1 David Yakobson
From: Alex Brown <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2024 9:40 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Christine Parra; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; Gleam Davis; Lana Negrete
Cc: David White; David Martin; Tony Kim; Judy Kruger
Subject: Letter of Support - June 11, Agenda Item 10.A, Remove Unnecessary and Duplicative Requirements for Massage Establishments
Attachments: LOS City Council Massage Est. 10 A.pdf
EXTERNAL
Hello Mayor Brock and City Council Members,
Please see attached for our Letter of Support on today's (June 11) Agenda Item 10.A Thank you,
Alex Brown
Item 10-A
June 11, 2024
Item 10-A
June 11, 2024
Board Continued
Kathy Irby
Commercial Bank of
California
Jeff Jarow
Par Commercial
Paula Larmore
Harding, Larmore,
Kutcher & Kozal LLP
Charlie LopezQuintana
ETC Hotels
Pam O’Connor
Consultant
Janet Rimicci
UCLA Health
Eddie Guerboian
Jeweler
Neil Carrey
Attorney
Jose Aalvarado
Cruise
Jeremy Rawitch
RAND
Fred Hulls
Quantgene
Heather Gift
Activision
Elnie Vannatim
Cedars Sinai
Addie VanGessel
Tavern on Main
Gina Gribow
EKA Public Affairs
Jessica Rincon
Le Merigot Hotel
Vee Gomez
Beach Yoga SoCal
Dave Rand
Rand, Pastor, Nelson,
LLP
Board Executives
Chair
Younes Atallah
Regent Santa Monica
Beach
Past Chair
Greg Morena
The Albright
Treasurer
Len Lanzi
Stubbs Alderton &
Markiles, LLP
Vice-Chair
Michael Ricks
Providence Saint
John’s Health
Vice-Chair
Julia Ladd
Macerich/Santa
Monica Place
Vice-Chair
Dustin Peterson
Fairmont Miramar
Hotel & Bungalows
Vice-Chair
Jasson Crockett
SNAP Inc.
Vice-Chair
Celia Fisher
Beach Moms
Vice-Chair
Dr. Kathryn Jeffery
Santa Monica College
Board Members
Craig Babington
Morley Builders
Andrew Barrett-Weiss
Good RX
Dom Bei
SM Firefighters
Rudy Flores
SM Police Officers
Jeffrey Fritz
Coldwell Banker
June 10, 2023
City Council
City of Santa Monica
1685 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Re: June 11, Agenda Item 10.A, Remove Unnecessary and Duplicative Requirements for Massage Establishments - SUPPORT
Dear Mayor Brock and City Councilmembers,
On behalf of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, I am writing in support of City Staff’s recommendation to simplify and streamline the process for opening establishments providing massage services, including those that are accessory uses within hotels or fitness centers.
As outlined thoroughly in the Staff Report, the current requirement for a Minor Use Permit and 500-foot distance limit between facilities providing massage services add time, expense and uncertainty for these businesses. These existing restrictions are outdated, duplicative of some of the massage operator’s permit requirements, and are unnecessary, especially when the massage services are an accessory use within another use such as a fitness center or hotel.
The years following the pandemic have created a hardship for many in our community and our Santa Monica businesses have continued to experience economic uncertainty. As Staff notes, vacancy rates remain higher than prior to the pandemic and unnecessary restrictions on businesses contributes to the closing of existing, and deterrence of new, businesses. The proposed changes will reduce barriers to entry – cost, time and uncertainty – and continue the City’s positive work to support businesses and bring more activity to our commercial districts.
The Chamber appreciates City Staff’s thoughtful recommendation to remove unnecessary barriers for businesses to open in Santa Monica and respectfully requests that the City Council adopt the proposed Emergency Interim Ordinance.
Respectfully,
Item 10-A
June 11, 2024
Item 10-A
June 11, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Peter Borresen <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2024 7:59 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: June 11. Item 10A. Public Comment.
EXTERNAL
Send Item 10A back to staff for further consideration. As currently written it could lead to blighting of the city.
Our city staff seem to want Santa Monica to be ever more trashy and financially struggling, rather than classy and financially sound.
Thanks to a well-deserved reputation for crime and rampant shoplifting, Santa Monica is failing as a tourist destination, and many stores on Third Street are empty. (REI leaving 4th Street broke my heart.) Landlords are bleeding cash and are desperate for anyone willing to rent their spaces. It seems like the only tenants they can get now are tattoo parlors, massage parlors and cannabis stores.
Century City Mall is bursting with high end stores and paying customers. Why? It is not because it has massage parlors or pot-stores. It is because they get the basics right. A safe, clean place where stores are not being killed by shoplifting.
Our council must not give in to the short-sighted lobbying of struggling landlords, and fatally cheapening our city. It is safe streets and less shoplifting that will ultimately lead to higher rents and better retail tenants. Other cities are thriving. But by not taking a long-term view, by giving in to misguided businesses and not fixing the basics, our city is destined to spiral into tawdry cheapness and despair.
A race to the bottom in retail is like an alcoholic begging for one last drink before promising to dry out.
It just ends up making things worse. I seriously predict that strip clubs and massage parlors will open on Third Street before long.
Peter Borresen,
Santa Monica
Item 10-A
June 11, 2024
Item 10-A
June 11, 2024