1 David Yakobson
From: Jason Mastbaum <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 5:40 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Oscar de la Torre; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Gleam Davis
Subject: 3/19/2023 item 1 general public comment
EXTERNAL
Walking by city hall just now I couldn't help but notice that our mayor still hasn't attached his front license plate, despite telling me in February that he was "going to attach it another way". You'd think a guy who's all about law and order would be able to follow basic traffic laws himself, but he seems to be following the Republican ethos that there must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, and out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.
I can't help but wonder what other laws Phil feels protected but not bound by.
On Mon, Dec 11, 2023, 4:38 PM Jason Mastbaum <[email protected]> wrote:
I just saw our soon-to-be mayor getting out of the fancy new electric Mercedes SUV he doesn't want to have to pay to charge, and I couldn't help but notice that Phil didn't attach his front license plate. As a lifelong Californian I'd think Phil would know that it's California law to attach both license plates to a car. I can't help but wonder what other laws will Phil decide don't apply to him once he's mayor.
Item 1.A.
March 19, 2024
Item 1.A.
March 19, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Ann Maggio <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2024 10:56 AM
To: councilmtgitems; David White
Cc: jorge casuso
Subject: Vienna Housing Model
EXTERNAL
Dear City Council and City Manager,
I reached out to a dear friend in Vienna after reading in the Outlook about the partially aborted trip. She's been working for the Vienna Mission for decades and had this to say about Mayor Brock's comments about their city's housing model.
"Oh my….you should come and see, blocks and blocks of soviet built houses, never seen those in Vienna…. :-)
We have great housing programmes here that’s for sure, but [t]he article is right with one thing, this would not work for Santa Monica…"
Taxpayers are appalled at the great expense of our dollars for this boondoggle by Councilmembers, Davis and Torosis, neither of whom are housing experts, when our money could have funded the public safety of Santa Monica's children with a crossing guard at Lincoln Blvd. and Ocean Ave.
Shameful!
Ann Maggio Thanawalla
"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth." - Albert Einstein Item 1.A.
March 19, 2024
Item 1.A.
March 19, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Leslie Lambert <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2024 10:32 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Revised Letter for March 19 meeting
Attachments: prohousing.docx
EXTERNAL
Attached is a revised version of the letter I submitted yesterday for inclusion under item 1A on the March 19 agenda.
Thank you.
Item 1.A.
March 19, 2024
Item 1.A.
March 19, 2024
February 28, 2024
RE: Public Comment. Item 1A, March 19, 2024 (Revised Letter.) Dear Mayor Brock, Mayor Pro Tem Negrete and Councilmembers:
Congratulations on the much deserved Pro Housing Designation by the State. You and past Councilmembers have again demonstrated Santa Monica’s commitment to housing production, especially that which serves the needs of lower income families. Santa Monica is now one of thirty seven California jurisdictions receiving this designation and thereby moves to the front of the line in consideration for State incentives, funding and other State resources.
This designation was made because of the City’s very progressive, pro-housing Housing Element, which was adopted by a prior City Council in October 2021. Many of you sat on that City Council, and I thank you for the time and effort you contributed. It was a huge undertaking by the Planning Commission, staff and the then City Council. Since then, amendments to the Zoning Ordinance have been made according to the directives of the Housing Element and have put in place all the processes and programs that were adopted in 2021. These ZO changes were required in order to avoid a noncompliance finding by the State. So thank you for that.
However, I do have a concern. Being designated as a pro housing city in 2024 may lead some to believe that Santa Monica was not a pro housing city prior to that. That is far from accurate and ignores the decades of commitment to housing production and preservation and tenant rights by many residents, public and elected officials and activists. I believe that the majority of City decision makers, past and present, understand the magnitude of the housing shortage in the LA region and its impacts on affordability. I also believe that the City has accomplished what is possible given the its real estate market and its effects on new housing construction, the resistance to development by a minority of residents, and, more recently, the effects of the pandemic.
Santa Monica’s commitment to addressing our housing issues dates back to 1979 with the passage of the Charter Amendment that brought about the most far reaching rent control law in the country. And continued through the 1990’s with voters’ enactment of Measure R, requiring that 30% of all newly constructed housing units be affordable to low and moderate income households. A few years after Measure R was passed, the City created the Affordable Housing Production Program, which requires market rate housing projects to include deed restricted affordable units. To this day, Santa Monica remains among the minority of cities with a jurisdiction-wide inclusionary housing requirement. About 40% of our affordable units are in mixed income projects.
The City’s historic commitment to affordable housing production is also clear. The evidence of this commitment is the thousands of deed restricted affordable rental housing units throughout the city. This housing serves lower income families, seniors, and people in need of supportive housing. Most of these projects benefitted from City funding. Community Corporation of Santa Monica (CCSM) was a community driven initiative, but its success has much to do with the first seed money provided to it by the City. As we all know, CCSM remains a major provider of our affordable housing.
Item 1.A.
March 19, 2024
Item 1.A.
March 19, 2024
Finally, just a reminder that the City exceeded its 5th Cycle Housing Element RHNA goals by about 100%, meaning about twice as many housing units were produced than required by the State. Some may argue that the 5th Cycle RHNA was too low, but that is a rhetorical point since it was based on SCAG’s methodology at the time and a waste of time now to dispute.
Again, congratulations to all of us for this very meaningful recognition. Also congratulations to past elected and appointed officials, City staff and residents who made possible a progressive housing agenda over the years. Santa Monicans did not suddenly develop a social conscience during preparation of the Housing Element. It has always been here. Not universal for sure, but substantial enough to make a difference.
Sincerely,
Leslie Lambert
Sunset Park Resident
Item 1.A.
March 19, 2024
Item 1.A.
March 19, 2024