Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Jee Won Diane Kang <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2024 4:24 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda Item 5. E - City Council Meeting 5/28
EXTERNAL
To whom it may concern:
In the event that I am not able to make an oral public comment at today's meeting, please find below a written comment for agenda Item 5.E.
Hello, my name is Jee Won Kang, and I write to you in my capacity as member of the Santa Monica community, and the multiple ways in which I hold that identity—as a PhD student at UCLA, a regular patron of Santa Monica’s public transit infrastructure, and as a staff member at the Santa Monica Trapeze School (SMTS).
One of the reasons why I decided to attend UCLA was because of its proximity to SMTS. The circus community is one that fosters this kind of loyalty and dedication—people are committed for life, and the presence of a local circus community is an important factor we consider when making big life decisions.
We consistently go out of our way to seek out circus, and we are integrated into the broader community as a result. For example, in addition to being a staff member at SMTS and performing in our shows, I serve as a graduate student mentor in an outreach program that aims to increase diversity and inclusion in STEM for local high school students from underrepresented backgrounds by providing them with early, hands-on exposure to scientific research.
Santa Monica Trapeze School has always committed itself to being a school, and inherent to the very definition of a school is that it is a place of education, learning, and community betterment, which are tenets that we at SMTS uphold every day.
I am also a consistent patron of public transit—I always take the Big Blue Bus to the pier. As a pedestrian, I am so grateful for the city’s recognition of public transportation as a social good that is worth investing in despite heavy lobbying efforts from the automotive industry that attempt to convince us otherwise. I am hopeful that the city is willing to recognize bastions of local business and community pillars like SMTS as an equally worthwhile social good.
I entreat you to:
Support small businesses on the pier by allowing SMTS to stay at 370 Santa Monica Pier.
Or, if the council believes a big business is better at 370 Santa Monica Pier, that they direct their staff to honor our 16 years of dedication and allow us to remain at 370 Santa Monica Pier until a replacement site in Santa Monica can be determined.
Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
2 Thank you,
Jee Won
Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
3 David Yakobson
From: Nicolas W. Pust <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2024 4:00 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Santa Monica trapeze
EXTERNAL
Good evening,
I work at Santa Monica trapeze school. I've worked there with a lot of people and have been a part of some of the discussions with what's happening. We have been told that we'd be able to Stay there along with many other things and now we're being told that we would have to leave. Please find it in your heart to keep Santa Monica trapeze school running. If not on Santa Monica pier then at least somewhere in it. we are a part of Santa Monica Community
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Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2024 11:06 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 5/28 Agenda Item 5E
EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council,
Thank you for taking the time to understand how important the Santa Monica Trapeze School is to the community. I was born and raised in Santa Monica and started going to the trapeze school when I was 11 years old (I'm 26 now). I worked at the trapeze school for 2 years after I graduated college and it changed my life. I just wish everyone at least once in their lives could have the experience of loving their job as much as I did when I worked for Kenna at the trapeze school.
I'm tearing up as I write this because it's so hard to explain. The community at the trapeze school is my family. I am so proud that my city also gets to be home to this magical place. I'm currently working at a trapeze rig for tourists in Mexico and tell people every day about my home rig on the Santa Monica Pier. I'm praying that when I come home my home will still be there.
Thank you for listening to my trapeze family. And thank you for understanding the importance of the arts, community, compassion, and small women owned businesses on the historic Santa Monica Pier.
Please help save the rig. I can't imagine Santa Monica feeling like home anymore without the trapeze school.
With gratitude,
Aspen Smith
Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Talia Landres <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 27, 2024 12:52 PM
To: Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; councilmtgitems
Subject: Please keep Santa Monica Trapeze School _in_ Santa Monica! (May 28, 2024, Item 5-E) Attachments: Talia Landres Trapeze School Letter 52724.pdf Dear Mayor Brock, Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, and Councilmembers Davis, de la Torre, Parra, Torosis, and Zwick,
Please see my attached letter about Item 5-E at your meeting tomorrow. Please keep my trapeze school in Santa Monica!
Thank you,
Talia Landres
Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
2 David Yakobson
From: lisa berliner <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2024 12:13 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: ITEM 5 E : KEEP SANTA MONICA TRAPEZE SCHOOL LOCAL
EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Council:
My name is Lisa Berliner and I am writing to you as a student turned senior instructor at the Santa Monica Trapeze School for the past 11 years. The city of Santa Monica has been the home to the trapeze school for over 16 years, offering a unique experience (with the most amazing view) that you can’t get in many cities.
People from all over the world and locally get to “run off and join the circus” for just a few hours.
Due to recent changes in ownership, the lease for the 370 SM pier came up for review and per the nomination we will be losing our space(and what I call my happy place). I was present at the pier board meeting where they approved the nomination for the SC holding to take over the license for 370 SM pier with the recommendation that the city should be involved in helping us find a new location so that we can continue the legacy of offering such a unique experience local to Santa Monica. That is what we are asking. Help us find a place in Santa Monica, such as the Santa Monica Airport. I went to the recent Kick off event at Clover Park and saw what an amazing opportunity is right at our fingertips. I spoke to several people, advocating to consider the Santa Monica Trapeze School to relocate to the Airport. It seems this would be a wonderful addition to the airport and the community at large. I think it would be a great way to get people to come to the airport and stay for other activities that will be offered there. Santa Monica Trapeze school is an asset to the local community but also for tourism. More and more people want experiences with their friends and families. .
The trapeze school offers so much to the community and it would be devastating to lose everything it represents. We aren’t just a trapeze school. We are a safe and welcoming place for EVERYONE. It is a place we go to clear our minds,conquer fears, build confidence, be active, have first jobs, form friendships, celebrate birthdays (any and all life milestones), the list goes on and on.
On a personal note. I honestly don’t know where I would be without the trapeze school. It has helped with my mental health beyond measure. I took one class for fun and never imagined I would be a part of the community 11 years later, having accomplished as much as I have or meeting some of my best friends. It brings me such joy watching others achieve their goals and accomplishments as well.
Please please help us find a new location. The airport… where you can still fly without a plane ;) If you would like to ask me any questions or any further insight, please contact me via email or phone. (818)516-7763
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Lisa Berliner
Student and Staff member
Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
3 David Yakobson
From: Morgan Stewart <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2024 1:18 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Please Save the Santa Monica Trapeze School at Your May 28th Meeting - Remove Agenda Item 5. E from Your Consent Calendar
EXTERNAL
Hello Santa Monica City Councilmembers,
I am a Venice resident and I worked in Santa Monica for over a decade before I started working remotely during the pandemic so though I am not a current resident of the city, I care about it and its future very much.
For 16 years the Santa Monica Trapeze School (SMTS) taught Circus Arts on the Pier and now big business is trying to kick them out without another place on the Westside to train, learn, and continue to be Circus stars. Please help save SMTS and remove Item 5. E from the Consent Calendar at your May 28th meeting.
As I’m sure you know by now, the Santa Monica Pier board recently approved a nomination for the space at 370 Santa Monica Pier — the longtime home of the Santa Monica Trapeze School — to go to SC holdings, the largest leaseholder on the Pier. Since this vote, the Santa Monica Pier Board has created a new ad hoc committee to review pier guidelines and leases because they have realized that the current system is broken. If this nomination is pushed through, as is, on the upcoming agenda’s consent calendar, City Council will be displacing a locally owned, female run business that has a history of over 15 years on the pier. It also means the Santa Monica Pier Board might change the process to benefit SMTS ONLY after the City Council has voted to evict them. We are asking that this item be removed from the consent calendar until Council can ensure that Pier Leasing Guidelines and City Council's vision and process are aligned for the Pier.
Thank you for fighting for local circus in Santa Monica and thank you for your time. Please protect small business in Santa Monica!
Warmly,
Morgan Stewart
Item 5-E
May 28, 2024
Item 5-E
May 28, 2024