica Conservancy
Email: [email protected]
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
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Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) P.O. BOX 653
SANTA MONICA, CA 90406
310-496-3146
www.smconservancy.org
July 17, 2023
Via email to [email protected]
Re: July 18 Closed Session Items 3E and 3F: Conference with Real Estate Negotiator pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8: Property: 1855 Main Street, Santa Monica, California (Civic Auditorium)
Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Negrete and Councilmembers,
I am writing on behalf of the Board of the Santa Monica Conservancy to request that your discussions with the City’s Real Estate Negotiating Team include the importance of the Civic Auditorium’s designation as a Santa Monica Landmark. Designed by Welton Becket & Associates, it is an excellent example of mid-20th century International Style by world-famous master architect and Santa Monica resident Welton Becket. The history of activities at the Civic is woven into our community’s memories, from the Academy Awards to celebrity musicians to Stairway of the Stars (SMMUSD) to cat shows and art fairs. When designated in 2002, it was determined to meet all 6 of Santa Monica’s criteria for Landmark designation.

At this time the Conservancy is not taking a position on which proposal is a preferred solution to the City’s needs and which one best facilitates a successful adaptive reuse of this cherished landmark. We are reminding you of the Civic’s Landmark status because maintaining that designation should be part of any transaction regarding its future. You may not be aware that Barnum Hall at Santa Monica High School is designated as a Landmark at the request of the SMMMUSD because of advantages accompanying that status.

Our expectations are that as a condition of sale there will be language to require the new owner retain permanent Landmark status and that all work at the property will comply with Secretary of the Interior Standards. The guidelines for Landmarks allow flexibility to accommodate new functional requirements while protecting key architectural elements, balancing preservation and change. Additionally, Landmark designation supports use of the California Historical Building Code which provides alternative building regulations that recognize the unique construction issues inherent in adaptively reusing historic buildings and facilitate a cost effective approach to preservation.

Sincerely,
Tom Cleys, President
Santa Monica Conservancy Board of Directors
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
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Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Brian O"Neil
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; David White; Susan Cline
Cc: PNA SM
Subject: PNA Board; Council Mtg Agenda July 18, 2023 -- Remove Items 3E and 3F from Consideration Date: Monday, July 17, 2023 8:05:17 PM

EXTERNAL
To: Mayor Davis and Council Members
From: Board of the Pico Neighborhood Association
Date: July 17, 2023
RE: Items 3E and 3F on the July 18 Council Agenda
The PNA Board asks that Items 3E and 3F be removed from consideration.

Any sort of sale of city-owned property is a permanent, irreversible action. It appears as if the potential sale of public lands in this moment is being contemplated for short-term revenue reasons. It would be much more fiscally responsible to seek options in which city-owned lands, especially historically important venues like the Civic Auditorium, could be leased or turned into positive-cash-flow operations that would benefit the residents and taxpayers well into the future.

Accordingly, the PNA Board requests that items 3 E and F be removed from the Agenda and consideration of the Civic Auditorium’s future be fully transparent and in public open session.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
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Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Tricia Crane
To: Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; Gleam Davis; councilmtgitems; David White; Susan Cline; Anuj Gupta
Subject: Public Comment re Council Closed Session Agenda Items 3E and 3F, July 18, 2023 - Our history is being sold and we are in the Dark
Date: Monday, July 17, 2023 10:55:03 PM
Attachments: image.png

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is an excellent example of mid-20th century International Style by worldfamous master architect and Santa Monica resident Welton Becket. It was designated a Landmark in 2002. The history of activities at the Civic is woven into our community’s memories, from the Academy Awards to celebrity musicians to Stairway of the Stars (SMMUSD) to cat shows and art fairs.

To: City Council
From: Tricia Crane, Chair Northeast Neighbors
Re: Closed session Agenda Items 3E and 3F, July 17, 2023 Dear Council,
Our cultural legacy and future cultural potential is fast disappearing. The people of Santa Monica have not been told why.

Tomorrow night, July 18, City Councilmembers will meet in Closed Session to discuss with a real estate negotiator the possible sale of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

Closed Session Items 3E and 3F can be found on the Council Agenda at this link:
https://santamonicacityca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1389 ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
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Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) The people of Santa Monica have not been informed of the scale of the financial hole that needs to be filled, what justifies its size, how fast it needs to be filled nor what all the other options are. All we know is that the need for cash is so pressing that it justifies the on-time irrevocable sale of irreplaceable cultural assets that will be needed more than ever in a densifying city. But, we have no way of assessing the priority tradeoffs being made. None.

There must be other options. The City's Proposed FY24 revenue budget was $747.1 million. Of that, $438.7 million (59%) was for the General Fund, which allows for completely discretionary spending decisions. Yet savings could not be found from this massive pool of General Fund money to replenish reserves or pay for whatever priority is driving these decisions? These general fund revenues increased $24 million, or 6%, since FY22. Department budgets have ballooned. For example, the City Manager's proposed FY24 department budget for consultants ("Professional Services") has increased by $587,171 (101%) since FY2022.

Without any case being made to the voters, we have no idea if a sale makes any sense. Nor do we have any idea of the structure of any proposed sale. For example, will the Civic:

Landmark status be maintained in any transaction regarding its future? Be allowed to be torn down if sold?
Also on the proverbial chopping block in Closed Session Tuesday is a parcel the city owns near the light rail station on 4th Street. How will negotiations go for that parcel, which could be developed by the city into 100% affordable housing to help meet state requirements but instead sold to a developer who will likely produce 10% affordable and 90% market rate as has been done with Gelson's.

Then there is compliance with state law, which has not been disclosed. The state's Surplus Lands Act (SLA) requires local agencies to contact HCD twice. First, when a local agency declares land surplus and issues a Notice of Availability (NOA), the local agency must send the NOA to HCD. (Gov. Code, § 54222, subd. (a)(1).) Second, the local agency must contact HCD again once at least 60 days have passed after the issuance of an NOA and any required 90-day good faith negotiations have concluded.

At that time, the local agency must provide HCD with disposition documents that include the following: a copy of the Resolution declaring the land surplus, a copy of the NOA, a copy of the draft affordability covenant, proof of NOA delivery to all required entities per Government Code section 54222 (see Noticing Requirements below), and a description of any negotiations that have taken place. (Gov. Code, § 54230.5, subd. (b)(1).)
The overarching issue here is completely deficient governance. This fiscal responsibility deficit is a subset of a much larger governance deficit. Why should elected officials meet in secret to negotiate the sale of a public landmark without the respect to the voters of making a compelling case, and without any public input? ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 68
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) If the Council had integrity and any respect for the voters, it would pull these items from the Closed Session and openly discuss what the realities and options are.

Tricia Crane
Chair, Northeast Neighbors
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 69
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Tricia Crane
To: Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; Gleam Davis; councilmtgitems; David White; Susan Cline; Anuj Gupta; Gigi Decavalles Subject: CORRECTED Public Comment - Council Closed Session Agenda Items 3E and 3F, Council meeting of July 18, 2023
Date: Monday, July 17, 2023 11:05:23 PM
Attachments: image.png

To: City Council
From: Tricia Crane, Chair Northeast Neighbors
Date: July 17, 2023
Re: Closed session Items 3E and 3F, Council Agenda of July 18, 2023 Dear Council,
Our cultural legacy and future cultural potential is fast disappearing. The people of Santa Monica have not been told why.

Tomorrow night, July 18, City Councilmembers will meet in Closed Session to discuss with a real estate negotiator the possible sale of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

Closed Session Items 3E and 3F can be found on the Council Agenda at this link:
https://santamonicacityca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1389 ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 70
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) The people of Santa Monica have not been informed of the scale of the financial hole that needs to be filled, what justifies its size, how fast it needs to be filled nor what all the other options are. All we know is that the need for cash is so pressing that it justifies the on-time irrevocable sale of irreplaceable cultural assets that will be needed more than ever in a densifying city. But, we have no way of assessing the priority tradeoffs being made. None.

Without any case being made to the voters, we have no idea if a sale makes any sense. Nor do we have any idea of the structure of any proposed sale. For example, will the Civic:

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 71
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) If the Council had integrity and any respect for the voters, it would pull these items from the Closed Session and openly discuss what the realities and options are.

Tricia Crane
Chair, Northeast Neighbors
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 72
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: [email protected]
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Oscar de la Torre; Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Cc: David White; Douglas Sloan; David Martin
Subject: Halt Closed Negotiations on The Civic and Institute a Public Process (7.18.23 City Council Items 3E and 3F) Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:03:51 AM

EXTERNAL
July 18, 2023
To: The Santa Monica City Council
From: The Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City (“SMCLC”) www.SMCLC.net Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F) We are writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

Public spaces should not be sold or leased without the public’s approval. These resources belong to all of us, not just to those who happen to be holding office at the time. Public officials are stewards of public land, which imposes a high standard of transparency and accountability to the public. Holding closed session hearings to discuss the sale/lease of The Civic falls below that standard.

While state law allows some aspects of property negotiations to be conducted in secrecy, we believe that the importance of public space, especially this iconic space, necessitates an open and transparent community discussion.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 73
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Karla Klarin
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox
Subject: Santa Monica Civic
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:22:20 AM

EXTERNAL
Please do not even consider selling the SM Civic, once it leaves the public's ownership it will never be able to be brought back. It will become just another mega-wealth toy. The civic is part of our, my, heritage. Do Not Sell!
Karla Klarin
--
karlaklarin.com
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 74
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Angelique Glennon
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox
Subject: The Santa Monica City Council and City Clerk - Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:26:36 AM

EXTERNAL
Hello City Council members and City Clerk,
Please consider my email below. Thank you very much in advance.

Angelique Glennon
Santa Monica Resident
Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F)
I am writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

While state law allows some aspects of property negotiations to be conducted in secrecy, I believe that the importance of public space, especially this iconic space, necessitates an open and transparent community discussion.

I urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide. ###
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 75
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: RUTH FORD
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Santa Monica Auditorium
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:29:33 AM

EXTERNAL
Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F)
We are writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

Public spaces should not be sold or leased without the public’s approval.

These resources belong to all of us, not just to those who happen to be holding office at the time. Public officials are stewards of public land, which imposes a high standard of transparency and accountability to the public. Holding closed session hearings to discuss the sale/lease of The Civic falls below that standard.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Ruth Ford
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 76
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Andrew Wilder
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: 7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:31:07 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Council Members,
I am writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

Please open this discussion to residents.

Thank you,
Andrew Wilder
Sunset Park
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 77
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Tim Hanson
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F) Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:31:24 AM

EXTERNAL
I am mystified by why a taxpayer-funded municipality thinks it's in its best interest to negotiate the lease or sale of city-owned property without public participation. What's so secret about it?
I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments expressed in the email sent by SMCLC on his subject:
"We are writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide." Sincerely,
Tim Hanson
Ocean Park Resident
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 78
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: suzanne Verge
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Re: 7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:32:18 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council,
I urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

Please be transparent in your discussions.

With gratitude,
Suzanne Verge
Santa Monica resident
Sent by my rotary phone via carrier pigeon so please excuse any typos or grammar errors ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 79
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Miriam Alpern
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F) Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:33:46 AM

EXTERNAL
I have lived in and loved Santa Monica for over 25 years and I am writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

Public spaces should not be sold or leased without the public’s approval.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.
- Miriam
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 80
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Daniel Galamba
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre
Subject: City Council Meeting July 18, 2023 agenda items 3E and 3F: Please halt Closed Negotiations about the Fate of the Civic Auditorium and begin Open Public Discussion
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:34:32 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council,
Please halt closed negotiations about the fate of the Civic Auditorium and begin open public discussion. Public spaces should not be sold or leased without the public’s approval.

The landmark-designated Santa Monica Civic Auditorium served our community from 1958 to 2013, providing concerts, forums for national speakers, arts and crafts shows and other cultural events (including The Oscars) well attended by residents and visitors. While we recognize The Civic has since fallen into disrepair, there is no similar public venue in our city, and we are bereft without it. The option should be considered of refurbishing the Civic Auditorium and bringing it up to current earthquake standards and this should be discussed in an open forum and not behind closed doors.

As stewards of public assets, including the Civic Auditorium, you owe it to your constituents that discussions such as this be held in an open forum so that the views of the people of Santa Monica can be considered before any decisions are made. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Dr Daniel Galamba
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 81
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Beatrice Felix
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Future of civic center and public conversation Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:34:34 AM

EXTERNAL
I am asking that you please do NOT discuss the future of public land in private. Your constituents deserve to hear all that is put forth and to know how decisions are being made. It's a transparency we were promised and you should feel obliged to provide.

Beatrice Felix and Thomas Hartman
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 82
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: David Misch
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda items 3E, 3F
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:35:22 AM

EXTERNAL
I urge the Council to discuss the situation with the Civic Auditorium with the public before further negotiations take place.

David Misch
Princeton St.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 83
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Civic center
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:36:52 AM
From: Beatrice Felix <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:33 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Civic center

Beatrice Felix and Thomas Hartman
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 84
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Gloria Albert
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Council agenda items 3E and 3F
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:36:54 AM
Attachments: signature.png

EXTERNAL
To: The Santa Monica City Council
From: The Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City (“SMCLC”) www.SMCLC.net Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F) We are writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 85
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Smitha Chandrabose
To: councilmtgitems
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:37:20 AM

EXTERNAL
Hello
Regarding council agenda items 3E and 3F, I urge the City Council to discuss the fate of The Civic with the public before proceeding further with negotiations.

Smitha Chnadrabose
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 86
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Civic auditorium
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:37:43 AM
From: Smitha Chandrabose <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:36 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Civic auditorium

EXTERNAL
Hello
Regarding council agenda items 3E and 3F, I urge the City Council to discuss the fate of The Civic with the public before proceeding further with negotiations.

Smitha Chnadrabose
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 87
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Phyllis Chavez
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F) Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:53:35 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Councilmembers:

I am concerned and feel that public spaces should not be sold or leased without the public’s approval. These resources belong to all of us, not just to those who happen to be holding office at the time. Public officials are stewards of public land, which imposes a high standard of transparency and accountability to the public. Holding closed session hearings to discuss the sale/lease of The Civic falls below that standard.

I am writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

The landmark-designated Santa Monica Civic Auditorium served our community from 1958 to 2013, providing concerts, forums for national speakers, arts and crafts shows and other cultural events (including The Oscars) well attended by residents and visitors. While we recognize The Civic has since fallen into disrepair, there is no similar public venue in our city, and we are bereft without it. I remember going to concerts and surf movies there. We should treat this landmark with more respect and dignity, not just try our best to tear it down and give it away.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Thank you,
Phyllis Chavez
Sunset Park
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 88
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Lisa Test, OTD, OTR/L
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Halt Closed Negotiations about the Fate of the Civic Auditorium & Begin Open Public Discussion Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:43:11 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council members
Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F)
We are writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

We have to have a voice in our city.

Kindly,
Lisa A. Test
835 Grant Street, #5
Santa Monica, CA
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 89
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Krystyna Pawlus
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox
Subject: Re: Agenda Items 3E & 3F - Public participation in determining the future of the SM Civic Auditorium Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:48:29 AM

EXTERNAL
I am in full agreement with the Santa Monica coalition for a livable city (SMCLC) regarding the fate of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. The Santa Monica City Council must realize that this public entity belongs to the residence of Santa Monica and, as such, any discussions about the future of this property must include public participation.

To quote from the SMCLC email to you,
"Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F)
We are writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide." Respectfully,
Krystyna Pawlus
125 Montana Avenue #205
Santa Monica, CA 90403
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 90
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Neal Wilde
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox
Subject: Civic Auditorium
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:52:23 AM

EXTERNAL
Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F)
I am writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

Public spaces should not be sold or leased without the public’s approval.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Neal Wilde
123 California Ave
SM, CA
Sent from my iPhone
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 91
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Bruce Brown
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F) Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:41:52 AM
Attachments: PastedGraphic-1.png

EXTERNAL
I am writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Thank you, Bruce Brown
Bruce F Brown
1333 Pine St.

Santa Monica, CA 90405
[email protected]
C/ 310-351-5149
Lic. 523683
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 92
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Roger Genser
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Item 3E & 3F - Save the SM Civic with public hearings Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:55:14 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Council Members
I am a member of the Santa Monica Landmarks Commission and former Chair.

I was on the Landmarks Commission at the time the iconic building was unanimously landmarked by the Commission in 2002.

Please be transparent in respecting the future of the Civic.

Sincerely
Roger Genser
Member Santa Monica Landmarks Commission
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 93
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Adam Holiber
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Santa Monica Civic Meeting
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:56:33 AM

EXTERNAL
I am told that CLOSED DOOR negotiations/discussions over the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium are to take place at the City Council. I AM COMPLETELY OPPOSED TO CLOSED DOOR

DISCUSSIONS/DELIBERATIONS ABOUT PUBLIC SPACES IN THE CITY WITHOUT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

Determination of the use of Public Spaces should always involve public participation. Why would the Council have closed door discussions and deliberations about that? Please provide a response to that question. I very much appreciate it.

Please do not proceed with any closed door negotiations about the Santa Monica Civic.

I am a 30-year resident of this city.

Adam Holiber
434 Pier Ave #4 90405
(310) 570-6444
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 94
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Civic Auditorium Discussion
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:59:35 AM
From: Adam Holiber <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:55 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Civic Auditorium Discussion

EXTERNAL
I am told that CLOSED DOOR negotiations/discussions over the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium are to take place at the City Council. I AM COMPLETELY OPPOSED TO CLOSED DOOR

DISCUSSIONS/DELIBERATIONS ABOUT PUBLIC SPACES IN THE CITY WITHOUT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

Please do not proceed with any closed door negotiations about the Santa Monica Civic.

I am a 30-year resident of this city.

Adam Holiber
434 Pier Ave #4 90405
(310) 570-6444
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 95
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Civic Auditorium
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:59:52 AM
From: John Murdock <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:56 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Cc: [email protected] <[email protected]>; Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City <[email protected]>
Subject: Civic Auditorium

EXTERNAL
Please reject any proposed disposition of the Civic Auditorium without first going through a thorough public review with input from residents and all concerned parties. This land is by no means "surplus" property, it is an invaluable asset held in trust for the public until its highest and best use can be agreed upon.

John B. Murdock
Attorney at Law
1209 Pine Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405
tel. (310) 450-1859
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 96
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Janet Heinle
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Building and land
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:59:52 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council,
You don’t get to hold secret meetings for the land : Council agenda items 3E and 3F, urging the City Council to discuss the fate of The Civic with the public before proceeding further with negotiations. This should be known to all residents not just you!
Janet Heinle
1047 Lincoln Bl #7 90403
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 97
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: John
To: councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Civic Auditorium
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:02:49 AM

EXTERNAL
To: The Santa Monica City Council
From: John and Linda Hiscock, 1330 Pine Street.

Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F)
We are writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide. ###
--
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/John_Hiscock/
www.johnhiscock.blogspot.com
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 98
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Alan Levenson
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 3E 3F items
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:02:56 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Council,
Please invite public discussion to decide the fate of the civic center.

Please do not make this decision largely behind closed doors.

Thank you.

Alan
Alan Levenson
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 99
Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: julie kat3
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell CIVIC CENTER
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:04:15 AM

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Julie Martini 90401
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 100 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Karen Blechman
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda Items 3E and 3F
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:15:41 AM

EXTERNAL
Civic Auditorium is a Santa Monica public resource. Its fate should be decided only AFTER open, public hearings and discussion. STOP CLOSED HEARINGS PLEASE.

Karen Blechman
Santa Monica resident since 1978
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 101 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Bea Nemlaha
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: CIVIC AUDITORIUM, Agenda 3E, 3F
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:16:15 AM

EXTERNAL
Our Civic Auditorium is an architectural and historic treasure. It belongs to ALL Santa Monica residents.

Council, please open its fate to public discussion. Stop your closed hearing.

Decide its future only AFTER your constituents have weighed in.

Bea Nemlaha
43 year Ocean Park Resident
Happy participant at many Civic Auditorium events
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 102 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Patricia Mayer
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox
Subject: Council items 3E and 3F Meeting tonight
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:18:12 AM

EXTERNAL
Re: Council agenda items 3E and 3F:

These items should not be discussed in a closed session. I urge you to please to discuss the fate of The Civic Auditorium with the public before proceeding further with negotiations.

Thank you,
Patricia Mayer
Santa Monica Resident since 1978
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 103 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Arlene Fishbach
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and Council agenda items 3E and 3F Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:24:58 AM

EXTERNAL
Good morning,
I have been a resident of Santa Monica since 1986.

The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium has been a beloved venue for decades. From concerts, award shows to craft fairs etc.

I am outraged that you would consider closed door discussions. Any discussion/negotiations/decisions about the Auditorium's future should be and must be in an open forum between the City Council and residents, nothing less.

I look forward to your response that tonights agenda has changed and an open meeting has been scheduled for the near future.

Thank you,
Arlene Fishbach
125 Montana Avenue
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 104 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Robin Holding
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: URGENT: Council agenda items 3E & 3F
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:26:44 AM

EXTERNAL
To our mayor Gleam Davis
Mayor Pro Tem Lana Negrete
City Clerk Denise Anderson-Warren
and our City Council members:

Phil Brock
Christine Parra
Jesse Zwick
Caroline Torosis
Oscar de la Torre
As Santa Monica residents for more than 40 years, we are appalled to learn that the sale of the Santa Monica Civic auditorium -- an iconic, publicly owned landmark of which we are justly proud -- to a private concessionaire is to be considered today in a closed session of the council, without public participation of any kind.

As stewards of our public property, it is your duty to include Santa Monica voters in this process, and to seek their approval for any such sale or lease.

The behind-closed-doors nature of this process invites suspicion of insider dealing, and frankly, it stinks.

David Clayberg
Robin Holding
948 15th Street #4
Santa Monica, CA 90403
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 105 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Randall Klarin
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: SM Civic Auditorium
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:29:57 AM

EXTERNAL
To: The Santa Monica City Council
From: The Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City (“SMCLC”) https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.SMCLC.net__;!!OfuUnHCITYtmmjM!pKcHx_1UTpIbOlDE5DW8WsciIxcZ5beWKSy9LuISJEwImydkZUF9GtZN8ODQV8V4xD5YlcdOUSjNmgrSoqCfhc3a_ou$ Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F) We are writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

RW Klarin
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 106 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell CIVIC CENTER Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:32:08 AM
From: linda hane <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:02 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell CIVIC CENTER

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Julie Martini 90401
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 107 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Civic Center
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:32:19 AM
From: Ellen Hannan <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:25 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Civic Center

EXTERNAL
7/18/2023
Council Members:

I am very disappointed to hear the SM School District and a low income housing provider are the only 2 proposals you are in discussions with at this time. Since the City can't afford proper maintenance and retrofitting of a landmark important revenue site I don't see proper oversight of our City at this time.

Please return to the public for more thoughtful consideration of the best and most revenue options for this site.

Ellen Hannan
1218 9th St #6
Santa Monica CA 90401
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 108 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: No closed sessions
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:32:39 AM
From: Chrissi Durbin <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:09 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: No closed sessions

EXTERNAL
Open to residents PLEASE. 33 year senior resident
TY v
Sent from my iPhone
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 109 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: David Lappen
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Stop Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:34:20 AM

EXTERNAL
Please do NOT negotiate with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

Public spaces should not be sold or leased without the public’s approval.

These resources belong to all of us. Public officials are stewards of public land, which imposes a high standard of transparency and accountability to the public. Holding closed session hearings to discuss the sale/lease of The Civic falls below that standard.

The Council should to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 110 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: [email protected]
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F) Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:36:01 AM

EXTERNAL
To: The Santa Monica City Council
Why the secrecy? Where's the transparency?
We are writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Thank you.

Gary Landi
-
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 111 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: lmarreola
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: ITEMS 3E.,3F
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:46:59 AM

EXTERNAL
Please include community input on the possible sale of Civic Auditorium. Please organize a community workshop with proper and timely notices so that all concerned can have input as to what will happen to OUR Civic Auditorium, not your Civic Auditorium Please make sure the workshop is not led by special interest people or organizations. No Dog and Pony Shows.

Respectfully,
Larry and Carol Arreola
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 112 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Esther Hickman
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox
Subject: Please Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F) Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:47:57 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Council,
Please consider allowing the public to participate in the discussions surrounding the fate of the Civic Auditorium.

The venue is a priceless asset owned by the City of Santa Monica, and could be used as a vehicle to revitalize tourism, hotels, downtown commerce, and increase revenue for the City of Santa Monica. The Civic was meant to serve its residents and the greater surrounding communities.

There is a finite limitation from the good that can come from the 2 options on the table.

There is no limitation to the upside of what a revitalized Civic center can bring to our City, financially and spiritually for all of our residents and for generations to come! Please consider solutions that can invigorate and unite our communities. Please do not fold to the economic and legislative challenges that our beloved City is facing.

With Santa Monica's current reputation, this is not the time to rush into a finite sale and rob the City of more of its history and potential. The West Side needs a venue like the Civic and it's a legacy worthy of this Council.

Thank you for all that you do for all of us and please press pause. Please consider all the good that can come from bringing this spectacular venue back to life. --
Esther Hickman
310.600.7306
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 113 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: janine autolitano
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: tonight"s meeting
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:56:47 AM

EXTERNAL
To: The Santa Monica City Council
Today, the average stadium naming rights deal across the country is about $14 million a year!
We have an iconic, beloved, landmarked auditorium situated within walking distance to hotels & restaurants.

A valuable community resource that could bring real cultural richness and community spirit to our city.

Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F) We are writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Thank you,
Janine Autolitano
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 114 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Mary Hubbell
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 3E and 3F fate of the Civic Center
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:04:51 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor and City Councilmembers,
I urge you to provide opportunities for public input regarding the fate of our beloved, landmarked Civic Center. This is public property and as a member of the Santa Monica public I want a voice in what happens to this iconic venue.

Many of us would very much like to see it restored to its former glory and used again as an arts, entertainment, and other uses that are an asset to our City and its residents.

Please don’t allow the SMMUSD district to take this away for yet another sports related venue. Although it’s obvious sports are high on their priority list, they have other options that have and will work fine for them. Besides, district enrollment continues to decline.

Also, the other option out there for more housing, we already have a massive number of hugely oversized housing developments in the pipeline. Including one at the former bow alley. We don’t need more housing at the Civic Center site.

We need a community gathering place for fun and entertainment! Thank you for considering my input.

Mary Hubbell
Ocean Park
Sent from Mary's iPhone
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 115 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Lori Nafshun
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: 7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:05:36 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Honorable Council Members,
The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is a beloved architecturally significant venue that should be afforded very opportunity to reopen as a much needed event space on the west side of Los Angeles County.

Any process involving its future should be held in public, and with public participation as much as possible.

Thank you for your time,
Lori Nafshun
655 Ashland Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90405
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 116 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Fay Viola
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Don’t meet in private about public land
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:07:30 AM

EXTERNAL
And hands off any secret dealings about our beloved Civic Auditorium.

Sent from my iPhone.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 117 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Wendy Dembo
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox
Subject: Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F) Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:09:50 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor and Council Members:

Please listen to the residents of Santa Monica. Please give them a chance to speak.

SMMUSD has a terrible track record of maintaining their school building and they have no idea of what a budget is. The CIVIC would go to waste with them.

I am writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City-owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed-session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

Public spaces should not be sold or leased without the public’s approval. These resources belong to all of us, not just to those who happen to be holding office at the time. Public officials are stewards of public land, which imposes a high standard of transparency and accountability to the public. Holding closed-session hearings to discuss the sale/lease of The Civic falls below that standard.

The landmark-designated Santa Monica Civic Auditorium served our community from 1958 to 2013, providing concerts, forums for national speakers, arts and crafts shows, and other cultural events (including The Oscars) well attended by residents and visitors. While we recognize The Civic has since fallen into disrepair, there is no similar public venue in our city, and we are bereft without it.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

With great regret,
Wendy Dembo
Santa Monica resident and taxpayer.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 118 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Gary Glickman
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox
Subject: do not sell before public discussion!
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:11:19 AM

EXTERNAL
To: The Santa Monica City Council
From: The Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City (“SMCLC”) www.SMCLC.net Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F)
We are writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Gary Glickman
Stephan Hewitt
Santa Monica
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 119 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Bob Taylor
To: councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Christine Parra; Phil Brock; David White; Susan Cline; Anuj Gupta; Douglas Sloan; Susan Cola; Jennifer Taylor; Nia Tang; David Martin; Roxanne Tanemori; Heidi von Tongeln; Melissa Spagnuolo; Sofia Klatzker; gigi.decavalles[email protected]; jaleh mirhasemi Subject: Council Agenda item #.E & 3.F - 7/18/23
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:11:29 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Council, et al
Re: Agenda Items 3.E & 3.F
I am expressing my concern for what appears to be an effort by certain members of the council to move for the sale of a city and historic treasure, the Civic Center Auditorium, and the leasing of the land for commercial development.

The presumed argument for this action is the necessity to generate income to our apparently cash starved city. To this resident that reasoning would seem to be merely a reflection of a continuing economic mismanagement that will further exacerbate the declining quality of life residents, and tourists, have been exposed to and and are experiencing for the past 20 years. We have the very egregious PAL lawlsuits costing upwards of $200 million, and inappropriate council member retribution against an individual that cost at least another $1million. There is the $1/year lease of our civic center land for the development of the ECEC which mostly appears to serve as a daycare center for the Rand Co employees children, and though said to be a function of the SMC is operated by a third party ‘non-profit’.

All to little benefit of residents.

Adding to the examples above, the several million dollars authorized to “study” the future of the Santa Monica Airport, ostensibly for the transformation to a “great” park. Like the current argument by certain council members that the city needs to sell/lease the Auditorium for financial reasons, it is quite apparent that the SMO land is merely ripe for similar sale/lease to developer interests and profit, once again at a loss of quality of life for residents. In the staff presentation to the council in January it was pointed out that there is no funding available for a change of use without developer involvement. The presentation mentioned SMO operations currently generates $20 million a year to the city, but did not mention that, as pointed out in a 2011 Daily Press news article, SMO generates some $273 million ($356 million 2023 dollars) city wide, which most obviously results in additional business taxes, sales taxes, etc.

Common sense suggests putting on hold any notion of further divesting our city of its community resources and the commons that serve us all, including the understanding that our beachfront town is a regional relief valve for the heat burdened residents of the Valley and east side. There will be no benefit seeking relief in an increasingly densely built out extension of high rise Los Angeles. Maybe a detached third party evaluation of the economic management of Santa Monica should be implemented, perhaps by the County in a manner similar to a study was that done in 2011.

With concern,
Bob Taylor
Ocean Park Resident
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 120 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Abby Adams
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Cc: Abby Adams; Patrick Adams
Subject: Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F) Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:22:25 AM

EXTERNAL
We are writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Abby, Patrick, Kellogg, Cooper and Riley Adams
475 17th Street
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 121 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Jewett, Jade
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre Cc: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda items 3E and 3F: The City Council should discuss The Civic plans with the public before deciding its fate! Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:18:05 AM
Importance: High

EXTERNAL
Agenda items 3E and 3F:

The City Council should discuss the fate of The Civic with the public before proceeding any further with negotiations about its sale or lease.

Dear Mayor Davis and City Council Members Brock, Parra, Negrete, Zwick, Torosis, and De La Torre, I am writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City-owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

Public spaces should not be sold or leased without the public’s approval. These resources belong to all of us, not just to those who are holding public office at the time of such a negotiation. Public officials are stewards of public land, which demands a high standard of transparency and accountability to the public. Holding closed session hearings to discuss the sale/lease of The Civic falls below that standard.

Please do not move forward with any decisions about the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium until additional or any public hearings take place. Such public hearings should be well advertised and announced to the residents of this city.

Respectfully submitted,
Jade Jewett
(resident and homeowner in Santa Monica for 30-years)
Email: [email protected]
Jade Jewett
Visual Arts Special Projects | College of the Arts
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers (what's this?)
CSU Fullerton
657-278-2081 office, 310-486-5686 cell
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 122 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: [email protected]
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Stop Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:19:03 AM

EXTERNAL
To the Santa Monica City Council,
As a long time Santa Monica resident I'm urging you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

I urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Thanks,
Kelly
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 123 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Austin Sipes
Subject: Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F) Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:12:01 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council,
I am writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City-owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closedsession hearings about its fate) without the public’s participation in these discussions.

Public spaces should not be sold or leased without the public’s approval.

These resources belong to all of us, not just to those who happen to be holding office at the time. Public officials are stewards of public land, which imposes a high standard of transparency and accountability to the public. Holding closed-session hearings to discuss the sale/lease of The Civic falls below that standard.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. We have a right to weigh-in on this decision.

Best,
Austin Sipes
Santa Monica Resident since 2004
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 124 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: James Schumacher
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Civic Center
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:29:03 AM

Public spaces should not be sold or leased without the public’s approval.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Sent from my iPhone
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 125 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium: Council Agenda Items: 3E and 3F Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:29:09 AM
From: Brenda Anderson <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:55 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium: Council Agenda Items: 3E and 3F

EXTERNAL
Dear Member of the City Council:

I am requesting that you do not conduct private/secret meetings for the discussion of the possible sale or lease of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. This property belongs to the citizens of Santa Monica and any discussions about its fate should be held in public and with the input of the citizens.

Brenda Anderson
475 24th Street
Santa Monica 90402
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 126 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Please do not hold secret meetings
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:29:29 AM
From: Fay Viola <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:03 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Please do not hold secret meetings

EXTERNAL
About public land. Especially our beloved Civic Auditorium.

Sent from my iPhone.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 127 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Agenda items 3E and 3F: The City Council should discuss The Civic plans with the public before deciding its fate!
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:29:42 AM
From: Jewett, Jade <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:08 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Agenda items 3E and 3F: The City Council should discuss The Civic plans with the public before deciding its fate!

EXTERNAL
Agenda items 3E and 3F:

The City Council should discuss the fate of The Civic with the public before proceeding any further with negotiations about its sale or lease.

Dear City Council Members,
I am writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City-owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 128 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 129 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Note on CIVIC AUDITORIUM, Agenda 3E, 3F
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:29:54 AM
From: Chris Bruss <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:12 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Note on CIVIC AUDITORIUM, Agenda 3E, 3F

EXTERNAL
City Council:

I am writing to request that you have open public hearings to discuss the fate of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. It is an important building with historic significance and a resource to the public.

Please do not decide its fate via closed-door hearings.

Thank you,
Chris Bruss
12 Year Ocean Park Resident
Member of 3rd Street Historic District Citizen Participation Committee --
Chris Bruss
[email protected]
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 130 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:30:03 AM
From: Jayne Gordon <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:25 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium

EXTERNAL
Dear Councilmembers:

Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F)
I am writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

Public spaces should not be sold or leased without the public’s approval.

It would be wonderful to refirbish and reopen the venue for concerts and other events so that we don’t have to go to downtown Los Angeles or Hollywood, and it would bring revenue to the city.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 131 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) I urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Thank you.

Jayne Gordon
28th Street, 90405
(She/Her)
tYpos HaPpn
Sent from my iPhone
“When you see something that is not right, not fair, you just have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.”
—John Lewis
“There can be freedom only when nobody owns it.”
—Jackson Browne, “Walls and Doors”
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 132 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Civic Center
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:30:21 AM
From: James Schumacher <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:26 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Civic Center

Public spaces should not be sold or leased without the public’s approval.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Don’t do it! Think of MY future!
James Schumacher
43 yr resident
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 133 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Sent from my iPhone
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 134 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Civic Auditorium
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:30:26 AM
From: Annie Spong <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:27 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Civic Auditorium

EXTERNAL
Our Civic Auditorium is an architectural and historic treasure. It belongs to ALL Santa Monica residents.

Council, please open its fate to public discussion. Stop your closed hearing. Decide its future only AFTER your constituents have weighed in.

Annie & Asamino Spong
27 year Ocean Park Resident
Happy participant at many Civic Auditorium events
--
Annie Spong
310-429-1617
Certified Intimacy Coordinator
SAG-AFTRA IC // Registry
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 135 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Will von Bernuth
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic Center and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F) Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:30:40 AM

EXTERNAL
To the Santa Monica City Council and City Clerk,
As a Santa Monica resident I am writing to ask you to stop the closed door discussions and negotiations regarding the future of the Santa Monica Civic Center. These talks should be open to the public for comment and consideration. They should not be held in behind closed doors.

The Civic Center is a public space on public land and therefore the public should be able to way in on its future. I recognize the Civic Center is in disrepair and site needs rehabilitation. The residents of Santa Monica should have a say and understanding of what its future will be. Public spaces should not be sold or leased without the public's weigh in and approval.

As such, I request that these talks not be held in closed door sessions and instead should be open to the public.

Regards,
Will
_____________________________
Will von Bernuth
Block Island Organics | Non-Toxic Suncare
Web: www.blockislandorganics.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlockIslandOrganics
Twitter: twitter.com/biosuncare
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/biosuncare/
Instagram: instagram.com/blockislandorganics
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 136 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Bridget Terry
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Civic Auditorium land
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:34:25 AM

EXTERNAL
To the Council abolut to meet in secret —
RE: Council agenda items 3E and 3F:

I urge the City Council to discuss the fate of The Civic with the public before proceeding further with negotiations. As a homeowner in Santa Monica for 30 years — our public property belongs to the public — and considetation therefore should include your constituents.

Sincerely,
Bridget Terry
Bridget Terry
1237 22ND STREET - SUITE 1
SANTA MONICA, CA. 90404
Ofc: 310-403-8540
[email protected]
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 137 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Liz Bell
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda Items 3E and 3F--Civic Center
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:36:12 AM

EXTERNAL
Hello Council. I see you have an Agenda item tonight to sell the Civic Center property. I don’t recall any public hearing about this. Was there? This is public land. Further, it is a large piece of iconic property in Santa Monica and its future should be carefully considered by ALL residents before it is sold for mere commercial use. Please, pull the item for tonight and let’s have some public hearings and discussion.

Thank you.

Lizbeth Bell
1434 18TH ST.

Santa Monica 90404
[email protected]
310-977-2463
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 138 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Elizabeth Lerer
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick Cc: councilmtgitems; David White; Douglas Sloan
Subject: Civic Auditorium 7/18/23 Closed Session
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:47:45 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,
Please stop negotiations and refuse to make any permanent decisions regarding the fate of the Civic Auditorium behind closed doors.

This civic building is one of the too few significant community owned buildings and is a treasured landmark that deserves an open democratic process to determine its destiny.

Thank you,
Elizabeth Lerer
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 139 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Gerald Zelinger
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: City council items 3E and 3F
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:52:04 AM

EXTERNAL
The civic auditorium has been sitting vacant for about 25 years and now, all of a sudden the city is planning on having closed discussions with potential “developers”.

Open this planning process to the public! This is publicly owned land and structures. We paid for it and continue to pay for it. It is OURS.

Thank you,
Gerald Zelinger
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 140 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Michele Modglin
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 3E and 3F on tonight"s agenda
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:14:06 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Council Members:

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Thank you,
Michele Modglin
630 Idaho Ave
SM (0403
###
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 141 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Jane
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox
Subject: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute property Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:17:00 AM

EXTERNAL
To: The Santa Monica City Council
From: The Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City (“SMCLC”) www.SMCLC.net Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F)
We are writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Thank you.

Jane Tucker
29 year Resident of Santa Monica
I VOTE in every election
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 142 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Kenneth Legaux
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Save The Civic PLEASE
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:17:37 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Councilmembers:

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Thank you, Kenneth Legaux
Sent from Outlook
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 143 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Peter A Donald
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: I oppose the private sale of the Santa Monica Civic Center Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:31:46 AM

EXTERNAL
This is public land and should be kept for the residents to decide its use.

Peter A Donald
2618 32nd St.

Santa Monica, CA 90405
310 871-4862
[email protected]
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 144 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: AGENDA ITEMS 3E and 3F
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:35:27 AM
From: Harald Wattrus <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:56 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: AGENDA ITEMS 3E and 3F

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council Members,
I am writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City-owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

Respectfully submitted,
Harald and Louise Wattrus
3019 Prospect Avenue , Santa Monica
( resident and homeowners for 13 years )
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 145 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Civic Auditorium
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:35:33 AM
From: Bond Wright <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:46 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Civic Auditorium

EXTERNAL
Ladies and Gentlemen:

I urge you to have a public hearing before anything is decided about the Civic Center.

It is unacceptable for closed “secret” meetings about this public land.

Thank you.

Rev. Bond Wright, MA, CRT, CTA, CM
Santa Monica Resident
310-450-3396
[email protected]
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 146 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: [email protected]
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: FW: CIVIC AUDITORIUM
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:36:27 AM

EXTERNAL
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:33 AM
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: CIVIC AUDITORIUM
To: The Santa Monica City Council
From: Linda Hall @ 1330 Pine Street
Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F)
We are writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Yours sincerely,
Linda Hall
1330 Pine Street
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 147 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: City council items 3E and 3F
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:36:06 AM
From: Gerald Zelinger <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:51 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: City council items 3E and 3F

EXTERNAL
The civic auditorium has been sitting vacant for about 25 years and now, all of a sudden the city is planning on having closed discussions with potential “developers”.

Open this planning process to the public! This is publicly owned land and structures. We paid for it and continue to pay for it. It is OURS.

Thank you,
Gerald Zelinger
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 148 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: CIVIC AUDITORIUM
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:35:44 AM
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:33 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Cc: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: CIVIC AUDITORIUM

EXTERNAL
To: The Santa Monica City Council
From: Linda Hall @ 1330 Pine Street
Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F)
We are writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Yours sincerely,
Linda Hall
1330 Pine Street
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 149 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Nikki Kolhoff
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Cc: David White; Jennifer Taylor
Subject: 7/18/23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F - OPPOSE Sale of Civic Auditorium Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:43:56 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council -
I urge you to vote NO on the sale of the Civic Center Auditorium. It is shameful that you voted to surplus this core PUBLIC civic asset with no public process in the first place, and your failure to engage in a public process regarding the rehabilitation and renovation of the Civic Auditorium is part of your continued destruction of our city.

I am sending you my comment from April of this year because it remains completely valid today. Vote no, halt the sale process, rescind the resolution, and give direction to staff to commence a PUBLIC process to identify viable options for revitalizing our Civic Center Auditorium.

Regards,
Nikki Kolhoff
Santa Monica Resident
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Nikki Kolhoff <[email protected]>
To: Councilmtgitems <[email protected]>
Cc: [email protected] <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 11:49:21 AM PDT
Subject: 4/11/23 agenda items 3-J and 3-K - OPPOSE Sale of Civic Auditorium City Council -
I urge you to OPPOSE the sale of the Civic Center Auditorium and instead give direction to staff to commence a PUBLIC process to identify viable options for revitalizing our Civic Center Auditorium. The reasons are many.

1. FRAUD BY STAFF: The entire premise for the October resolution is based on a long-term lease and not a sale, which is evidence of fraud on the part of staff now pushing a sale. The staff report furthers the long-term lease premise by stating, they won't even need to designate as surplus "if HCD confirms that the longterm leasing of the existing facility with only interior tenant improvements is not subject to the SLA." So why did they need to designate it surplus in October? Did staff get a response from HCD? The only reason council declared it surplus was to start the process for a lease with improvements not subject to the SLA. Staff's argument pushed for a resolution claiming it is needed prior to disposition. However, there is nothing in the report that says this had to happen before engaging in discussions with potential parties and the discussion of potential options.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 150 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD)

2. NO FINDINGS OF SURPLUS: The resolution states:
"WHEREAS, the City Council desires to declare the City Owned Properties as surplus land and not necessary for the City’s use; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires that the City Owned Properties be treated as surplus land within the meaning of the SLA, to the extent required by the SLA; and WHEREAS, the accompanying staff report provides supporting information upon which the declaration and findings set forth in this Resolution are based;" Where are the findings in the staff report that the Auditorium is surplus? We don't see any such findings. Given the lack of findings and the false premises under which staff moved this forward, the October 2022 resolutions must be rescinded.

3. SMMUSD DEMOLISHES HISTORIC BUILDINGS. SMMUSD is a terrible partner when it comes to historic resources and landmarks. They expressly refused to include local criteria in their "historic resources policy" and demolished both the JAMS Auditorium and the Samohi History Building. They are not bound to local rules and have no integrity, so a sale to SMMUSD ensures the demolition of the Auditorium.

4. HOUSING IS NOT APPROPRIATE IN A CIVIC CENTER. The Village housing development is already a shame and a misuse of public land. Luxury condos (or any housing) has no place being built in a Civic Center. A Civic Center is for PUBLIC amenities for open use by the residents of Santa Monica and visitors from the public.

A transfer to Community Corp removes the land from public use and there is no guaranty it would even house current Santa Monica residents at risk of displacement.

5. LACK OF PUBLIC PROCESS FOR LAST 6 YEARS AND A SHAM BEFORE THAT: The last "public" process was an RFP in 2017. Staff and council continuing to noodle options with a single suitor is obviously not a robust public process and surely isn't sufficient to dispose of a landmark. Prior to that, there was the Civic Center Working Group, which was implemented to railroad development of the Civic Center and was heavily biased toward private developer uses. There is no other explanation for a panel drawing the conclusion that the SMC Lab School, a walled off fortress for private day care for Rand, SMC and City staff, is an appropriate use while the Sports Field, used by thousands of residents and visitors every week, is not.

Times have changed and a fully open public process to determine the future of the Auditorium is needed. We need all options on the table, all potential partners to be engaged, and a grand plan to revive the music scene in Santa Monica at the Auditorium. It is absurd that council could find a landmarked, historic music and entertainment venue is no longer needed in Santa Monica.

6. BACKWARDS FISCAL PRIORITIES OF STAFF AND COUNCIL GOT US HERE.

Santa Monica loves to cry broke. But we are not. Our leaders just have terrible priorities for the use of our ample resources. Remember, when the renovation was estimated at $50 million, Staff, Council, SMC and SMMUSD prioritized the following BEFORE spending any money on the Civic Auditorium:

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 151 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Demolition of the historic JAMS Auditorium and replacement with a $45 million middle school auditorium paid for by SMMUSD and SMC bonds; Gifting SMC the civic center land for free and spending $34 million of city funds and SMC bonds on a private day care for City, SMC and Rand staff; Demolishing the History Building to spend $85 million of SMMUSD bonds on a classroom building we don't need because of declining enrollment; Spending $141 million on a city hall annex for 243 staff; Spending $85 million in SMMUSD bonds on a "practice gym" that cannot host legitimate sporting events;
Spending $100 million on a sewage treatment plant that might not work.

I am sure there are more examples, but these alone would have paid for the Civic Auditorium eight times over.

7. BROWN ACT: The broad use of the Brown Act exception to avoid public discussions isn't permissible. Nobody believes that your closed door meetings have been limited to price. And holding the closed door meeting to take action PRIOR to the public component is even more damning. We, the public, are entitled to hear all the details except price and that is not happening here.

Also, the agenda title for the October 2022 resolution only listed the address and not the structure in the first item, which means the description wasn't adequate to comply with the Brown Act.

8. EDUCATION NOT A PRIORITY: Nothing screams "education" as a sham more than holding a meeting about SMMUSD's purchase of the Auditorium during spring break. At a minimum this must be postponed until AFTER spring break. Otherwise, this harkens back to the Joint Use Agreement vote pushed through during spring break in 2019 with none of the public or oversight processes followed.

9. RECONSIDERATION BY COUNCIL: Council may reconsider the resolution and we just need one of you with the guts to ask for that based on the total lack of consistency with the current proposals on the table and the lack of public process.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica. Halt the sale process, rescind the resolution, and give direction to staff to commence a PUBLIC process to identify viable options for revitalizing our Civic Center Auditorium.

Regards,
Nikki Kolhoff
Santa Monica Resident and SMMUSD Parent
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 152 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Gina Novish
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda Tonight: The Civic - 3E and 3F
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:49:34 AM

EXTERNAL
Hello.

Santa Monica resident Gina Reichardt here. Regarding items 3E and 3F on the closed City Council meeting this evening: please consider full transparency in a discussing these points in an open meeting.

The Civic is a historic building key to the identity of Santa Monica. It is an architectural gem. Selling property that belongs to the public in secret is not what the citizens elected you to do.

Cycling past The Civic on the weekend, my husband and I were appalled at the disrepair of the building and the disrespect for the grounds. That the city has let it fall into this state is bizarre and shameful. It is right next door to the other city buildings and police station! If it is a money grab for land on the part of the city, perhaps the council needs a fiscal and moral inventory. I know I am taking one of the council’s actions or lack thereof.

In short, please make discussions regarding The Civic public and fair.

Sincerely,
Gina and Christian Reichardt Sent from space
[email protected]
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 153 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Nancy Hyland
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Andrew Turman
Subject: SM Civic Auditorium hearings
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:49:58 AM

EXTERNAL
Attention: Santa Monica City clerk
As 20+ year residents of Santa Monica, we are writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations to sell or lease the Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation.

Please respect your elected positions as our representatives - this is our city, we have the right to influence its future direction.

Sincerely,
Nancy Hyland
Andrew Turman
Olivia Angelo- Turman
2715 Highland Ave
SM, CA, 90405
[email protected]
[email protected]
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 154 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Carla Finnerman
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Do Not Sell the Civic Auditorium
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:50:39 AM

EXTERNAL
To: The Santa Monica City Council
Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F)
I am writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

Public spaces should not be sold or leased without the public’s approval.

I urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Sincerely,
Carla Finnerman
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 155 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: [email protected]
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Santa Monica Civic Items 3E 3F
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:51:24 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Council members,
As a family who has resided in Santa Monica continuously since 1969, and in part since 1914, complete transparency and public participation is absolutely necessary for deciding the future of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, as stated in the following letter:
-Wendy Lamm
Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F)
We are writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 156 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Kathy Knight
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Save Our Beautiful Santa Monica Civic Auditorium! Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:54:58 AM

EXTERNAL
July 18, 2023
To:

The Santa Monica City Council
From: Kathy Knight and Joe Faris
Sunset Park Residents for 35 years
Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease Our Civic Auditorium and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss Its Future (7-18-23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F)
PLEASE DO NOT continue ANY negotiations with any private or public entities to sell or lease our wonderful City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (nor hold any Closed session hearings about its fate) without the public’s participation in these discussions.

This is a landmark-designated resource. Disposing of it in secrecy is against the whole idea of landmarking a special place. Why would you want to do this? This is a TERRIBLE PRECEDENT to set in our City government.

PLEASE hold a properly noticed open meeting for the public to attend regarding the future of our Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

Sincerely,
Kathy Knight and Joe Faris
(310) 613-1175
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 157 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: [email protected]
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; MICHELE VICE
Subject: To City Council and County Clerk! Halt Closed Negotiations about the Fate of the Civic Auditorium & Begin Open Public Discussion
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:55:45 AM

EXTERNAL
Re: Council agenda items 3E and 3F,
I am adamantly opposed to secret negotiations over public land that the public owns without meaningful public discussion about its future.

I am urging the City Council to discuss the fate of The Civic with the public before proceeding further with negotiations.

Thank you!
A concerned citizen of 43 years in Santa Monica.

Michèle Vice
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 158 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: ANDREW TURMAN
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Civic center
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:56:49 AM

EXTERNAL
Attention: Santa Monica City clerk
As 30 year resident of Santa Monica I am writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations to sell or lease the Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation.

It is should ours, the residents, to decide.

Please respect your elected positions as our representatives - this is our city, we have the right to influence its future direction.

Sincerely,
Nancy Hyland
Andrew Turman
Olivia Angelo- Turman
2715 Highland Ave
SM, CA, 90405
[email protected]
[email protected]
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Please Forbive Typos !
Enroute, inflight, in transit & via iPhone
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 159 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Bernice Glenn
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: CLOSED NEGOTIATIONS ARE NOT WHY YOU WERE ELECTED TO OFFICE. VOTERS DESERVE AND REQUIRE A

DEMOCRATIC OPEN COUNCIL
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:01:21 PM

EXTERNAL
Council members -- YOU MUST HALT THESE PRIVATE COUNCIL

NEGOTIATIONS
Santa Monica residents not only DESERVE to know Council plans

REGARDING THIS PROPERTY, THEY MUST NEVER BE KEPT IN THE DARK REGARDING THE FUTURE OF A GOVERNMENT PROPERTY!

SOME OF YOU ARE NEWBIES TO SANTA MONICA, AND SOME ARE

NEWBIES TO THE COUNCIL

AND HAVE LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF THE MANY WAYS THE

AUDITORIUM HAS ENRICHED THE LIVED OF ITS RESIDENTSAND

THE MANY VISITORS WHO HAVE ENJOYED OUR CITY
Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F)
I AM writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

While we recognize The Civic has since fallen into disrepair, there is no similar public venue in our city, and we are bereft without it.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 160 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) transparent community discussion.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

BERNICE GLENN
WHO HAS LIVED IN SANTA MONICA FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS AND

HAS ENJOYED MANY FUNCTIONS HELD IN THE CIVIC CENTER
AUDITORIUM.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 161 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Susan Suntree
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: DO NOT SELL THE CIVIC CENTER
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:11:46 PM

EXTERNAL
To: The Santa Monica City Council
From: SUSAN SUNTREE and The Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City (“SMCLC”) www.SMCLC.net
Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F)
We are writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

Public spaces should not be sold or leased without the public’s approval.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Sincerely, Susan Suntree, 1223 11th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 162 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Melanie Landsberg
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F) Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:13:04 PM

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Thank you.

Melanie Landsberg
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 163 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: julie kirst
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:15:22 PM

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Julie
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 164 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Do NOT Sell the Civic Auditorium
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:18:09 PM
From: Carla Finnerman <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:48 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Do NOT Sell the Civic Auditorium

Public spaces should not be sold or leased without the public’s approval.

I urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Sincerely,
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 165 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Carla Finnerman
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 166 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: The Fate of The Santa Monica Civic - 3E and 3F Tonight Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:18:15 PM
From: Gina Novish <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:48 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: The Fate of The Santa Monica Civic - 3E and 3F Tonight

EXTERNAL
Hello.

The Civic is a historic building key to the identity of Santa Monica. It is an architectural gem.

Selling property that belongs to the public in secret is not what the citizens elected you to do.

In short, please make discussions regarding The Civic public and fair.

Sincerely,
Gina and Christian Reichardt
Please consider
Sent from space
[email protected]
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 167 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Santa Monica Civic Center hearings
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:18:20 PM
From: Nancy Hyland <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:48 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Cc: Andrew Turman <[email protected]>
Subject: Santa Monica Civic Center hearings

EXTERNAL
Attention: Santa Monica City Council
As 20+ year residents of Santa Monica, we are writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations to sell or lease the Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation.

Please respect your elected positions as our representatives - this is our city, we have the right to influence its future direction.

Sincerely,
Nancy Hyland
Andrew Turman
Olivia Angelo- Turman
2715 Highland Ave
SM, CA, 90405
[email protected]
[email protected]
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 168 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Civic Center: DO NOT SELL
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:18:28 PM
From: Susan Suntree <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:10 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Civic Center: DO NOT SELL

Public spaces should not be sold or leased without the public’s approval.

We urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Sincerely, Susan Suntree, 1223 11th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 169 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 170 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Jessica Wilkins
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Re: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F) Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:32:02 PM

EXTERNAL
Please end private discussion about use of public land! Sent from my iPhone
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 171 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Katharine Dreyfuss
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Civic Center sale negotiations
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:53:00 PM

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council members,
While state law allows some aspects of property negotiations to be conducted in secrecy, we believe that the importance of public space, especially this iconic space, necessitates an open and transparent community discussion.

I urge you to open this discussion to residents. It is our responsibility to decide.

Please resist the temptation to sell our Civic Auditorium until you have requested and heard public comment on the matter.

Thank you for considering my request.

Sincerely,
Katharine Dreyfuss
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 172 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Aggi Raeder
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: do not sell the Civic Auditorium without input from SM citizens Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:54:37 PM

EXTERNAL
I am shocked to hear that selling the Civic Auditorium is being proposed without any input from the many citizens that have enjoyed countless events there before the city began neglecting needed upgrades that probably would have given the Auditorium a long and useful life.

The Auditorium is city property and should be upgraded and modernized to be useful for current events. Any SM resident that remembers the many exciting events there would be happy to support city efforts to keep the Auditorium in modern shape for modern events.

I hope the Council will refrain from any hasty decisions, and keep this property for everyone's enjoyment.

Aggi Raeder 420 California Ave #20, Santa Monica. A resident of SM since 1967.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 173 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: ellen hoffs
To: councilmtgitems
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:02:40 PM

EXTERNAL
I urge you to not sell ANYTHING in secret negotiations. Shocking. Whats wrong with you? This is Santa Monica. Or used to be. We’ll remember you want to sell the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in secret.

Ellen Hoffs
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 174 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Proposed Negotiations for Sale of City Owned Land Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:07:25 PM
From: Roger <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:04 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Proposed Negotiations for Sale of City Owned Land

EXTERNAL
To the Santa Monica City Council:

I am writing to protest the secret negotiations that are proposed to take place tonight between yourselves and a potential real estate developer involving the land on which sits the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. This structure, it should be noted, is a Historic Landmark.

The lack of transparence with regard to discussions of this nature are unacceptable and reflect poorly on the ethical standards of the council members. You seem to think that local citizens should be kept in the dark about matters such as this and that their interests are inconsequential to any decision you might make. This is appalling! STOP
Santa Monica does not possess “excess land” that can be sold off to make up for the mismanagement by city government over many decades. There is not enough unencumbered land to sell your way out of incompetence. The city need rather to focus on rebuilding cash flow from its business tax base. This means improve safety and deal with the homeless.

Let’s be clear. Litigation is certain to follow any definition you might take to sell off this rare parcel of land and if the city prevails, it will be years and years from now.

Thank you for reading my opposition to secret sale negotiations.

Roger Hill
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 175 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Gretchen Goetz
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox
Subject: The FUTURE of SANTA MONICA CIVIC AUDITORIUM
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:29:55 PM

EXTERNAL
Dear Council Members and City Clerk,
With regard to Council agenda items 3E and 3F, I am writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

Thank you,
Gretchen Goetz
c 310-386-2240
[email protected]
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 176 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Steps Advance for Extensive Civic Building
os Angeles Times (1923-1995); Feb 19, 1956; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Los Angeles Times g. E1
Richard’s Tales of Ocean Park, Santa Monica and other magic places.

NEWSLETTER
September 2022 | Issue No.61 | [email protected]
Above: February 16, 1956 sketch of the proposed Santa Monica Civic Auditorium including the reflection pool. Who knew there was a reflection pool? Reproduced with permission of the copyrigh
Steps Advance for Extensive Civic Building
Los Angeles Times (1923-1995); Feb 19, 1956; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Los Angel pg. E1
Steps Advance for Extensive Civic Building
Los Angeles Times (1923-1995); Feb 19, 1956; ProQuest Historical News pg. E1
Steps Advance for Extensive Civic Building
Los Angeles Times (1923-1995); Feb 19, 1956; ProQuest
pg. E1
Reproduced with permission of the copyrig
Reproduced with permission of the copyright ownerFurther February 16, 1956

Page 1 ends

Appreciating the Civic Auditorium
A look at the Santa Monica
Civic Auditorium from the
pages of the LA Times
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 177 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Santa Monica Fetes Building of Auditorium
Los Angeles Times (1923-1995); Jun 16, 1958; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Los Angeles Times pg. B1
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permissio Los Angeles Times (1923-1995); Jun 16, 1958; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Los Angeles Times pg. B1
Santa Monica Fetes Building of Auditorium
Los Angeles Times (1923-1995); Jun 16, 1958; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Los Angeles Times pg. B1
Santa Monica Fetes Building of Auditorium
Los Angeles Times (1923-1995); Jun 16, 1958; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Los Angeles Times pg. B1
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

Santa Monica Fetes Building of Auditorium
Los Angeles Times (1923-1995); Jun 16, 1958; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Los Angeles Times pg. B1
June 16, 1958
Oscars, April 17, 1961
Above: The Oscar broadcast, live on ABC-TV from the new Santa Monica Civic Auditorium really put the venue on the map and gave it new prestige.

This was on April 17, 1961
Left: The Civic Auditorium today. Compare the
top of the facade in this picture to the one at the
top of the page. In the 1961 picture the concrete
screen goes all the way to the top. Today there
is a band of white across the top. When was this
change made and why was it made?

Page 2 ends

There’ll be No Snack
Bar for S.M. Sea Gulls
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 178 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD)

Page 3 ends

Above: The excellent Santa Monica Symphony used to call the Civic Auditorium home Above: The 1921 Ocean Park Municipal Auditorium shown here in 1950.

Above: The Belmar neighborhood was cleared away in the late 1950s to make way for enlarging the Civic Center. The old cottages were set afire to provide training for the fire department.

Today!
The Belmar neighborhood
The removal of the Belmar neighborhood
was part of a national program by the
federal government to help cities “clean
up” impoverished areas and keep them
economically viable for the City. These urban modernization efforts were part of a campaign to encourage white upper- and
middle-class people to visit and continue
to reside in the bay city. An estimated
80% of those who were displaced nationwide were African Americans and people from other marginalized groups. Little
was spent on their relocation.

Not the first Auditorium in town
The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium was
not the city’s first auditorium. The Ocean
Park Municipal Auditorium opened in
1921, just north of the Ocean Park Pier,
replacing an earlier auditorium destroyed
in a 1912 fire that swept through the
neighborhood. It was used for events into
the 1950s and then re-purposed for Pacific
Ocean Park’s Westinghouse Enchanted
Forest exhibit opening in 1958. POP closed
in 1967. The kiddie park at the south end of
the beach parking lot is where this building
used to be.

More interesting stuff....

Whats happening now?.

The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium had
a long illustrious reputation as a top destination for conventions and legendary concerts, but by 2000, it was struggling
to make a profit with an annual deficit of as
much as $2 million, which the city has had
to cover.

The City of Santa Monica began to plan
for a $51.9-million renovation using redevelopment funds and negotiated with the Nederlander Organization to book
events. That effort was suspended after
Governor Jerry Brown dissolved community redevelopment agencies. The auditorium closed on June 30, 2013 and its been closed ever since.

A complete renovation would exceed
$70 million. From an economic perspective, it would be cheaper to replace it, but many consider it a landmark worth preserving. The city has an annual budget of more than half of a billion dollars and is
considering its priorities.

Meanwhile, a long-promised soccer
field has been built on its parking lot making the likelihood of a reopening less likely than ever. I wish it well... Richard Orton
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 179 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD)

Page 4 ends

The Beach Boys
Lesley Gore
Bo Diddley
Chuck Berry
Gerry & the Pacemakers
Jan and Dean
Marvin Gaye
Smokey Robinson
James Brown
The Supremes
The Rolling Stones
Bob Dylan
The Eagles
David Bowie
Bruce Springsteen
Pink Ffloyd
Van Morrison
Journey
Genisis
The Doors
The Who
Billy Joel
Boston
Van Halen
Queen
Frank Zappa
Prince
U2
Aerosmith
Eric Clapton
Jackson Browne
Kingston Trio
Village People
Frank Sinatra
Ella Fitzgerald
Crosby, Stills, and Nash
The Kinks
On June 30, 2013, the historic Santa Monica Civic
went dark and closed its doors after fifty-five years
of operation. Nearly fifty of those years it held concerts performed by virtually every Rock act you can imagine.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.a
Packet Pg. 180 Attachment: Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Robert Wright
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 3C and 3D
Date: Saturday, July 22, 2023 9:55:46 PM

EXTERNAL
Do not sell the civic! It needs to be saved!
Robert Wright
Ocean Park
Sent from my iPhone
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 181 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Connie Sonderegger
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 3C3D
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 6:13:42 PM

EXTERNAL
Come on you guys! This city has been destroyed by developers greedily taking everything they can get their hands on-thank you city council as well for helping them out-can’t they give back a tiny fraction of that by renovating the Civic? We, who actually grew up here, would really like just a small piece of history to survive. Please?!? Sent from my iPhone
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 182 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Kelli
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda 3c and 3d
Date: Sunday, July 23, 2023 5:56:39 AM

EXTERNAL
As a resident- tax paying citizen and business owner I believe it is NOT up to you elected officials to decide what to do with the civic center and it is NOT ok to do this behind closed doors without the residents of Santa Monica knowing what is going on! It should be up to the residents to vote on what stays and what goes and how we want our city since it is being ruined by overbuilding. There are so many empty, for lease shops and that won't change until safety of residents become your #1 concern! Stop the overbuilding of our beach town! It is not just your decision to make! ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 183 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Evelyn Lauchenauer
To: David White; David Martin; Susan Cline; [email protected]; Susan Cola; Jennifer Taylor; Nia Tang; councilmtgitems; Oscar de la Torre; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Attorney Mailbox; Santa Monica City Manager"s Office
Subject: Agenda Item 3 C/D.

Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 12:31:20 PM

EXTERNAL
Every City needs a Civic Center & we need to retain ours - it will further stimulate our economy and, hopefully, help to restore our sense of community.

City of Santa Monica Government Facebook Page:

The information in here is misleading & should be revised for clarity and accuracy. The City did not have to declare the Auditorium surplus. That was a discretionary decision by Council at its October 11, 2022 meeting, although Staff told Council in its report to Council that the Auditorium had to go through this process before the City could entertain short-term lease proposals. That is false, legally incorrect. You all need to take part in sorting this out.

Do what's best for the residents of Santa Monica.

I, like many care. The community has the right to influence what happens with the Civic Auditorium.

Many of us want the actual revival for cultural, arts, community or performance purposes. A revived Civic Auditorium and center wi be a win for the City as well. We have lost millions of dollars in revenue by not having a Civic Center.

Sincerely,
Evelyn Lauchenauer
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 184 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Marc Verville
To: Oscar de la Torre; Gleam Davis; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Phil Brock; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis Cc: David White; Douglas Sloan; councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda Item 3.D. Real Estate Negotiations re the Civic Auditorium (1855 Main Street) Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 11:11:13 AM
Importance: High

EXTERNAL
Dear Council Members,
In reviewing both the newly posted “FAQs For Designation Of The Civic Auditorium (the “Civic”) as Surplus Land” (the “FAQs) and the referenced documentation of the October 11, 2022 City Council Meeting, it has become abundantly clear that the decision taken by the council on October 11, 2022 to declare the Civic Auditorium as “Surplus” Property under the provisions of the state’s Surplus Lands Act was based on false premises presented to the Council by the city staff.

The decision to call the Auditorium surplus last October 11, 2022 was presented to Council by staff as a legally-mandated, not discretionary, when in fact it was entirely discretionary. This legally and factually incorrect assertion has not been corrected in the FAQs posted Friday.

Given that much of the disposal discussion revolves around entities related to the city, namely the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District and Community Corp. of Santa Monica (a key housing supplier to the City and the beneficiary of substantial City land acquisition subsidies), the staff motives for such a misleading staff presentation to the Council on October 11, 2022 appear to be highly questionable at best.

It is beyond ironic that Item 16.C. (sponsored by Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Negrete and Councilmember Zwick) in this evening’s agenda “…directs the City Manager to explore and propose policy and regulatory changes needed to elevate Santa Monica's attractiveness as a major event venue. Positioning Santa Monica as a sought-after location to attract both local and international events would facilitate the City’s ability to proactively capitalize on several upcoming opportunities and support local businesses, stimulate economic recovery, further promote tourism, and provide new revenue sources to fund community programs and services for Santa Monica residents.” The unbridled densification of this city approved by a prior council (and also based on false pretenses) places a premium on spaces with the ability to bring the community together. Assets like the Civic cannot be duplicated.

As such, this entire sale process should be immediately terminated and a ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 185 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) formal business planning process launched to determine the commercial programming and revenue generating options available to the Civic. These options should include the Civic as part of an integrally programmed venue to leverage off the Pier and the venues available in the Downtown and Promenade.

It is way overdue for this process to begin in earnest, as Item 16.C. acknowledges.

The Civic is an irreplaceable cultural asset for the people of Santa Monica. It must remain that way and be revitalized to deliver the social cohesion and monetary value that is entirely within reach.

Respectfully,
Marc L. Verville
Sunset Park
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 186 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Ann Thornycroft
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda Items 3C and 3D
Date: Sunday, July 23, 2023 2:00:48 PM

EXTERNAL
To Whom it May Concern,
The Civic Auditorium is a very important institution in the story of Santa Monica and it has meant so much to so many people.

Please let there be no final sale or other decision on the Civic until and unless Santa Monica’s residents and voters and other interested persons have an opportunity to weigh in.

Thank you for your consideration.

Ann Thornycroft
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 187 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Lois Bostwick
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda Items 3C and 3D
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 9:42:32 AM

EXTERNAL
Please let our community be part of the decisions and plans for the Civic Auditorium, before bargaining away this important cultural resource. If we lose it, and regret that, it will be impossible to replace.

Lois Bostwick
Santa Monica resident
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 188 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Peter Altschuler
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda items 3C and 3D
Date: Saturday, July 22, 2023 1:09:08 PM
Attachments: PastedGraphic-1.tiff

EXTERNAL
The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is iconic… and public. The Council’s in-secret consideration of making it a private enterprise is a disservice to the community and a violation of the public trust.

There are multiple sources of grants and funding to restore historic properties and to underwrite earthquake retrofitting. The Civic would qualify for both. The Council just has to make the effort to obtain that money and invest it in a structure that enhances the City’s cultural life and enriches the lives of its residents.

Audiences at the Civic have, over the years, dined in local restaurants, stayed in Santa Monica hotels, and parked their cars in fee-based lots. All of those expenditures benefit local businesses and contribute to the City’s tax revenues. It is possible, given the business benefits, that hospitality corporations with facilities in the city would contribute to the cost of restoration. If the restoration effort is done under the auspices of a 501(C)3 organization, the contributions will qualify for tax advantages.

Yet any effort to privatize the Civic will create a backlash among city residents that will generate enduring ill will. The only discussions that should be held with respect to the Civic Auditorium deserve to be public, deserve to solicit input from residents, and deserve the effort required to find a way to save the building and put it back into service as a public, City-owned venue.
p
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 189 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Ursula Fox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda: Sale of Civic Auditorium
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 9:22:45 AM

EXTERNAL
Sell it.

Ursula Fox
[email protected]
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 190 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Bea Nemlaha
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Caroline Torosis; [email protected]; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems Subject: Champion the Civic: Agenda 3C, 3D
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 2:46:13 PM

EXTERNAL
Dear Councilmembers,
The Civic is the people’s cultural center. For 55 years it brought to Santa Monica, the greater West Side, and their visitors the people’s music - - folk, jazz, blues, rock and roll - - and the people’s heroes - - JFK, the Dalai Lama - - and the people’s arts and passions - - photography, modern art, arts and crafts, cats, old cars, and more. The Civic could be the people’s cultural center again, opening its doors to new, emerging communities.

This valuable public asset should not be narrowed for use by a few high school students or renters.

The Civic’s fate should not be decided in a rush behind closed doors, barring the public it belongs to. That is not right.

Please vote against any effort to rush a fire-sale or lease to a narrow chunk of Santa Monica’s people. Hold public hearings. Put it on a ballot.

Create a Citizen’s Task Force. Reach out to entertainment organizations and deep pocket individuals who might be interested in re-opening the Civic in partnership with the City. Publicize opportunities. Take the time to do this! Engage your constituents - - your voters, your people. The Civic belongs to ALL of us.

Bea Nemlaha
43 year Ocean Park Resident
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 191 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Victoria Robinson
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems; David White; Douglas Sloan; Susan Cline; David Martin; Susan Cola; Jennifer Taylor; Nia Tang Subject: City Council Agenda Items 3-C and 3-D
Date: Sunday, July 23, 2023 10:29:35 AM

EXTERNAL
To Santa Monica Council Members:

Please Do not sell or Demolish the Civic Auditorium landmark Please stop destroying Santa Monica Historical Buildings.

Victoria Robinson
Santa Monica Resident
Parent of Santa Monica High School Student
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 192 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Tom Richards
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: City Council Agenda Items 3-C and 3-D
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 8:02:55 AM

EXTERNAL
Please do not agree to tear down or privatize the SMC civic auditorium Tom Richards
2913 10th st
Santa Monica
90405
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 193 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Nancy Morse
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Cc: David White; David Martin; Susan Cline; [email protected]; Susan Cola; Jennifer Taylor; Nia Tang Subject: City Council Agenda Items 3-C and 3-D 7/25/23
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 10:17:15 AM

EXTERNAL
To: Santa Monica City Council
From: Nancy Morse, Santa Monica resident since 1990 (most recent) Re: 7/25/23 City Council Agenda Items 3-C and 3-D
Do not sell the Civic Auditorium, nor enter into a long-term lease for it. Privatizing the public space is not acceptable, nor responsible.

The city can control or have a voice in its future use only if the city owns it and has not leased it out long term.

The Civic Auditorium belongs to the citizens of Santa Monica, should remain in possession and control of the city.

The Civic Auditorium is a Gem in Santa Monica. It has a good history here, wonderful concerts, academy awards, etc. The building is beautiful. The city long term should find a way to make it fit to retain in public use and city control.

I think it cowardly of city council to hold discussions on the fate of the Civic Auditorium in closed session where public cannot hear the comments. Perhaps individual councilmembers fear public reaction, or perhaps they don’t want public to know the fate has already been informally decided.
-Nancy Morse
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 194 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Elda Lazaro
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Subject: City Council Agenda Items 3-C and 3-D
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 8:38:08 PM

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council members:

As a semi-recent resident of Santa Monica, I wish I would have moved here years ago when the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium was at its heyday. I wasn't born back when Fleetwood Mac, Bowie, Queen, Tom Petty, Clapton, Pink Floyd graced the stage and this is likely the only time I wish I were in my 60s to have experienced the beginning of this musical cultural shift in society. Preserving the Civic Auditorium, contracting with a concert events organizer and bringing back this much-needed live music venue will bring Santa Monica back to life. It will also bring revenue to the city through taxes and help the local downtown business community. We can host live events with renowned guest speakers, dignitaries, and SMC or SaMoHi graduations. We now have the infrastructure to travel easily through light rail. Downtown Santa Monica needs a revival so its residents feel safe and look forward to coming to the area. (For one, I avoid this area at all costs; there's nothing to do for live entertainment in a closed venue space.) As a patron of the live arts, I appreciate the history of the auditorium and wish for it to be restored back to its glory days. You've already approved densifying our once-small beach community with housing and large developments. Do not be the reason why we lose a much-loved venue. Please consider saving the civic so that my generation and future generations can experience what lifelong locals had for years.

Sincerely,
Elda Lazaro
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 195 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Steve Housden
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Subject: City Council Agenda Items 3-C and 3-D
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 5:07:29 PM

EXTERNAL
Please do NOT allow the destruction of the Civic. It would be a major tragedy.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 196 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Tracie Grossman
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: City Council Agenda Items 3-C and 3-D
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 10:40:28 AM

EXTERNAL
To all City Council members and Staff,
Please stop the sale of the Civic Auditorium! This is part of the history of Santa Monica.

Instead spend the money to refurbish and restore the property. We don't need more apartments or condos that will add to more traffic and congestion in that area.

Sincerely,
Tracie Grossman
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 197 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Faustino Garza
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Subject: City Council Agenda Items 3-C and 3-D
Date: Sunday, July 23, 2023 10:41:30 AM

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica Council members:

Please do not permit the sale of our City Civic Center. It is an historic property proudly owned by the citizens of our city, whose wishes should be respected.

Faustino Garza
36-year homeowner and resident of Santa Monica
Sunset Park
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 198 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: H Gordon
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Cc: David White; Douglas Sloan; Susan Cline; David Martin; Susan Cola; Jennifer Taylor; Douglas Sloan; Susan Cline; David Martin; Susan Cola
Subject: City Council Agenda Items 3-C and 3-D
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 7:50:07 PM

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Davis, Council members, City Manager,
Do not sell the Civic or the land it's on. the Civic is a great untapped asset that the city will never be able to replace.

We have a world class city and we need a civic center reflect that. The architecture is iconic and the location is iconic don’t destroy it, it could be resurrected and we could have it all done in time for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.

Heidi Gordon
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 199 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Steven Naftali
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems; David White; David Martin; Susan Cline; [email protected]; Susan Cola; Jennifer Taylor; Nia Tang
Subject: City Council Agenda Items 3-C and 3-D
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 1:49:01 PM

EXTERNAL
Honorable City of Santa Monica Council Member:

This is to respectfully request you vote against the proposed sale of our Civic Auditorium. I will appreciate that you please preserve this landmark that belongs to all of us as the City's own property.

Respectfully submitter.

Regards,
Steve Naftali
[email protected]
The information transmitted is intended only for the person which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this message in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 200 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: girltunes
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Subject: City Council Agenda Items 3-C and 3-D
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 11:26:22 PM

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council,
I implore you to preserve the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. This building is a unique architectural masterpiece and has a rich history of epic performances and events such as the Academy Awards having been held there.

Over the years, the City Council has decimated the unique character of Santa Monica by allowing unique California beach-style architecture to be replaced by ugly oversized boxy buildings -- for example along Ocean Avenue which once had a relaxing beach town feel to it and now feels claustrophobic and generic.

What is left to admire in Santa Monica as you continue to cave to the construction interests and mow down our heritage and replace it with buildings that represent nothing but a greedy deal that someone profited from much to the detriment of the community? Saving the Civic Auditorium would be a step in the direction of preserving the unique architecture and beauty of Santa Monica and could inspire a new renaissance of cultural activities there that would attract visitors from all over the globe.

Please do not destroy this building. You will be destroying much more than the structure itself.

Sincerely,
Ferris Gluck
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 201 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Kathy Knight
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems; David White; David Martin; Susan Cline; [email protected]; Susan Cola; Jennifer Taylor; Nia Tang; Ben Hamilton; Kathy Knight
Subject: City Council Agenda Items 3-C and 3-D
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 11:54:45 AM

EXTERNAL
July 25, 2023
To Santa Monica City Council:

Please DO NOT sell or do a long term lease on our wonderful Santa Monica Civic Auditorium without a public hearing on this issue.

No public documents like a Staff Report or other relevant items have been given to the public.

We need to have a chance to review undisclosed deals made behind closed doors without our opportunity to participate.

We need to have a PUBLIC HEARING on this very important issue to us citizens of Santa Monica. We had a public hearing on saving our wonderful Santa Monica Pier and it is still a treasure of our coastline.

Sincerely,
Kathy Knight and Joe Faris
Residents of Sunset Park for 35 years
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 202 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Nancy
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems; David White; David Martin; Susan Cline; [email protected]; Susan Cola; Jennifer Taylor; Nia Tang
Subject: City Council Agenda Items 3-C and 3-D
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 10:31:55 AM

EXTERNAL
To the Santa Monica City Council Members and Staff,
It has come to our attention that the City Council may sell, lease or privatize the Civic Auditorium. This should NEVER happen. The Civic Auditorium is an iconic landmark and should remain a city site and gathering place for the benefit of the citizens of Santa Monica and its visitors.

Ashland Avenue residents,
Wes and Nancy Hicks
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 203 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Michele Cole
To: Caroline Torosis; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems; David White; David Martin; Susan Cline; [email protected]; Susan Cola; Jennifer Taylor; Nia Tang
Subject: City Council Agenda Items 3-C and 3-D
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 11:50:48 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Councilmember Torosis
I oppose designating the civic auditorium as surplus land. It is a historic landmark that should be restored.
thank you
Michele Cole
1930 Stewart St. #A9
Santa Monica, CA 90404
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 204 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Donna M Speckman
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: City Council Agenda Items 3-C and 3-D
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 8:50:28 AM

EXTERNAL
I am writing to urge you to stop the privatization of the Civic Auditorium landmark. We have too few historical landmarks left on the Westside, and the public deserves to keep such a magnificent piece of our history. The sale or long-term lease of public land should be decided by the *residents* – and not by a few individuals. Once lost, this piece of history can never be recovered. Please show some respect for this iconic landmark.

Thank you,
Donna Speckman, Ph.D.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 205 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: kathryn Turk
To: [email protected]; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; [email protected]; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; [email protected]
Cc: David White; councilmtgitems; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: City Council Agenda Items 3-C and 3-D
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 11:20:54 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Council Members and Staff"
My husband and I are very saddened to hear that the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is being considered as surplus land and might be slated for sale. This auditorium has been a landmark for Santa Monica residents and even those from the surrounding communities. We all remember the wonderful variety of events that were held in this civic auditorium. It is part of the community. As residents we have been able to come together to enjoy the interesting venues right here in our city. Where will we go now?
As a City, we need an indoor large local gathering place for entertainment and other inspiring, educational and informative offerings. Kindly keep Santa Monica as a City and not one huge housing development.

As a third generation Santa Monica resident, I plead with you to honor our City's heritage and not to discard what has been a valuable resource for its residents.

Thank you,
A. Marco Turk and Kathryn Turk
1111 Pine Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 206 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Ric Mondragon
To: Ric Mondragon
Subject: City Council Agenda Items 3-C and 3-D
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 8:56:22 AM

EXTERNAL
Council and Staff,
As a native Santa Monican, I request that you not allow the sale of the historic Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. If sold, then it would most certainly be demolished and that would destroy a huge part of Santa Monica's history.

I realize it's been closed for a while but, I'm sure Santa Monica could find a creative way to restore this architecturally unique and iconic landmark and generate income for the city.

Perhaps in a joint venture with an investor that truly wants to preserve and restore the building for performances and special events like it used to have.

It would be a devastating blow if the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium were to be sold and destroyed. You are able to stop this from happening so I strongly urge you to please not allow the sale of this historic building that is an essential part of the history of this very beautiful seaside community.

As a 60 year old lifelong resident of Santa Monica that has participated over the years in so many of the events that took place at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, I thank you very much for reading my request and understanding my concern.

Sincerely,
Richard Mondragon
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 207 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Carol Dickinson
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: City Council Items 3C and 4D
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 5:21:34 PM

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council,
Please stop the sale of our treasured landmark, the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. We residents do not want it destroyed to make way for housing or a gymnasium. Discussions concerning the Civic should be open to the public. It is shortsighted to give up on our beloved Civic. It can again become a beacon for those who love music and entertainment.

Sincerely,
Carol Dickinson
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 208 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Daniel Galamba
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre
Subject: City Council Meeting July 25, 2023 agenda items 3C and 3D: Please halt Closed Negotiations about the Fate of the Civic Auditorium and begin Open Public Discussion
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 8:37:11 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council,
My comments below still apply. Please halt Closed Negotiations about the Fate of the Civic Auditorium and begin Open Public Discussion. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Dr Daniel Galamba
________________________________________
From: Daniel Galamba <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:34 AM
To: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: City Council Meeting July 18, 2023 agenda items 3E and 3F: Please halt Closed Negotiations about the Fate of the Civic Auditorium and begin Open Public Discussion Dear City Council,
Please halt closed negotiations about the fate of the Civic Auditorium and begin open public discussion. Public spaces should not be sold or leased without the public’s approval.

Sincerely,
Dr Daniel Galamba
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 209 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Francesca Bress
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Civic Auditorium
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 11:34:22 PM

EXTERNAL
Do not demolish this!
Sent from my iPhone
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 210 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Jim Pickrell
To: Ann Maggio
Subject: Civic Auditorium to be sold
Date: Saturday, July 22, 2023 11:41:03 PM

EXTERNAL
So the city has declared the Civic Auditorium is surplus land? What a shame. It looks like a done deal, and the people we hoped would defend resident interests, didn't.

Now we are going to see another valuable city asset being squandered. Who will end up with the civic? Neil Scheckter?
It seems too late to have a debate about the wisdom of this. Was this a secret vote? If so, it seems the purpose of the Brown Act is to encourage debate BEFORE decisions are made, not after, when there is nothing to be done.

I feel powerless, and very unhappy with all involved.

Jim Pickrell
On Sun, Jul 23, 2023 at 8:21 AM Ann Maggio <[email protected]> wrote:

Oct 11, 2022 Staff report: https://publicdocs.smgov.net/WebLink/DocView.aspx? id=3523153&searchid=401bbf73-5685-430a-8ec3-
4da9c97b15ee&dbid=0&repo=SMGOV
Meeting minutes: None found
Council video: Negrete asking questions about landmarking and housing. Susan Cola explaining what has to happen with Housing Provider offering. Explains that HCD still considers the East Wing to be under the Surplus Land Act. https://youtu.be/WHRBtDKcftQ?t=17137
Hotlink to the video of the vote:
https://youtu.be/WHRBtDKcftQ?t=17374
Ann Maggio Thanawalla
"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth." - Albert Einstein On Sat, Jul 22, 2023 at 9:58 PM Ann Hoover <[email protected]> wrote:

The City put up the FAQs Oscar asked for yesterday (see links below). I don't think they are completely accurate.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 211 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) agendas. Shameful!!
FAQ regarding the Surplus Lands Act:
https://santamonica.gov/blog/faqs-for-designation-of-the-civic-auditorium-as-surplusland This also can be found on the City’s homepage santamonica.gov under "Around Our City" https://santamonica.gov/
On Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 07:40:23 PM PDT, Danielle Charney <[email protected]> wrote:

Excellent letter from Stan Epstein...please consider including the Brown Act violations he refers to:

The Agenda for Tuesday’s Council meeting now includes Closed Session Items 3C and 3D., both of which concern a disposition by the City of the Civic Auditorium.

It should first be mentioned that every person present for the discussion of either or both of those items will be committing a certain violation of the Brown Act because that Act only allows consideration of the “ Price and Terms of Payment for Sale” of the real estate being discussed. It is certain that the discussion, and any decisions made, will include dozens of matters concerning a disposition other than the very limited permitted scope specified above.

Therefore, if the Closed Session is not cancelled, a report of the meeting will be sent by me to the Director of the Public Integrity Division of the LA County DA’s office, with complaints against all Council persons present, the City Manager, City Attorney and Susan Cola, City Clerk( for placing the items on the Agenda) and both City Negotiators.In addition, I would expect that any and all decisions reached at that illegal meeting would be considered by a court to be null and void.,
I trust that Ms. Cola , as requested by Oscar, has provided him and his colleagues with a memo relating to some of the points raised at the prior meeting.This note will surely say that Ms. Cola and Gleam were knowingly 100 % wrong in stating Tuesday that , under the Brown Act, real estate matters can be handled only in Closed Session.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 212 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) The strong argument of SMCLC, made today, against a Closed Session,and for public discussion on a matter of huge significance, should be of great influence to Council and senior staff, and supplement the legal analysis above that the Brown Act prohibits Council from discussing behind closed doors the many broad issues involved in this disposition issue.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
On Sat, Jul 22, 2023 at 7:34 PM Jaleh MIRHASHEMI <[email protected]> wrote:

Hello,
Below emails are belong to the staff who were involved in considering Civic Auditorium as a “surplus Land Act”, meaning “non essential land”, that has to be sold or leased for housing or educational institution passed by councils on October 2022 with no community inputs.

We don’t have time!! The deadline for 90 days from SM District and Community Corporation RFPs is approaching soon and again councils are going to make a decision on closed doors! Please add below emails to the council emails (copy/paste), so the staff also can hear our voices! [email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Thank you for your support!
Jaleh Mirhashemi
> On Jul 22, 2023, at 1:41 PM, Larry Arreola <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> <img123.jpg>
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 213 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: [email protected]
To: Council Mailbox
Cc: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Subject: Civic Auditorium
Date: Saturday, July 22, 2023 1:11:39 PM
Attachments: Blue.png
Facebook.png
Top Agent Network - Verified Member.png
1_Email Signature_Kate Bransfield.png

EXTERNAL
Council members,
I am vehemently opposed to any sale of our Civic Auditorium.

This must be discussed and decided publicly.

Thank you,
Kate
Estates Director
Global Luxury Specialist
CalDRE # 01218699
310.395.1133
[email protected]
www.SantaMonicaListings.com
Coldwell Banker Realty
1608 Montana Avenue
Santa Monica, 90403
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 214 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Peter Spelman
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Civic Center -- Agenda items 3C & 3D
Date: Sunday, July 23, 2023 2:56:35 PM

EXTERNAL
7/23
Hello Council Members:

I write to you as a 45 year resident of Santa Monica, first as a renter and now a 26 year homeowner. I've learned that you will decide the fate of our landmark Civic Center in closed session with no public input (other than letters). That's insane. It violates every principle of democracy in this most democratic (small 'd') city of ours. I actually thought it was a joke when I heard it. How could any reasonable person believe such a huge decision would be made in closed session? I therefore ask you to not make this momentous and generation-impacting decision in private, but open it to robust and well-advertised (in advance) public input. You are our representatives, and this is one of them asking you to respect that.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Peter Spelman
730 Marine St.

SM 90405
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 215 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Brian Lasky
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Subject: Civic Center -
Date: Sunday, July 23, 2023 4:50:01 PM

EXTERNAL
Hi All -
Ill make this short.

1. I oppose any decision about the Civic Center without public input.

2. The sale or long term lease of the Civic Center should be decided in public view (not behind closed doors).

3. I am curious why this is being done in private. MANY residents already feel that the City Council does not have the residents interest as a top priority. This only adds to our distrust of the council.

4. I understand the City is broke. However, that is based primarily on bad decisions of past city council members and poor planning. Bad planning on the City's part does not constitute negotiating the fate of PUBLIC lands without our input.

Please consider the thoughts of the residents you represent when making long term decisions for the City. You can always grab more money... but once you give up land, its gone for good. Public land should benefit the residents. Not a select few.

Thanks for your time,
Brian
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 216 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Beatrice Felix
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Subject: CIVIC CENTER Discussions- What are you hiding??? Date: Saturday, July 22, 2023 1:11:19 PM

EXTERNAL
Greetings City Council members,
When you were running for office you lobbied for our votes promising to represent us.

You got our votes. Now we want to see and hear what you are planning and agreeing to on our behalf with regards to the CIVIC CENTER property.

Why are you doing this behind closed doors?
IF you are acting in our best interest, then there should be no reason to hide.

PLEASE conduct these discussions openly in a public forum so we that we can know who stands for our interests and who doesn't.

If you don't, we'll assume you are all in the pockets of developers, and we will lobby to vote you out.

Beatrice Felix & Thomas Hartman
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 217 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Martyn Burke
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Subject: CIVIC CENTER
Date: Saturday, July 22, 2023 7:21:06 PM

EXTERNAL
SAVE IT!
Do not be one of the cultural vandals who trash civic gems only to be cursed by future generations.

All these places go out of fashion for a while—and then come back as treasures —if the politicians have a scintilla of taste and an understanding of cultural history
Martyn Burke
Laura Morton
Ocean Avenue 90403
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 218 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: John Cyrus Smith
To: councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Caroline Torosis; Christine Parra; Jesse Zwick; David White; David Martin; Douglas Sloan; Susan Cola; Jennifer Taylor; Nia Tang; Susan Cline; [email protected]
Subject: CIVIC SURRENDER IS NO STRATEGY
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 1:12:52 PM

EXTERNAL
SM SYMPHONY (1).MOV
Dear Mayor Davis, Council members, City Manager,
I'll be brief. Do not sell the Civic or the land it's on and most certainly do not sell or lease it to the School District. (We all know where they get their money) Instead, exhibit some real leadership and commit to recreating a new Civic Auditorium for the 21st Century that retains its beautiful, landmarked North face, is versatile enough to host a variety of events and welcomes the best entertainment the world has to offer.

And have it all done in time for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.

Do it in the most public way possible and begin TONIGHT.

Address whatever state law obstacles need to be addressed and direct the City Manager and staff to begin the process for the new Civic. --A new Civic that revitalizes international excitement about our city. --A new Civic that draws the finest entertainment anywhere. --A new Civic that draws film fests and conventions and hosts city events. --A new Civic that revitalizes everything south of the 10 freeway.

DO NOT BE REMEMBERED AS THE COUNCIL THAT SURRENDERED THE CIVIC AND SOLD OUR CITY'S SOUL.

Be the Council that saves it.

No one wants to hear excuses.

Start leading. Get it done. A bold public push to create a 21st Century Civic in just five years is about the best thing this Council could do for our city.

Just Do It.

Thank you!
John Cyrus Smith,
Santa Monica Recreation and Parks Commissioner
[email protected]
[email protected]
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 219 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) P..S.

I've attached a video I shot in May of 2013 of the LAST LIVE MUSICAL PERFORMANCE at the Civic Auditorium... the Santa Monica Symphony performing tchaikovsky, Guido Lamell was conducting I believe.

SAVE THE CIVIC LOGO.jpg
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 220 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Karla Klarin
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Subject: Civic
Date: Saturday, July 22, 2023 12:46:32 PM

EXTERNAL
Dear CouncilmembersPLEASE DO NOT DESTROY THE CIVIC AUDITORIUM! It is a piece of our history and we cannot throw our city's history away, once it is gone we can never get it back.

Please save the Civic!
Karla Klarin
--
karlaklarin.com
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 221 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: E Arias
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Subject: Council agenda items 3C and 3D --- Santa Monica Civic Date: Saturday, July 22, 2023 9:24:57 PM

EXTERNAL
Please do not sell or lease the Santa Monica Civic nor have any further "closed door" meetings that do not include public input.

The sale or long-term lease of public land should be decided by the public.

Specifically, any decision regarding the Santa Monica Civic should NOT be made in secret, closed door meetings.

Mr. E. Arias
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 222 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Ed Harker
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Subject: Council agenda items 3C and 3D
Date: Saturday, July 22, 2023 1:54:06 PM

EXTERNAL
If you represent us, the residents of Santa Monica, give us a voice in the decision regarding The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

What are you really afraid of?
If you don't represent us, why should we ever vote for you again.

Thanks,
Ed Harker
2029 20th St
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 223 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: SD
To: Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick Cc: Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis Subject: Council agenda items 3C and 3D
Date: Saturday, July 22, 2023 1:12:17 PM

EXTERNAL
Do not sell .. privatize or liquidate The Civic Auditorium I’m a citizen Of Santa Monica since 1970 I feel very strongly that the council restores the many venues that took place for the citizens of Santa Monica and beyond it was a $$$ maker Sandra Dean
847 18th st
#2
Santa Monica CA
90403
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 224 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Lisa Lipman
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Subject: Council agenda items 3C and 3D: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium Date: Sunday, July 23, 2023 8:21:22 PM

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council,
I am writing as a very concerned Santa Monica resident to plead with you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session meetings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

Public spaces shouldn't be sold or leased without the public’s aggreement. These spaces belong to all of us,
The iconic, Crown Jewel, landmark-designated Santa Monica Civic Auditorium served our community for many wonderful years, providing concerts, arts/crafts shows and other cultural events well attended by residents, including myself as well as visitors. While I understand The Civic has sadly fallen into disrepair, there isn't a similar public venue in our city, and it would be beyond devasting to lose it. I strongly and passionately urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Thank you for your time and considerations.

Best regards,
Lisa Lipman
Santa Monica resident
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 225 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Phyllis Chavez
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Subject: Council agenda items 3C and 3D: Halt The Lease/Sale of the Civic Auditorium Date: Sunday, July 23, 2023 10:47:03 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Councilmembers,
This matter is so important to me that I am writing again! The sale or the long-term lease of PUBLIC LAND should be decided by the residents. I am positive that these decisions SHOULD NOT be made in secret! You are the stewards of our public land. Secret meetings about public land is not acceptable.

Make the meetings public, get the residents input now. This is really a bad look for the City Council.

Thank you,
Phyllis Chavez
Sunset Park
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 226 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Burt Goldstein
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Subject: Council agenda items 3C and 3D:

Date: Sunday, July 23, 2023 11:05:14 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Councilmembers,
I, and all my friends and neighbors that I have “polled” on the subject strong object to:

1. ANY use of public land absent a vote by the public
a. Obviously this comprises a strong objection to ANY use of public land absent well-publicized public hearings

2. ANY privatization of public land.

In addition no one I spoke with is without suspicion that there is something illegal about the Council’s actions with regard to the use of public land, especially the notion of “private negotiations” between City workers and/or Councilmembers.

Sincerely,
Burt GOldstein
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 227 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Jeffrey Gordon
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems; David White
Subject: Council Items 3C/D on July 25, 2023 Agenda
Date: Saturday, July 22, 2023 2:51:51 PM

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Davis and Councilmembers,
Whose spaces are Santa Monica’s “public spaces”? By definition they belong to the public and primarily residents. And this especially holds true when dealing with the future of our iconic and irreplaceable Civic Auditorium.

While the Civic’s facade is important, so is its use: Its use as a public place open to all and for public uses is particularly fragile. Easily lost in a sale or long-term lease. The City may not have the money at this time to renew it as a public space, but that will change.

So much of the publicly owned space around the Civic has already been given over for special interest use. It is vital that this not be the sad fate of the Civic itself, with a future Council lamenting the action of this Council—a cycle we’ve unfortunately witnessed too frequently.

The Council must open the Civic’s fate to a robust public debate. As can be seen already from the many strong letters to the Council, giving over the Civic to sale or long term lease isn’t what residents or the public as a whole wants.

Jeff Gordon, SM Resident
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 228 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: D"Orsogna, Maria-Rita R
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Cc: Tricia Crane
Subject: DO NOT SELL THE CIVIC AUDITORIUM
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 1:16:39 PM

EXTERNAL
Dear all,
Do not sell the Civic Auditorium to any third party. Do not. Do not slap democracy in this way.

Do not destroy this place and erase its history more than you have already done. It is truly a shame that you are even considering this in a closed-door setting.

Perhaps you don't know what you are doing, but I hope you have taken some time to study who Welton Becket (the architect who built the Auditorium) is and what he gave to LA. I am not from here, but I have lived in this city for almost 25 years and spent lots of time learning the great things about it. One of them is the great urban planning and modernist design that went on in this city throughout the 1960s - all the classy mid-century stuff we all love. LA was young, unburdened by constraints of more historic places, the aerospace industry brought lots of ideas that could be incorporated in architecture and architects came up with beautiful, elegant solutions that the crap that is built today does not hold a candle to.

At the center of all this was Welton Becket. He designed some of the most iconic buildings in this town and
is responsible for coordinating the master urban planning for Century City. (BTW: It is such a pity we never really had a decent urban plan in Santa Monica, where stuff get built at random, to the contrary of all major Northern European cities). His designs were innovative, graceful, parsimonious - they are still beautiful today.

Welton Becket built the Federal Building in Westwood, the LA Music Center (Dorothy Chandler Pavillion), the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the Capitol Records Building, the Cinerama Dome, the Fashion Island in Newport Beach, and the Bullock in Pasadena. His son later took over his firm.

The SM Civic Auditorium, a Modernist building, was a marvel of technology for its time: the floor could be maneuvered from a flat surface to a raked floor, depending on the intended use. The acoustics were impeccable. All these things made it so that it could function as a theater, concert hall, music chamber, trade show, convention mini-center, movie house, even a boxing venue. The AIA gave it an award in 1960, two years after its completion.

We need to preserve the SM Civic Auditorium so we can pass on the ingenuity and beauty of those who came before us to the next generation, together with all the beauty and history ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 229 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) that happened inside that building - iconic stars of the era performed in it, the Oscars were celebrated there in the 1960s. There is a reason the place is designated as a historic landmark.

So, do not sell it to anyone. Who will we be if we keep destroying all the historic built world around us and replacing it with soul-less condo boxes or parking structures? Because whoever you are going to sell it will certainly demolish it to make money out of it.

The SM Civic Auditorium belongs to SM, we paid for it, and even if not in use anymore, it is part of our identity as a city. Instead, find a way to make it viable for future generations. A museum of SM? A more targeted entertainment venue? Restore it to make it something beautiful that speaks to positivity.

Here are some websites for you:
https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/santa-monica-civic-auditorium https://smconservancy.org/property/santa-monica-civic-auditorium/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welton_Becket
https://dahp.wa.gov/historic-preservation/research-and-technical-preservationguidance/architect-biographies/bio-for-welton-d-becket Come to your senses and do not sell the SM Auditorium.

Sincerely,
Maria R D'Orsogna
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 230 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: 3-C and 3-D unaccounted
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 8:25:03 AM
From: s. g. <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, July 23, 2023 12:42 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: 3-C and 3-D unaccounted

EXTERNAL

PLEASE DO NOT SELL THE CIVIC
REALLY?
Behind closed doors??
UNACCEPTABLE!
Susan Grant
30 year SM homeowner.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 231 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: 3C and 3D
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 8:23:56 AM
From: Robert Wright <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2023 9:51 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: 3C and 3D

EXTERNAL
Do not sell the civic! It needs to be saved!
Robert Wright
Ocean Park
Sent from my iPhone
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 232 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: 3-C and 3-D
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 8:23:30 AM
From: D M <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2023 4:16 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Cc: Charles Andrews <[email protected]>
Subject: 3-C and 3-D

EXTERNAL
Hello council members,
As a nearly 40 year resident of Santa Monica whose grandmother was raised here and great grandfather is buried at Woodlawn Cemetary I have a long history with our city and especially a great affection and appreciation for the Civic Center. Please do not sell it. Please gather the people’s feedback.

Sincerely,
Dian Andrews
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 233 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Council meeting July 25, 2023 Items 3-C and 3-D Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 10:25:26 AM
From: Dave Hopkins <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 9:46 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Council meeting July 25, 2023 Items 3-C and 3-D

EXTERNAL
Do not sell the Santa Monica auditorium. This is a public asset to be used and appreciated by all the residents of the city of Santa Monica.

Best regards, Dave.

Dave Hopkins
Resident of Ocean Park,
Santa Monica
[email protected]
Tel: (310) 990-2045
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 234 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Item 3-C and 3-D
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 8:25:48 AM
From: James Lawson <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, July 23, 2023 3:17 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Item 3-C and 3-D

EXTERNAL
Dear Council,
Please do not sell the Civic Auditorium!
Jim
Jim Lawson
2913 3rd Street, Unit 202
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(213)718-2229
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 235 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Items 3-C and 3-D Re Santa Monica City Council, closed-door meeting on Tuesday, July 25th.

Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 8:26:11 AM
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, July 23, 2023 5:39 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 3-C and 3-D Re Santa Monica City Council, closed-door meeting on Tuesday, July 25th.

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council Members:

I have been a resident of Santa Monica for over 40 years. I am dismayed at, and object to, the present city council members' desire to sell the land-marked Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, built in 1958. It seems to me that you have an inherent obligation to the residents of Santa Monica to preserve and protect previously landmarked buildings which are of historical value to the City. It is extremely short-sighted of the council members to not take into consideration the future negative ramifications of such a sale.

I hope each of you will rethink your position on this matter and ultimately decide that selling the Santa Monica Civic Center is a mistake of grand proportion, when there are so many other services it could provide to the entire community rather than to a small portion of it.

Sincerely,
Diane Fella
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 236 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Items 3C and 3D
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 8:25:16 AM
From: Jennifer Blum <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, July 23, 2023 2:22 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 3C and 3D

EXTERNAL
Dear council members,
Please save the Santa Monica Civic Center Auditorium. There is undoubtedly a very good use it could be put to in the coming decades. We are losing so much of Santa Monica’s unique and historical flavor to boxy apartment buildings that will probably look obsolete in a decade or so.

Thank you for your consideration.

Jennifer Blum
310-418-0500
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 237 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Items 3C and 3D
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 10:24:35 AM
From: Dawn Saucier-Green <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2023 10:26 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 3C and 3D

EXTERNAL
I want to lend my support to save the few landmarks left in Santa Monica from the wrecking ball for the soulless mixed use architecture that is making Santa Monica a bland place to visit.

Hundreds of thousands of tourists and long time residents love Santa Monica for the unique place is and is quickly fading away. The Civic Auditorium still has a place and usefulness that is irreplaceable.

Please consider preserving the little architectural history you have left and repurpose it instead of demolishing everything like you have done on Lincoln Blvd. The last thing Santa Monica needs is more over price mixed use apartments that are going to "save" us from limited housing. Builders could care less about preserving anything or making it affordable.

Santa Monica used to be a destination that people preferred over Venice, and now it's the opposite. People don't want to live in over sanitized bland places.

Let's focus on upholding, embracing, and celebrating Santa Monica's past, and giving it a place in the cities future.

Thank you,
Dawn Saucier-Green
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 238 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Save the Civic Center
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 8:23:37 AM
From: Jamie Zazow <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2023 4:34 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Save the Civic Center

EXTERNAL
How short sighted a decision it would be to let this valuable (and I believe refurbished) public resource go. It should be rented more! And the resources from rental income should go towards upkeepng it and making it pay for itself!--
Jamie Zazow
5187 Oak Hill Lane #625
Delray Beach FL 33484
203-383-0204
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 239 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: SAVE THE CIVIC!
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 10:24:28 AM
From: haRa <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2023 6:10 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: SAVE THE CIVIC!

EXTERNAL
Dear Council,
The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, by noted 20th Century architect Welton Becket, is a Santa Monica TREASURE. The Civic has been the venue for countless performances, meetings, concerts, and exhibits. From the Academy Awards, to groundbreaking rock and soul concerts, to powwows, and so much more, this has been a place where people of all kinds have gathered. Part of my brother Ken Genser’s memorial was held here. Becket designed this space with several kinds of flooring to make it adaptable to anything from craft shows to concerts. It’s been a Mecca for artists of all types.

As a twelve year member of the Santa Monica Arts Commission, I urge you to save the Civic! Find a way to finance its repairs.

Because, if the Civic is sold, we are ALL losing a great landmark AND a great part of our heritage.

And we’ve lost so much already.

Find another way.
haRa Beck
Sent from my iPad
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 240 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Council Mailbox
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: WE ARE AT A LOSS?????
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 3:47:30 PM
Re: Items 3C & 3D
From: Carol Hile <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 3:07 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: WE ARE AT A LOSS?????

EXTERNAL
Why tear down a Santa Monica “ICON” of a building…EVER? The SM Convention Center has more memories over the years to fill volumes…AND THEY NEED to be shared Not swept under the “rug” and forgotten . I remember when “some” were ready to tear down the Pier , the Merry go Round included……
Shocking I know but common sense and the PEOPLE Stopped the idea of removing this historic oneof-a-kind ICON….So Here we go again! SAVE THE CONVENTION CENTER NOT Destroy it.

What will
replace it???? And who will Vote???? THE PEOPLE, THE CITIZENS? HMMMMMM I wonder??? ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 241 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Tricia Crane
To: Oscar de la Torre; Gleam Davis; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Phil Brock; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; councilmtgitems
Cc: David White; Douglas Sloan
Subject: Fwd: Stop Negotiations re the Civic Auditorium - Item 3.D. , Council Agenda for July 25, 2023 Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 12:04:10 PM

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council,
Given recent revelations by the City, the Council must vote tonight to stop the process to consider selling the Civic Auditorium (Agenda Item 3.D. Real Estate Negotiations re the Civic Auditorium,1855 Main Street).

Last Friday the City posted “FAQs For Designation of The Civic Auditorium (the “Civic”) as Surplus Land.” This document has rocked the community because it revealed that Council’s decision at that time to declare the Civic Auditorium as “Surplus” Property under the provisions of the state’s Surplus Lands Act was based on false premises and interpretation of the State Surplus Lands Act.

The decision to call the Auditorium surplus last October 11, 2022 was presented to Council by staff as a legally-mandated, when in truth it was discretionary.

The sale of the Civic is entirely discretionary and should be stopped.

Tricia Crane
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

EXTERNAL
FYI - The council emails are in this thread. If you need to write to the group, pay attention to that!
I saw it after sending my email!
Jaleh
Begin forwarded message:

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

I am concerned that nobody is taking action on the issue of surplus and nonessential staff. This is where the city could make some cuts.

Are you guys proposing to sell Civic Auditorium, and the ones in charge of designing traffic obstructions. Those guys could definitely go and nobody would miss them.

Jim Pickrell
On Sun, Jul 23, 2023 at 4:34 AM Jaleh MIRHASHEMI <[email protected]> wrote:

We don’t have time!! The deadline for 90 days from SM District and Community Corporation RFPs is approaching soon and again councils are going to make a decision on closed doors!
Please add below emails to the council emails (copy/paste), so the staff also can hear our voices!
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 244 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Thank you for your support!
Jaleh Mirhashemi
> On Jul 22, 2023, at 1:41 PM, Larry Arreola <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> <img123.jpg>
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 245 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Ellen Mark
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Cc: Stephen Mark; Daniel Mark; Hanna Mark
Subject: Halt Closed Negotiations to Sell or Lease The Civic and Institute a Public Process to Transparently Discuss its Future (7.18.23 City Council Closed Session Items 3E and 3F) Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 12:39:40 PM
Importance: High

EXTERNAL
To The Santa Monica City Council,
I am writing to urge you NOT to continue negotiations with private or public entities to sell or lease the City owned Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (or hold closed session hearings about its fate), without the public’s participation in these discussions.

I urge the Council to open this discussion to residents. It is ours to decide.

Sincerely,
Ellen Mark
Sana Monica
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 246 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 247 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Robb Curtis Brown
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Item 3-C and 3-D
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 7:14:09 AM

EXTERNAL
The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is an iconic local landmark. DO NOT CONDEMN OR DESTROY THIS IMPORTANT AND BEAUTIFUL BUILDING! There are plenty of empty office spaces and plenty of other options for building housing. Once this is gone, it's gone. Do not erase this historical gem.

Robert Brown
Pier Av, Santa Monica
Sent from my iPhone
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 248 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: [email protected]
To: councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre
Subject: Item 3C and D
Date: Saturday, July 22, 2023 2:24:04 PM

EXTERNAL
Dear Members of the City Council: Of course the sale or long-term lease of public land should be decided by residents. Of course any decision about a publicly owned and historic resource, especially one as iconic as the Civic Auditorium, should not be made in secret.

Sincerely,
Susan Suntree
1223 11th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 249 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Richard Orton
To: Council Mailbox
Cc: councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 3-C and 3-D Save the Civic Tuesday July 25 Date: Sunday, July 23, 2023 1:08:01 AM
Attachments: Screen Shot 2023-07-21 at 2.25.03 PM.png

EXTERNAL
Dear Council Members,
Please save the Civic Auditorium. Here’s what happened in another city when they were faced with losing their precious auditorium…
In 1943 the Munich Opera House, an ornate exquisite treasure built in 1811 was leveled in an Allied bombing raid. The interior was like a jewel box full of carvings, gold leaf and red velvet. After the war the people of Munich decided it was part of their heritage and rebuilt it down to the tiniest Baroque detail.

Today it looks as beautiful as it did in 1811,
Though newer, The Civic Auditorium is our heritage with a legacy of performers that include Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, The Eagles, The Doors and countless others. We should take pride in our heritage and not cast this historic treasure aside. In the future, having this building alive and thriving will tell the world that Santa Monica has a soul. Save the Civic Auditorium as an entertainment venue.

Thank you,
Richard Orton
Ocean Park
Below, The Munich Opera House as rebuilt 1946-1963
Sent from my iPhone
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 250 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: [email protected]
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 3-C and 3-D
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 11:01:14 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Council members: I & many others do not want the SM Civic Auditorium to be given away for luxury condos etc. Do not sell it or lease it out. Preserve it!
We are concerned about the un -landmarking of buildings in our city. The SMCA is one such example. It was Landmarked for a reason. It is an architectural gem loaded with a rich cultural history.

Some years ago I personally got involved in finding a viable way to save the SMCA. I got in contact with the Grammy Museum in Los Ángeles. They were open to discussing turning the building into a Grammy Museum West.

I presented this proposal at a workshop held for public input for saving the civic auditorium. The officials there were not even interested. It was clear that it was a dog & pony show. I felt the Civic Center was good as sold/written off.

Please prove me wrong that there are city officials that truly want to preserve our history not sell it to the highest bidder.

Lou Steiner
Santa Monica Resident
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 251 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Elizabeth Lerer
To: Gleam Davis; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 3-C and 3-D Civic Auditorium
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 10:58:31 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,
Please do not be the City Council responsible for quashing any chance of bringing back a fully functioning Civic Auditorium!
Thank you,
Elizabeth Lerer
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 252 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Karen Croner
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 3C and 3D
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 6:17:08 PM

EXTERNAL
I am writing as a resident to strongly oppose any closed door sessions regarding the future of our Civic Center. The residents want to restore it as a performance venue. You cannot make a decision without our input. Yes, we face budget challenges. Certainly naming rights will be valuable. It will bring revenue to the city as people go to restaurants etc before and after events. I strongly oppose it being used for Samo High School. You just tore down the history building and built an expensive new building. Enrollment is down and you are building tiny expensive apartments not meant for families. If we have budget problems, it is not only due to the settlement of the tragic sexual abuse case. You built an expensive annex to city hall and we have the largest staff for a city of this size. I love Samo High. I went to Wonderland, Bancroft and Fairfax and believe strongly in public education. But this is a Civic Center, desperately needed in a town that lacks civic pride right now.

Most importantly you have the chance to do something wonderful for the city, give it back its identity as a cultural center. Half our apartments are empty. There is no bowling alley, though there is an absurd sign that says Bowl that will simply taunt families and kids who will think it means they can bowl there.

Make us proud. Do the Right Thing. Let the residents decide.

Thank you.

Karen Croner
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 253 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Katharine Dreyfuss
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 3-C and 3-D
Date: Sunday, July 23, 2023 9:40:40 PM

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council members:

I address you once again to urge you not to take action on selling our historic Civic Auditorium until you have heard more input from city residents about alternative ways to balance our city's budget.

I remember our struggle, with a previous City Council, to prevent the sacrifice of another Santa Monica treasure, the internationally honored Peace Sculpture, Chain Reaction. In that case, Chain Reaction supporters were able to raise funds to help the City save our monument.

I believe that the City remains proud of its decision to support its residents' commitment to preserve that sculpture.

Whether or not a fund-raising campaign will be considered in your decision regarding the Civic Auditorium's future, I entreat you to respect the opinions and suggestions of the residents who elected you before rushing into a sale.

Thank you for considering my request.

Best,
Katharine Dreyfuss
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 254 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Ann Hoover
To: councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Lana Negrete; David White
Cc: Susan Cline; David Martin; Douglas Sloan; Susan Cola; Roxanne Tanemori; Jennifer Taylor; jaleh mirhasemi; Maryanne LaGuardia
Subject: July 25, 2023 Council Meeting - Civic Auditorium Negotiations (3.C. and 3.D.) - Susan Cola FAQs Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 8:42:55 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Davis, Esteemed Councilmembers and Mr. White - I believe you know that I and many others in our City are deadly serious about preservation of public assets, community space & use, and no privatization of our Civic Center land and Auditorium.

The FAQs about the Auditorium that Councilmember De La Torre asked for last week and that Assistant City Attorney Susan Cola posted Friday are completely misleading about the law. The decision to "SLA" the Auditorium was discretionary NOT mandatory as Jennifer Taylor erroneously represented to Council last October.

Hopefully everyone on Council (and of course on Staff) understands that now. Council did not have to do this.

I don't want to speculate about what Council knew or didn't know when they voted last October 11, 2022 to put the Auditorium in this process, but it's become clear to me that it's now going to be a very long one & not over after the 90-day mandated negotiation period as I'd hoped. This now completely ties our collective hands regarding moving forward with other community-serving + economic opportunities.

Meanwhile, the public is completely shut out and left in the dark. No input, review or dialogue and we face the specter of yet another "Done Deal" with zero meaningful process for the public just like as with the Early Childhood Lab School and there goes our Civic Center & community heart right down the drain. It's very, very bad what you have done.

Ideally Council would rescind the October 11, 2022 vote and exit the SLA process (there are Council rules to revisit a prior vote; I don't know how or if you can exit SLA once an asset is in it but rules of fundamental fairness would militate that a city can). Negotiations could still move forward with either "bidder" (because neither are a proposed purely commercial or industrial use) but with significantly more control, public input and transparency, and NO STATE OVERSIGHT, which is overreach in the extreme.

I will be communicating with Susan Cola in an attempt to modify the outrageously misleading FAQs for more transparency and accuracy today.

Best to you always, I know you have a tough job -
Ann Bowman
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 255 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Ann Hoover
To: Susan Cola
Cc: Jennifer Taylor; Douglas Sloan; David White; David Martin; Susan Cline; Anuj Gupta; Roxanne Tanemori; Heidi von Tongeln; jaleh mirhasemi; Maryanne LaGuardia; councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Denise Anderson-Warren Subject: July 25, 2023 Council Meeting - Items 3.C. and 3.D. - Revisions to the FAQs for Designation of the Civic Auditorium as Surplus Land (posted on 07/21/23)
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 3:40:15 PM

EXTERNAL
Dear Ms. Cola -
Given the realities of the Surplus Lands Act application to the Civic Auditorium (a completely discretionary decision by Council) and Staff's misleading presentation on October 11, 2022 to Council, the FAQs you prepared and posted this past Friday are not sufficiently responsive to Councilmember De La Torre's request at the Tuesday, July 18, 2023 Council Meeting and also continue the legal and factual misrepresentations.

To be transparent with the public and responsive to the request made to you last week, following are suggested revisions and additions to the FAQs:

FAQ1 -- Please add the following 2 sentences at the end of the current FAQ1 ANSWER:

Please insert the first sentence of FAQ2 after the first sentence of the FAQ1 ANSWER. (i.e., Insert: Under the SLA, "surplus land" may be designated as such by a local agency when the land is surplus and "is not necessary for the agency's use". Gov't Code Section 54221(b)(1). )
Please add the following 2 sentences at the end of the current FAQ1 ANSWER:Council's decision to designate the Civic Auditorium as "surplus land" was a discretionary and not legally-mandated one, although Staff represented to Council at the October 11, 2022 Council Meeting that the designation was REQUIRED, which in fact it was not. It nevertheless ultimately was Council's choice to do so.

FAQ2 --
Please delete the first paragraph of the FAQ2 ANSWER in its entirety as it is irrelevant and therefore misleading and unresponsive to the question.

Please add the following sentence at the beginning of the Second Paragraph of the FAQ2 ANSWER: Council may have been persuaded to declare the Civic Auditorium "surplus land" for a variety of reasons.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 256 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Please delete the last sentence of the Second Paragraph of the FAQ2 ANSWER in its entirety as it is not responsive to the question and also is seriously misleading because it implies once again that Council was REQUIRED by law to declare the Civic Auditorium surplus, when in fact it WAS NOT.

NEW FAQ3 --
Please add a new FAQ3 that says: What now are the Surplus Lands Act legal requirements the City must comply with since Council declared the Civic Auditorium as "surplus land"?
Please add a new FAQ3 ANSWER that says (using the sentence from the end of the FAQ2 ANSWER): The City must comply with SLA noticing and good faith negotiation processes with affordable housing, parks and recreation, and education providers before it can negotiate and/or enter into any agreement for sale or leasing of the property for any commercial purpose. [Reference the Statute]
Current FAQ3 --
Please renumber as FAQ4 and FAQ4 ANSWER.

Please add the following sentence at the end of the NEW FAQ4 ANSWER:

The City, however, could have entered into the short-term leases (under 5 years) that Economic Development Staff spoke to Council about during the October 11, 2022 Council meeting WITHOUT subjecting the Auditorium to the Surplus Lands Act process.

Current FAQ4 --
Please renumber as FAQ5 and FAQ5 ANSWER.

Please delete the first two words of the ANSWER ("Under the") and replace with the words "Once subjected to".

Please insert the following sentences prior to the last sentence of the NEW FAQ5 ANSWER: The required minimum period of a 90-days negotiation with any affordable housing developer has expired. Any SLA-mandated negotiation period with the school district likewise has expired. The City now may terminate negotiations with either the School District or Community Corporation at any time.

Current FAQ5 --
Please renumber as FAQ6 and FAQ6 ANSWER.

Please let me know if you have any questions about the foregoing. Again, the original FAQs in several instances are factually misleading, non-responsive, and/or legally ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 257 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) incorrect, which mandates their revision.

I refrain here from even mentioning the fact that Staff also seriously erred in telling Council on October 11, 2022 that Staff could not entertain short-term lease proposals (under 5 years) without SLA-ing the Auditorium. I have no idea what's been going on here, but the degree of Staff mendacity on the issue of applicability of the Surplus Lands Act to our Civic Auditorium is astonishing.

As I've expressed already, I am disappointed by this high level of obfuscation and mendaciousness exhibited by both the City Attorney's office and Economic Development Staff in this matter beginning with the October 11, 2022 Council Meeting and continuing on with these FAQs.

Thank you very much for your time in attending to these revisions and please let me know when the current FAQs have been revised, which I then will review.

Sincerely,
Ann Bowman
Former corporate and entertainment attorney, PTA President, non-profit fundraiser, Co-Chair - Civic Center Task Force
Resident, 26+ years
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 258 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Ann Hoover
To: councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Christine Parra; Phil Brock; David White; councilmtgitems
Cc: Susan Cline; Anuj Gupta; Douglas Sloan; Susan Cola; Jennifer Taylor; Nia Tang; David Martin; Roxanne Tanemori; Heidi von Tongeln; Melissa Spagnuolo; Sofia Klatzker; [email protected]; jaleh mirhasemi; Denise Anderson-Warren
Subject: July 25, 2023 Council Meeting - Items 3.C. and 3.D. - Closed Sessions Civic Auditorium Sale Negotiations Date: Sunday, July 23, 2023 6:20:10 PM

EXTERNAL

SALE OF CIVIC AUDITORIUM - OPPOSE
Dear Mayor Davis, Esteemed Councilmembers, and Mr. White - Please do not sell the Civic Auditorium & underlying land ever.

Please put a period ASAP on whatever Surplus Lands Act procedural requirements remain as any required negotiation period(s) should have expired by now.

Further, any leasing or other proposed use/disposition of this landmarked property should be discussed with plenty of notice, in public, and with robust opportunity provided for community input and DIALOGUE.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime legacy project. Let's get it right.

Thank you!
Sincerely,
Ann Bowman
Former corporate and entertainment attorney, PTA President, non-profit fundraiser, Co-Chair - Civic Center Task Force
Resident, 26+ years
Here come the boosters!
On Monday, July 17, 2023 at 02:39:11 PM PDT, Ann Hoover <[email protected]> wrote:

OPPOSE - ANY SALE OF THE CIVIC AUDITORIUM
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 259 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Dear Mayor Davis, Esteemed Councilmembers, and Mr. White - Please do not proceed any further with negotiations to sell the Civic Auditorium.

The City should never, EVER sell an asset of this magnitude. That's Real Estate 101.

PLUS, this would truly be a LEGACY PROJECT for this Council and Mayor and City Leadership. Please don't be the people who threw it all away.

Financial obligations due to Mr. Uller's crimes, staff gross negligence in ignoring them, and pressing unfunded pension obligations cannot ever justify the sale of something that is essentially priceless and once gone, would be gone forever, not just as a tangible asset but as an intangible locus of civic identity.

Now, since October 2022 you've gone zero-to-sixty on this sale issue with no ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 260 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) substantive public discussion or community input. The Auditorium has been the cornerstone of our City's civic identity since the late 1950s - HALF of our City's incorporated existence.

Key takeaways for Council and Staff: LEGACY PROJECT..... JUICE OUR ECONOMY..... RESTORE CIVIC LIFE.

Thank you for your time reading this and look forward to seeing you tomorrow night.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

EXTERNAL
The designation of the civic center as surplus property happened when North of Wilshire NIMBYs who don't want low income housing in their neighborhood voted to designate the historic Civic Center as surplus property. This means the almost 4 acres could probably be developed with over 700 units of high density low income housing.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 262 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Subject: Fwd: Surplus and Nonessential staff
FYI - The council emails are in this thread. If you need to write to the group, pay attention to that!
I saw it after sending my email!
Jaleh
Begin forwarded message:

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 263 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) [email protected]
Subject: Surplus and Nonessential staff
I realize that our city has budget questions.

I am concerned that nobody is taking action on the issue of surplus and nonessential staff. This is where the city could make some cuts.

Are you guys proposing to sell Civic Auditorium, and the ones in charge of designing traffic obstructions. Those guys could definitely go and nobody would miss them.

Jim Pickrell
On Sun, Jul 23, 2023 at 4:34 AM Jaleh MIRHASHEMI <[email protected]> wrote:

We don’t have time!! The deadline for 90 days from SM District and Community Corporation RFPs is approaching soon and again councils are going to make a decision on closed doors!
Please add below emails to the council emails (copy/paste), so the staff also can hear our voices!
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Thank you for your support!
Jaleh Mirhashemi
> On Jul 22, 2023, at 1:41 PM, Larry Arreola <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> <img123.jpg>
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 264 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Jaleh MIRHASHEMI
To: councilmtgitems; Caroline Torosis; Christine Parra; Gleam Davis; Jesse Zwick; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Phil Brock; David White
Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; Jennifer Taylor; David Martin; Ann Bowman ; Zina Josephs; Larry Arreola; Dr. Anna Rogers; Maryanne Laguardia Subject: OPPOSE - City Council Meeting July 25, 2023 - Items 3.C. and 3.D. - Closed Sessions Negotiations for Sale of Civic Auditorium)
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 9:53:35 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Davis, Esteemed City Council Members, and Mr. White, As we learned, the decision to Surplus Land Act/SLA Auditorium was discretionary NOT mandatory when the city staff presented to Council last October. As the representative of residents, you did not and DO NOT have to put our Auditorium and civic land through this process. Unless you don't want to make people already angry more angry, please DO NOT make a deal behind the closed door and exit the SLA process. DO NOT SALE THE AUDITORIUM AND THE RESIDENTS!
Our Civic Center is a symbolic part of our city. The civic land belongs to the community, and it should remain for the public and in the public use. The Civic Auditorium, as the landmark, can be revitalized as a cultural and economic center for the public the same as how it was before.

As a concerned Santa Monica resident, I urge you to give a chance to our Civic Auditorium, DO NOT SALE it and plan to find a better solution. Please let us residents be involved and help if needed.

This is YOUR CHANCE to make a history. Please do it right! Thank you,
Jaleh Mirhashemi
Santa Monica resident 22+ years
Former Aviation Planner at SCAG
Former Co-Chair, Civic Center Field Task Force
Former PTA member for Safety, Cultural, and Improvements 15 years ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 265 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: janine autolitano
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Subject: OUR Auditorium
Date: Saturday, July 22, 2023 2:33:54 PM

EXTERNAL
Dear Councilpeeps,
It has been with great dismay to witness our beloved Santa Monica Civic languish due inaction over the past 11 years since it held its last concert.

We can agree that the arts are vital, correct? We sure talk the talk about that. It's time to get real and walk the talk before our most precious cultural resource is lost.

My golden twofer would be to convince the relevant party to invest in The Dell Auditorium and leave the Miramar alone. That would be truly visionary and our hotels, along with the flush new ones coming in would be thrilled to have a beautiful, iconic auditorium for concerts, conventions, trade shows, art fairs, you name it, all within walking distance! Of course, there are many other options if the will is there. Please help save what makes Santa Monica special and unique.

Thank you,
Janine Autolitano
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 266 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Gail Gordon
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Our Civic Center
Date: Saturday, July 22, 2023 12:59:19 PM

EXTERNAL
Dear Council-member,
I hope we can access the funding to restore our Civic Center. Santa Monica should not continue to be stripped of her identity by builders who don’t care about the heart of and soul of our city Please restore our Civic Center!
Thank you
Gail Gordon
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 267 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Esther Hickman
To: councilmtgitems; David Martin; Douglas Sloan; Susan Cline; Caroline Torosis; Christine Parra; David White; Gleam Davis; Jennifer Taylor; Jesse Zwick; Lana Negrete; Nia Tang; Oscar de la Torre; Phil Brock; Susan Cola Subject: Please allow the PUBLIC to use the CIVIC Auditorium Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 11:15:06 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers,
We all know that below market and moderate income individuals and families appreciate and benefit from the arts.

In addition to all the affordable housing opportunities that you are creating for people within the community, perhaps quality of life within that community can continue to be prioritized.

Arts for All! Even the marginalized.

Please prioritize revitalizing downtown by finding ways to restore the Civic.

When I talk to my below market and moderate income friends and neighbors in the community, they want community gardens, arts for all and safer streets. Art is not just for the elite and affordable housing is just part of a healthy society. There has to be a way to continue producing affordable housing and letting us all enjoy the benefits that only well run cities can offer their socio economically challenged citizens.

There are still many more opportunities to create affordable housing throughout the City.

Why not make it easier for developers to adopt 80/20 (80 percent market/20 percent affordable housing) like in other major cities? Why do efforts to create affordable home purchasing opportunities keep on getting blocked and impossible to produce? Thank you thank you thank you to you all!
--
Esther Hickman
310.600.7306
--
Esther Hickman
Broker Associate
CalDRE#: 01993403
m: 310-600-7306
https://www.compass.com/agents/esther-hickman/
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 268 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Metin Mangir
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Subject: PLEASE ask for public input for Civic Auditorium Date: Saturday, July 22, 2023 1:13:07 PM

EXTERNAL
In reference to Council agenda items 3C and 3D:

I ask you NOT to sell or long-term lease of public land without public decision.

It should be decided by residents.

Metin Mangir PhD
36 year resident of SM
536 16th street
SM CA
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 269 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Randolph Visser
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Please hold public hearings
Date: Saturday, July 22, 2023 4:28:11 PM

EXTERNAL
on the future of the Civic Auditorium. I am a 50 year resident and urge you not to hold secret meetings. Where is the transparency. Ignoring the voters contravenes our democracy.

Thank you
Randy & Linda Visser
Sent from my iPhone
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 270 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: [email protected]
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Subject: PLEASE save the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 12:03:21 AM

EXTERNAL
To Whom It May Concern:

As a resident of Santa Monica since 1977, I am deeply concerned about the future of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and the important preservation of Santa Monica's history, especially when it comes to the arts.

Please preserve and renovate the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, and designate it as a performance venue. I will be watching carefully to see how you vote on this issue, and will consider your decisions when I'm voting in future elections for City Council positions. There seems to be a frightening trend in this City Council to ignore the residents, over develop our residential streets with too many buildings, and turn this unique city with so much culture into another Marina del Rey or Beverly Hills.

Please help Santa Monica to preserve history; so many wonderful events happened at the Civic Auditorium over the years, including SMMUSD's Stairway of the Stars, Academy Awards, Tami performances and other events which are an integral part of Santa Monica's history.

I'm sad that Santa Monica is losing so much of its cultural history to useless office space, high end "Beverly Hills" types of chain stores, and is neglecting the needs and wishes of its residents.

We VOTE and we are watching.

Sincerely,
Emily Sanders
Santa Monica resident
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 271 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Dr. Anna Rogers
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Preserving our historic Civic Center Auditorium Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 3:15:27 AM

EXTERNAL
Dear Councilmembers,
The serious problems arising from attempts to sell our Civic Auditorium go well beyond the ethics and futility of
pursuing the destruction of a beloved, well-established Santa Monica landmark which, when refurbished, would
bring in significant revenue from events and tourist
business. Firstly, there is the glaring violation of the Brown Act on several levels, and utilizing wording of the Surplus Lands Act does not change this fact. If a closed session is actually held, any and all actions taken would be
considered null and non-enforceable. Clearly there is no legal mandate for subjecting the Auditorium to the Surplus Lands Act—this unfortunate decision is obviously
discretionary with no basis in legal protocol.

I urge you to remember that excessive and useless
development opportunities for private interests to the
detriment of our community, especially attempts to sell our public land, has and will continue to result in complicated legal action on many levels, and the vacancy rates will continue to climb as will the anger of residents and workers within the city. You need to pay attention. If laws continue to be violated and certain minds are closed tightly under the direction of special interest corporate donors, the ensuing accountability and legal consequences will gain national and international news and interest, which would most certainly be the tip of the iceberg.

Four of our very dedicated councilmembers have worked
courageously and tirelessly to put the brakes on
contributing to our vanishing heritage, culture, and
architectural history. For those efforts the community is most grateful. Profit is one variable—but profit based on ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 272 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) greed, ambition, and obsequious behavior towards donors and endorsing organizations is quite another.

I urge common sense, some semblance of ethical
considerations, and a clear interpretation of the law
WITHOUT yet more flimsy excuses regarding this specific incident.

Anna M. Rogers
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 273 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Stanley H Epstein
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Gleam Davis; Lana Negrete; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Oscar de la Torre; Douglas Sloan; David White; Denise Anderson-Warren; Susan Cola Subject: Re: Automatic reply: Automatic reply: LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE ABOUT THE CIVIC AUDITORIUM Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 1:39:08 PM

EXTERNAL
Thank you for acknowledging that the public record remains open this moment on Agenda Items 3C and 3D this evening. Stan Epstein
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 25, 2023, at 1:31 PM, councilmtgitems
<[email protected]> wrote:

Thank you for your email. Please be advised that this email will: 1) become part of the public record, 2) be filed with the City’s official records, and 3) be posted online at smgov.net/council/agendas.

Comments will not be redacted and appear online as they are submitted.

If you plan to speak at the meeting and have an electronic presentation to show, please submit it to [email protected] no later than 12 PM on the day of the meeting.

Thank you,
The City Clerk’s Office
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 274 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Stanley H Epstein
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Re: Automatic reply: LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE ABOUT THE CIVIC AUDITORIUM Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 12:54:48 PM

EXTERNAL
Please post all emails from me to the Clerk, City Attorney, or Council members on Items 3 C and 3D tonight.Thanks. Stan Epstein
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 25, 2023, at 12:49 PM, councilmtgitems
<[email protected]> wrote:

Comments will not be redacted and appear online as they are submitted.

If you plan to speak at the meeting and have an electronic presentation to show, please submit it to [email protected] no later than 12 PM on the day of the meeting.

Thank you,
The City Clerk’s Office
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 275 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: oesr
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems; David White; David Martin; Susan Cline; [email protected]; Susan Cola; Jennifer Taylor; Nia Tang
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: RE: City Council Agenda Items 3-C and 3-D
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 11:47:11 AM

EXTERNAL
RE: City Council Agenda Items 3-C and 3-D
I grew up with family living in Santa Monica and spend lots of time here as a child. Over the years, I attended so many events at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium from the TAMI show in 1964 with an incredible cast of who was or became rock superstars, to the gem shows, dog show and so much in between. As I am sure you know, the Academy Awards were held there in the 60’s.

The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium has sat desolate for so many years and for whatever reasons has left Santa Monica with an icon in disrepair. I sincerely hope that this City Council will have the foresight to finally make a statement that we are a city who cares about our history and bring the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium back to its glory. A City Council years saved the Santa Monica Pier to become a Pier that is known worldwide. Your foresight tonight could do the same for the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

Sadly, our notoriety currently does not bring people to our city. I believe it will be of interest to people worldwide who have attended events there over the years or visited our city.

Thank you,
Jane Dempsey
47 year resident of Santa Monica
Santa Monica, Ca 90405
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 276 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Victor Fresco
To: Jeff Gordon
Cc: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems; David White
Subject: Re: Council Items 3C/D on July 25, 2023 Agenda Date: Sunday, July 23, 2023 7:26:41 PM

EXTERNAL
Great letter, Jeff!!
On Jul 22, 2023, at 2:51 PM, Jeffrey Gordon <[email protected]> wrote:

Dear Mayor Davis and Councilmembers,
Whose spaces are Santa Monica’s “public spaces”? By definition they belong to the public and primarily residents. And this especially holds true when dealing with the future of our iconic and irreplaceable Civic Auditorium.

Jeff Gordon, SM Resident
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 277 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Karen Croner
To: Dan J.

EXTERNAL
Yes, SMRR and Forward have taken over the Democratic Club and also the Sierra Club.

Are folks on this chain members of either the Dem Club or local Sierra Club? The Sierra Club Stamp of approval makes a huge dif for people and it is completely corrupted by developer interests.

I am absolutely ready to help and join a new Dem Club for Santa Monica or join the present one and
make a difference.

On Jul 25, 2023, at 12:54 PM, Dan J. <[email protected]> wrote:

There is a new competitor to the SMDC:

Blue Wave Dem Club
bluewavedemclub.org
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DJ
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 278 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) On Jul 25, 2023, at 12:34 PM, lmarreola
<[email protected]> wrote:

Agree about the necessity of using technology. SMRR had Roger Thorton as tech wizard for 40 years.

I believe trying to infiltrate Dem Club or SMRR is a waste of time and energy.

We need to grow our own organization with our own tech wizard.

We need to organize all the " like thinking" and FB site voters and all the neighborhood organizations under one umbrella working together. FB is not the answer to political organizing.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

AUDITORIUM
Zwick was born and raised here. His father is a well known film and tv producer.

He won because Abundant Housing and Leonora Camner
organized a tech driven
bullet voting campaign
and they will do it for Natalya and any other SMF candidates running next time.. Camner's husband is a tech wizard.

The SMDC goes by vote- want to change it.. join and vote - that is what SMF does .They are not in attendance usually for any other reason.. but they show up to vote. Same with
SMRR..
they work by membership voting.

Gleam is not running - she is termed out I believe. Zwick and Caroline aren't running -they just got in ... but the others who are just as bad as Zwick and backed by SMF who are far
more the problem -will run. Zwick was not the choice of the SMDC or SMRR but dem's da rules and they had to live with it. Let's keep it straight. In great part we are up against a tech savvy world - they are using it. We need to do the same.

On Tue, Jul 25, 2023 at 12:04 PM Houman Hemmati
<[email protected]> wrote:

They don’t CARE about Election Day because they know they will win regardless. The last election proved it. No one had heard of Zwick. He moved here to run for office. He didn’t campaign.

Hardly had any “Pick Zwick” signs. Yet he easily won. How? SMRR and Dem Club + LA Federation of Labor ran a massive ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 280 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) ballot harvesting and get out the vote ground name. We didn’t we aren’t organized. We need to fundraise on a national level (people laugh a us and they all know about us now) and overwhelm their own efforts with paid harvesters and a powerful ground game.

Phil Brock last night went on live in studio on Fox News at Night, a NATIONAL show with 1.5 million prime time viewership to draw attention to these issues and bash Himmelrich. Here is the link. Please share!
<image.jpg>
California city councilmember speaks out after he
was attacked by homeless man | Fox News Video
foxnews.com
On Jul 25, 2023, at 11:56 AM, Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

If Gleam and her colleagues refuse to allow public comment on 3C and 3D. it will be huge proof of a continuance of their effort to conduct the entire Auditorium use matter in total secrecy. Not helpful to them on Election Day or with the StateBar or LA County DA Public Integrity Division. Council can ,and certainly should, easily suspend its meeting rules so the public can be heard! Stan
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 25, 2023, at 11:42 AM, Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

It has been brought to my attention that Gleam
apparently will take the position tonight that no public comment will be allowed on the Civic Auditorium
items because public comment on the same items was
concluded last Tuesday ( before the Brown Act
violation claim arose).

If anyone has an idea of what our action and response
should be, please circulate it. Perhaps a majority of
Council can change the rules to allow tonight’s public
comment.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 281 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) On Jul 24, 2023, at 5:33 PM, Stanley H
Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

The City has just scheduled a “ Special
Meeting” to start five minutes after the
Regular Meeting tomorrow.

The sole item on the agenda for the
Special Meeting is one case against the
City, which should have been added to the
Closed Session for the Regular Meeting.

It is hard to understand the minds of the
people who dreamed up this attempt to
fool the public and confuse things in order
to take the emphasis off the clearly illegal,
under the Brown Act, of Items 3C and 3D
of the Regular Meeting.If there was a
legitimate reason, staff should inform
everyone immediately.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
On Jul 23, 2023, at 11:05
AM, Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]>
wrote:

Nothing in the Surplus Lands
Act repeals or changes the
Brown Act.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 282 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) constituting her response,
failed to mention this issue or
my statement to her that the
session would be illegal. She
would not agree with my
opinion or, unethically,
support the Closed Session.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310
393 7619
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 22, 2023,
at 9:58 PM, Ann
Hoover <annkbowman@
yahoo.com>
wrote:

The City put up the
FAQs Oscar asked
for yesterday (see
links below). I don't
think they are
completely
accurate.

Shameful!!
FAQ regarding the
Surplus Lands Act:
https://santamon
ica.gov/blog/faqs
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 283 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) -for-designationof-the-civicauditorium-assurplus-land This also can be
found on the
City’s homepage
santamonica.gov
under "Around
Our City"
https://santamon
ica.gov/
On Saturday, July
22, 2023 at
07:40:23 PM PDT,
Danielle Charney <shineshuge@gma
il.com> wrote:

Excellent
letter from
Stan
Epstein...plea
se consider
including the
Brown Act
violations he
refers to:

The Agenda for
Tuesday’s Council
meeting now
includes Closed
Session Items 3C
and 3D., both of
which concern a
disposition by the
City of the Civic
Auditorium.

It should first
be mentioned
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 284 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) that every
person
present for
the discussion
of either or
both of those
items will be
committing a
certain
violation of
the Brown Act
because that
Act only
allows
consideration
of the “ Price
and Terms of
Payment for
Sale” of the
real estate
being
discussed. It
is certain that
the
discussion,
and any
decisions
made, will
include
dozens of
matters
concerning a
disposition
other than the
very limited
permitted
scope
specified
above.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 285 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Therefore, if
the Closed
Session is not
cancelled, a
report of the
meeting will
be sent by me
to the Director
of the Public
Integrity
Division of the
LA County
DA’s office,
with
complaints
against all
Council
persons
present, the
City Manager,
City Attorney
and Susan
Cola, City
Clerk( for
placing the
items on the
Agenda) and
both City
Negotiators.In
addition, I
would expect
that any and
all decisions
reached at
that illegal
meeting
would be
considered by
a court to be
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 286 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) null and void.,
I trust that Ms.

Cola , as
requested by
Oscar, has
provided him
and his
colleagues
with a memo
relating to
some of the
points raised
at the prior
meeting.This
note will
surely say
that Ms. Cola
and Gleam
were
knowingly 100
% wrong in
stating
Tuesday that ,
under the
Brown Act,
real estate
matters can
be handled
only in Closed
Session.

The strong
argument of
SMCLC,
made today,
against a
Closed
Session,and
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 287 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) for public
discussion on
a matter of
huge
significance,
should be of
great
influence to
Council and
senior staff,
and
supplement
the legal
analysis
above that the
Brown Act
prohibits
Council from
discussing
behind closed
doors the
many broad
issues
involved in
this
disposition
issue.

Sincerely,
Stan Epstein.
310 393 7619
On Sat, Jul 22,
2023 at 7:34 PM
Jaleh
MIRHASHEMI <jaleh[email protected]>
wrote:

Hello,
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 288 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Below emails are
belong to the staff
who were
involved in
considering Civic
Auditorium as a
“surplus Land
Act”, meaning
“non essential
land”, that has to
be sold or leased
for housing or
educational
institution passed
by councils on
October 2022
with no
community
inputs.

We don’t have
time!! The
deadline for 90
days from SM
District and
Community
Corporation
RFPs is
approaching soon
and again
councils are
going to make a
decision on
closed doors!
Please add below
emails to the
council emails
(copy/paste), so
the staff also can
hear our voices!
david.white@sant
amonica.gov
david.martin@sa
ntamonica.gov
susan.cline@sant
amonica.gov
doug.sloan@sant
amonica.gov
susan.cola@sant
amonica.gov
jennifer.taylor@s
antamonica.gov
nia.tang@santam
onica.gov
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 289 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Thank you for
your support!
Jaleh Mirhashemi
> On Jul 22,
2023, at 1:41 PM,
Larry Arreola <lmarreola@road
runner.com>
wrote:
>
> <img123.jpg>
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

EXTERNAL
We have established a more moderate Democratic Club for Venice and Santa Monica. We are certified and can endorse candidates in the next election. We need this to be a powerful body in our town. Please join!https://bluewavedemclub.org/
Phil
On Tue, Jul 25, 2023 at 12:35 PM lmarreola <[email protected]> wrote:

Agree about the necessity of using technology. SMRR had Roger Thorton as tech wizard for 40 years.

I believe trying to infiltrate Dem Club or SMRR is a waste of time and energy.

We need to grow our own organization with our own tech wizard. We need to organize all the " like thinking" and FB site voters and all the neighborhood organizations under one umbrella working together. FB is not the answer to political organizing.

Who wants to join a committee to get a unified organization to compete with SM Forward and SMRR?
Come on !
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

He won because Abundant Housing and Leonora Camner organized a tech driven bullet voting campaign
and they will do it for Natalya and any other SMF candidates running next time..

Camner's husband is a tech wizard.

The SMDC goes by vote- want to change it.. join and vote -that is what SMF does .They are not in attendance usually for any other reason.. but they show up to vote. Same with SMRR..
they work by membership voting.

Gleam is not running - she is termed out I believe. Zwick and Caroline aren't running -they just got in ... but the others who are just as bad as Zwick and backed by SMF who are far more the problem -will run. Zwick was not the choice of the SMDC or SMRR but dem's da rules and they had to live with it. Let's keep it straight. In great part we are up against a tech savvy world - they are using it. We ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 292 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) need to do the same.

On Tue, Jul 25, 2023 at 12:04 PM Houman Hemmati <[email protected]> wrote:

They don’t CARE about Election Day because they know they will win regardless. The last election proved it. No one had heard of Zwick. He moved here to run for office. He didn’t campaign. Hardly had any “Pick Zwick” signs. Yet he easily won. How? SMRR and Dem Club + LA Federation of Labor ran a massive ballot harvesting and get out the vote ground name. We didn’t we aren’t organized. We need to fundraise on a national level (people laugh a us and they all know about us now) and overwhelm their own efforts with paid harvesters and a powerful ground game.

Phil Brock last night went on live in studio on Fox News at Night, a NATIONAL show with 1.5 million prime time viewership to draw attention to these issues and bash Himmelrich. Here is the link. Please share!
California city councilmember speaks out after he
was attacked by homeless man | Fox News Video
foxnews.com
On Jul 25, 2023, at 11:56 AM, Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

If Gleam and her colleagues refuse to allow public comment on 3C and 3D. it will be huge proof of a continuance of their effort to conduct the entire Auditorium use matter in total secrecy. Not helpful to them on Election Day or with the StateBar or LA County DA Public Integrity Division. Council can ,and certainly should, easily suspend its meeting rules so the public can be heard!
Stan
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 25, 2023, at 11:42 AM, Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

It has been brought to my attention that Gleam apparently will take the position tonight that no public comment will be allowed on the Civic Auditorium items because public comment on the same items was concluded last Tuesday ( before the Brown Act violation claim arose).

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 293 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) If anyone has an idea of what our action and response should be, please circulate it. Perhaps a majority of Council can change the rules to allow tonight’s public comment.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
On Jul 24, 2023, at 5:33 PM, Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

The City has just scheduled a “ Special Meeting” to start five minutes after the Regular Meeting tomorrow.

The sole item on the agenda for the Special Meeting is one case against the City, which should have been added to the Closed Session for the Regular Meeting.

It is hard to understand the minds of the people who dreamed up this attempt to fool the public and confuse things in order to take the emphasis off the clearly illegal, under the Brown Act, of Items 3C and 3D of the Regular Meeting.If there was a legitimate reason, staff should inform everyone immediately.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
On Jul 23, 2023, at 11:05 AM, Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

Nothing in the Surplus Lands Act repeals or changes
the Brown Act.

Therefore, a Closed Session Tuesday that goes
beyond Price and Terms of Payment would be
illegal. Further, actions taken at the meeting, even if approved in open session, would be null and void.

Oscar requested, and the Council agreed , that
Attorney Cola would produce a memo on this
subject. Her FAQs , constituting her response, failed
to mention this issue or my statement to her that the
session would be illegal. She would not agree with
my opinion or, unethically, support the Closed
Session.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 294 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 22, 2023, at 9:58 PM, Ann
Hoover <[email protected]>
wrote:

The City put up the FAQs Oscar asked for
yesterday (see links below). I don't think they
are completely accurate.

The decision to subject the Auditorium to the
Surplus Lands Act was absolutely
discretionary not legally-mandated
and of course it all surely must have been
pushed by Gleam as Mayor b/c she helps to
set the agendas. Shameful!!
FAQ regarding the Surplus Lands Act:
https://santamonica.gov/blog/faqs-fordesignation-of-the-civic-auditorium-assurplus-land This also can be found on the City’s
homepage santamonica.gov under
"Around Our City"
https://santamonica.gov/
On Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 07:40:23 PM
PDT, Danielle Charney <[email protected]> wrote:

Excellent letter from Stan
Epstein...please consider
including the Brown Act
violations he refers to:

The Agenda for Tuesday’s Council meeting
now includes Closed Session Items 3C and
3D., both of which concern a disposition by
the City of the Civic Auditorium.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 295 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) It should first be mentioned that
every person present for the
discussion of either or both of
those items will be committing a
certain violation of the Brown
Act because that Act only allows
consideration of the “ Price and
Terms of Payment for Sale” of
the real estate being discussed.

It is certain that the discussion,
and any decisions made, will
include dozens of matters
concerning a disposition other
than the very limited permitted
scope specified above.

Therefore, if the Closed Session
is not cancelled, a report of the
meeting will be sent by me to
the Director of the Public
Integrity Division of the LA
County DA’s office, with
complaints against all Council
persons present, the City
Manager, City Attorney and
Susan Cola, City Clerk( for
placing the items on the
Agenda) and both City
Negotiators.In addition, I would
expect that any and all decisions
reached at that illegal meeting
would be considered by a court
to be null and void.,
I trust that Ms. Cola , as
requested by Oscar, has
provided him and his colleagues
with a memo relating to some of
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 296 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) the points raised at the prior
meeting.This note will surely say
that Ms. Cola and Gleam were
knowingly 100 % wrong in
stating Tuesday that , under the
Brown Act, real estate matters
can be handled only in Closed
Session.

The strong argument of SMCLC,
made today, against a Closed
Session,and for public
discussion on a matter of huge
significance, should be of great
influence to Council and senior
staff, and supplement the legal
analysis above that the Brown
Act prohibits Council from
discussing behind closed doors
the many broad issues involved
in this disposition issue.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393
7619
On Sat, Jul 22, 2023 at 7:34 PM Jaleh
MIRHASHEMI <[email protected]> wrote:

Hello,
Below emails are belong to the staff who
were involved in considering Civic
Auditorium as a “surplus Land Act”,
meaning “non essential land”, that has to
be sold or leased for housing or
educational institution passed by councils
on October 2022 with no community inputs.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 297 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) emails (copy/paste), so the staff also can
hear our voices!
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Thank you for your support!
Jaleh Mirhashemi
> On Jul 22, 2023, at 1:41 PM, Larry
Arreola <[email protected]>
wrote:
>
> <img123.jpg>
--
Phil Brock / City Council Member
[email protected]
City of Santa Monica
(310) 458-8201 (310) 393-8004
1685 Main Street, Room 209, Santa Monica, CA 90401
smgov.net
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Youtube
California Parks & Recreation Commissioner Of The Year/42nd President, CalParkBoards/Past Chair, Santa Monica Recreation & Parks Commission/Past President, Lt. Governor, Kiwanis Club Of Santa Monica & District 19/President, Santa Monica High School Alumni Association/ Santa Monica Elks Club Trustee, 2018 Citizen of the Year/Host, Brock On Your Block/Advisory Board, Salvation Army
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

EXTERNAL
Just got a form from the City Clerk that my email of 5 minutes ago about the Auditorium comments this evening would be posted with the Agenda.

Tell me- how can the City accept emails at 12:50 PM on Jan 25 on the 2 Auditorium items if the public’s last chance to talk to Council was one week ago on the very same Items? Crazy, and that is why Council must suspend any rule that limits this transparency.

Stan Epstein
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 25, 2023, at 12:48 PM, Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi everyone. Gleam has written me to respond on the issue of public comment tonight on the two items.

She denied saying there would not be public comment, but said, in view of comments having been made at the meeting a week ago, she was turning the issue over to the City Attorney and Clerk. I replied in an email that she and her colleagues should, on a one time basis, suspend any rule that would prohibit comment tonight, and asked her to give me that commitment immediately.Sloan and Warren are absolutely not involved in such a decision.

I strongly suggest that everyone contact all seven Council members right away and urge that the rule should be suspended if it prohibits public comment tonight.Everyone should also be told of their responses.

Since a week ago, there have been all of the following, which fully justifies the need for more comments this evening: 1. The Asst City Attorney ( Susan Cola) ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 299 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) issued a book of FAQs that was specifically requested by Council so it could be much better informed, and so could the public. The comments contained in this document could not have been commented on a week ago since it did not exist.

2. The City Attorney made comments to the Lookout about the Brown Act situation which were materially false.

3. I developed and disclosed to Council, staff, the community and media the Brown Act violation claim and likelihood of DA and State Bar complaints.

If anyone has questions, please fire away.

Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 25, 2023, at 11:56 AM, Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

It has been brought to my attention that Gleam
apparently will take the position tonight that no public comment will be allowed on the Civic Auditorium items
because public comment on the same items was
concluded last Tuesday ( before the Brown Act violation claim arose).

If anyone has an idea of what our action and response
should be, please circulate it. Perhaps a majority of
Council can change the rules to allow tonight’s public
comment.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 300 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) On Jul 24, 2023, at 5:33 PM, Stanley H
Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

The City has just scheduled a “ Special
Meeting” to start five minutes after the
Regular Meeting tomorrow.

The sole item on the agenda for the Special
Meeting is one case against the City, which
should have been added to the Closed
Session for the Regular Meeting.

It is hard to understand the minds of the
people who dreamed up this attempt to fool
the public and confuse things in order to
take the emphasis off the clearly illegal,
under the Brown Act, of Items 3C and 3D of
the Regular Meeting.If there was a
legitimate reason, staff should inform
everyone immediately.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
On Jul 23, 2023, at 11:05 AM,
Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

Nothing in the Surplus Lands
Act repeals or changes the
Brown Act.

Therefore, a Closed Session
Tuesday that goes beyond Price
and Terms of Payment would
be illegal. Further, actions taken
at the meeting, even if approved
in open session, would be null
and void. Oscar requested, and
the Council agreed , that
Attorney Cola would produce a
memo on this subject. Her
FAQs , constituting her
response, failed to mention this
issue or my statement to her that
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 301 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) the session would be illegal.

She would not agree with my
opinion or, unethically, support
the Closed Session.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310
393 7619
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 22, 2023, at
9:58 PM, Ann
Hoover
<[email protected]>
wrote:

The City put up the
FAQs Oscar asked
for yesterday (see
links below). I don't
think they are
completely accurate.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 302 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) found on the City’s
homepage
santamonica.gov
under "Around Our
City"
https://santamonica.gov/
On Saturday, July 22,
2023 at 07:40:23 PM
PDT, Danielle
Charney
<[email protected]>
wrote:

Excellent letter
from Stan
Epstein...please
consider
including the
Brown Act
violations he
refers to:

The Agenda for
Tuesday’s Council
meeting now includes
Closed Session Items
3C and 3D., both of
which concern a
disposition by the City
of the Civic
Auditorium.

It should first be
mentioned that
every person
present for the
discussion of
either or both of
those items will
be committing a
certain violation
of the Brown
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 303 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Act because
that Act only
allows
consideration of
the “ Price and
Terms of
Payment for
Sale” of the real
estate being
discussed. It is
certain that the
discussion, and
any decisions
made, will
include dozens
of matters
concerning a
disposition
other than the
very limited
permitted
scope specified
above.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 304 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Council
persons
present, the
City Manager,
City Attorney
and Susan
Cola, City
Clerk( for
placing the
items on the
Agenda) and
both City
Negotiators.In
addition, I
would expect
that any and all
decisions
reached at that
illegal meeting
would be
considered by a
court to be null
and void.,
I trust that Ms.

Cola , as
requested by
Oscar, has
provided him
and his
colleagues with
a memo
relating to
some of the
points raised at
the prior
meeting.This
note will surely
say that Ms.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 305 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Cola and
Gleam were
knowingly 100
% wrong in
stating Tuesday
that , under the
Brown Act, real
estate matters
can be handled
only in Closed
Session.

The strong
argument of
SMCLC, made
today, against a
Closed
Session,and for
public
discussion on a
matter of huge
significance,
should be of
great influence
to Council and
senior staff,
and
supplement the
legal analysis
above that the
Brown Act
prohibits
Council from
discussing
behind closed
doors the many
broad issues
involved in this
disposition
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 306 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) issue.

Sincerely, Stan
Epstein. 310
393 7619
On Sat, Jul 22, 2023
at 7:34 PM Jaleh
MIRHASHEMI <jaleh[email protected]> wrote:

Hello,
Below emails are
belong to the staff
who were involved
in considering Civic
Auditorium as a
“surplus Land Act”,
meaning “non
essential land”, that
has to be sold or
leased for housing
or educational
institution passed
by councils on
October 2022 with
no community
inputs.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 307 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) [email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Thank you for your
support!
Jaleh Mirhashemi
> On Jul 22, 2023,
at 1:41 PM, Larry
Arreola <[email protected]
>
wrote:
>
> <img123.jpg>
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 308 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) From: Dan J.

EXTERNAL
There is a new competitor to the SMDC:

Blue Wave Dem Club
bluewavedemclub.org
DJ
On Jul 25, 2023, at 12:34 PM, lmarreola <[email protected]> wrote:

Agree about the necessity of using technology. SMRR had Roger Thorton as tech wizard for 40 years.

I believe trying to infiltrate Dem Club or SMRR is a waste of time and energy.

Who wants to join a committee to get a unified organization to compete with SM Forward and SMRR?
Come on !
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

He won because Abundant Housing and Leonora Camner organized a tech driven
bullet voting campaign
and they will do it for Natalya and any other SMF candidates running next time.. Camner's husband is a tech wizard.

The SMDC goes by vote- want to change it.. join and vote -that is what ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 310 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) SMF does .They are not in attendance usually for any other reason.. but they show up to vote. Same with SMRR..
they work by membership voting.

Zwick was not the choice of the SMDC or SMRR but dem's da rules and they had to live with it. Let's keep it straight. In great part we are up against a tech savvy world - they are using it. We need to do the same.

On Tue, Jul 25, 2023 at 12:04 PM Houman Hemmati
<[email protected]> wrote:

Yet he easily won. How? SMRR and Dem Club + LA Federation of Labor ran a massive ballot harvesting and get out the vote ground name. We didn’t we aren’t organized. We need to fundraise on a national level (people laugh a us and they all know about us now) and overwhelm their own efforts with paid harvesters and a powerful ground game.

Phil Brock last night went on live in studio on Fox News at Night, a NATIONAL show with 1.5 million prime time viewership to draw attention to these issues and bash Himmelrich. Here is the link. Please share! <image.jpg>
California city councilmember speaks out after he
was attacked by homeless man | Fox News Video
foxnews.com
On Jul 25, 2023, at 11:56 AM, Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 311 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) It has been brought to my attention that Gleam apparently will take the position tonight that no public comment will be allowed on the Civic Auditorium items because public comment on the same items was concluded last Tuesday ( before the Brown Act violation claim arose).

If anyone has an idea of what our action and response should be, please circulate it. Perhaps a majority of Council can change the rules to allow tonight’s public comment.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
On Jul 24, 2023, at 5:33 PM, Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

The City has just scheduled a “ Special Meeting” to
start five minutes after the Regular Meeting tomorrow.

The sole item on the agenda for the Special Meeting is
one case against the City, which should have been
added to the Closed Session for the Regular Meeting.

It is hard to understand the minds of the people who
dreamed up this attempt to fool the public and confuse
things in order to take the emphasis off the clearly
illegal, under the Brown Act, of Items 3C and 3D of
the Regular Meeting.If there was a legitimate reason,
staff should inform everyone immediately.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
On Jul 23, 2023, at 11:05 AM, Stanley H
Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

Nothing in the Surplus Lands Act repeals
or changes the Brown Act.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 312 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) requested, and the Council agreed , that
Attorney Cola would produce a memo on
this subject. Her FAQs , constituting her
response, failed to mention this issue or
my statement to her that the session would
be illegal. She would not agree with my
opinion or, unethically, support the Closed
Session.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 22, 2023, at 9:58 PM,
Ann Hoover <[email protected]
>
wrote:

The City put up the FAQs Oscar
asked for yesterday (see links
below). I don't think they are
completely accurate.

The decision to subject the
Auditorium to the Surplus Lands
Act was absolutely discretionary
not legally-mandated
and of course it all surely must
have been pushed by Gleam as
Mayor b/c she helps to set the
agendas. Shameful!!
FAQ regarding the Surplus
Lands Act:
https://santamonica.gov/blog
/faqs-for-designation-of-thecivic-auditorium-as-surplusland This also can be found on the
City’s homepage
santamonica.gov under
"Around Our City"
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 313 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) https://santamonica.gov/
On Saturday, July 22, 2023 at
07:40:23 PM PDT, Danielle
Charney <[email protected]> wrote:

Excellent letter from
Stan Epstein...please
consider including the
Brown Act violations he
refers to:

The Agenda for Tuesday’s
Council meeting now includes
Closed Session Items 3C and
3D., both of which concern a
disposition by the City of the Civic
Auditorium.

It should first be
mentioned that every
person present for the
discussion of either or
both of those items will
be committing a certain
violation of the Brown
Act because that Act
only allows
consideration of the “
Price and Terms of
Payment for Sale” of the
real estate being
discussed. It is certain
that the discussion, and
any decisions made, will
include dozens of
matters concerning a
disposition other than
the very limited
permitted scope
specified above.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 314 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Therefore, if the Closed
Session is not
cancelled, a report of
the meeting will be sent
by me to the Director of
the Public Integrity
Division of the LA
County DA’s office, with
complaints against all
Council persons
present, the City
Manager, City Attorney
and Susan Cola, City
Clerk( for placing the
items on the Agenda)
and both City
Negotiators.In addition,
I would expect that any
and all decisions
reached at that illegal
meeting would be
considered by a court to
be null and void.,
I trust that Ms. Cola , as
requested by Oscar,
has provided him and
his colleagues with a
memo relating to some
of the points raised at
the prior meeting.This
note will surely say that
Ms. Cola and Gleam
were knowingly 100 %
wrong in stating
Tuesday that , under
the Brown Act, real
estate matters can be
handled only in Closed
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 315 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Session.

The strong argument of
SMCLC, made today,
against a Closed
Session,and for public
discussion on a matter
of huge significance,
should be of great
influence to Council and
senior staff, and
supplement the legal
analysis above that the
Brown Act prohibits
Council from discussing
behind closed doors the
many broad issues
involved in this
disposition issue.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein.
310 393 7619
On Sat, Jul 22, 2023 at 7:34 PM
Jaleh MIRHASHEMI <jaleh[email protected]> wrote:

Hello,
Below emails are belong to the
staff who were involved in
considering Civic Auditorium as
a “surplus Land Act”, meaning
“non essential land”, that has to
be sold or leased for housing or
educational institution passed
by councils on October 2022
with no community inputs.

We don’t have time!! The
deadline for 90 days from SM
District and Community
Corporation RFPs is
approaching soon and again
councils are going to make a
decision on closed doors!
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 316 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Please add below emails to the
council emails (copy/paste), so
the staff also can hear our
voices!
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected] v
[email protected]
Thank you for your support!
Jaleh Mirhashemi
> On Jul 22, 2023, at 1:41 PM,
Larry Arreola <[email protected]
>
wrote:
>
> <img123.jpg>
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

EXTERNAL
Hi everyone. Gleam has written me to respond on the issue of public comment tonight on the two items.

Since a week ago, there have been all of the following, which fully justifies the need for more comments this evening: 1. The Asst City Attorney ( Susan Cola) issued a book of FAQs that was specifically requested by Council so it could be much better informed, and so could the public. The comments contained in this document could not have been commented on a week ago since it did not exist.

2. The City Attorney made comments to the Lookout about the Brown Act situation which were materially false.

3. I developed and disclosed to Council, staff, the community and media the Brown Act violation claim and likelihood of DA and State Bar complaints.

If anyone has questions, please fire away.

Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 25, 2023, at 11:56 AM, Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 318 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) If Gleam and her colleagues refuse to allow public comment on 3C and 3D. it will be huge proof of a continuance of their effort to conduct the entire Auditorium use matter in total secrecy. Not helpful to them on Election Day or with the StateBar or LA County DA Public Integrity Division. Council can ,and certainly should, easily suspend its meeting rules so the public can be heard! Stan
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 25, 2023, at 11:42 AM, Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

It has been brought to my attention that Gleam apparently will take the position tonight that no public comment will be allowed on the Civic Auditorium items because public comment on the same items was concluded last Tuesday ( before the Brown Act violation claim arose).

If anyone has an idea of what our action and response should be, please circulate it. Perhaps a majority of Council can change the rules to allow tonight’s public comment.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
On Jul 24, 2023, at 5:33 PM, Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

The City has just scheduled a “ Special Meeting” to start five minutes after the Regular Meeting tomorrow.

The sole item on the agenda for the Special Meeting is
one case against the City, which should have been added to the Closed Session for the Regular Meeting.

It is hard to understand the minds of the people who
dreamed up this attempt to fool the public and confuse
things in order to take the emphasis off the clearly
illegal, under the Brown Act, of Items 3C and 3D of the Regular Meeting.If there was a legitimate reason, staff should inform everyone immediately.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 319 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Sent from my iPad
On Jul 23, 2023, at 11:05 AM, Stanley H
Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

Nothing in the Surplus Lands Act repeals or
changes the Brown Act.

Therefore, a Closed Session Tuesday that
goes beyond Price and Terms of Payment
would be illegal. Further, actions taken at
the meeting, even if approved in open
session, would be null and void. Oscar
requested, and the Council agreed , that
Attorney Cola would produce a memo on
this subject. Her FAQs , constituting her
response, failed to mention this issue or my
statement to her that the session would be
illegal. She would not agree with my
opinion or, unethically, support the Closed
Session.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 22, 2023, at 9:58 PM,
Ann Hoover
<[email protected]>
wrote:

The City put up the FAQs Oscar
asked for yesterday (see links
below). I don't think they are
completely accurate.

Shameful!!
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 320 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) FAQ regarding the Surplus Lands
Act:
https://santamonica.gov/blog/faqsfor-designation-of-the-civicauditorium-as-surplus-land This also can be found on the
City’s homepage
santamonica.gov under
"Around Our City"
https://santamonica.gov/
On Saturday, July 22, 2023 at
07:40:23 PM PDT, Danielle
Charney <[email protected]>
wrote:

Excellent letter from Stan
Epstein...please consider
including the Brown Act
violations he refers to:

The Agenda for Tuesday’s Council
meeting now includes Closed
Session Items 3C and 3D., both of
which concern a disposition by the
City of the Civic Auditorium.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 321 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) that the discussion, and
any decisions made, will
include dozens of matters
concerning a disposition
other than the very limited
permitted scope specified
above.

Therefore, if the Closed
Session is not cancelled,
a report of the meeting
will be sent by me to the
Director of the Public
Integrity Division of the
LA County DA’s office,
with complaints against
all Council persons
present, the City
Manager, City Attorney
and Susan Cola, City
Clerk( for placing the
items on the Agenda) and
both City Negotiators.In
addition, I would expect
that any and all decisions
reached at that illegal
meeting would be
considered by a court to
be null and void.,
I trust that Ms. Cola , as
requested by Oscar, has
provided him and his
colleagues with a memo
relating to some of the
points raised at the prior
meeting.This note will
surely say that Ms. Cola
and Gleam were
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 322 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) knowingly 100 % wrong
in stating Tuesday that ,
under the Brown Act, real
estate matters can be
handled only in Closed
Session.

The strong argument of
SMCLC, made today,
against a Closed
Session,and for public
discussion on a matter of
huge significance, should
be of great influence to
Council and senior staff,
and supplement the legal
analysis above that the
Brown Act prohibits
Council from discussing
behind closed doors the
many broad issues
involved in this
disposition issue.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein.
310 393 7619
On Sat, Jul 22, 2023 at 7:34 PM
Jaleh MIRHASHEMI <jaleh[email protected]> wrote:

Hello,
Below emails are belong to the
staff who were involved in
considering Civic Auditorium as a
“surplus Land Act”, meaning “non
essential land”, that has to be
sold or leased for housing or
educational institution passed by
councils on October 2022 with no
community inputs.

We don’t have time!! The
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 323 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) deadline for 90 days from SM
District and Community
Corporation RFPs is approaching
soon and again councils are
going to make a decision on
closed doors!
Please add below emails to the
council emails (copy/paste), so
the staff also can hear our voices!
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Thank you for your support!
Jaleh Mirhashemi
> On Jul 22, 2023, at 1:41 PM,
Larry Arreola <[email protected]
>
wrote:
>
> <img123.jpg>
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

EXTERNAL
Agree about the necessity of using technology. SMRR had Roger Thorton as tech wizard for 40 years.

I believe trying to infiltrate Dem Club or SMRR is a waste of time and energy.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

He won because Abundant Housing and Leonora Camner organized a tech driven bullet voting campaign
and they will do it for Natalya and any other SMF candidates running next time..

Camner's husband is a tech wizard.

The SMDC goes by vote- want to change it.. join and vote -that is what SMF does .They are not in attendance usually for any other reason.. but they show up to vote.

Same with SMRR..
they work by membership voting.

Gleam is not running - she is termed out I believe. Zwick and Caroline aren't running -they just got in ... but the others who are just as bad as Zwick and backed by SMF who are far more the problem -will run. Zwick was not the choice of the SMDC or SMRR but dem's da rules and they had to live with it. Let's keep it straight. In great part we are up against a tech savvy world - they are using it. We need to do the same.

On Tue, Jul 25, 2023 at 12:04 PM Houman Hemmati <[email protected]> wrote:

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 326 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Phil Brock last night went on live in studio on Fox News at Night, a NATIONAL show with

1.5 million prime time viewership to draw attention to these issues and bash Himmelrich.

Here is the link. Please share!
California city councilmember speaks out after he
was attacked by homeless man | Fox News Video
foxnews.com
On Jul 25, 2023, at 11:56 AM, Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

If Gleam and her colleagues refuse to allow public comment on 3C and 3D. it will be huge proof of a continuance of their effort to conduct the entire Auditorium use matter in total secrecy. Not helpful to them on Election Day or with the StateBar or LA County DA Public Integrity Division. Council can ,and certainly should, easily suspend its meeting rules so the public can be heard!
Stan
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 25, 2023, at 11:42 AM, Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

It has been brought to my attention that Gleam apparently will take the position tonight that no public comment will be allowed on the Civic Auditorium items because public comment on the same items was concluded last Tuesday ( before the Brown Act violation claim arose).

If anyone has an idea of what our action and response should be, please circulate it. Perhaps a majority of Council can change the rules to allow tonight’s public comment.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
On Jul 24, 2023, at 5:33 PM, Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 327 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) The City has just scheduled a “ Special Meeting” to start five minutes after the Regular Meeting tomorrow.

The sole item on the agenda for the Special Meeting is one case against the City, which should have been added to the Closed Session for the Regular Meeting.

It is hard to understand the minds of the people who dreamed up this attempt to fool the public and confuse things in order to take the emphasis off the clearly illegal, under the Brown Act, of Items 3C and 3D of the Regular Meeting.If there was a legitimate reason, staff should inform everyone immediately.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
On Jul 23, 2023, at 11:05 AM, Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

Nothing in the Surplus Lands Act repeals or changes
the Brown Act.

Therefore, a Closed Session Tuesday that goes beyond
Price and Terms of Payment would be illegal. Further,
actions taken at the meeting, even if approved in open
session, would be null and void. Oscar requested, and
the Council agreed , that Attorney Cola would produce
a memo on this subject. Her FAQs , constituting her
response, failed to mention this issue or my statement
to her that the session would be illegal. She would not agree with my opinion or, unethically, support the
Closed Session.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 22, 2023, at 9:58 PM, Ann Hoover
<[email protected]> wrote:

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 328 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) The City put up the FAQs Oscar asked for
yesterday (see links below). I don't think they
are completely accurate.

The decision to subject the Auditorium to the
Surplus Lands Act was absolutely discretionary
not legally-mandated
and of course it all surely must have been
pushed by Gleam as Mayor b/c she helps to set
the agendas. Shameful!!
FAQ regarding the Surplus Lands Act:
https://santamonica.gov/blog/faqs-fordesignation-of-the-civic-auditorium-assurplus-land This also can be found on the City’s
homepage santamonica.gov under
"Around Our City"
https://santamonica.gov/
On Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 07:40:23 PM
PDT, Danielle Charney <[email protected]> wrote:

Excellent letter from Stan
Epstein...please consider
including the Brown Act violations
he refers to:

The Agenda for Tuesday’s Council meeting
now includes Closed Session Items 3C and
3D., both of which concern a disposition by the
City of the Civic Auditorium.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 329 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) certain that the discussion, and
any decisions made, will include
dozens of matters concerning a
disposition other than the very
limited permitted scope specified
above.

Therefore, if the Closed Session
is not cancelled, a report of the
meeting will be sent by me to the
Director of the Public Integrity
Division of the LA County DA’s
office, with complaints against all
Council persons present, the City
Manager, City Attorney and
Susan Cola, City Clerk( for
placing the items on the Agenda)
and both City Negotiators.In
addition, I would expect that any
and all decisions reached at that
illegal meeting would be
considered by a court to be null
and void.,
I trust that Ms. Cola , as
requested by Oscar, has provided
him and his colleagues with a
memo relating to some of the
points raised at the prior
meeting.This note will surely say
that Ms. Cola and Gleam were
knowingly 100 % wrong in stating
Tuesday that , under the Brown
Act, real estate matters can be
handled only in Closed Session.

The strong argument of SMCLC,
made today, against a Closed
Session,and for public discussion
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 330 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) on a matter of huge significance,
should be of great influence to
Council and senior staff, and
supplement the legal analysis
above that the Brown Act prohibits
Council from discussing behind
closed doors the many broad
issues involved in this disposition
issue.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393
7619
On Sat, Jul 22, 2023 at 7:34 PM Jaleh
MIRHASHEMI <[email protected]> wrote:

Hello,
Below emails are belong to the staff who
were involved in considering Civic Auditorium
as a “surplus Land Act”, meaning “non
essential land”, that has to be sold or leased
for housing or educational institution passed
by councils on October 2022 with no
community inputs.

We don’t have time!! The deadline for 90
days from SM District and Community
Corporation RFPs is approaching soon and
again councils are going to make a decision
on closed doors!
Please add below emails to the council
emails (copy/paste), so the staff also can
hear our voices!
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Thank you for your support!
Jaleh Mirhashemi
> On Jul 22, 2023, at 1:41 PM, Larry Arreola <[email protected]> wrote:
>
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 331 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) > <img123.jpg>
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

EXTERNAL
Zwick was born and raised here. His father is a well known film and tv producer.

He won because Abundant Housing and Leonora Camner organized a tech driven bullet voting campaign
and they will do it for Natalya and any other SMF candidates running next time..

Camner's husband is a tech wizard.

The SMDC goes by vote- want to change it.. join and vote -that is what SMF does .They are not in attendance usually for any other reason.. but they show up to vote.

Same with SMRR..
they work by membership voting.

Gleam is not running - she is termed out I believe. Zwick and Caroline aren't running -they just got in ... but the others who are just as bad as Zwick and backed by SMF who are far more the problem -will run. Zwick was not the choice of the SMDC or SMRR but dem's da rules and they had to live with it. Let's keep it straight. In great part we are up against a tech savvy world - they are using it. We need to do the same.

On Tue, Jul 25, 2023 at 12:04 PM Houman Hemmati <[email protected]> wrote:

Phil Brock last night went on live in studio on Fox News at Night, a NATIONAL show with

1.5 million prime time viewership to draw attention to these issues and bash Himmelrich.

Here is the link. Please share!
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 333 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) California city councilmember speaks out after he
was attacked by homeless man | Fox News Video
foxnews.com
On Jul 25, 2023, at 11:56 AM, Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

If Gleam and her colleagues refuse to allow public comment on 3C and 3D. it will be huge proof of a continuance of their effort to conduct the entire Auditorium use matter in total secrecy. Not helpful to them on Election Day or with the StateBar or LA County DA Public Integrity Division. Council can ,and certainly should, easily suspend its meeting rules so the public can be heard!
Stan
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 25, 2023, at 11:42 AM, Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

It has been brought to my attention that Gleam apparently will take the position tonight that no public comment will be allowed on the Civic Auditorium items because public comment on the same items was concluded last Tuesday ( before the Brown Act violation claim arose).

If anyone has an idea of what our action and response should be, please circulate it. Perhaps a majority of Council can change the rules to allow tonight’s public comment.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
On Jul 24, 2023, at 5:33 PM, Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

The City has just scheduled a “ Special Meeting” to start five ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 334 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) minutes after the Regular Meeting tomorrow.

The sole item on the agenda for the Special Meeting is one case against the City, which should have been added to the Closed Session for the Regular Meeting.

It is hard to understand the minds of the people who dreamed up this attempt to fool the public and confuse things in order to take the emphasis off the clearly illegal, under the Brown Act, of Items 3C and 3D of the Regular Meeting.If there was a legitimate reason, staff should inform everyone immediately.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
On Jul 23, 2023, at 11:05 AM, Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

Nothing in the Surplus Lands Act repeals or changes
the Brown Act.

Therefore, a Closed Session Tuesday that goes beyond
Price and Terms of Payment would be illegal. Further,
actions taken at the meeting, even if approved in open
session, would be null and void. Oscar requested, and
the Council agreed , that Attorney Cola would produce
a memo on this subject. Her FAQs , constituting her
response, failed to mention this issue or my statement
to her that the session would be illegal. She would not agree with my opinion or, unethically, support the
Closed Session.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 22, 2023, at 9:58 PM, Ann Hoover
<[email protected]> wrote:

The City put up the FAQs Oscar asked for
yesterday (see links below). I don't think they
are completely accurate.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 335 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) The decision to subject the Auditorium to the
Surplus Lands Act was absolutely discretionary
not legally-mandated
and of course it all surely must have been
pushed by Gleam as Mayor b/c she helps to set
the agendas. Shameful!!
FAQ regarding the Surplus Lands Act:
https://santamonica.gov/blog/faqs-fordesignation-of-the-civic-auditorium-assurplus-land This also can be found on the City’s
homepage santamonica.gov under
"Around Our City"
https://santamonica.gov/
On Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 07:40:23 PM
PDT, Danielle Charney <[email protected]> wrote:

Excellent letter from Stan
Epstein...please consider
including the Brown Act violations
he refers to:

The Agenda for Tuesday’s Council meeting
now includes Closed Session Items 3C and
3D., both of which concern a disposition by the
City of the Civic Auditorium.

It should first be mentioned that
every person present for the
discussion of either or both of
those items will be committing a
certain violation of the Brown Act
because that Act only allows
consideration of the “ Price and
Terms of Payment for Sale” of the
real estate being discussed. It is
certain that the discussion, and
any decisions made, will include
dozens of matters concerning a
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 336 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) disposition other than the very
limited permitted scope specified
above.

Therefore, if the Closed Session
is not cancelled, a report of the
meeting will be sent by me to the
Director of the Public Integrity
Division of the LA County DA’s
office, with complaints against all
Council persons present, the City
Manager, City Attorney and
Susan Cola, City Clerk( for
placing the items on the Agenda)
and both City Negotiators.In
addition, I would expect that any
and all decisions reached at that
illegal meeting would be
considered by a court to be null
and void.,
I trust that Ms. Cola , as
requested by Oscar, has provided
him and his colleagues with a
memo relating to some of the
points raised at the prior
meeting.This note will surely say
that Ms. Cola and Gleam were
knowingly 100 % wrong in stating
Tuesday that , under the Brown
Act, real estate matters can be
handled only in Closed Session.

The strong argument of SMCLC,
made today, against a Closed
Session,and for public discussion
on a matter of huge significance,
should be of great influence to
Council and senior staff, and
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 337 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) supplement the legal analysis
above that the Brown Act prohibits
Council from discussing behind
closed doors the many broad
issues involved in this disposition
issue.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393
7619
On Sat, Jul 22, 2023 at 7:34 PM Jaleh
MIRHASHEMI <[email protected]> wrote:

Hello,
Below emails are belong to the staff who
were involved in considering Civic Auditorium
as a “surplus Land Act”, meaning “non
essential land”, that has to be sold or leased
for housing or educational institution passed
by councils on October 2022 with no
community inputs.

We don’t have time!! The deadline for 90
days from SM District and Community
Corporation RFPs is approaching soon and
again councils are going to make a decision
on closed doors!
Please add below emails to the council
emails (copy/paste), so the staff also can
hear our voices!
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Thank you for your support!
Jaleh Mirhashemi
> On Jul 22, 2023, at 1:41 PM, Larry Arreola <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> <img123.jpg>
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

EXTERNAL
They don’t CARE about Election Day because they know they will win regardless. The last election proved it. No one had heard of Zwick. He moved here to run for office. He didn’t campaign. Hardly had any “Pick Zwick” signs. Yet he easily won. How? SMRR and Dem Club + LA Federation of Labor ran a massive ballot harvesting and get out the vote ground name. We didn’t we aren’t organized. We need to fundraise on a national level (people laugh a us and they all know about us now) and overwhelm their own efforts with paid harvesters and a powerful ground game.

Phil Brock last night went on live in studio on Fox News at Night, a NATIONAL show with

1.5 million prime time viewership to draw attention to these issues and bash Himmelrich. Here is the link. Please share!
California city councilmember speaks out after he
was attacked by homeless man | Fox News Video
foxnews.com
On Jul 25, 2023, at 11:56 AM, Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

If Gleam and her colleagues refuse to allow public comment on 3C and 3D. it will be huge proof of a continuance of their effort to conduct the entire Auditorium use matter in total ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 339 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) secrecy. Not helpful to them on Election Day or with the StateBar or LA County DA Public Integrity Division. Council can ,and certainly should, easily suspend its meeting rules so the public can be heard!
Stan
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 25, 2023, at 11:42 AM, Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

It has been brought to my attention that Gleam apparently will take the position tonight that no public comment will be allowed on the Civic Auditorium items because public comment on the same items was concluded last Tuesday ( before the Brown Act violation claim arose).

If anyone has an idea of what our action and response should be, please circulate it. Perhaps a majority of Council can change the rules to allow tonight’s public comment.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
On Jul 24, 2023, at 5:33 PM, Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

The City has just scheduled a “ Special Meeting” to start five minutes after the Regular Meeting tomorrow.

The sole item on the agenda for the Special Meeting is one case against the City, which should have been added to the Closed Session for the Regular Meeting.

It is hard to understand the minds of the people who dreamed up this attempt to fool the public and confuse things in order to take the emphasis off the clearly illegal, under the Brown Act, of Items 3C and 3D of the Regular Meeting.If there was a legitimate reason, staff should inform everyone immediately.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
On Jul 23, 2023, at 11:05 AM, Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 340 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Nothing in the Surplus Lands Act repeals or changes the Brown Act.

Therefore, a Closed Session Tuesday that goes beyond
Price and Terms of Payment would be illegal. Further,
actions taken at the meeting, even if approved in open
session, would be null and void. Oscar requested, and the Council agreed , that Attorney Cola would produce a
memo on this subject. Her FAQs , constituting her
response, failed to mention this issue or my statement to her that the session would be illegal. She would not
agree with my opinion or, unethically, support the
Closed Session.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 22, 2023, at 9:58 PM, Ann Hoover
<[email protected]> wrote:

The City put up the FAQs Oscar asked for
yesterday (see links below). I don't think they are
completely accurate.

The decision to subject the Auditorium to the
Surplus Lands Act was absolutely discretionary
not legally-mandated
and of course it all surely must have been pushed
by Gleam as Mayor b/c she helps to set the
agendas. Shameful!!
FAQ regarding the Surplus Lands Act:
https://santamonica.gov/blog/faqs-fordesignation-of-the-civic-auditorium-assurplus-land This also can be found on the City’s
homepage santamonica.gov under "Around
Our City"
https://santamonica.gov/
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 341 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) On Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 07:40:23 PM PDT,
Danielle Charney <[email protected]
>
wrote:

Excellent letter from Stan
Epstein...please consider including
the Brown Act violations he refers
to:

The Agenda for Tuesday’s Council meeting now
includes Closed Session Items 3C and 3D., both
of which concern a disposition by the City of the
Civic Auditorium.

It should first be mentioned that
every person present for the
discussion of either or both of those
items will be committing a certain
violation of the Brown Act because
that Act only allows consideration of
the “ Price and Terms of Payment
for Sale” of the real estate being
discussed. It is certain that the
discussion, and any decisions
made, will include dozens of
matters concerning a disposition
other than the very limited permitted
scope specified above.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 342 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) would be considered by a court to
be null and void.,
I trust that Ms. Cola , as requested
by Oscar, has provided him and his
colleagues with a memo relating to
some of the points raised at the
prior meeting.This note will surely
say that Ms. Cola and Gleam were
knowingly 100 % wrong in stating
Tuesday that , under the Brown Act,
real estate matters can be handled
only in Closed Session.

The strong argument of SMCLC,
made today, against a Closed
Session,and for public discussion
on a matter of huge significance,
should be of great influence to
Council and senior staff, and
supplement the legal analysis
above that the Brown Act prohibits
Council from discussing behind
closed doors the many broad
issues involved in this disposition
issue.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393
7619
On Sat, Jul 22, 2023 at 7:34 PM Jaleh
MIRHASHEMI <[email protected]> wrote:

Hello,
Below emails are belong to the staff who were
involved in considering Civic Auditorium as a
“surplus Land Act”, meaning “non essential
land”, that has to be sold or leased for housing
or educational institution passed by councils on
October 2022 with no community inputs.

We don’t have time!! The deadline for 90 days
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 343 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) from SM District and Community Corporation
RFPs is approaching soon and again councils
are going to make a decision on closed doors!
Please add below emails to the council emails
(copy/paste), so the staff also can hear our
voices!
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Thank you for your support!
Jaleh Mirhashemi
> On Jul 22, 2023, at 1:41 PM, Larry Arreola <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> <img123.jpg>
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

EXTERNAL
If Gleam and her colleagues refuse to allow public comment on 3C and 3D. it will be huge proof of a continuance of their effort to conduct the entire Auditorium use matter in total secrecy. Not helpful to them on Election Day or with the StateBar or LA County DA Public Integrity Division. Council can ,and certainly should, easily suspend its meeting rules so the public can be heard!
Stan
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 25, 2023, at 11:42 AM, Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

It has been brought to my attention that Gleam apparently will take the position tonight that no public comment will be allowed on the Civic Auditorium items because public comment on the same items was concluded last Tuesday ( before the Brown Act violation claim arose).

If anyone has an idea of what our action and response should be, please circulate it. Perhaps a majority of Council can change the rules to allow tonight’s public comment.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
On Jul 24, 2023, at 5:33 PM, Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 345 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) The City has just scheduled a “ Special Meeting” to start five minutes after the Regular Meeting tomorrow.

The sole item on the agenda for the Special Meeting is one case against the City, which should have been added to the Closed Session for the Regular Meeting.

It is hard to understand the minds of the people who dreamed up this attempt to fool the public and confuse things in order to take the emphasis off the clearly illegal, under the Brown Act, of Items 3C and 3D of the Regular Meeting.If there was a legitimate reason, staff should inform everyone immediately.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
On Jul 23, 2023, at 11:05 AM, Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

Nothing in the Surplus Lands Act repeals or changes the Brown Act.

Therefore, a Closed Session Tuesday that goes beyond
Price and Terms of Payment would be illegal. Further,
actions taken at the meeting, even if approved in open
session, would be null and void. Oscar requested, and the Council agreed , that Attorney Cola would produce a
memo on this subject. Her FAQs , constituting her
response, failed to mention this issue or my statement to her that the session would be illegal. She would not
agree with my opinion or, unethically, support the
Closed Session.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 22, 2023, at 9:58 PM, Ann Hoover
<[email protected]> wrote:

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 346 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) The City put up the FAQs Oscar asked for
yesterday (see links below). I don't think they are
completely accurate.

The decision to subject the Auditorium to the
Surplus Lands Act was absolutely discretionary
not legally-mandated
and of course it all surely must have been pushed
by Gleam as Mayor b/c she helps to set the
agendas. Shameful!!
FAQ regarding the Surplus Lands Act:
https://santamonica.gov/blog/faqs-fordesignation-of-the-civic-auditorium-assurplus-land This also can be found on the City’s
homepage santamonica.gov under "Around
Our City"
https://santamonica.gov/
On Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 07:40:23 PM PDT,
Danielle Charney <[email protected]>
wrote:

Excellent letter from Stan
Epstein...please consider including
the Brown Act violations he refers
to:

The Agenda for Tuesday’s Council meeting now
includes Closed Session Items 3C and 3D., both
of which concern a disposition by the City of the
Civic Auditorium.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 347 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) discussion, and any decisions
made, will include dozens of
matters concerning a disposition
other than the very limited permitted
scope specified above.

Therefore, if the Closed Session is
not cancelled, a report of the
meeting will be sent by me to the
Director of the Public Integrity
Division of the LA County DA’s
office, with complaints against all
Council persons present, the City
Manager, City Attorney and Susan
Cola, City Clerk( for placing the
items on the Agenda) and both City
Negotiators.In addition, I would
expect that any and all decisions
reached at that illegal meeting
would be considered by a court to
be null and void.,
I trust that Ms. Cola , as requested
by Oscar, has provided him and his
colleagues with a memo relating to
some of the points raised at the
prior meeting.This note will surely
say that Ms. Cola and Gleam were
knowingly 100 % wrong in stating
Tuesday that , under the Brown Act,
real estate matters can be handled
only in Closed Session.

The strong argument of SMCLC,
made today, against a Closed
Session,and for public discussion
on a matter of huge significance,
should be of great influence to
Council and senior staff, and
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 348 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) supplement the legal analysis
above that the Brown Act prohibits
Council from discussing behind
closed doors the many broad
issues involved in this disposition
issue.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393
7619
On Sat, Jul 22, 2023 at 7:34 PM Jaleh
MIRHASHEMI <[email protected]> wrote:

Hello,
Below emails are belong to the staff who were
involved in considering Civic Auditorium as a
“surplus Land Act”, meaning “non essential
land”, that has to be sold or leased for housing
or educational institution passed by councils on
October 2022 with no community inputs.

We don’t have time!! The deadline for 90 days
from SM District and Community Corporation
RFPs is approaching soon and again councils
are going to make a decision on closed doors!
Please add below emails to the council emails
(copy/paste), so the staff also can hear our
voices!
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Thank you for your support!
Jaleh Mirhashemi
> On Jul 22, 2023, at 1:41 PM, Larry Arreola <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> <img123.jpg>
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

EXTERNAL
I edited this list - removing a few dead ones and adding a few..hope it holds please use this list if it works - if Doster or LastGasp is still on here it didn't work if not - it's the new clean list
On Tue, Jul 25, 2023 at 11:42 AM Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

It has been brought to my attention that Gleam apparently will take the position tonight that no public comment will be allowed on the Civic Auditorium items because public comment on the same items was concluded last Tuesday ( before the Brown Act violation claim arose).

If anyone has an idea of what our action and response should be, please circulate it. Perhaps a majority of Council can change the rules to allow tonight’s public comment.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
On Jul 24, 2023, at 5:33 PM, Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

The City has just scheduled a “ Special Meeting” to start five minutes after the Regular Meeting tomorrow.

The sole item on the agenda for the Special Meeting is one case against the City, which should have been added to the Closed Session for the Regular Meeting.

It is hard to understand the minds of the people who dreamed up this attempt to fool the public and confuse things in order to take the emphasis off the clearly ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 350 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) illegal, under the Brown Act, of Items 3C and 3D of the Regular Meeting.If there was a legitimate reason, staff should inform everyone immediately.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
On Jul 23, 2023, at 11:05 AM, Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

Nothing in the Surplus Lands Act repeals or changes the Brown Act.

Therefore, a Closed Session Tuesday that goes beyond Price and Terms of Payment would be illegal. Further, actions taken at the meeting, even if approved in open session, would be null and void.

Oscar requested, and the Council agreed , that Attorney Cola would produce a memo on this subject. Her FAQs , constituting her response, failed to mention this issue or my statement to her that the session would be illegal. She would not agree with my opinion or, unethically, support the Closed Session.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 22, 2023, at 9:58 PM, Ann Hoover
<[email protected]> wrote:

The City put up the FAQs Oscar asked for yesterday (see links below). I don't think they are completely accurate.

The decision to subject the Auditorium to the Surplus Lands Act was absolutely discretionary not legally-mandated
and of course it all surely must have been pushed by Gleam as Mayor b/c she helps to set the agendas. Shameful!!
FAQ regarding the Surplus Lands Act:
https://santamonica.gov/blog/faqs-for-designation-ofthe-civic-auditorium-as-surplus-land This also can be found on the City’s homepage
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 351 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) santamonica.gov under "Around Our City"
https://santamonica.gov/
On Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 07:40:23 PM PDT, Danielle Charney <[email protected]> wrote:

Excellent letter from Stan Epstein...please
consider including the Brown Act violations
he refers to:

The Agenda for Tuesday’s Council meeting now includes
Closed Session Items 3C and 3D., both of which concern a disposition by the City of the Civic Auditorium.

It should first be mentioned that every
person present for the discussion of either
or both of those items will be committing a
certain violation of the Brown Act because
that Act only allows consideration of the “
Price and Terms of Payment for Sale” of the
real estate being discussed. It is certain that
the discussion, and any decisions made, will
include dozens of matters concerning a
disposition other than the very limited
permitted scope specified above.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 352 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Oscar, has provided him and his colleagues
with a memo relating to some of the points
raised at the prior meeting.This note will
surely say that Ms. Cola and Gleam were
knowingly 100 % wrong in stating Tuesday
that , under the Brown Act, real estate
matters can be handled only in Closed
Session.

The strong argument of SMCLC, made
today, against a Closed Session,and for
public discussion on a matter of huge
significance, should be of great influence to
Council and senior staff, and supplement
the legal analysis above that the Brown Act
prohibits Council from discussing behind
closed doors the many broad issues
involved in this disposition issue.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
On Sat, Jul 22, 2023 at 7:34 PM Jaleh MIRHASHEMI <jaleh[email protected]> wrote:

Hello,
Below emails are belong to the staff who were involved in considering Civic Auditorium as a “surplus Land Act”,
meaning “non essential land”, that has to be sold or leased for housing or educational institution passed by councils on October 2022 with no community inputs.

We don’t have time!! The deadline for 90 days from SM
District and Community Corporation RFPs is approaching
soon and again councils are going to make a decision on closed doors!
Please add below emails to the council emails (copy/paste), so the staff also can hear our voices!
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 353 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) [email protected]
Thank you for your support!
Jaleh Mirhashemi
> On Jul 22, 2023, at 1:41 PM, Larry Arreola <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> <img123.jpg>
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

EXTERNAL
It has been brought to my attention that Gleam apparently will take the position tonight that no public comment will be allowed on the Civic Auditorium items because public comment on the same items was concluded last Tuesday ( before the Brown Act violation claim arose).

If anyone has an idea of what our action and response should be, please circulate it. Perhaps a majority of Council can change the rules to allow tonight’s public comment.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
On Jul 24, 2023, at 5:33 PM, Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

The City has just scheduled a “ Special Meeting” to start five minutes after the Regular Meeting tomorrow.

The sole item on the agenda for the Special Meeting is one case against the City, which should have been added to the Closed Session for the Regular Meeting.

It is hard to understand the minds of the people who dreamed up this attempt to fool the public and confuse things in order to take the emphasis off the clearly illegal, under the Brown Act, of Items 3C and 3D of the Regular Meeting.If there was a legitimate reason, staff should inform everyone immediately.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 355 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) On Jul 23, 2023, at 11:05 AM, Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

Nothing in the Surplus Lands Act repeals or changes the Brown Act.

Therefore, a Closed Session Tuesday that goes beyond Price and Terms of Payment would be illegal. Further, actions taken at the meeting, even if approved in open session, would be null and void.

Oscar requested, and the Council agreed , that Attorney Cola would produce a memo on this subject. Her FAQs , constituting her response, failed to mention this issue or my statement to her that the session would be illegal. She would not agree with my opinion or, unethically, support the Closed Session.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 22, 2023, at 9:58 PM, Ann Hoover
<[email protected]> wrote:

The City put up the FAQs Oscar asked for yesterday (see links below). I don't think they are completely accurate.

The decision to subject the Auditorium to the Surplus Lands Act was absolutely discretionary not legally-mandated
and of course it all surely must have been pushed by Gleam as Mayor b/c she helps to set the agendas. Shameful!!
FAQ regarding the Surplus Lands Act:
https://santamonica.gov/blog/faqs-for-designation-ofthe-civic-auditorium-as-surplus-land This also can be found on the City’s homepage
santamonica.gov under "Around Our City"
https://santamonica.gov/
On Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 07:40:23 PM PDT, Danielle Charney <[email protected]> wrote:

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 356 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Excellent letter from Stan Epstein...please
consider including the Brown Act violations he
refers to:

The Agenda for Tuesday’s Council meeting now includes
Closed Session Items 3C and 3D., both of which concern a disposition by the City of the Civic Auditorium.

It should first be mentioned that every person
present for the discussion of either or both of
those items will be committing a certain
violation of the Brown Act because that Act
only allows consideration of the “ Price and
Terms of Payment for Sale” of the real estate
being discussed. It is certain that the
discussion, and any decisions made, will
include dozens of matters concerning a
disposition other than the very limited
permitted scope specified above.

Therefore, if the Closed Session is not
cancelled, a report of the meeting will be sent
by me to the Director of the Public Integrity
Division of the LA County DA’s office, with
complaints against all Council persons
present, the City Manager, City Attorney and
Susan Cola, City Clerk( for placing the items
on the Agenda) and both City Negotiators.In
addition, I would expect that any and all
decisions reached at that illegal meeting
would be considered by a court to be null and
void.,
I trust that Ms. Cola , as requested by Oscar,
has provided him and his colleagues with a
memo relating to some of the points raised at
the prior meeting.This note will surely say that
Ms. Cola and Gleam were knowingly 100 %
wrong in stating Tuesday that , under the
Brown Act, real estate matters can be
handled only in Closed Session.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 357 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) The strong argument of SMCLC, made today,
against a Closed Session,and for public
discussion on a matter of huge significance,
should be of great influence to Council and
senior staff, and supplement the legal
analysis above that the Brown Act prohibits
Council from discussing behind closed doors
the many broad issues involved in this
disposition issue.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
On Sat, Jul 22, 2023 at 7:34 PM Jaleh MIRHASHEMI <jaleh[email protected]> wrote:

Hello,
Below emails are belong to the staff who were involved in considering Civic Auditorium as a “surplus Land Act”,
meaning “non essential land”, that has to be sold or leased for housing or educational institution passed by councils on October 2022 with no community inputs.

We don’t have time!! The deadline for 90 days from SM
District and Community Corporation RFPs is approaching
soon and again councils are going to make a decision on closed doors!
Please add below emails to the council emails (copy/paste), so the staff also can hear our voices!
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Thank you for your support!
Jaleh Mirhashemi
> On Jul 22, 2023, at 1:41 PM, Larry Arreola
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
> <img123.jpg>
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

EXTERNAL
The City has just scheduled a “ Special Meeting” to start five minutes after the Regular Meeting tomorrow.

The sole item on the agenda for the Special Meeting is one case against the City, which should have been added to the Closed Session for the Regular Meeting.

It is hard to understand the minds of the people who dreamed up this attempt to fool the public and confuse things in order to take the emphasis off the clearly illegal, under the Brown Act, of Items 3C and 3D of the Regular Meeting.If there was a legitimate reason, staff should inform everyone immediately.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
On Jul 23, 2023, at 11:05 AM, Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

Nothing in the Surplus Lands Act repeals or changes the Brown Act.

Therefore, a Closed Session Tuesday that goes beyond Price and Terms of Payment would be illegal. Further, actions taken at the meeting, even if approved in open session, would be null and void. Oscar requested, and the Council agreed , that Attorney Cola would produce a memo on this subject. Her FAQs , constituting her response, failed to mention this issue or my statement to her that the session would be illegal. She would not agree with my opinion or, unethically, support the Closed Session.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 359 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 22, 2023, at 9:58 PM, Ann Hoover
<[email protected]> wrote:

The City put up the FAQs Oscar asked for yesterday (see links below). I don't think they are completely accurate.

The decision to subject the Auditorium to the Surplus Lands Act was absolutely discretionary not legally-mandated
and of course it all surely must have been pushed by Gleam as Mayor b/c she helps to set the agendas. Shameful!!
FAQ regarding the Surplus Lands Act:
https://santamonica.gov/blog/faqs-for-designation-of-the-civicauditorium-as-surplus-land This also can be found on the City’s homepage santamonica.gov under "Around Our City"
https://santamonica.gov/
On Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 07:40:23 PM PDT, Danielle Charney <[email protected]> wrote:

Excellent letter from Stan Epstein...please consider
including the Brown Act violations he refers to:

The Agenda for Tuesday’s Council meeting now includes Closed Session Items 3C and 3D., both of which concern a disposition by the City of the Civic Auditorium.

It should first be mentioned that every person present
for the discussion of either or both of those items will be committing a certain violation of the Brown Act because that Act only allows consideration of the “ Price and
Terms of Payment for Sale” of the real estate being
discussed. It is certain that the discussion, and any
decisions made, will include dozens of matters
concerning a disposition other than the very limited
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 360 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) permitted scope specified above.

Therefore, if the Closed Session is not cancelled, a
report of the meeting will be sent by me to the Director of the Public Integrity Division of the LA County DA’s
office, with complaints against all Council persons
present, the City Manager, City Attorney and Susan
Cola, City Clerk( for placing the items on the Agenda)
and both City Negotiators.In addition, I would expect
that any and all decisions reached at that illegal meeting would be considered by a court to be null and void.,
I trust that Ms. Cola , as requested by Oscar, has
provided him and his colleagues with a memo relating
to some of the points raised at the prior meeting.This
note will surely say that Ms. Cola and Gleam were
knowingly 100 % wrong in stating Tuesday that , under
the Brown Act, real estate matters can be handled only
in Closed Session.

The strong argument of SMCLC, made today, against a
Closed Session,and for public discussion on a matter of huge significance, should be of great influence to
Council and senior staff, and supplement the legal
analysis above that the Brown Act prohibits Council
from discussing behind closed doors the many broad
issues involved in this disposition issue.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
On Sat, Jul 22, 2023 at 7:34 PM Jaleh MIRHASHEMI <[email protected]> wrote:

We don’t have time!! The deadline for 90 days from SM District and Community Corporation RFPs is approaching soon and again councils are ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 361 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) going to make a decision on closed doors!
Please add below emails to the council emails (copy/paste), so the staff also can hear our voices!
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Thank you for your support!
Jaleh Mirhashemi
> On Jul 22, 2023, at 1:41 PM, Larry Arreola <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> <img123.jpg>
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

EXTERNAL
Nothing in the Surplus Lands Act repeals or changes the Brown Act.

Therefore, a Closed Session Tuesday that goes beyond Price and Terms of Payment would be illegal. Further, actions taken at the meeting, even if approved in open session, would be null and void. Oscar requested, and the Council agreed , that Attorney Cola would produce a memo on this subject. Her FAQs , constituting her response, failed to mention this issue or my statement to her that the session would be illegal. She would not agree with my opinion or, unethically, support the Closed Session.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 22, 2023, at 9:58 PM, Ann Hoover <[email protected]> wrote:

The City put up the FAQs Oscar asked for yesterday (see links below). I don't think they are completely accurate.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 363 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) surplus-land
This also can be found on the City’s homepage santamonica.gov under "Around Our City"
https://santamonica.gov/
On Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 07:40:23 PM PDT, Danielle Charney <[email protected]> wrote:

Excellent letter from Stan Epstein...please consider including the Brown Act violations he refers to:

The Agenda for Tuesday’s Council meeting now includes Closed Session Items 3C and 3D., both of which concern a disposition by the City of the Civic Auditorium.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 364 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) The strong argument of SMCLC, made today, against a Closed Session,and for public discussion on a matter of huge
significance, should be of great influence to Council and senior staff, and supplement the legal analysis above that the Brown Act prohibits Council from discussing behind closed doors the many broad issues involved in this disposition issue.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
On Sat, Jul 22, 2023 at 7:34 PM Jaleh MIRHASHEMI <[email protected]> wrote:

We don’t have time!! The deadline for 90 days from SM District and Community Corporation RFPs is approaching soon and again councils are going to make a decision on closed doors!
Please add below emails to the council emails (copy/paste), so the staff also can hear our voices!
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Thank you for your support!
Jaleh Mirhashemi
> On Jul 22, 2023, at 1:41 PM, Larry Arreola <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> <img123.jpg>
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

EXTERNAL
Oct 11, 2022 Staff report: https://publicdocs.smgov.net/WebLink/DocView.aspx? id=3523153&searchid=401bbf73-5685-430a-8ec3-
4da9c97b15ee&dbid=0&repo=SMGOV
Meeting minutes: None found
Council video: Negrete asking questions about landmarking and housing. Susan Cola explaining what has to happen with Housing Provider offering. Explains that HCD still considers the East Wing to be under the Surplus Land Act. https://youtu.be/WHRBtDKcftQ?t=17137
Hotlink to the video of the vote:
https://youtu.be/WHRBtDKcftQ?t=17374
Ann Maggio Thanawalla
"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth." - Albert Einstein On Sat, Jul 22, 2023 at 9:58 PM Ann Hoover <[email protected]> wrote:

The City put up the FAQs Oscar asked for yesterday (see links below). I don't think they are completely accurate.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 366 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) https://santamonica.gov/blog/faqs-for-designation-of-the-civic-auditorium-as-surplus-land This also can be found on the City’s homepage santamonica.gov under "Around Our City" https://santamonica.gov/
On Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 07:40:23 PM PDT, Danielle Charney <[email protected]> wrote:

Excellent letter from Stan Epstein...please consider including the Brown Act violations he refers to:

The Agenda for Tuesday’s Council meeting now includes Closed Session Items 3C and 3D., both of which concern a disposition by the City of the Civic Auditorium.

The strong argument of SMCLC, made today, against a Closed Session,and for public discussion on a matter of huge significance, should be of great influence to Council and senior staff, and supplement the legal analysis above that the Brown Act prohibits Council from discussing ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 367 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) behind closed doors the many broad issues involved in this disposition issue.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
On Sat, Jul 22, 2023 at 7:34 PM Jaleh MIRHASHEMI <[email protected]> wrote:

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

EXTERNAL
Great Phil. I don't understand why Venice residents and SM residents need to be in same club.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 369 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Subject: Re: LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE ABOUT THE CIVIC AUDITORIUM We have established a more moderate Democratic Club for Venice and Santa Monica. We are certified and can endorse candidates in the next election. We need this to be a powerful body in our town. Please join!https://bluewavedemclub.org/
Phil
On Tue, Jul 25, 2023 at 12:35 PM lmarreola <[email protected]> wrote:

Agree about the necessity of using technology. SMRR had Roger Thorton as tech wizard for 40 years.

I believe trying to infiltrate Dem Club or SMRR is a waste of time and energy.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

He won because Abundant Housing and Leonora Camner organized a tech driven bullet voting campaign
and they will do it for Natalya and any other SMF candidates running next time..

Camner's husband is a tech wizard.

The SMDC goes by vote- want to change it.. join and vote -that is what SMF does .They are not in attendance usually for any other reason.. but they show up to vote. Same with SMRR..
they work by membership voting.

Gleam is not running - she is termed out I believe. Zwick and Caroline aren't running -they just got in ... but the others who are just as bad as Zwick and backed by SMF who are far more the problem -will run. Zwick was not the choice of the SMDC or SMRR but dem's da rules and they had to live with it. Let's keep it straight. In great part we are up against a tech savvy world - they are using it. We need to do the same.

On Tue, Jul 25, 2023 at 12:04 PM Houman Hemmati <[email protected]> wrote:

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 371 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) vote ground name. We didn’t we aren’t organized. We need to fundraise on a national level (people laugh a us and they all know about us now) and overwhelm their own efforts with paid harvesters and a powerful ground game.

Phil Brock last night went on live in studio on Fox News at Night, a NATIONAL show with 1.5 million prime time viewership to draw attention to these issues and bash Himmelrich. Here is the link. Please share!
California city councilmember speaks out after he
was attacked by homeless man | Fox News Video
foxnews.com
On Jul 25, 2023, at 11:56 AM, Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

If Gleam and her colleagues refuse to allow public comment on 3C and 3D. it will be huge proof of a continuance of their effort to conduct the entire Auditorium use matter in total secrecy. Not helpful to them on Election Day or with the StateBar or LA County DA Public Integrity Division. Council can ,and certainly should, easily suspend its meeting rules so the public can be heard!
Stan
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 25, 2023, at 11:42 AM, Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

It has been brought to my attention that Gleam apparently will take the position tonight that no public comment will be allowed on the Civic Auditorium items because public comment on the same items was concluded last Tuesday ( before the Brown Act violation claim arose).

If anyone has an idea of what our action and response should be, please circulate it. Perhaps a majority of Council can change the rules to allow tonight’s public comment.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 372 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) On Jul 24, 2023, at 5:33 PM, Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

The City has just scheduled a “ Special Meeting” to start five minutes after the Regular Meeting tomorrow.

The sole item on the agenda for the Special Meeting is one case against the City, which should have been added to the Closed Session for the Regular Meeting.

It is hard to understand the minds of the people who dreamed up this attempt to fool the public and confuse things in order to take the emphasis off the clearly illegal, under the Brown Act, of Items 3C and 3D of the Regular Meeting.If there was a legitimate reason, staff should inform everyone immediately.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
On Jul 23, 2023, at 11:05 AM, Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

Nothing in the Surplus Lands Act repeals or changes
the Brown Act.

Therefore, a Closed Session Tuesday that goes
beyond Price and Terms of Payment would be
illegal. Further, actions taken at the meeting, even if approved in open session, would be null and void.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
Sent from my iPad
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 373 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) On Jul 22, 2023, at 9:58 PM, Ann
Hoover <[email protected]>
wrote:

The City put up the FAQs Oscar asked for
yesterday (see links below). I don't think they
are completely accurate.

Excellent letter from Stan
Epstein...please consider
including the Brown Act
violations he refers to:

The Agenda for Tuesday’s Council meeting
now includes Closed Session Items 3C and
3D., both of which concern a disposition by
the City of the Civic Auditorium.

It should first be mentioned that
every person present for the
discussion of either or both of
those items will be committing a
certain violation of the Brown
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 374 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Act because that Act only allows
consideration of the “ Price and
Terms of Payment for Sale” of
the real estate being discussed.

It is certain that the discussion,
and any decisions made, will
include dozens of matters
concerning a disposition other
than the very limited permitted
scope specified above.

Therefore, if the Closed Session
is not cancelled, a report of the
meeting will be sent by me to
the Director of the Public
Integrity Division of the LA
County DA’s office, with
complaints against all Council
persons present, the City
Manager, City Attorney and
Susan Cola, City Clerk( for
placing the items on the
Agenda) and both City
Negotiators.In addition, I would
expect that any and all decisions
reached at that illegal meeting
would be considered by a court
to be null and void.,
I trust that Ms. Cola , as
requested by Oscar, has
provided him and his colleagues
with a memo relating to some of
the points raised at the prior
meeting.This note will surely say
that Ms. Cola and Gleam were
knowingly 100 % wrong in
stating Tuesday that , under the
Brown Act, real estate matters
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 375 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) can be handled only in Closed
Session.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393
7619
On Sat, Jul 22, 2023 at 7:34 PM Jaleh
MIRHASHEMI <[email protected]> wrote:

Hello,
Below emails are belong to the staff who
were involved in considering Civic
Auditorium as a “surplus Land Act”,
meaning “non essential land”, that has to
be sold or leased for housing or
educational institution passed by councils
on October 2022 with no community inputs.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 376 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) [email protected]
[email protected]
Thank you for your support!
Jaleh Mirhashemi
> On Jul 22, 2023, at 1:41 PM, Larry
Arreola <[email protected]>
wrote:
>
> <img123.jpg>
--
Phil Brock / City Council Member
[email protected]
City of Santa Monica
(310) 458-8201 (310) 393-8004
1685 Main Street, Room 209, Santa Monica, CA 90401
smgov.net
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Youtube
California Parks & Recreation Commissioner Of The Year/42nd President, CalParkBoards/Past Chair, Santa Monica Recreation & Parks Commission/Past President, Lt. Governor, Kiwanis Club Of Santa Monica & District 19/President, Santa Monica High School Alumni Association/ Santa Monica Elks Club Trustee, 2018 Citizen of the Year/Host, Brock On Your Block/Advisory Board, Salvation Army
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

EXTERNAL
Excellent letter from Stan Epstein...please consider including the Brown Act violations he refers to:

The Agenda for Tuesday’s Council meeting now includes Closed Session Items 3C and 3D., both of which concern a disposition by the City of the Civic Auditorium.

Therefore, if the Closed Session is not cancelled, a report of the meeting will be sent by me to the Director of the Public Integrity Division of the LA County DA’s office, with complaints against all Council persons present, the City Manager, City Attorney and Susan Cola, City Clerk( for placing the items on the Agenda) and both City Negotiators.In addition, I would expect that any and all decisions reached at that illegal meeting would be considered by a court to be null and void., I trust that Ms. Cola , as requested by Oscar, has provided him and his colleagues with a memo relating to some of the points raised at the prior meeting.This note will surely say that Ms. Cola and Gleam were knowingly 100 % wrong in stating Tuesday that , under the Brown Act, real estate matters can be handled only in Closed Session.

The strong argument of SMCLC, made today, against a Closed Session,and for ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 378 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) public discussion on a matter of huge significance, should be of great influence to Council and senior staff, and supplement the legal analysis above that the Brown Act prohibits Council from discussing behind closed doors the many broad issues involved in this disposition issue.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
On Sat, Jul 22, 2023 at 7:34 PM Jaleh MIRHASHEMI <[email protected]> wrote:

We don’t have time!! The deadline for 90 days from SM District and Community Corporation RFPs is approaching soon and again councils are going to make a decision on closed doors!
Please add below emails to the council emails (copy/paste), so the staff also can hear our voices!
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Thank you for your support!
Jaleh Mirhashemi
> On Jul 22, 2023, at 1:41 PM, Larry Arreola <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> <img123.jpg>
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

EXTERNAL
All
Please correct the address - [email protected]
this is not correct
it is
Matt @SMDP.com. thank you -
On Sat, Jul 22, 2023 at 7:34 PM Jaleh MIRHASHEMI <[email protected]> wrote:

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 380 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) [email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Thank you for your support!
Jaleh Mirhashemi
> On Jul 22, 2023, at 1:41 PM, Larry Arreola <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> <img123.jpg>
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

EXTERNAL
The City put up the FAQs Oscar asked for yesterday (see links below). I don't think they are completely accurate.

The decision to subject the Auditorium to the Surplus Lands Act was absolutely discretionary not legallymandated and of course it all surely must have been pushed by Gleam as Mayor b/c she helps to set the agendas.

Shameful!!
FAQ regarding the Surplus Lands Act:
https://santamonica.gov/blog/faqs-for-designation-of-the-civic-auditorium-as-surplus-land This also can be found on the City’s homepage santamonica.gov under "Around Our City" https://santamonica.gov/
On Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 07:40:23 PM PDT, Danielle Charney <[email protected]> wrote:

Excellent letter from Stan Epstein...please consider including the Brown Act violations he refers to:

The Agenda for Tuesday’s Council meeting now includes Closed Session Items 3C and 3D., both of which concern a disposition by the City of the Civic Auditorium.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 382 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) concerning a disposition other than the very limited permitted scope specified above.

The strong argument of SMCLC, made today, against a Closed Session,and for public discussion on a matter of huge significance, should be of great influence to Council and senior staff, and supplement the legal analysis above that the Brown Act prohibits Council from discussing behind closed doors the many broad issues involved in this disposition issue.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
On Sat, Jul 22, 2023 at 7:34 PM Jaleh MIRHASHEMI <[email protected]> wrote:

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 383 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Thank you for your support!
Jaleh Mirhashemi
> On Jul 22, 2023, at 1:41 PM, Larry Arreola <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> <img123.jpg>
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

EXTERNAL
Dear Gleam. It would be appreciated if you and your colleagues have the backbone to immediately inform the public( partially through this email list) of whether or not you will permit people to speak this evening on the Auditorium items.

Denise considers the public record still open. How then could Public speaking have been stopped a week ago?
It is bad enough that Council, led by you, has kept everyone totally in the dark on every aspect of the highly important issue even in the clear face of its own exposure for, among other things, risking the severe penalties for violating the Brown Act (with two Council members who are attorneys and the top two members of the legal department fully and knowingly concurring in the illegality). It is also shocking that Council, at this late moment, does not inform people if they will be barred from speaking, thereby not giving them a chance to make plans.

Stan Epstein
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 25, 2023, at 12:48 PM, Stanley H Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi everyone. Gleam has written me to respond on the issue of public comment tonight on the two items.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 385 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) and Warren are absolutely not involved in such a decision.

2. The City Attorney made comments to the Lookout about the Brown Act situation which were materially false.

3. I developed and disclosed to Council, staff, the community and media the Brown Act violation claim and likelihood of DA and State Bar complaints.

If anyone has questions, please fire away.

Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 25, 2023, at 11:56 AM, Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

It has been brought to my attention that Gleam
apparently will take the position tonight that no public comment will be allowed on the Civic Auditorium items
because public comment on the same items was
concluded last Tuesday ( before the Brown Act violation claim arose).

If anyone has an idea of what our action and response
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 386 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) should be, please circulate it. Perhaps a majority of
Council can change the rules to allow tonight’s public
comment.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
On Jul 24, 2023, at 5:33 PM, Stanley H
Epstein <[email protected]> wrote:

The City has just scheduled a “ Special
Meeting” to start five minutes after the
Regular Meeting tomorrow.

The sole item on the agenda for the Special
Meeting is one case against the City, which
should have been added to the Closed
Session for the Regular Meeting.

It is hard to understand the minds of the
people who dreamed up this attempt to fool
the public and confuse things in order to
take the emphasis off the clearly illegal,
under the Brown Act, of Items 3C and 3D of
the Regular Meeting.If there was a
legitimate reason, staff should inform
everyone immediately.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310 393 7619.

Sent from my iPad
On Jul 23, 2023, at 11:05 AM,
Stanley H Epstein
<[email protected]> wrote:

Nothing in the Surplus Lands
Act repeals or changes the
Brown Act.

Therefore, a Closed Session
Tuesday that goes beyond Price
and Terms of Payment would
be illegal. Further, actions taken
at the meeting, even if approved
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 387 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) in open session, would be null
and void. Oscar requested, and
the Council agreed , that
Attorney Cola would produce a
memo on this subject. Her
FAQs , constituting her
response, failed to mention this
issue or my statement to her that
the session would be illegal.

She would not agree with my
opinion or, unethically, support
the Closed Session.

Sincerely, Stan Epstein. 310
393 7619
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 22, 2023, at
9:58 PM, Ann
Hoover
<[email protected]>
wrote:

The City put up the
FAQs Oscar asked
for yesterday (see
links below). I don't
think they are
completely accurate.

ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 388 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) https://santamonica.gov/blog/faqsfor-designation-ofthe-civicauditorium-assurplus-land This also can be
found on the City’s
homepage
santamonica.gov
under "Around Our
City"
https://santamonica.gov/
On Saturday, July 22,
2023 at 07:40:23 PM
PDT, Danielle
Charney
<[email protected]>
wrote:

Excellent letter
from Stan
Epstein...please
consider
including the
Brown Act
violations he
refers to:

The Agenda for
Tuesday’s Council
meeting now includes
Closed Session Items
3C and 3D., both of
which concern a
disposition by the City
of the Civic
Auditorium.

It should first be
mentioned that
every person
present for the
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 389 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) discussion of
either or both of
those items will
be committing a
certain violation
of the Brown
Act because
that Act only
allows
consideration of
the “ Price and
Terms of
Payment for
Sale” of the real
estate being
discussed. It is
certain that the
discussion, and
any decisions
made, will
include dozens
of matters
concerning a
disposition
other than the
very limited
permitted
scope specified
above.

Therefore, if the
Closed Session
is not
cancelled, a
report of the
meeting will be
sent by me to
the Director of
the Public
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 390 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) Integrity
Division of the
LA County DA’s
office, with
complaints
against all
Council
persons
present, the
City Manager,
City Attorney
and Susan
Cola, City
Clerk( for
placing the
items on the
Agenda) and
both City
Negotiators.In
addition, I
would expect
that any and all
decisions
reached at that
illegal meeting
would be
considered by a
court to be null
and void.,
I trust that Ms.

Cola , as
requested by
Oscar, has
provided him
and his
colleagues with
a memo
relating to
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 391 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) some of the
points raised at
the prior
meeting.This
note will surely
say that Ms.

Cola and
Gleam were
knowingly 100
% wrong in
stating Tuesday
that , under the
Brown Act, real
estate matters
can be handled
only in Closed
Session.

The strong
argument of
SMCLC, made
today, against a
Closed
Session,and for
public
discussion on a
matter of huge
significance,
should be of
great influence
to Council and
senior staff,
and
supplement the
legal analysis
above that the
Brown Act
prohibits
Council from
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 392 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) discussing
behind closed
doors the many
broad issues
involved in this
disposition
issue.

Sincerely, Stan
Epstein. 310
393 7619
On Sat, Jul 22, 2023
at 7:34 PM Jaleh
MIRHASHEMI <jaleh[email protected]> wrote:

Hello,
Below emails are
belong to the staff
who were involved
in considering Civic
Auditorium as a
“surplus Land Act”,
meaning “non
essential land”, that
has to be sold or
leased for housing
or educational
institution passed
by councils on
October 2022 with
no community
inputs.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

3.C.b
Packet Pg. 393 Attachment: More Written Comments (5897 : 3.C. - Closed Session: Real Estate Neg. Cary Upton, SMMUSD) council emails
(copy/paste), so the
staff also can hear
our voices!
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Thank you for your
support!
Jaleh Mirhashemi
> On Jul 22, 2023,
at 1:41 PM, Larry
Arreola <[email protected]
>
wrote:
>
> <img123.jpg>
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023
ITEM 3.C.

JULY 25, 2023

Santa Monica City CouncilJuly 25, 2023

Santa Monica City Council
July 25, 2023