Written Comments — Santa Monica City Council, June 25, 2024

1 David Yakobson
From: Misti Kerns <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 3:03 PM
To: Misti Kerns
Cc: councilmtgitems; David White
Subject: Agenda Item: 16.B
Importance: High

EXTERNAL
Good afternoon. I wish I was there to speak with you tonight, but I am unable to do so. I am reaching out today as a resident of Santa Monica to encourage you to support item 16B. The ongoing blatant ignoring of city ordinance for temporary signage, negative messaging, personal attack of a public employee and untrue statements need to be stopped to fully recover economically and as a community from the pandemic. One thing is for sure it is certainly not helping Santa Monica or DTSM in any way. Please be brave in your work tonight. Thank you for your service to our community! Misti Kerns CDME, CMP
President/CEO

SANTA MONICA TRAVEL & TOURISM
2427 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405
E. [email protected] P. 310.319.6263 W. santamonica.com Instagram | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | YouTube
Visit our online store to shop for Santa Monica merchandise.

Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: David Khedr <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 3:09 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: reference to the June 25, 2024 City Council Agenda 16B item,

EXTERNAL
Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
The sign placed on the building located at 1333 Third Street Promenade is counter-productive to the community’s and to the visitors, it is a false information by say “Santa Monica is not safe” that does not help the economic recovery as they may deter people from visiting and shopping in Santa Monica specially on the Promenade, at a time when the City’s retail, travel, and entertainment businesses are still recovering from the pandemic.

THAT IS NOT FREEDOM OF SPEECH, that is false and/or counter to the public interest., Further, I believe City sign program policy does not allow any temporary banner hanging on the building more than 30 days, that banner been there since Covid .

As a resident and a business owner in Santa Monica, I Urge you to pass a resolution to remove the banner .

Thank you for your consideration.

David Khedr
Khedr Management Company
Property Management
1242 Third Street Promenade Suite # 206
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 394-6791
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Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
2 David Yakobson
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 1:53 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: City Council Meeting Agenda 16B
From: Faustino Garza <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 10:42 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Cc: David White <[email protected]>
Subject: City Council Meeting Agenda 16B

EXTERNAL
I strongly oppose the proposal to limit free speech regarding our city manager's cooperation and support for the Needle and Meth Pipe Distribution Program in our City parks and other public places Faustino Garza
Sunset Park
Santa Monica
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
3 David Yakobson
From: Santa Monica Rx <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 12:37 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Oscar de la Torre; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; [email protected]; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Gleam Davis Subject: Agenda Item 16B

EXTERNAL
SM City Council Members:

The Executive Board of Santa Monica Residents Cross-city unanimously joins the SM Coalition, NEN and other groups throughout the city in urging you to withdraw Agenda Item 16B, proposed by Mayor Phil Brock, Vice Mayor Lana Negrete and Councilmember Gleam Davis.

Agenda Item 16B will not only infringe on First Amendment rights to free speech but also attempts to hide the truth from the public and silence opposition to potentially nefarious and illegal acts performed by City Leaders and staff which run counter to the public interest in the health and safety of our community.

On all the aforementioned counts, Mayor Phil Brock, Vice Mayor Lana Negrete and Councilmember Gleam Davis, in proposing Agenda Item 16B, not only make a mockery of the Constitution of the United States of America and the democratic principles for which it stands but also mock the supposedly democratic policies and processes of the government of the city of Santa Monica.

In addition to threatening cardinal principles of democracy which are foundational at all levels of government, do you really want to place our city in this light? Shame.

Sincerely,
Derek Altmann, Secretary
Santa Monica Residents Cross-City (smRx)
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
4 Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Jason Mastbaum <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 9:24 AM
To: Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre
Cc: councilmtgitems
Subject: support 16B 6/25/2024

EXTERNAL
We shouldn't let one fringe property owner tank our economic recovery. It's apparently never occurred to Alle that his tenants might do better business without that sign hanging right next to their doors.

Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
2 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 8:42 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: in support of Item 16B

EXTERNAL
Hello Council,
This communication is in support of Item 16B - a resolution to express its disapproval of the “Santa Methica” banner displayed at 1335 Third Street Promenade.

It is distressing and causes anxiety to the reader.

Thank you for taking action on this.

Jodi Summers
90405 resident
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Burt Goldstein <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 7:30 PM
To: [email protected]; Lana Negrete; [email protected]; Phil Brock; Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; [email protected]; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Christine Parra; Douglas Sloan; Clerk Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Ramon Batista
Cc: Stanley Rubin; Carol Dickinson
Subject: Re: NE Neighbors - First Amendment concerns raised by Tuesday's City Council Agenda 16B
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged

EXTERNAL
Dear Phil Brock and Members of the Council,
I strongly urge you to drop any and all actions designed to suppress the sign posted by John Alle, discussed below.

First, I can’t imagine there’s any hope of prevailing in court. The sign’s explicit message simply says “Santa Methica is not safe”.

The sense of safety is highly subjective and if a resident doesn’t feel safe it is certainly well within their civic right to say so.

Democracy in Santa Monica is feeble enough as it is. What percent of the residents do you think are even aware of the major decision you make?
Bringing the heavy apparatus of the Government down on a shopowner posting a vague sign in his window is not fostering community or democracy.

You would have to argue that the little arrow in the sign, on the rightmost icon, is pointing at the endorsement of the needle exchange program, and so you could try to construe Alle’s sign as meaning “needle exchanges are unsafe”.

A long road to travel! The sign, if referring to the policy could simply mean that the particulars of the implementation of the needle program have safety concerns, not that ’needle exchange programs are inherently a net increase in danger to the community.

I have found needle paraphernalia in DOuglas Park. I emailed the City to ask when homeless outreach workers come to Doublas Park. I was told they DO come, but in 30 years I have seen not one, and I live across the street from the park and go their at least once daily with my dog.

It’s not like he is promoting anti0vaccination scare propaganda - mabe look for that and censor it. Far more harmful and false.

Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
2 Leave Alle alone!
Better yet, ask him what concerns he has that might make the program better or safer and pass those concerns on to LA COunty.

Best,
Burt
Burton Goldstein - Composer
cell: 310-422-8497
fax: 310-829-5923
email:[email protected]
website:www.burtgoldstein.com
concert music:
www.burtgoldstein.com
On Jun 24, 2024, at 4:57 PM, Tricia Crane <[email protected]> wrote:
<image.png>tr
This is the sign that is at issue in Tuesday's City Council agenda 16.B. It's posted on the front of the Third Street Promenade shop owned by John Alle, a founding board member of the Santa Monica Coalition.
https://thesantamonicacoalition.org/
Dear Northeast Neighbors and friends,
Below is the full text of Councilmember Item 16.B on this Tuesday’s City Council Agenda (6/25) and some of the questions it has generated from concerned community members. Also posted here is the response to 16.B from Santa Monica Coalition founding members John Alle and Jessica Rogers. The Coalition directly challenges the City, presenting links to "joint statements" released by County of Los Angeles Public Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
3 Health and the City of Santa Monica about the "harm reduction" needle distribution program in our city.

Tricia
<image.png>
##
https://santamonicacityca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1404

16.B
Request of Mayor Brock, Vice Mayor Negrete, and Councilmember Davis that the City Council direct the City Attorney to prepare a resolution for Council consideration that recites that, while the City of Santa Monica is respectful of everyone’s First Amendment rights to free speech, in some instances harm can come from expression that is false and/or counter to the public interest. The resolution should reflect the Council’s disapproval of signs placed upon a building along the 3rd Street Promenade that falsely state that the City Manager approves of the County’s “free needle and meth pipe” program, as in fact the program is implemented by a contractor of Los Angeles County pursuant to state law, and the City Council and City Manager play no role in authorizing the program. Further, to the extent that there is City policy on the program, the City Council is the source of any such City policy on the subject, not the City Manager. Finally, the signs also may be counter-productive to the community’s stated goal of economic recovery as they may deter people from visiting and shopping in Santa Monica at a time when the City’s retail, travel, and entertainment businesses are still recovering from the pandemic.

Questions from community members about 16.B:

1. How is the sign “false”?

2. How is a sign placed by the owner of a local business on his own storefront on the 3rd Street Promenade “counter to the public interest”?

3. Does the City Manager have a stated position on the County needle distribution program?

4. Does the Council have a stated position on the County needle distribution program?

5. Do the three Councilmembers promoting 16.D take the same position on the needle distribution program, i.e. that it serves as "harm reduction"? Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
4 6. Has the City Council as an entity voted to support needle distribution in Santa Monica?

7. Does the City Attorney have anything to say to the three elected officials who authored 16.B about the possibility that it violates the First Amendment protection of free speech?
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: The Santa Monica Coalition <[email protected]> Date: Mon, Jun 24, 2024 at 12:08 AM
Subject: June 25 2024 City Council Agenda 16B item
To: Lana Negrete <[email protected]>, [email protected] <[email protected]>, Phil Brock <[email protected]>, Phil Brock <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, cc:
[email protected] <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, Jesse Zwick <[email protected]>, Caroline Torosis <[email protected]>, Christine Parra <[email protected]>, Douglas Sloan
<[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, councilmtgitems <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>
Dear Lana,
It was a great opportunity to run into you at a political function today. Per your request, we have taken the time to locate some key documents that will help you recognize the deep connections the City of Santa Monica developed with the Los Angeles Department of Public Health in planning joint efforts to collaborate with the LA County Harm Reduction Program operated by the Venice Family Clinic and other vendors.

We have attached a selection of emails between City Manager David White and Dr.

Gary Tsai, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Harm Reduction Program Director, so that we can put to rest the accusations, made by city employees and city council members, that The Santa Monica Coalition and John Alle are making up stories in regards to City Manager David White and the City of Santa Monica's involvement and support of the Needle and Glass Pipe Distribution Program in Santa Monica.

To start, on May 26, 2023, David White forwarded an email from the Santa Monica Coalition to Gary Tsai. In that email, the Santa Monica Coalition was addressing a timeline of events regarding the discovery of the Needle and Glass Pipe Distribution program and the involvement of the City of Santa Monica. We included that email Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
5 because it was in direct response to that email that Tsai and White decided they would co-author a joint statement to be released to the public. Their desire was to gain more support from the public and counter any potential negative impact caused by the information that was shared by The Santa Monica Coalition.

The second email from Gary Tsai to David White on May 28, 2023 discusses the process of writing the statement with an invitation to use Santa Monica letterhead for the statement.

The third email page shows two emails dated June 2, 2023 from City of Santa Monica employee Delana Gbenekama and David White. Ms. Gbenekama's email shares the City of Santa Monica logo. David White's email tells Gary Tsai that Santa Monica has finished with their "marked up version that reflects input and review from the team". Notice all the City of Santa Monica employees copied on the email, including Police Chief Batista, Fire Chief Alvarez and Assistant City Managers.

The last email is from Gary Tsai to David White and "team". It is an invitation from Gary Tsai for David White to sign his name to the document alongside Barbara Ferrer. Tsai also suggested they bypass a press release to avoid "scrutiny/unwanted attention".

Please note below the three different versions of the joint statement, that we have downloaded, copied and time stamped. It's important you know that there is no reason to attempt to make them disappear from the internet, as two of them already have, because we have everything we need to keep them in existence.

The joint statement was also discussed in several local newspapers including the SMDP. It is no longer available on the site. We have not gone through our archives to grab the articles for you, but the Patch article is still readily available online for your browsing, see the link below.

In reference to the June 25, 2024 City Council Agenda 16B item, we strongly encourage you to remove the item from the agenda and table it for good. Regarding the concern about The Santa Monica Coalition's message on the 3rd Street Promenade that makes a statement about David White's support of the Needle and Glass Pipe Distribution Program, the only entities who have committed a potentially harmful "expression that is false and/or counter to the public interest" are the Santa Monica City Council leaders who sponsored Agenda Item 16B, Mayor Phil Brock, Vice Mayor Lana Negrete and Councilmember Gleam Davis, former Mayor. You are not only infringing on our First Amendment right but you are also attempting to hide the truth from the public and silencing any opposition to potentially nefarious and illegal acts performed by City Leaders and staff. The statements on the banner are true and accurate and were not made with malice or reckless disregard for the truth.

Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
6 Link to the Original LADPH - City of Santa Monica Joint Statement June 2023:
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/sapc/docs/public/overdose-prevention/DPH-SantaMonica-Harm-Reduction-Joint-Statement.pdf?hb Link to the Revised LADPH - City of Santa Monica Statement February 2024 (notice City of Santa Monica logo disappears):
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/sapc/docs/public/overdose-prevention/DPH-Statementon-Harm-Reduction-Services-in-Santa-Monica-City.pdf June 9, 2023 - Link to the Patch Article on the City of Santa Monica and LA County Department of Public Health Joint Statement over the Harm Reduction Program in Santa Monica:
https://patch.com/california/santamonica/city-responds-concerns-controversial-harmreduction-services?utm_source=sharedemail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=share We hope these city and county documents, that you all have access to, end this conversation for good. Regardless of your actions in the next City Council meeting, The Santa Monica Coalition has no intention of removing its messaging. Rather than attacking free speech, the City should focus on restoring safety in our streets.

Respectfully,
Jessica Rogers
John Alle
Santa Monica Coalition Co-Founders
<City of SM and LADPH response to TSMC.jpg><G Tsai Joint Statement Signatures.jpg><SM Logo for LADPH.jpg><City of SM and LADPH Joint Statement Collaboration.jpg><June 7 2023 Joint Statement City of SM and LADPH.pdf> Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: DEBORAH SCOTT-TOUX <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 9:34 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Cc: David White
Subject: Opposition to June 25 2024 Santa Monica Council Meeting

EXTERNAL
To Whom It May Concern:

I dearly Love Santa Monica. I was born and raised there, and currently am a property owner. I am very aware of the degradation of what once was a safe, delightful home community and tourist attraction.

Now when I visit, I am shocked by what I see from the boarded up establishments to drug addicted homeless sleeping on the streets. Recently friends planned a family trip to Santa Monica. Right away they were concerned about walking the streets or even leaving items in their car. Within the first day they cancelled their hotel reservations and returned home.

I do not support the needle and meth pip distribution program. I do support the Right to Free Speech and Santa Monica Coalition’s efforts to bring awareness and effect positive change for Santa Monica. I agree with the following statement:

Sincerely,
Deborah Scott Toux
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
2 The City Council's refusal to address this issue and pay attention to the collaboration between Santa Monica City Manager David White and Barbara Ferrer's Department of Public Health team contributed to the growing number of transient addicts 24-7 in the parks and in our City, decline of business and tourism, and rise in retail theft and violent crime in Downtown Santa Monica and all areas of the City.

Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
3 Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
4 Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
5 am not able to attend the meting but do agree with the Santa Monica Coalition and quote a paragraph here”
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
6 Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
7 Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Cynthia Rose <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 11:35 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Gleam Davis; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Phil Brock; Christine Parra Cc: David White; [email protected]
Subject: Agenda Items: Support 10A, 10B, 16B, 16D -- Oppose Item 16E Attachments: 2024-06 CC Agenda Items 10A-10B-16B-16D-16E .pdf Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Completed

EXTERNAL
June 25th Council Meeting Agenda items
Support items 10A, 10 B, 16B, 16D
Oppose Item 16E
Dear Santa Monica Mayor and City Council:

Please see our attached comments in support or opposition to items on the June 25th Council Meeting Agenda items:
- Support items 10A, 10B, 16B, 16D
- Oppose Item 16E
Cynthia Rose and Cris Gutierrez
--
Cynthia Rose
Director
Santa Monica Spoke
SMSpoke.org
I acknowledge with respect and gratitude the Tongva, Kizh, and Chumash Peoples on whose traditional territory I live and work.

Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
A community group dedicated
to biking and walking in Santa Monica.

Working to make the
City of Santa Monica a
more sustainable,
bikeable & walkable place to live,
work and play.

June 25, 2024
Subject: June 25th Council Meeting Agenda items
Support items 10A, 10 B, 16B, 16D
Oppose Item 16E
Dear Santa Monica Mayor and City Council:

Support Item 10A and 10B

A. Support adoption of an Ordinance Amending Santa Monica Municipal Code Chapter 9.53 to Align the City’s Transportation Demand Management Ordinance with South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (AQMD) Rule 2202
B. Support Adoption of an Ordinance that Supports Electric Vehicle Charging Access by Adopting Local Amendments to the 2022 California Green Building Standards Code.

Support Item 16B:

Santa Monica Spoke and the Santa Monica Safe Street Alliance fully support the Council item 16B to direct the City Attorney to prepare a resolution that addresses the false and harmful signs on the 3rd Street Promenade disparaging our City Manager and the City at large, also conjuring lies about the LA County needle-exchange program. Those signs abuse our First Amendment free speech rights, threatening personal and public safety, the City’s reputation and the City’s economic recovery.

Please approve item 16B expeditiously so that Santa Monica can be proud of our civility and the potentially kind way that we treat others in Santa Monica and to enjoy the amenities and business on the 3rd Street Promenade that contribute to a clean and safe community and to our potentially vibrant economy.

Support Item 16D:

Our full support also applies to Item 16D to expand the Preserving our Diversity Program (POD) with clear considerations of elderly residents in the Pico Neighborhood experiencing poverty. The specifications identified to assist elderly Pico neighbors who qualify for POD are important requirements to fulfill our City’s and community’s expectations and aspirations to protect the vulnerable in our midst. Sometimes, it is too easy to miss something to help keep us attentive. Item 16D calls out new ways to assist POD applicants and to determine fair decisions about who receives POD aid.

Opposed Item 16E:

Finally, we oppose Agenda Item 16E to add a parcel tax measure to the November ballot. At this time, an unpolled measure, particularly for a parcel tax that is usually used for schools, is not a wise choice.

Sincerely,
Cynthia Rose
Director, Santa Monica Spoke Cris Gutierrez
Co-Chair, Santa Monica Safe Street Alliance Co-Chair, Santa Monica Safe Streets Alliance SMSpoke.org
SaMoSafeStreets.org
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Karen Croner <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 12:07 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Re: Agenda item 16B

EXTERNAL
>
> I am writing to support John Alle’s freedom of speech declaration on > his building…SMCC does not have the power to censor the free speech of > anyone. It is time for transparency and SMCC and staff do not provide > an avenue for residents to express their concerns... If David White is > innocent of the charges, then let him prove that…I am a huge supporter of Phil Brock and believe he is truly trying to save the city, fighting for the hiring of police officers, being a real presence on the street…But this time I respectfully disagree…Santa Monica residents need to have a strong voice and our government needs much greater transparency.
> Let’s make the street safe by hiring more police officers. Staff > members who are stopping this from happening are to blame for John Alle’s ned to post his sign. >
> Recently I tried to file
> an ethics complaint against a Planning Commission staff person who > called armed policemen on peaceful residents attending an ARB meeting. > It was terrifying. I was very concerned that this staff person was > acting irrationally, had anger management issues that needed to be addressed, also that she had blatantly lied during proceedings and also announced the results of a vote before it was Taken. I went to the city website to the page where residents could file ethical complaints, 24/7…I called the number. It was disconnected. > I went to the link to a page to file the complaint. The link actually > takes you to a page that states this page is dangerous and may be trying to steal your personal and financial data. This is a city gov page on the city gov site…I wrote many letters to city officials that were ignored. > Clearly SM Gov and staff do not seem interested in residents > expressing concerns about ethical violations…I understand why John > Alle was forced to put his objection on a sign because he got no response from the city. I request you reopen the ethical violations hotline and perhaps residents won’t be forced to post signs. > I also feel he is doing an important social service for tourists - who > are told SM is safe and fun - when in fact they need to be very careful on our streets. We have a serious problem with mental health issues and addiction issues on our streets. Let’s be open about them. > Sincerely, KAREN CRONER
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
2 David Yakobson
From: Karen Croner <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 11:57 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda item regarding John Alle's sign

EXTERNAL
I am writing to support John Alle’s freedom of speech declaration on his building…SMCC does not have the power to censor the free speech of anyone. It is time for transparency and SMCC and staff do not provide an avenue for residents to express their concerns... If David White is innocent of the charges, then let him prove that…I am a huge supporter of Phil Brock and believe he is truly trying to save the city, fighting for the hiring of police officers, being a real presence on the street…But this time I respectfully disagree…Santa Monica residents need to have a strong voice and our government needs much greater transparency.

Let’s make the street safe by hiring more police officers. Staff members who are stopping this from happening are to blame for John Alle’s ned to post his sign.

Recently I tried to file
an ethics complaint against a Planning Commission staff person who called armed policemen on peaceful residents attending an ARB meeting. It was terrifying. I was very concerned that this staff person was acting irrationally, had anger management issues that needed to be addressed, also that she had blatantly lied during proceedings and also announced the results of a vote before it was Taken. I went to the city website to the page where residents could file ethical complaints, 24/7…I called the number. It was disconnected.

I went to the link to a page to file the complaint. The link actually takes you to a page that states this page is dangerous and may be trying to steal your personal and financial data. This is a city gov page on the city gov site…I wrote many letters to city officials that were ignored.

Clearly SM Gov and staff do not seem interested in residents expressing concerns about ethical violations…I understand why John Alle was forced to put his objection on a sign because he got no response from the city. I request you reopen the ethical violations hotline and perhaps residents won’t be forced to post signs.

I also feel he is doing an important social service for tourists - who are told SM is safe and fun - when in fact they need to be very careful on our streets. We have a serious problem with mental health issues and addiction issues on our streets. Let’s be open about them.

Sincerely, KAREN CRONER
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
3 David Yakobson
From: Santa Monica Democratic Club <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 11:53 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Gleam Davis; Christine Parra; Oscar de la Torre; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Item 16B - SUPPORT

EXTERNAL
Thank you to Mayor Brock, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, and Councilmember Davis for bringing forward this item which condemns the inappropriate banner hanging on the Third Street Promenade on John Alle's building. The Santa Monica Democratic Club has been on the record in opposition of this disgusting sign since it first went up.

Nothing could go more against Santa Monica Values than this sign which includes outright falsehoods about our City Manager's position on the harm reduction programs which take place in our community and suggests a conspiracy that the City Manager is enacting policy on this matter without the input of City Council.

It is unfortunate that four of our City Councilmembers attended John Alle's rally at Reed Park last month, at which they expressed support for this message. It is further unfortunate that the same four Councilmembers voted to send a meaningless resolution to the LA County Department of Health stating their opposition to the harm reduction program which has been scientifically proven to be effective at reducing death and is the official policy supported by the Biden White House.

Regardless of our differences of opinion on the underlying policy matter, we are heartened to see that Mayor Brock and Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete agree with our Club that John Alle's sign is inappropriate and out of touch with the reality in our community. We hope that this leads to Alle removing the sign altogether.

Jon Katz
President, Santa Monica Democratic Club
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
4 David Yakobson
From: Steven Dye <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 11:45 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: David White
Subject: Opposition to June 25, 2024 Santa Monica council meeting agenda item 16B

EXTERNAL
Keep the sign, people need to know the truth and how it has made our city a worse and dangerous place.

Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
5 David Yakobson
From: John Murdock <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 11:45 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Cc: Santa Monica Daily Press; Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City; [email protected]; Nikki Kolhoff; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
[email protected]; Jessica Rogers Rogers
Subject: Item 16B is a Terrible Resolution

EXTERNAL
Dear Councilmembers;
In my opinion, Item 16B, a proposed resolution about signs on the Promenade, is a terrible idea. When a problem is raised by a critic of the city, the city should take the time to confront the problem openly, not try to suppress the critic and paper over the problem. Critics, right or wrong, have their First Amendment rights, and any distortions in expression thereof should be left to the law of defamation, not political suppression. While our country is in turmoil over how to handle powerful media misinformation and fake news, this resolution directed at an old-fashioned sign on a building, is completely Orwellian in nature, big brother in action. As stewards of the city coffers (my tax dollars), you should not openly invite needless Federal litigation from your critics by trying to silence them. Instead, I ask you to focus on the reasons for the criticism, create a dialogue, and then solve the problem. The proponent/instigator of the signs obviously has a clear interest on the economic vitality of retail outlets on the Promenade, and surely wants economic vibrancy as much as anyone on the Council, so it is laughable to cite the city's interest in promoting economics as justification for the Resolution. The city's critics have definite ideas about the problems killing economic vibrancy. They may be right, they may be wrong, but you should work with them instead of trying to suppress the criticism.

Thank you,
John B. Murdock
Attorney at Law
1209 Pine Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405
tel. (310) 450-1859
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
6 David Yakobson
From: Cynthia Rose <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 11:35 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Gleam Davis; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Phil Brock; Christine Parra Cc: David White; [email protected]
Subject: Agenda Items: Support 10A, 10B, 16B, 16D -- Oppose Item 16E Attachments: 2024-06 CC Agenda Items 10A-10B-16B-16D-16E .pdf

EXTERNAL
June 25th Council Meeting Agenda items
Support items 10A, 10 B, 16B, 16D
Oppose Item 16E
Dear Santa Monica Mayor and City Council:

Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
7 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 10:08 AM
To: councilmtgitems; David White
Subject: Opposition to June 25 2024 Santa Monica Council Meeting Agenda Item 16 B

EXTERNAL
Please stop Agenda Item 16 B on June 25 2024 meeting.

Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
8 David Yakobson
From: Sarah Peterson <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 10:03 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Cc: David White
Subject: Opposition to June 25 2024 Santa Monica Council Meeting Agenda Item 16 B

EXTERNAL
Dear Council Members and City Leaders,
I write today to submit my opposition to the proposed council resolution June 25 2024 Santa Monica Council Meeting Agenda Item 16 B and in support of all of our First Amendment Rights. The public should be able to speak without having our most fundamental Constitutional right curtailed. If anyone disagrees with an assertion made by a person or group, she, too, can speak unfettered and under the First Amendment and dispel what she believes to be inaccurate. This is the most essential principle of our country.

Related, I urge you to stop passing policies that enable drug use and vagrancy. It is the opposite of empathy to let people live in the pain of addiction and makes the city unsafe for us and our children. Thank you for taking the time to listen and read this email.

Sincerely,
Sarah Peterson
--
"Always stand on principle, even if you stand alone." -John Adams Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
9 David Yakobson
From: Caro Vilain <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 9:42 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre Subject: I support item 16B

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council,
I support item 16B.

This sign is misleading (and ugly) and counterproductive to the activation of the promenade, in addition to John Alle’s very questionable practices as a landlord on such a vital corridor to the city’s economic recovery.

The sign is disturbing and full of misinformation, and it makes no sense that we allow it to be displayed at one of the top destinations in the city.

Please support item 16B,
Caro Vilain, 90404
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 10:13 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Attachments: text_0.txt

EXTERNAL
Put an end agenda 16B!!!!!!!!
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
2 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 10:07 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Attachments: text_0.txt

EXTERNAL
End B16 !!!!!
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Paul Berman <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 5:17 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: My suggestion regarding Santa Methica

EXTERNAL
It would be a shame to waste city money on attorney fees in order to have the Santa Methica sign removed. My suggestion is that you meet with the person who posted the sign and find out what they would like you to do in order to have them remove the sign. Then, if the requirements are reasonable, go ahead and do what they are asking you to do. Let them win and let the city win too.

Sincerely,
Paul Berman
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Cris Gutierrez <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 6:55 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Christine Parra
Cc: David White
Subject: 6/25/24 Council Agenda Item 16 B: In support

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Brock and City Council Members:

As a Santa Monica resident, youth advocate and former educator, and as an honest member of our community, I strongly support Agenda Item 16B, directing the City Attorney to prepare a resolution for Council's approval to remove the false and derisive sign on the 3rd Street Promenade that lies about our City Manager regarding needle exchange. It is about time that all of us, led by our Council, reject the sign's hate-mongering and dangerous language that aim to generate destructive behaviors against City personnel as well as threaten personal and public safety.

The posting of the threatening sign clearly abuses First Amendment Rights. Where is the responsibility that those rights confer? An imperative lesson for all of our children and youth and a habit for everyone to follow is to use our free speech rights responsibly in a constructive, community-building and safe manner.

I trust the Council to pass Item 16B with a firm and positive direction.

With respect,
꼩꼪꼫꼭꼬Cris Gutierrez
Santa Monica Resident
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
2 David Yakobson
From: Kaarina Mononen <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 10:30 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: End of 16B

EXTERNAL
Please vote end of 16 B!!!!뛴뛵뛶뛷뛸뛹뜆뛺뛻뛼뛽뛾뛿뜀뜁뜂뜃뜄뜅뜇
Thank you,
Karina
Sent from my iPhone
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
3 David Yakobson
From: Avi Cohen <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 9:45 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; David White
Subject: Opposition to June 25 2024 Santa Monica Council Meeting Agenda Item 16 B

EXTERNAL
Drop 16B. Rather than attacking free speech, the City should focus on improving the city to the point where citizens would no longer see a reason to have that sign up.

Thank you
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
4 David Yakobson
From: Burt Goldstein <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 7:30 PM
To: [email protected]; Lana Negrete; [email protected]; Phil Brock; Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; [email protected]; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Christine Parra; Douglas Sloan; Clerk Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Ramon Batista
Cc: Stanley Rubin; Carol Dickinson
Subject: Re: NE Neighbors - First Amendment concerns raised by Tuesday's City Council Agenda 16B

EXTERNAL
Dear Phil Brock and Members of the Council,
I strongly urge you to drop any and all actions designed to suppress the sign posted by John Alle, discussed below.

First, I can’t imagine there’s any hope of prevailing in court. The sign’s explicit message simply says “Santa Methica is not safe”.

The sense of safety is highly subjective and if a resident doesn’t feel safe it is certainly well within their civic right to say so.

It’s not like he is promoting anti0vaccination scare propaganda - mabe look for that and censor it. Far more harmful and false.

Leave Alle alone!
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
5 Better yet, ask him what concerns he has that might make the program better or safer and pass those concerns on to LA COunty.

Best,
Burt
Burton Goldstein - Composer
cell: 310-422-8497
fax: 310-829-5923
email:[email protected]
website:www.burtgoldstein.com
concert music:
www.burtgoldstein.com
On Jun 24, 2024, at 4:57 PM, Tricia Crane <[email protected]> wrote:
<image.png>tr
This is the sign that is at issue in Tuesday's City Council agenda 16.B. It's posted on the front of the Third Street Promenade shop owned by John Alle, a founding board member of the Santa Monica Coalition.
https://thesantamonicacoalition.org/
Dear Northeast Neighbors and friends,
Below is the full text of Councilmember Item 16.B on this Tuesday’s City Council Agenda (6/25) and some of the questions it has generated from concerned community members. Also posted here is the response to 16.B from Santa Monica Coalition founding members John Alle and Jessica Rogers. The Coalition directly challenges the City, presenting links to "joint statements" released by County of Los Angeles Public Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
6 Health and the City of Santa Monica about the "harm reduction" needle distribution program in our city.

Tricia
<image.png>
##
https://santamonicacityca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1404

Questions from community members about 16.B:

1. How is the sign “false”?

2. How is a sign placed by the owner of a local business on his own storefront on the 3rd Street Promenade “counter to the public interest”?

3. Does the City Manager have a stated position on the County needle distribution program?

4. Does the Council have a stated position on the County needle distribution program?

5. Do the three Councilmembers promoting 16.D take the same position on the needle distribution program, i.e. that it serves as "harm reduction"? Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
7 6. Has the City Council as an entity voted to support needle distribution in Santa Monica?

We have attached a selection of emails between City Manager David White and Dr.

To start, on May 26, 2023, David White forwarded an email from the Santa Monica Coalition to Gary Tsai. In that email, the Santa Monica Coalition was addressing a timeline of events regarding the discovery of the Needle and Glass Pipe Distribution program and the involvement of the City of Santa Monica. We included that email Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
8 because it was in direct response to that email that Tsai and White decided they would co-author a joint statement to be released to the public. Their desire was to gain more support from the public and counter any potential negative impact caused by the information that was shared by The Santa Monica Coalition.

The second email from Gary Tsai to David White on May 28, 2023 discusses the process of writing the statement with an invitation to use Santa Monica letterhead for the statement.

Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
9 Link to the Original LADPH - City of Santa Monica Joint Statement June 2023:
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/sapc/docs/public/overdose-prevention/DPH-SantaMonica-Harm-Reduction-Joint-Statement.pdf?hb Link to the Revised LADPH - City of Santa Monica Statement February 2024 (notice City of Santa Monica logo disappears):
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/sapc/docs/public/overdose-prevention/DPH-Statementon-Harm-Reduction-Services-in-Santa-Monica-City.pdf June 9, 2023 - Link to the Patch Article on the City of Santa Monica and LA County Department of Public Health Joint Statement over the Harm Reduction Program in Santa Monica:
https://patch.com/california/santamonica/city-responds-concerns-controversial-harmreduction-services?utm_source=sharedemail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=share We hope these city and county documents, that you all have access to, end this conversation for good. Regardless of your actions in the next City Council meeting, The Santa Monica Coalition has no intention of removing its messaging. Rather than attacking free speech, the City should focus on restoring safety in our streets.

Respectfully,
Jessica Rogers
John Alle
Santa Monica Coalition Co-Founders
<City of SM and LADPH response to TSMC.jpg><G Tsai Joint Statement Signatures.jpg><SM Logo for LADPH.jpg><City of SM and LADPH Joint Statement Collaboration.jpg><June 7 2023 Joint Statement City of SM and LADPH.pdf> Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
10 David Yakobson
From: Lynn Miller <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 7:21 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Cc: David White
Subject: Opposition to June 25 2024 Santa Monica Council Meeting Agenda Item 16 B

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council,
Your agenda item 16B ignores the crux of the issue: Santa Monica facilitates the distribution of needles and pipes for drug use in public parks and spaces. End of story. It’s inconsequential whether it’s the City Council that approves this policy or the City Manager; the true fact is that the drug paraphernalia distribution is condoned by the City of Santa Monica governing bodies.

Maybe your resolution should ask for the City Manager to be taken off, but the rest of it is true. But if you don’t want to hear it from residents or the Coaltion, here are two Trip Advisor reviews of Santa Monica:

Quest10789530418
1 contribution
0 Disgusting
Jun 2024 • Friends
There are cracked out homeless people everywhere and I felt very unsafe. People were sleeping in the middle of the sidewalks, swatting at imaginary bugs, harassing people for money, and even saw a lady taking a dump in the middle of the sidewalk. We drove down south to Huntington Beach and it was MUCH nicer.

Written June 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
11 koebe
Edmonton, Canada105 contributions
1 Disappointed
Apr 2024 • Family
Did not feel safe here. Lots of homeless and high/drunk. Did not feel safe to walk on my own. One evening a fight broke out and 6 cop cars came. Garbage all the way along the beach.

Forcibly removing these signs will do nothing for your economic recovery goal. They will, however, at least point out that there is a problem and people are finally speaking up.

Sincerely,
Lynn Miller
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
12 David Yakobson
From: Dan Charn. <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 5:35 PM
To: councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Cc: David White; [email protected]
Subject: Item 16.B OPPOSE IN A BIG WAY

EXTERNAL
Esteemed Council,

With all due respect, this is censorship no matter the spin, and definitely a violation of First Amendment rights..no getting around that one.

It is not a secret that you, our esteemed City Council recently voted to end these programs in the parks and outdoor public spaces, yet they are still going on. Our CM - David White appears to be enabling this. He recently attended an online community meeting when our very much liked Chief Bautista was a guest. I believe it is just to intimidate him from telling the truth about this, why we do not have more officers, as well as other issues. Not hiring more officers is not so much due to budget deficits as we are repeatedly told. He has no problem spending money to hire other staff. He does not listen to us the residents about our repeated need for safety, but
rather caters to the servicing of the ruling developers and tech companies.

I am sorry, but there is no way this is okay ..what is holding back the health of our downtown is not a sign that points out the obvious, it is our leaders refusal to do what is necessary to protect the safety and ambiance of the area. Taking the sign down will not stop anyone Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
13 from seeing it..it is all over. Will you tell us that we cannot trust our lying eyes?

To pass this neo- fascist Item is to invite a lawsuit from not only local individuals, but I bet the ACLU will be inspired to do so as well. So, then we can waste more money hiring more lawyers or spend big $$$ farming work out to more pet law firms. This is not a good idea. Find another way to fix the problems downtown and that sign will come down .. no one would love to remove it more than those who installed it. Until this sign went up and the Coalition sued the City- it a lot of talk, money wasted and unaccounted for while not much was done to change things and address this problem. It seems to take a lawsuit to get anything done here. I believe that is by design. Ignoring us until we give up.

Danielle Charney
Resident Since Fool's Day of 1982
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
14 David Yakobson
From: Jonathan Upham <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 5:26 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Santa Monica City Council Item 16B

EXTERNAL
Hello,
As a business owner and tax payer of Santa Monica, I believe you should take item 16b off the agenda and preserve our First Amendment rights. I also believe that the "free needle and meth pipe" program should not be conducted in public spaces like Reed Park. In the words of former Mayor Sue Himmelrich, we need to "immediately [move] this program to a service rich environment (preferably indoors) where individuals in need of substance abuse, mental health, and other services can coordinate and work directly with service providers.”
From,
Jonathan Upham
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
15 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 5:23 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Item 16.B

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council,
While I agree with the idea the sign is probably harming the economic recovery of the mall, I think the city manager has other options if the information stated is true. He can file with the courts to have the sign taken down by some means of a restraining order or injunction. I am not sure what the particular procedure in CA.

Also rather than give the city the power to limit free speech, if the information is materially false and harmful as stated, then he should be able to sue for defamation of character.

Thanks.. Hope you consider these better options before challenging free speech rights which will likely end up in an expensive protracted legal case.

Joe DiRosa

16.B. Request of Mayor Brock, Vice Mayor Negrete, and Councilmember Davis that the City Council direct the City Attorney to prepare a resolution for Council consideration that recites that, while the City of Santa Monica is respectful of everyone’s First Amendment rights to free speech, in some instances harm can come from expression that is false and/or counter to the public interest. The resolution should reflect the Council’s disapproval of signs placed upon a building along the 3rd Street Promenade that falsely state that the City Manager approves of the County’s “free needle and meth pipe” program, as in fact the program is implemented by a contractor of Los Angeles County pursuant to state law, and the City Council and City Manager play no role in authorizing the program. Further, to the extent that there is City policy on the program, the City Council is the source of any such City policy on the subject, not the City Manager. Finally, the signs also may be counter-productive to the community’s stated goal of economic recovery as they may deter people from visiting and shopping in Santa Monica at a time when the City’s retail, travel, and entertainment businesse Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
16 Joe DiRosa
Founder, CEO | Seedlings Inc.

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M: (310) 770-5171
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A: Seedlings.vc
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Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: kim, sb <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 3:44 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; David White
Subject: Opposition to June 25 2024 Santa Monica Council Meeting Agenda Item 16 B

EXTERNAL
Dear Council members and city mgr,
I strongly appose to the Needle and Meth Pipe Distribution Program in the parks.

Seungbum Kim
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Peter SteenOlsen <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 3:53 PM
To: councilmtgitems; councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Cc: David White
Subject: Opposition to June 25 2024 Santa Monica Council Meeting Agenda Item 16 B

EXTERNAL
Dear Elected Representatives,
Your actions would be a fine example of adding insult to injury if this matter were only a schoolyard disagreement - but this is not.

This blatant attempt to intimidate, silence and defame a group of local and vocal residents to promote a poisonous agenda and support the spread of the disease that is addiction should cease and desist forth with. Wrongthink can not be codified into a crime or misdemeanor by your bureaucratic agreement.

Human rights and freedom of speech are the foundation of any democratic republic. Any elected official serving to advance the self interests and misguided dictates of overpaid outside bureaucrats that cause lasting damage by harming and killing this city’s constituents is shameful and unconstitutional. The community at large is not only aware that your bought and paid for “City Attorney” may charge thousands of dollars to parse the term “woman” or question what the definition of “is” is, but if you as a group succeed in your vain attempt to pass this silencing law that said law firm can potentially reap millions in fees defending such a disgraceful act.

I would advise you to consult additional legal counsel.

Finally, in trying to silence your political opponents you most certainly will soon suffer from the Streisand effect.

Withdraw this motion and stop supporting the institutional spreading of death and disease.

Kind Regards,
Peter J. SteenOlsen
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: InHavenPro <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 1:41 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Subject: No to needles and drugs in public spaces!!
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Completed

EXTERNAL
Dear SM City personnel,
I am writing in support of the Santa Monica Coalition, to express my grave concern in regards to the distribution of needles and drugs in parks and public spaces around town.

This absolutely needs to stop in order to shield our community from all sorts of atrocious outcomes directly related to these issues.

Best Regards,

FILIP KOJIC
Estate Security Advisor
c: 424.537.9048
e: [email protected]
This e-mail, including any attachments, may include confidential and/or proprietary information, and may be used only by the person or entity to which it is addressed. The reader, or his/her authorized agent, is hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by replying to this message and delete this e-mail immediately.

Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Spencer <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 2:16 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda items

EXTERNAL
Hi,
I’m a local resident living off Arizona St, please put an end to agenda item 16B.

Thank you
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
2 David Yakobson
From: Jeanne Laurie <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 1:35 PM
To: Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; councilmtgitems; Phil Brock
Cc: David White
Subject: Item 16 B

EXTERNAL
This is America. Freedom of Speech
Even if you don't like what someone is saying, doesn't mean you trample on 1st amendment rights.

If you don't like what someone is saying, prove that the statement is false. You don't shoot the messenger.

This country is already turning into a fascist country. Don't contribute to the fascism.

Jeanne Laurie
Sunset Park
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
3 David Yakobson
From: Cathie Lamm <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 1:23 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Opposition to June 25 2024 Santa Monica Council Meeting Agenda Item 16 B

EXTERNAL
Hi.

We all know how much you are despised by the tax paying, law abiding community here in Santa Monica, the city you have intentionally destroyed.

If you move forward by blocking our first amendment right to do what is correct and necessary, you will be further devastating this once livable city, which has become a dangerous garbage dump.

Somehow please find your conscience in your blackened souls which has been fueled by greed and monstrosity.

C a t h i e L y n n L a m m
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
4 David Yakobson
From: Ellen Sevy <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 1:12 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Cc: David White
Subject: Re 16B

EXTERNAL
I am for 16B. I dont want needles and drugs distributed in our parks, beaches, streets sanctioned by the city or Barbara Ferrer.

We who live here are desperate for out city to die safe and cleaned up. many places have recovered and vibrant shopping districts in California.

The only way to get people off the street and well is stop their drug addiction first.

Thank you
Ellen Sevy
Homeowner Santa Monica
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
5 David Yakobson
From: Sara Rashka Heidingsfeld <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 1:04 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; David White; Jesse Zwick
Subject: OPPOSITION TO ITEM 16B

EXTERNAL
City manager White has misrepresented the residents for too long.

Instead of doing his job as a public servant, he has acted in his own best interest.

Please remove or oppose this bill
Sincerely
Sara h
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
6 David Yakobson
From: CHAIM AARON LEVIN <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 12:52 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Subject: 16B Agenda item

EXTERNAL
I oppose the proposed council resolution and support everyone's First Amendment Rights to let the public know who in government supports the needle give away programs in our city. I am not against needle give away programs. I am against them out in the open. If an addict wants a clean needle, they should have to go to a city office inside a city building to obtain it.

C Levin
703 18th Street, S Monica, CA 90402
Tel (310)394-2600 Fax (310)319-2061

This message may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient (or authorized to act on behalf of the intended recipient) of this message, you may not disclose, forward, distribute, copy, or use this message or its contents. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by return e-mail and delete the original message from your e-mail system.

Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
Item 16-B
June 25, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Ann Maggio <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 7:20 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: June 25 2024 City Council Agenda 16B item - KILL IT FOR GOOD and make Staff Accountable for LYING to the PUBLIC

EXTERNAL
Shame, Shame, Shame on our City Staff and Council who promote lies to cover up INTENTIONALLY TERRORIZING the community with a FAKE and UNPROVEN, NON_DATA DRIVEN KILLER DRUG ENABLING PROGRAM in order to RELOCATE the communities by FORCING US TO MOVE! Shame on you, GLEAM DAVIS & PHIL BROCK for failing to read the proof the deception found in the FIOA documents and the LEGALLY BINDING, decades old ENFORCEABLE AGREEMENT between the City of Santa Monica and the LACDPH which clearly PREVENTED your chosen City Manager from conspiring and collaborating with the County in order to SUBJECT the CITIZENRY to the SHAM PROGRAM - an open air deadly drug den - ABSENT ALL PUBLIC PROCESS.

This is another fine example which illustrates Santa Monica's MOCKERY OF DEMOCRACY! You are both ridiculous and reckless! Each of you will be held personally liable if something happens to me, my family, or anyone else we know as a result of your prolonged arrogance and ill will against the residents.

Please pull the item and bury it SIX FEET DEEP while simultaneously adding an item to the agenda that upholds our City's agreement with the LACDPH and require pulling the plug on their hoax unless and until we the people have a fully vetted public process that includes proof positive that Meth and Fentanyl addicts lives are improving from it because the county's only data is decades old and based on far less deadly drugs.

Sincerely,
Ann Thanawalla
"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth." - Albert Einstein Item 16-B
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4 David Yakobson
From: Houman Hemmati <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2024 4:45 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Ellen Goldstein; David White; Gleam Davis; Jesse Zwick; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis Cc: Ben Pouladian
Subject: Council Item 16B: Anti Free Speech Resolution

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Brock, Vice Mayor Negrete, and esteemed, honorable members of the Santa Monica City Council,
Many of us, locally and nationally, are appalled that an unconstitutional resolution directly violating the free speech of a citizen is on your upcoming agenda.

Below is a message I sent to local residents and want you to read it. You will badly regret putting this on the agenda. It is made an even greater mockery of your entire body, as well as your alleged leader ship.

By trying to shoot the messenger rather than acknowledging that he is actually right and addressing your failures and asking for help, you were attacking the person who is pointing out The problems that you have caused. You do understand that, correct?
People who visit the promenade are not offended by the sign, they are offended by the smell of urine, by the homeless people attacking them and sleeping in front of stores, and by witnessing smash and grab robberies happening right before their eyes with zero police presence and response. They are offended by open air drug use, by the fact that there’s no place to sit because the homeless or occupying every seat on the promenade.

Here’s my post: The City Council’s Proposed Resolution: A Masterclass in Hypocrisy and First Amendment Violation
Ladies and gentlemen of Santa Monica, let’s talk about the latest farce being peddled by our City Council. On June 25, 2024, Mayor Brock, Vice Mayor Negrete, and Councilmember Davis want to pass a resolution to “disapprove” of signs on the 3rd Street Promenade. These signs, placed by a concerned local business owner, John Alle, and The Santa Monica Coalition, dare to speak the truth about our city’s mismanagement.

The signs claim that our City Manager approves of the County’s “free needle and meth pipe” program.

Oh, the horror! How dare someone tell it like it is? The city wants to argue semantics and technicalities instead of addressing the real issues plaguing our community. They are not just being dishonest; they are attempting to violate the First Amendment by stifling free political speech.

Let’s get real here. While they claim to support free speech, their actions speak louder. They are trying to silence a resident who has seen people dying in our streets and parks, victims of the city’s inaction. This resident has also seen his business destroyed, looted, and vandalized. The City Council wants to muzzle Item 16-B
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2 Let’s get real here. While they claim to support free speech, their actions speak louder. They are trying to silence a resident who has seen people dying in our streets and parks, victims of the city’s inaction. This resident has also seen his business destroyed, looted, and vandalized. The City Council wants to muzzle him instead of dealing with the rampant crime, homelessness, and drug distribution happening under their watch.

Rather than attacking free speech, the city should be addressing these material issues. The truth is that drug paraphernalia is being illegally and harmfully distributed to addicts who should be in mandatory rehabilitation. The city refuses to deploy sufficient police or instruct them to arrest and charge criminals to the fullest extent of the law. This inaction has led to an epidemic of crime and homelessness, forcing countless businesses to shut down. Unlike neighboring cities that manage these issues effectively, Santa Monica is sinking into chaos.

This proposed resolution is a joke. It’s not the signs that are damaging our economic recovery—it’s the City Council’s lack of action. They should be condemning their own failures rather than trying to silence a resident who is holding them accountable.

Mayor Brock, Vice Mayor Negrete, Councilmember Davis, and City Manager White—here’s a thought:

Instead of drafting resolutions to stifle free speech, why not draft resolutions to increase police presence, enforce laws, and clean up our streets? Why not focus on the real issues that have turned Santa Monica into a haven for crime and homelessness?
Santa Monica residents, it’s time to stand up and demand accountability. Share this post if you believe in free speech and want real change in our city. Let’s show the City Council that we won’t be silenced, and we won’t let them off the hook for their failures.

I posted about this on X and my post has garnered a lot of attention: https://x.com/houmanhemmati/status/1804375636502552925?s=46 Why don’t you do the right thing and remove this from your agenda before it blows up even further in your own faces? This behavior is something directly from a communist dictatorship, and you are earning the name People’s Republic of Santa Monica or Soviet Monica, which many have called our blessed city. You should also issue a written apology to Mr. Alle and read it aloud at the next council meeting. If you don’t, you can sure as hell bet that video of your discussion and votes at the council meeting will become national news.

Censorship and bullying are NEVER correct. It’s worse when a man who has been physically and economically victimized by your beloved, drug-addicted “unhoused neighbors” points out the source of the problem yet he’s censored, bullied, and shamed by the government that was allegedly elected to represent the interests of the people.

On an unrelated note, you will soon be receiving another email from me relating to the proposed parcel tax measure. Let me be extremely clear: this parcel tax will not end up on the ballot. You will not move forward with this and you will withdraw this attempt to further taxes. You have not done anything to try to cut $10 million from the budget, which can easily be done. Has you tried and failed because it is impossible, I would say at least you can consider an additional tax. But in this case, given the fact that you have not even bothered considering a $10 million budget cut, it is absolutely inappropriate to tax the people in California, who are already the highest tax in the state to pay even more all due to your failures Item 16-B
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3 to control spending. I have spent the last month, not doing much work, but rather conducting an exhaustive analysis of your city budget, over 600 pages of it, line by line, and will soon be releasing a very feasible and detailed and equitable plan to cut the budget by at least $10 million. I urge you to pass my plan and it’s entirety and stop trying to text people more. My plan will require some cuts, but all of them will be to nonessential programs. My plan will call for us to outsource some city services that are currently performed at great expense by city staff, but we have no choice. At this point, you have a fiduciary duty to the citizens, to responsibly spend our money, not to treat us as an unlimited ATM, coming back to cash even more money out of us anytime you run out.

Again, I will be releasing that plan to you soon, as it is taking a long time for me to put it together and verify the numbers, and once I do, I will give you an opportunity to review and respond before making it public. It will be in a form that you could pretty much directly vote on it and implement the changes rapidly. you were forgetting that I, along with many other citizens, have business experience, and we have actual experience, unlike any of you, managing tends and hundreds of millions of dollars of other peoples money, and doing so responsibly. Why don’t you come to us for help rather than trying to do an amateur job and wasting more money? It is not a sign of weakness to ask for help, but rather it is a sign of strength. Use your own people. We are offering to volunteer our time to help you. We are not your enemies, we are friends. We’re on the same side.

Thank you,
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4 Houman
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9 David Yakobson
From: Peter DiChellis <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2024 2:15 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis
Subject: Council Item16B: Anti Free Speech Resolution

EXTERNAL
TO: City Council,
PUH-LEEZE!
We respect First Amendment rights to free speech . . . as long as such speech does not criticize a government official or policy? What is this, the Vladimir Putin resolution? STRONGLY OPPOSE.

Sincerely,
Peter DiChellis
Santa Monica
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1 David Yakobson
From: The Santa Monica Coalition <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 12:08 AM
To: Lana Negrete; [email protected]; Phil Brock; Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; [email protected]; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Christine Parra; Douglas Sloan; Clerk Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Ramon Batista Subject: June 25 2024 City Council Agenda 16B item
Attachments: City of SM and LADPH response to TSMC.jpg; G Tsai Joint Statement Signatures.jpg; SM Logo for LADPH.jpg; City of SM and LADPH Joint Statement Collaboration.jpg; June 7 2023 Joint Statement City of SM and LADPH.pdf

EXTERNAL
Dear Lana,
It was a great opportunity to run into you at a political function today. Per your request, we have taken the time to locate some key documents that will help you recognize the deep connections the City of Santa Monica developed with the Los Angeles Department of Public Health in planning joint efforts to collaborate with the LA County Harm Reduction Program operated by the Venice Family Clinic and other vendors.

We have attached a selection of emails between City Manager David White and Dr. Gary Tsai, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Harm Reduction Program Director, so that we can put to rest the accusations, made by city employees and city council members, that The Santa Monica Coalition and John Alle are making up stories in regards to City Manager David White and the City of Santa Monica's involvement and support of the Needle and Glass Pipe Distribution Program in Santa Monica.

To start, on May 26, 2023, David White forwarded an email from the Santa Monica Coalition to Gary Tsai.

In that email, the Santa Monica Coalition was addressing a timeline of events regarding the discovery of the Needle and Glass Pipe Distribution program and the involvement of the City of Santa Monica. We included that email because it was in direct response to that email that Tsai and White decided they would co-author a joint statement to be released to the public. Their desire was to gain more support from the public and counter any potential negative impact caused by the information that was shared by The Santa Monica Coalition.

The second email from Gary Tsai to David White on May 28, 2023 discusses the process of writing the statement with an invitation to use Santa Monica letterhead for the statement.

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2 The last email is from Gary Tsai to David White and "team". It is an invitation from Gary Tsai for David White to sign his name to the document alongside Barbara Ferrer. Tsai also suggested they bypass a press release to avoid "scrutiny/unwanted attention".

Link to the Original LADPH - City of Santa Monica Joint Statement June 2023:
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/sapc/docs/public/overdose-prevention/DPH-Santa-Monica-HarmReduction-Joint-Statement.pdf?hb Link to the Revised LADPH - City of Santa Monica Statement February 2024 (notice City of Santa Monica logo disappears):
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/sapc/docs/public/overdose-prevention/DPH-Statement-on-HarmReduction-Services-in-Santa-Monica-City.pdf June 9, 2023 - Link to the Patch Article on the City of Santa Monica and LA County Department of Public Health Joint Statement over the Harm Reduction Program in Santa Monica:
https://patch.com/california/santamonica/city-responds-concerns-controversial-harm-reduction-services?utm_source=sharedemail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=share We hope these city and county documents, that you all have access to, end this conversation for good. Regardless of your actions in the next City Council meeting, The Santa Monica Coalition has no intention of removing its messaging. Rather than attacking free speech, the City should focus on restoring safety in our streets.

Respectfully,
Jessica Rogers - 562 881 3047
John Alle - 310 990 7124
Santa Monica Coalition Co-Founders
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