1 David Yakobson
From: Natalya Zernitskaya <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 12:43 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: [email protected]; Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Christine Parra; Oscar de la Torre; Gleam Davis; David White Subject: Agenda Item 16F - City Council Agenda 5/14/2024
EXTERNAL
May 14, 2024
Re: City Council Agenda Item 16F - Oppose
Dear Mayor Brock, Vice Mayor Negrete, and City Councilmembers, I strongly oppose the proposal suggested in item 16F to include language in contracts between the City of Santa Monica and Venice Family Clinic and CLARE|Matrix pursuant to the Fiscal Year 24/25 Human Services Grant Program (HSGP) that states: “Agency will not use HSGP funds provided under this contract or renewals of this contract for the purpose of syringe distribution/exchange at or around parks and public open spaces.” On April 9, 2024, the City Council unfortunately adopted a resolution objecting to LA County’s syringe exchange program despite overwhelming evidence that syringe exchange programs save lives and set people up for success in seeking to overcome addiction.
Syringe exchange programs save lives by not only reducing potential transmission of dangerous bloodtransmitted diseases such as hepatitis, HIV, or bacterial infections but also by connecting people who use (illegal) drugs to treatment programs for drug use disorders. According to the CDC, people who participate in syringe services programs or syringe exchange programs are 5 times more likely to enter treatment for drug use disorders (see: https://www.cdc.gov/ssp/syringe-services-programs-faq.html) Syringe exchange programs have been shown to not only improve health outcomes for people who use drugs, but also provide a safer pathway for drug users to enter treatment, and reduce healthcare costs for municipalities by limiting disease transmission. These programs do not cause more needles in public places (because they provide a place for people to safely dispose of used syringes), and they do not lead to increases in crime or drug use. You don’t have to take my word for it. Please see the factsheet and FAQs from the CDC website here: https://www.cdc.gov/ssp/docs/SSP-FactSheet.pdf and https://www.cdc.gov/ssp/docs/SSPFAQs.pdf ) Restricting access to such programs would cause real harm to the people who use them and our community as a whole.
I urge the Council to reject this misguided attempt to restrict access to a program that keeps our community safer. If the Council genuinely cares about public safety, it would summarily reject this shortsighted proposal.
Sincerely,
Natalya Zernitskaya
Natalya Zernitskaya (she/her)
[email protected]
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 3:52 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: 16F
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 8:37 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Cc: Phil Brock <[email protected]>; Lana Negrete <[email protected]>; Gleam Davis <[email protected]>; Caroline Torosis <[email protected]>; Christine Parra <[email protected]>; Oscar de la Torre <[email protected]>; Jesse Zwick <[email protected]>; John Alle <[email protected]> Subject:
EXTERNAL
Dear Council,
We residents of Santa Monica want an ordinance passed that restricts any "non-profit" recipient of City Funds or "Human Services Grant" money from distributing needles on our 3rd Street Promenade, City Parks or public areas. The Venice Family Clinic, The People Concern and Clare Matrix are Harm Reduction Needle Distribution Providers.
Venice Family Clinic owns a large building at 2509 Pico in Santa Monica that they could use.
This ongoing degrading of our parks and public spaces is an outrage.
As a person who has been sober for 30+years, I can tell you that by allowing this enabling of addition, you are directly contributing to the descent in to the hell of addition for these people.
This is an utter disgrace on behalf of the residents and the addicts. (:
Kate
Estates Director
Global Luxury Specialist
CalDRE # 01218699
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
2 310.395.1133
[email protected]
www.SantaMonicaListings.com
Coldwell Banker Realty
1608 Montana Avenue
Santa Monica, 90403
Click the button immediately below to download my FREE app and access the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) just like a Realtor!
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Alyssa G <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 11:31 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Human Services Grant Money
EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica Councilmembers,
Please pass an ordinance prohibiting any Human Services Grant money or any public funds at all from going to any organization, public or private, that distributes needles in our public places or gives drug paraphernalia anywhere without appropriate accompanying drug counseling.
Alyssa Ganezer
Santa Monica resident
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
2 David Yakobson
From: Janet Morris <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 11:17 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda Item 16
EXTERNAL
Dear Councilmembers:
The City had allowed needle exchange and/or needle distribuƟon in Santa Monica’s parks and public spaces for years in spite of pleas and protests from ciƟzens to stop this. AcƟve drug users are present in our parks and they are unsafe for children and others to use.
Please stop allowing these programs to occur.
Please arrest or remove the transient drug using populaƟon who interfere with the peace and enjoyment of public spaces in Santa Monica.
The drugs are killing people and you are killing Santa Monica.
Janet R Morris, Esq.
Sent from my iPhone
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Jeff Palmer <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 9:08 AM
To: Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Oscar de la Torre; Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; David White; Douglas Sloan; Susan Cline; Susan Cola; councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox
Subject: we want an ordinance passed that restricts any "non-profit" recipient of City Funds or "Human Services Grant" money from distributing needles on our 3rd Street Promenade, City Par
EXTERNAL
Restrict needle distribution.
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
2 David Yakobson
From: Amani Abou-Zamzam MBA <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 8:57 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; David White; Phil Brock; Council Mailbox Subject: Dear City Council we want an ordinance passed that restricts any "non-profit" recipient of City Funds or "Human Services Grant" money from distributing needles on our 3rd Street Promenade, City Parks or public areas. The Venice Family Clinic, The Peopl...
EXTERNAL
Dear City Council we want an ordinance passed that restricts any "non-profit" recipient of City Funds or "Human Services Grant" money from distributing needles on our 3rd Street Promenade, City Parks or public areas. The Venice Family Clinic, The People Concern and Clare Matrix are Harm Reduction Needle Distribution Providers. **Venice Family Clinic owns a large building at 2509 Pico in Santa Monica that they could use. 16 Agenda Item on 5.14.2024
Santa Monica City Council Meeting.
Thanks, 28 year Santa Monica resident and homeowner
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
3 David Yakobson
From: Gary Freedman <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 8:35 AM
To: Phil Brock
Cc: Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Oscar de la Torre; Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; David White; Douglas Sloan; Susan Cline; Susan Cola; councilmtgitems Subject: Re: Please send a note before noon today or speak and tell our City Council we want an ordinance passed that restricts any "non-profit" recipient of City Funds or "Human Services Grant" money from distributing needles on our 3rd Street Promenade, City ...
EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Brock and City Council Members
Print all
In new window
We are strongly in favor of passing an ordinance that restricts any recipient of City funds or a Human Services Grant from distributing needles on the 3rd Street Promenade, in City Parks or public areas.
Enough is enough. We have witnessed first hand the deterioration of our City, and this is one cause.
Sincerely,
Donna and Gary Freedman
533 9th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90402 use
Gary Freedman, Esq.
Law Offices of Gary Freedman
1149 3rd Street, Suite 200
Santa Monica, CA 90403
[email protected]
On Tue, May 14, 2024 at 8:26 AM The Santa Monica Coalition <[email protected]> wrote:
16 Agenda Item in this evening's Santa Monica City Council Meeting. If you cannot attend, simply google Santa Monica City Council Meeting LIVE
Insta
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
4 https://www.instagram.com/reel/C689mh0idFG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== YouTube
https://youtu.be/gP-F7JskTNI
In SANTA MONICA's Tongva Park, needles are given out for free. Addicts lie in wait. Children play. And our Police react.
LA County Health Director Barbara Ferrar’s, Santa Monica City Manager David White’s and Venice Family Clinic’s plans haven’t worked out so well for SANTA MONICA.
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
5 David Yakobson
From: The Santa Monica Coalition <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 8:27 AM
To: Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Oscar de la Torre; Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; David White; Douglas Sloan; Susan Cline; Susan Cola; councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Council Mailbox
Subject: Please send a note before noon today or speak and tell our City Council we want an ordinance passed that restricts any "non-profit" recipient of City Funds or "Human Services Grant" money from distributing needles on our 3rd Street Promenade, City Park...
EXTERNAL
16 Agenda Item in this evening's Santa Monica City Council Meeting. If you cannot attend, simply google Santa Monica City Council Meeting LIVE
Insta
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C689mh0idFG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== YouTube
https://youtu.be/gP-F7JskTNI
In SANTA MONICA's Tongva Park, needles are given out for free. Addicts lie in wait. Children play. And our Police react.
LA County Health Director Barbara Ferrar’s, Santa Monica City Manager David White’s and Venice Family Clinic’s plans haven’t worked out so well for SANTA MONICA.
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Ann Hoover <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 13, 2024 12:54 PM
To: Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Gleam Davis; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; councilmtgitems
Cc: David White; Susan Cline; Douglas Sloan; Susan Cola; Rick Valte; Jenny Rogers; Steven Johnson; John Smith
Subject: May 14, 2024 Council Meeting - Item 16.F. (No City funds may be used for needle distribution in parks, etc.) - SUPPORT
EXTERNAL
SUPPORT
Dear Mayor Brock and Esteemed Councilmembers:
Although I serve on the City's Recreation and Parks Commission, I write today in my individual capacity in support of Item 16.F. - prohibition on using City funds to pay for needle and drug paraphernalia distribution in or near city parks and schools.
First, a big thank-you to Mayor Brock, and Councilmembers Parra, de la Torre, and Negrete for approving the April 19, 2024 Council Resolution disapproving of needle distribution in 3 of our city's parks and I direct my comments now largely to Councilmembers Davis, Zwick, and Torosis, who did not support that Resolution.
At the March 19th Council Meeting where that Resolution first was considered, Councilmember Davis quoted extensively from Dr. Gary Tsai's PowerPoint presentation to the Recreation and Parks Commission a few months ago at RPC's monthly public meeting, but she did not share any of the clarifying information revealed when Recreation and Parks Commissioners questioned Dr. Tsai and drilled down into the data he presented.
These clarifications are important & I share them with you as follows:
Councilmember Davis referenced Dr. Tsai's assertion in the PowerPoint that 400 individuals annually are referred to support services or housing through the needle distribution program in our parks but, given the number of addicts supplied with needles monthly (per his PowerPoint), those numbers don't add up & he to date has provided no documentation for this assertion.
Further, when asked exactly how the Venice Family Clinic (VFC) makes these alleged referrals to housing and supportive services, Dr. Tsai hemmed and hawed a bit and finally said: "Well, it happens because of our relationships with them...." Hmmmmmm. So people handing out needles in our parks one hour a week Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
2 have "relationships"? That seems unlikely, and, again, that assertion has not been substantiated with data.
Councilmember Davis also quoted from Dr. Tsai's PowerPoint that 12 lives are saved every year. But Dr. Tsai could not substantiate that number either and unless VFC workers are following addicts around 24/7, it's impossible to know exactly how many people overdose but have their lives saved with narcan. It might be 12. It might be more than 12. And it's certainly possible that it's less. But it's like a tree falling in the forest - if you're not there, you can't count it. Again, an undocumented assertion whereas data in fact (from researchers at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Virginia) emerged (though criticized by the Naloxone industry, which boasts over $300 million in annual sales not including the massive new narcan contract soon to be awarded by the State of California paid for with our tax dollars) that distributing narcan may actually encourage even more risky behavior by addicts, leading to more ER visits and overdose deaths rather than less. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/14/study-suggests-anti-overdose-med-narcan-increasesreckless-opioid-use.html In addition and most important, Councilmember Davis quoted national data (not provided by Dr. Tsai) that alleges that over 90% of all needles distributed nationally are reclaimed through needle exchange programs. But Dr. Tsai confirmed for the Recreation and Parks Commission that this is NOT really a needle exchange program and therefore NOT what's happening in Santa Monica. He admitted that at least 1/3 of all needles from the County program in our City go UNRETURNED. And since the County program distributes about 100 syringes per month in our parks, that's 1,200 needles distributed per year, meaning that 400 needles are not returned.
Where do they go? Well, wherever the users might go and as we know for a fact, many end up in our parks, alleys, by the Promenade, on the beach, and in the ocean. Which is concerning, because the City of Santa Monica has taken legal action in the past to counteract plastic pollution (e.g., plastic bags and plastic straws) that may threaten public health or end up in Santa Monica Bay. If plastic bags and straws are of concern, so also should be heavy plastic syringes with contaminated needles attached to them that threaten people, domesticated animals, wildlife, and ocean creatures.
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
3 What exactly does 400 needles look like you might be wondering? Well, I'm happy to bring and display a mock-up for you - stay tuned! The typical 100-count box of syringes is 9.5 by 7.5 by 5.5 inches and weighs over 1-1/3 lbs. That is A LOT of needles left behind every month and year (5 pounds!) by the County's needle distribution program - again, 400 unreclaimed needles. Councilmembers Zwick, Davis and Torosis - despite your support for the 2022 letter to the County about needle distribution in our parks, you now contend that parks distribution is ok as justified "harm reduction". We all agree that harm reduction makes sense in the abstract & is documented as successful in the abstract, but when put into practice you have to balance its purported benefits against proper location and harm to the rest of society. That is basic common sense and a basic moral & ethical analysis. Therefore you need to understand that just as an example Wilmont is the most densely populated neighborhood in our City and its residents now are disenfranchised from their already very small neighborhood park in what is already a notably park-poor City.
In effect, you've asked 1000s of our children, 1000s of our seniors, 1000s of other residents, and our businesses, our taxpayers, our tourists, our public landscape workers, our police, our firefighters, our social service workers, and our emergency workers to deal with this. And that is not right. You need to balance overall public health & the public's right to safe access and enjoyment against the rights of a handful of addicts. Please remember this essential balancing as our City continues its dialogue with the County to move this needle distribution program out of our parks & to a more secure and appropriate location(s).
Sincerely,
Ann Bowman
Resident, 28 years
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Peter DiChellis <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2024 9:59 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre
Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: 16F - Venice Family Clinic
EXTERNAL
Item 16F seems like a start, but money is fungible—so any funds given to this renegade group simply allow it to spend more (from other sources) on its addicƟve-narcoƟcs syringe distribuƟon program near Santa Monica schools and children.
Cut all City funding for Venice Family Clinic. They are not our friend.
Thank you,
Peter DiChellis
Santa Monica
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024
Item 16-F
May 14, 2024