Written Comments — Santa Monica City Council, August 27, 2024

1 David Yakobson
From: Cynthia Rose <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 2:11 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Gleam Davis; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; David White Cc: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: August 27th Agenda: Support items 10C-11A -- Opposed items 16F-16G Attachments: 2024-08 CC Agenda items- 10C-11A-16F-16G.pdf

EXTERNAL
Please see the attached letter in support of Agenda Items 10C and 11A and in opposition to Agenda Items 16F and 16G.

Cynthia Rose Cris Gutierrez and Anya Baroff
--
Cynthia Rose
Co-Chair
Santa Monica Safe Streets Alliance
SaMoSafeStreets.org
I acknowledge with respect and gratitude the Tongva, Kizh, and Chumash Peoples on whose traditional territory I live and work.

Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024

August 27, 2024
RE: Agenda Items: 10C, 11A, 16F, 16G
Dear Mayor and City Council Members:

Santa Monica Safe Streets Alliance and community human rights advocate are writing in support of Agenda Items 10C and 11A and in opposition to Agenda Items 16F and 16G.

Support — Agenda Item 10C:

We support this common sense, ethical and accountable approach to preventing the appearance of bias with the acceptance of gratuities by our public officials. Also of concern is public officials awarding gratuities to special interests.

Support – Agenda item 11A:

Our Santa Monica values and priorities for a safe and clean community and robust economic recovery cannot be realized without a humane approach to provide more affordable homes. It is not only our civic and moral duty but the law. How else could anyone really expect to help solve the affordability and unhoused problems? We ask that you stay the course and continue to thoughtfully and expeditiously move these projects forward and not allow them to be undermined by a few loud and privileged voices. Santa Monica needs your thoughtful and steadfast leadership.

Oppose – Agenda item 16F:

We cannot solve our problems - in fact we create more grave problems - by ignoring the solutions to and needed compassion for those in crisis and in need. It is proven that to get our vulnerable population the help they need - we must meet them where they are. We must not vilify humans in crisis and deny them the very services they must have to survive and lift themselves out of homelessness and addiction. That is the essence of what we hope to live up to in Santa Monica – to be a compassionate and mature community.

Oppose - Agenda item 16G
As expressed in opposition to Agenda Item 16F: We cannot solve our problems - in fact we create more grave problems - by ignoring the solutions to and needed compassion for those in crisis and in need. It is proven that to get our vulnerable population the help they need - we must meet them where they are. We must not vilify humans in crisis and deny them the very services they must have to survive and lift themselves out of homelessness and addiction. That is the essence of what we hope to live up to in Santa Monica – to be a compassionate and mature community. We ALL need to do our part to support those in need – not kick them or the issue down the road or across city lines.

Sincerely,
Cynthia Rose Cris Gutierrez
Co-Chair, Santa Monica Safe Street Alliance Co-Chair, Santa Monica Safe Streets Alliance SaMoSafeStreets.org
Community Human Rights Advocate
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Daphne Dennis <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 5:14 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Council Mailbox
Subject: Opposition to items 10 D, 16G, and 16J

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council members,
I urge you to reject items 10D, 16G and J on this evening’s agenda. As a 50-year resident of the City, a member of the City’s 1984-85 Homeless Task Force, and a social services professional, I am very aware of the many challenges in the fight to end homelessness. I find the proposed measures ill-advised because they are not solution-oriented and they are heartless. Please support the programs we know are working and build the housing with services we know provides safety and security for both people who were formerly unhoused, and their resident and business neighbors.

Respectfully,
Daphne Dennis
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
2 David Yakobson
From: Laura Joy <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 4:37 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 10D, 16G, and 16J: OPPOSED

All three of these proposals run counter to every evidence-based best practice for solving homelessness and will without a doubt make our current crisis worse. And yet most stunning of all is the sheer cruelty of what is being proposed. To simultaneously deny an unhoused person a blanket and an alternative place to sleep is both mean and absurd.

Re: Item 10D, Santa Monica already has an anti-camping ordinance, as well as laws against sitting, lying, and sleeping in doorways, sidewalks, parks, and countless other places. Making it illegal for unhoused people to use a blanket or pillow will not make them disappear. It will simply expose desperate people with nowhere to go to even more inhumane conditions, further jeopardizing their health and safety and quite possibly their lives, as more unhoused people die from cold weather in Los Angeles each year than in New York City.

Re: Item 16G, harm reduction programs are evidence-based best practices that have been continually proven to prevent fatal overdoses, curb the spread of infectious disease, reduce costly ER visits, and connect people to substance-use treatment options. Proposals to eliminate these programs in Santa Monica would lead to more preventable deaths and less opportunities for people to get clean – and, as it stands, state law and County Department of Public Health policies supersede our local powers, thereby rendering this request illegal and unenforceable.

Re: Item 16J, removing all the permanent supportive housing (PSH) from the proposed affordable housing project on city-owned surface parking lots off Wilshire would senselessly deny the housing we so desperately need to get people off our streets. In addition, it will jeopardize the financial viability of the entire project, as competitive state funding for affordable housing strongly prioritizes proposals that include supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals.

I have always trusted that Santa Monica was a compassionate, humane city that believed in science and reason and treated everyone with dignity and respect. Please do not give in to the loudest and most hateful voices in our community. Instead, withdraw these cruel and counterproductive proposals and do what is best for our city.

Laura Joy, 90405
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
3 David Yakobson
From: John Given <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 4:19 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda Items 10D, 16G and 16J

In addition, it will jeopardize the financial
viability of the entire project, as competitive
state funding for affordable housing strongly
prioritizes proposals that include supportive
housing for formerly homeless individuals.

Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
4 I have always trusted that Santa Monica was a
compassionate, humane city that believed in
science and reason and treated everyone with
dignity and respect. Please do not give in to the
loudest and most hateful voices in our
community. Instead, withdraw these cruel and
counterproductive proposals and do what is
best for our city.

John Given
90405

JOHN GIVEN
[email protected]
310-430-1018
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
5 David Yakobson
From: AlanToy <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 2:36 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre Subject: Items 10D, 16G, and 16J: OPPOSED

And yet most stunning of all is the sheer cruelty of what is being proposed. To simultaneously deny an unhoused
person a blanket and an alternative place to sleep is both mean and absurd.Re: Item 10D, Santa Monica already has
an anti-camping ordinance, as well as laws against sitting, lying, and sleeping in doorways, sidewalks, parks, and
countless other places.

Making it illegal for unhoused people to use a blanket or pillow will not make them disappear. It will simply expose desperate people with nowhere to go to even more
inhumane conditions, further jeopardizing their health and safety and quite possibly their lives, as more unhoused Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
6 people die from cold weather in Los Angeles each year than in New York City.

Re: Item 16G, harm reduction programs are evidencebased best practices that have been continually proven to prevent fatal overdoses, curb the spread of infectious
disease, reduce costly ER visits, and connect people to substance-use treatment options. Proposals to eliminate these programs in Santa Monica would lead to more
preventable deaths and less opportunities for people to get clean – and, as it stands, state law and County Department of Public Health policies supersede our local powers,
thereby rendering this request illegal and unenforceable.

Re: Item 16J, removing all the permanent supportive
housing (PSH) from the proposed affordable housing
project on city-owned surface parking lots off Wilshire would senselessly deny the housing we so desperately
need to get people off our streets. In addition, it will jeopardize the financial viability of the entire project, as competitive state funding for affordable housing strongly prioritizes proposals that include supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals.

I have always trusted that Santa Monica was a
compassionate, humane city that believed in science and reason and treated everyone with dignity and respect.

Please do not give in to the loudest and most hateful voices in our community. Instead, withdraw these cruel and
counterproductive proposals and do what is best for our city.

Thank you,
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
7 Alan Toy
90402
Sent from my iPad
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
8 David Yakobson
From: Stephen <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 2:30 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre Subject: Items 10D, 16G, and 16J: OPPOSED

EXTERNAL
Re: Items 10D, 16G, and 16J: OPPOSED
Dear Santa Monica City Council,
I am a resident of Santa Monica for close to 50 years.

Re: Item 16J, removing all the permanent supportive housing (PSH) from the proposed affordable housing project on city-owned surface parking lots off Wilshire would senselessly deny the housing we so desperately need to get people off our streets. In addition, it will jeopardize the financial viability of the entire project, as competitive state funding for Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
9 affordable housing strongly prioritizes proposals that include supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals.

I have always trusted that Santa Monica was a compassionate, humane city that believed in science and reason and treated everyone with dignity and respect.

Please do not give in to the loudest and most hateful voices in our community. Instead, withdraw these cruel and counterproductive proposals and do what is best for our city.

Stephen Tarzynski, M.D.

Zip code: 90403
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
10 David Yakobson
From: Melissa Sweeney <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 2:22 PM
To: Council Mailbox; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Subject: 10D, 16G, and 16J - OPPOSED

EXTERNAL
Councilmembers:

I strongly oppose items, 10D, 16G and 16J.

These proposals would deny unhoused people basic human needs and block access to life-saving services.

The reasons for homelessness are varied – and very well understood. The three proposals disregard the data.

They devalue the work of nonprofits, social scientists, and local volunteers who have striven to develop longterm solutions from the data. 10D, 16G and 16J fail to acknowledge and address existing conditions that the unhoused are compelled to live with.

If I were a cynical member of the community, I might conclude that 10D, 16G and 16J constitute, in aggregate, a transparent, politically motivated effort to eliminate altogether the unhoused from our streets. I hope that is not the case.

In recent years, my local faith community has joined a westside nonprofit to conduct a homeless memorial service, at which the names of scores of unhoused people who have died in our community in the preceding year are read. Their respective hometowns and survivors, if known, have also been noted. The service presents a moving and tragic reality. It underscores the humanity of those who are forced to live – and too often pass away – in our city from lack of basic needs and services. 10D, 16G and 16J represent an affront to core values, faith-based and secular, that most Americans are raised to uphold. The solutions that
10D, 16G and 16J set forth are short-sighted and inhumane. It’s hard to imagine how these proposed measures accomplish anything but shift the unhoused to surrounding communities.

Solving the problem of homelessness is a long process. Impatience and impulsivity should never guide Council decisions. If anything, our City and community should double down on the good work that has already been done, and build upon the efforts we’re presently undertaking. Please shelve these items and work with residents and local businesses to develop additional solutions that track with our principles.

Melissa Sweeney
Santa Monica 90404
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
11 David Yakobson
From: Vivian Rothstein <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 2:14 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre Subject: Item 10D, 16G,and 16J: OPPOSED

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council,
I am a 40 year resident of Sunset Park who raised my children in this city and served as a member of the City Staff. For 10 years I served as Executive Director of the Ocean Park Community Center (now The People Concern) and learned what it takes to end homelessness in our community -- housing that is affordable and supportive services to maintain stability.

And yet most stunning of all is the sheer cruelty of what is being proposed. To simultaneously deny an unhoused person a blanket and an alternative place to sleep is both mean and absurd.

I have always trusted that Santa Monica was a compassionate, humane city that believed in science and reason and treated everyone with dignity and respect.

Please do not give in to the loudest and most hateful voices in our community. Instead, withdraw these cruel and counterproductive proposals and do what is best for our city.

Sincerely, Vivian Rothstein
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
12 David Yakobson
From: Laila Taslimi <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 12:03 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre Subject: Council Agenda items 10D, 16G, and 16J OPPOSED

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to Items 10D, 16G, and 16J, which would deny blankets to those sleeping on our streets, deny proven harm reduction and drug treatment strategies to those struggling to get clean, and deny housing opportunities to those ready to come inside.All three of these proposals run counter to every evidence-based best practice for solving homelessness and will without a doubt make our current crisis worse. And yet most stunning of all is the sheer cruelty of what is being proposed. To simultaneously deny an unhoused person a blanket and an alternative place to sleep is both mean and absurd.Re: Item 10D, Santa Monica already has an anti-camping ordinance, as well as laws against sitting, lying, and sleeping in doorways, sidewalks, parks, and countless other places. Making it illegal for unhoused people to use a blanket or pillow will not make them disappear. It will simply expose desperate people with nowhere to go to even more inhumane conditions, further jeopardizing their health and safety and quite possibly their lives, as more unhoused people die from cold weather in Los Angeles each year than in New York City.Re: Item 16G, harm reduction programs are evidence-based best practices that have been continually proven to prevent fatal overdoses, curb the spread of infectious disease, reduce costly ER visits, and connect people to substance-use treatment options. Proposals to eliminate these programs in Santa Monica would lead to more preventable deaths and less opportunities for people to get clean – and, as it stands, state law and County Department of Public Health policies supersede our local powers, thereby rendering this request illegal and unenforceable.Re: Item 16J, removing all the permanent supportive housing (PSH) from the proposed affordable housing project on city-owned surface parking lots off Wilshire would senselessly deny the housing we so desperately need to get people off our streets. In addition, it will jeopardize the financial viability of the entire project, as competitive state funding for affordable housing strongly prioritizes proposals that include supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals.I have always trusted that Santa Monica was a compassionate, humane city that believed in science and reason and treated everyone with dignity and respect.

Please do not give in to the loudest and most hateful voices in our community. Instead, withdraw these cruel and counterproductive proposals and do what is best for our city.

Sincerely,
Laila Taslimi
resident of 90402
from 긕긖긗긘긙긔긚
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Kyle Rebar <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 11:53 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre Subject: 16G: Opposing denying access to harm reduction services

EXTERNAL
Dear council,
I oppose item 16G. This item is targeting a program that has already been proven to save lives in our city. The needles exchange where issues had been known for years and attempting to take the solution away from the problem will not help anyone. It would cost lives. Please oppose item 16G and support harm reduction programs.

I'm shocked to see so many punitive items on the agenda. Santa Monica needs to do better. Have a heart and mind enough to support programs that are effective.

Kyle Rebar, 90405
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Kathleen Sheldon <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 11:53 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre Subject: Council items on homeless issues in Santa Monica

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council,
I have lived in Santa Monica since 1975, and have seen many attempts to deal with the tragedy of homelessness. The three items currently being raised are not solutions, but will add to the problem. We cannot treat people like this, but we do need some serious responses to make our city better for everyone who lives here.

Re: Item 16J, removing all the permanent supportive housing (PSH) from the proposed affordable housing project on cityowned surface parking lots off Wilshire would senselessly deny the housing we so desperately need to get people off our streets. In addition, it will jeopardize the financial viability of the entire project, as competitive state funding for affordable housing strongly prioritizes proposals that include supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals.

Instead, withdraw these cruel and counterproductive proposals and do what is best for our city.

Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Patricia Meyer <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 11:15 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre Subject: Fwd: IMPORTANT: Earlier emails to city council not sending due to Action Network error, please see details here for resending

EXTERNAL
Subject: Items 10D, 16G, and 16J: OPPOSED
Dear Santa Monica City Council,I am writing to express my strong opposition to Items 10D, 16G, and 16J, which would deny blankets to those sleeping on our streets, deny proven harm reduction and drug treatment strategies to those struggling to get clean, and deny housing opportunities to those ready to come inside.All three of these proposals run counter to every evidence-based best practice for solving homelessness and will without a doubt make our current crisis worse. And yet most stunning of all is the sheer cruelty of what is being proposed. To simultaneously deny an unhoused person a blanket and an alternative place to sleep is both mean and absurd.Re: Item 10D, Santa Monica already has an anti-camping ordinance, as well as laws against sitting, lying, and sleeping in doorways, sidewalks, parks, and countless other places. Making it illegal for unhoused people to use a blanket or pillow will not make them disappear. It will simply expose desperate people with nowhere to go to even more inhumane conditions, further jeopardizing their health and safety and quite possibly their lives, as more unhoused people die from cold weather in Los Angeles each year than in New York City.Re: Item 16G, harm reduction programs are evidence-based best practices that have been continually proven to prevent fatal overdoses, curb the spread of infectious disease, reduce costly ER visits, and connect people to substance-use treatment options. Proposals to eliminate these programs in Santa Monica would lead to more preventable deaths and less opportunities for people to get clean – and, as it stands, state law and County Department of Public Health policies supersede our local powers, thereby rendering this request illegal and unenforceable.Re: Item 16J, removing all the permanent supportive housing (PSH) from the proposed affordable housing project on city-owned Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
2 surface parking lots off Wilshire would senselessly deny the housing we so desperately need to get people off our streets. In addition, it will jeopardize the financial viability of the entire project, as competitive state funding for affordable housing strongly prioritizes proposals that include supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals.I have always trusted that Santa Monica was a compassionate, humane city that believed in science and reason and treated everyone with dignity and respect. Please do not give in to the loudest and most hateful voices in our community. Instead, withdraw these cruel and counterproductive proposals and do what is best for our city.

Sincerely,
Patricia K. Meyer
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Zack <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 11:09 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre Subject: Items 10D, 16G, and 16J: OPPOSED

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council,I am writing to express my strong opposition to Items 10D, 16G, and 16J, which would deny blankets to those sleeping on our streets, deny proven harm reduction and drug treatment strategies to those struggling to get clean, and deny housing opportunities to those ready to come inside.All three of these proposals run counter to every evidence-based best practice for solving homelessness and will without a doubt make our current crisis worse. And yet most stunning of all is the sheer cruelty of what is being proposed. To simultaneously deny an unhoused person a blanket and an alternative place to sleep is both mean and absurd.Re: Item 10D, Santa Monica already has an anti-camping ordinance, as well as laws against sitting, lying, and sleeping in doorways, sidewalks, parks, and countless other places. Making it illegal for unhoused people to use a blanket or pillow will not make them disappear. It will simply expose desperate people with nowhere to go to even more inhumane conditions, further jeopardizing their health and safety and quite possibly their lives, as more unhoused people die from cold weather in Los Angeles each year than in New York City.Re: Item 16G, harm reduction programs are evidence-based best practices that have been continually proven to prevent fatal overdoses, curb the spread of infectious disease, reduce costly ER visits, and connect people to substance-use treatment options. Proposals to eliminate these programs in Santa Monica would lead to more preventable deaths and less opportunities for people to get clean – and, as it stands, state law and County Department of Public Health policies supersede our local powers, thereby rendering this request illegal and unenforceable.Re: Item 16J, removing all the permanent supportive housing (PSH) from the proposed affordable housing project on city-owned surface parking lots off Wilshire would senselessly deny the housing we so desperately need to get people off our streets. In addition, it will jeopardize the financial viability of the entire project, as competitive state funding for affordable housing strongly prioritizes proposals that include supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals.I have always trusted that Santa Monica was a compassionate, humane city that believed in science and reason and treated everyone with dignity and respect. Please do not give in to the loudest and most hateful voices in our community. Instead, withdraw these cruel and counterproductive proposals and do what is best for our city.

Zachary Coil, LCSW
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Sent from my iPhone
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Anastasia Foster <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 11:03 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre Subject: Items 10D, 16G, and 16J: OPPOSED

EXTERNAL
I am opposed to these items. Please don't pass them.
--
Anastasia Foster
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
2 David Yakobson
From: Megan Kelly <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 11:14 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre Subject: Subject: Items 10D, 16G, and 16J: OPPOSED

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council,
Thank you for taking the time to read this email. I am a resident of Santa Monica, a mom, and a nonprofit professional. I care deeply about my neighborhood, city, and community. That's why I was particularly alarmed by some of this evening's agenda.

I am writing to express my strong opposition to Items 10D, 16G, and 16J, which would deny blankets to those sleeping on our streets, deny proven harm reduction and drug treatment strategies to those struggling to get clean, and deny housing opportunities to those ready to come inside.All three of these proposals run counter to every evidence-based best practice for solving homelessness and will without a doubt make our current crisis worse. And yet most stunning of all is the sheer cruelty of what is being proposed. To simultaneously deny an unhoused person a blanket and an alternative place to sleep is both mean and absurd.Re: Item 10D, Santa Monica already has an anti-camping ordinance, as well as laws against sitting, lying, and sleeping in doorways, sidewalks, parks, and countless other places. Making it illegal for unhoused people to use a blanket or pillow will not make them disappear. It will simply expose desperate people with nowhere to go to even more inhumane conditions, further jeopardizing their health and safety and quite possibly their lives, as more unhoused people die from cold weather in Los Angeles each year than in New York City.Re: Item 16G, harm reduction programs are evidence-based best practices that have been continually proven to prevent fatal overdoses, curb the spread of infectious disease, reduce costly ER visits, and connect people to substance-use treatment options. Proposals to eliminate these programs in Santa Monica would lead to more preventable deaths and less opportunities for people to get clean – and, as it stands, state law and County Department of Public Health policies supersede our local powers, thereby rendering this request illegal and unenforceable.Re: Item 16J, removing all the permanent supportive housing (PSH) from the proposed affordable housing project on city-owned surface parking lots off Wilshire would senselessly deny the housing we so desperately need to get people off our streets. In addition, it will jeopardize the financial viability of the entire project, as competitive state funding for affordable housing strongly prioritizes proposals that include supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals.I have always trusted that Santa Monica was a compassionate, humane city that believed in science and reason and treated everyone with dignity and respect. Please do not give in to the loudest and most hateful voices in our community. Instead, withdraw these cruel and counterproductive proposals and do what is best for our city.

My best,
Megan Kelly, 90405
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
3 David Yakobson
From: Santa Monica Forward <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 11:16 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre Subject: City Council Items 10D, 16G, and 16J:

EXTERNAL
To help
protect your
privacy,
Micro so ft
Office
prevented
auto matic
download of
this picture
from the
Internet.

Dear Santa Monica City Council,
We are writing to express our strong opposition to Items 10D, 16G, and 16J, which would deny blankets to those sleeping on our streets, deny proven harm reduction and drug treatment strategies to those struggling to get clean, and deny housing opportunities to those ready to come inside.All three of these proposals run counter to every evidence-based best practice for solving homelessness and will without a doubt make our current crisis worse. And yet most stunning of all is the sheer cruelty of what is being proposed. To simultaneously deny an unhoused person a blanket and an alternative place to sleep is both mean and absurd.

Re: Item 16G, harm reduction programs are evidence-based best practices that have been continually proven to prevent fatal overdoses, curb the spread of infectious disease, reduce Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
4 costly ER visits, and connect people to substance-use treatment options. Proposals to eliminate these programs in Santa Monica would lead to more preventable deaths and less opportunities for people to get clean – and, as it stands, state law and County Department of Public Health policies supersede our local powers, thereby rendering this request illegal and unenforceable.

Please do not give in to the loudest and most hateful voices in our community. Instead, withdraw these cruel and counterproductive proposals and do what is best for our city. - Santa Monica Forward
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
5 David Yakobson
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 11:31 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Items 10D, 16G, and 16J: OPPOSED
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
From: Dana Borowka <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 11:21 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 10D, 16G, and 16J: OPPOSED

Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
6 I have always trusted that Santa Monica was a compassionate, humane city that believed in science and reason and treated everyone with dignity and respect. Please do not give in to the loudest and most hateful voices in our community. Instead, withdraw these cruel and counterproductive proposals and do what is best for our city.

Dana and Ellen Borowka
90403
Have a great week!
Talk to you soon,
Dana
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Jason Mastbaum <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 10:27 AM
To: Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; Gleam Davis; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; councilmtgitems
Subject: City Council Items 10D, 16G, and 16J: OPPOSE
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Brock Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, and members of the Santa Monica City I am writing to express my strong opposition to Items 10D, 16G, and 16J, which would deny blankets to those sleeping on our streets, deny proven harm reduction and drug treatment strategies to those struggling to get clean, and deny housing opportunities to those ready to come inside.

I have always believed that Santa Monica was a compassionate, humane city that believed in science and reason and treated everyone with dignity and respect. Please do not give in to the loudest and most hateful voices in our community. Instead, withdraw these cruel and counterproductive proposals and do Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
2 what is best for our city.

Thank you.

Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
3 David Yakobson
From: Allon Percus <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 9:51 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: City Council Items 10D, 16G, and 16J: OPPOSE
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged

EXTERNAL
Council Comments ,
Dear Mayor Brock Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, and members of the Santa Monica City I am writing to express my strong opposition to Items 10D, 16G, and 16J, which would deny blankets to those sleeping on our streets, deny proven harm reduction and drug treatment strategies to those struggling to get clean, and deny housing opportunities to those ready to come inside.

Re: Item 16G, harm reduction programs are evidence-based best practices that have been continually proven to prevent fatal overdoses, curb the spread of infectious disease, reduce costly ER visits, and connect people to substance-use treatment options. Proposals to eliminate these programs in Santa Monica would lead to more preventable deaths and less opportunities for people to get clean – and, as it stands, state law and County Department of Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
4 Public Health policies supersede our local powers, thereby rendering this request illegal and unenforceable.

Thank you.

Allon
California
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Elizabeth Van Denburgh <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 8:01 AM
To: Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Oscar de la Torre; Gleam Davis; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis
Cc: councilmtgitems; David White; Susan Cline; Jenny Rogers Subject: City Council - 8/27/24 - Item 16.G - Eliminate drug and smoke material distribution in our parks - SUPPORT - Wilmont Board of Directors

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Brock, Mayor Pro Tem Negrete and City Council Members, Call to Action: Take the reasonable, common sense code amendments in Item 16.G and have Council direct the City Attorney’s office to review what’s proposed and to bring these and any needed amendments to create a “Clean and Safe Santa Monica” back to Council for a Council vote to amend within 30 days.

We also invite everyone to join Wilmont at our final Second Saturday music/outdoor movie event on Saturday September 14th at Reed Park for live music @ 6 pm and our outdoor movie (bring camp/beach chairs, picnics, blankets, jackets)-Monsters, Inc. @ 7ish. ________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________
The Wilshire Montana Neighborhood Coalition (Wilmont) Board of Directors supports Item 16.G by Councilmember de la Torre to provide reasonable and common sense efforts to move the distribution of addicts of free needles/syringes and free glass pipes for smoking methamphetamine out of our parks. We are focused in our neighborhood on the activity in Reed Park as well a Palisades Park.

Item 16.G addresses the following issues:
 Smoking is illegal in our parks
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
2  Allowing distribution of needles and smoking pipes in our parks is a public policy failure
 The County and the Venice Family Clinic are not in compliance with the requirements of the enabling State statute
The city needs to do whatever it can to relocate “harm reduction” programs from our parks to a secure location. We recommend under a tent in front of City Hall where support service providers can connect directly with addicts and where used needles can be more effectively reclaimed and recycled, but the new location can be wherever the county and the city agree upon and approved by Council in a public meeting that will not negatively impact the public and the community’s right to clean and safe public spaces.

One of the Council’s top five priorities for 2023-2025 is a “Clean and Safe Santa Monica” so taking action on this issue is consistent with what the Council has prioritized as a group that is most important for you to achieve.

To effect real change on this issue, the city’s municipal code needs to be amended and to be amended in such a way as to not violate the State’s enabling statute on harm reduction.

Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Caro Vilain <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, August 26, 2024 10:48 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre Subject: I oppose item 16G

EXTERNAL
Dear council,
I oppose item 16G. This item is targeting a program that has already been proven to save lives in our city and that is not controlled by our city anyways.

Please stop making us look like fools by coming up with these items.

Oppose item 16G.

Caro Vilain, 90404
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
2 David Yakobson
From: Dustin Shahan <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, August 26, 2024 9:11 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre Subject: 16G: oppose denying access to harm reduction

EXTERNAL
Hello council
Please oppose item 16G. Harm reduction is a known way to help combat this issue.

The city has no jurisdiction over county programs, what's the city manager even supposed to do if this passes?
Why is narcan the only exemption? "Naloxone" is made by other companies under other names, is that supposed to be prohibited? Pedantic I know, but this is written to somehow take immediate effect with no time to clarify it's actual intent to folks that might save lives.

How's the public supposed to provide meaningful input on some halfbaked item like this? Can we put some effort into effective governance and work with the county instead of throwing out laundry lists of talking points?
No thanks
Dustin Shahan
90401
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
3 David Yakobson
From: Jacob Wasserman <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, August 26, 2024 8:59 PM
To: Council Mailbox; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems
Subject: Item 16.G: Against Efforts to Undermine Harm Reduction Programs that Keep Our Parks Safe

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council,
As a Santa Monica resident, parent, and regular park user with my child, I support needle exchange harm reduction programs and thus oppose Item 16.G. Needle exchange saves lives, as supported by reams of scientific evidence. I also do not want to run into needles in the park, and it is for that exact reason that I support needle exchange programs. Please do not fight against these programs that support our city's most vulnerable.

Sincerely,
Jacob Wasserman
11th Street and Washington Avenue
90403
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
4 David Yakobson
From: Dan Charn. <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, August 26, 2024 7:24 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; David White Subject: Agenda Item 16-F & G

EXTERNAL
JUST DO IT......STAND UP FOR RESIDENTS - STOP MAKING NICE WITH THE COUNTY ..NO MORE GAMES, DEALS OR BRIBES ..

YES TO THIS:
"Eliminate the distribution by the County or any County-affiliated, non County-affiliated, third party, and/or independent private entity, of all drug paraphernalia and equipment, including but not limited to any and all drugs, opioids, needles, syringes, glass pipes, straws, rolling paper, miniature spoons, etc., in our parks, other City-owned spaces and anywhere closer than 1,000 feet away from any school, other educational facility, church, senior center or senior living facility, YMCA/YWCA, or Boys and Girls Clubs. The only exception would be Narcan, which can help revive someone who is unresponsive. The terms of this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon passage." GET CONTROL OF OUR CITY - TAKE IT BACK FROM THE COUNTY..

STOP SELLING US OUT TO THEM - AND TO WAYMO, BITCOIN, COCO AND EVERY PEDDLER THAT COMES TO TOWN..

JUST STOP IT

DANIELLE CHARNEY
Yes I am yelling
so tired of the terrible inept leadership of this City
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
5 and the overpaid people who only think about their own coffers and pensions

THINK OF THE RESIDENTS
------------------------------------------------------- Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Christine Romero McCoy <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 6:14 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Narcan at Reed park

EXTERNAL
Hello City Council,
Im writing to you all because I am so exhausted and outraged with the drug problem and homeless crisis we hare having in Santa Monica. LA county’s needle and pipe distribution program is making the problem significantly worse! So many times I remember the days of walking through Reed Park and having a picnic or listening to a concert there. I walked through there last Wednesday after years of avoiding it and I saw the Venice Family Clinic van there, employees on their phones in the van and a group of homeless folks grouped together about 15 feet away huddled together. The area was dirty and the folks were disoriented and incoherent. Behind them I see trash and Narcan boxes!
This is wrong on so many levels! This is just enabling folks to keep doing drugs. I will not vote for this in November. I will not re-elect any present SM City council members or LA county rep Horvath until these programs are out of our parks and in a medical rehab facility. This is Ferrer trying to appear concerned and compassionate. This is unethical and a cycle of violence and dependency that the City is enabling. If smoking is not even allowed in our parks, why are we tolerating lethal drugs? If parks are supposed to be closed at night, why isn’t SM police out there patrolling and enforcing folks to leave the park especially if they’re using drugs! Just like Manhattan Beach, Pacific Palisades and El Segundo, the citizens of SM should not accept “harm reduction” programs in their parks.

Thank you.

Christine Romero McCoy
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Noe Mendoza
Sent: Monday, August 26, 2024 7:05 PM
To: Council Mailbox; Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Gleam Davis; Christine Parra; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre
Cc: Clerk Mailbox; Santa Monica City Manager's Office; Micah Akerson; Jenny Rogers; David White; Steven Johnson; Andrew Gomez; Lori Brown; John Smith; Ann Bowman; Greg Morena; Maryanne LaGuardia
Subject: Re: Recreation and Parks Commission Letter for Council Meeting 8-27-24 Attachments: Letter Re Recreation & Parks Commission for Council Meeting 8-27-24.pdf Hello,
I hope you have all had a wonderful weekend.

I have attached to this email a letter from the Recreation and Parks Commission to City Council for their meeting on August 27, 2024.

Thank you.

Noe Mendoza
Staff Assistant III
santamonica.gov
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Subscribe to City of Santa Monica Email Updates
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 • (310) 458-8411 • [email protected] santamonica.gov • @cityofsantamonica • @santamonicacity Recreation and Parks Commission
August 26, 2024
Mayor Brock and City Council Members
City of Santa Monica
1685 Main Street,
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Re: Recreation & Parks Commission
In reference to Items 16.F and 16.G
Council Meeting Tuesday, August 27
https://santamonicacityca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1413 Esteemed Council Members,
Thank you for Council's continued robust discussion around the County Health Department's "Harm Reduction" programs in Santa Monica, including delivery of needles and "Safe Smoke Materials" by sub-contractors in three of our public parks.

At our Thursday, August 22, meeting of the Recreation & Parks Commission, the members present voted unanimously to once again reaffirm our objective of ending needle distribution at Reed, Tongva and Palisades Park. This is a repeat of past unanimous votes and previous letters to Council.

Additionally, we agreed that this and other paraphernalia hand-outs, such as glass smoking pipes, contribute to a practice of consumption "in place", and that the current program has been observed to support active, open-air drug use in our parks at all hours of the day and night, and in close proximity to children's play areas, community groups and recreation. This is not okay.

The Recreation & Parks Commission, under chair Lori Brown, sent its first letter to Council on the topic in June of 2022, asking specifically to remove what was then thought to be a needle exchange in Reed Park, and to relocate the program to existing brick-and-mortar facilities where related, supportive services are available.

Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 • (310) 458-8411 • [email protected] santamonica.gov • @cityofsantamonica • @santamonicacity As an attachment to the current Item 16.F, you also have the September 14, 2022, letter from Mayor Himmelrich to the County Board of Supervisors asking the County to immediately bring the program indoors and out of our City parks. As the Mayor wrote at the time, "roughly 70% of Santa Monicans are renters, our community relies on the City’s parks and open spaces as they do not have access to private open space."
In the two years since, as details of this furtive program came to be widely understood by our community, the County has not changed course, even as overdose deaths have steadily climbed in Santa Monica, and despite increased public outcry and subsequent Council motions.

Since that time, the Recreation & Parks Commission has continued to engage deeply with this issue as a key component of its advocacy for improved park safety.

On February 15, 2024, the Recreation & Parks Commission hosted Dr. Gary Tsai, who gave an in-person presentation and answered questions about the County’s “Harm Reduction” program. We appreciate the visit, since it was the first time a County spokesperson had appeared to answer questions about needle distribution in a public forum in Santa Monica.

There were several key facts that came to light, which bear repeating:

1. This is not a needle exchange program. There is no one-for-one exchange of needles. By the County's own metrics, many more needles are going into our parks than are coming out of our parks. The risk to children, pets and City staff is unacceptable.

2. There is no site-specific data tracking the success or failure of the program in Santa Monica. Statistics proffered around overdose reversals or service referrals are entirely unsubstantiated, and in multiple meetings, the County has admitted that their metrics are modeled or estimated.

3. The only other park location in ALL of Los Angeles County where the Health Department contracts an open-air distribution of needles and pipes is MacArthur Park in Los Angeles. No other city or neighborhood is being asked to share this burden in their parks in this way.

Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 • (310) 458-8411 • [email protected] santamonica.gov • @cityofsantamonica • @santamonicacity It's timely to mention that in this Sunday's 8/26 Los Angeles Times, columnist Steve Lopez writes about the unmitigated disaster that LA City and County policies at 35-acre MacArthur Park have meant to LA's Westlake neighborhood, the Los Angeles region's second-most dense neighborhood.

This award-winning journalist observed "a zombie-like scene of contorted people gathered in the northwest corner of the park, their bodies rigid from overdoses of fentanyl or other killer drugs."
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-08-24/column-langers-deliowner-is-starving-for-city-to-clean-up-macarthur-park-and-thinking-of-closing That apocalyptic vision could also regularly describe corners of our three Santa Monica parks, with just 5-acre Reed Park being the beating heart of Santa Monica's most dense neighborhood. A future Santa Monica with 9,000 more apartment units has only this to look forward to?
After the February 15 presentation by Dr. Tsai, there were several encouraging follow-up communications, but further efforts by our group to directly liaise with Dr. Tsai and his team on possible solutions were abruptly shut down in April.

Nevertheless, one or more of our commissioners have attended every public hearing the County has offered on the subject; though the meetings are usually announced at the last minute and with locations far out of our jurisdiction; including Van Nuys and Willowbrook. Questions submitted online mostly go unaddressed.

Questions posed in person are generally stone-walled or condescended to.

County officials seem visibly annoyed that Santa Monica people keep finding out about these meetings and attempt to participate.

Without hope that the County will alter course on their own, we ask once again that our City Council move to enhance our municipal codes and increase enforcement of already existing rules to not only bring an end to the distribution of drug paraphernalia in our parks, but also to actively remove repeat offenders of our city's existing no-smoking, anti-littering and anti-camping codes.

Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 • (310) 458-8411 • [email protected] santamonica.gov • @cityofsantamonica • @santamonicacity As you consider items that seek to address needle and meth pipe distribution in our parks, please consider first and foremost the harm that is being done to our community by failing County policies and inadequate and irregularly enforced City statutes.

As Parks Commissioners, it is our great sadness that Tongva has become a dangerous asylum; a no-go area for residents and tourists alike. Palisades Park, once our proudest park, is now a daily spectacle of flagrant lawlessness. But worst of all, Reed Park … with its proximity to a K-12 school and a senior living facility; and within the park, a children's playground, community meeting rooms and the soon to be reopened Miles Playhouse … Reed Park most of all is failing to meet the needs of its neighbors, and as a magnet for illegal and anti-social behavior, spills over crime and disruption throughout the surrounding residential community.

So lastly, we unfortunately leave you with this picture of someone smoking meth just a few feet away from the door of a community room at Reed Park. This is happening just as a Narcotics Anonymous group is about to start their weeknight meeting. There is no calculus in which folks earnestly trying to shake their addiction must be subjected to this behavior in the name of "Harm Reduction".

Councilmembers, please find agreement amongst yourselves and take action to make our parks and public spaces "safe and clean" for our entire community.

Recreation and Parks Commission
Steven Johnson, Chair
Andrew Gomez, Vice Chair
Ann Bowman
Lori Brown
Maryanne LaGuardia
Greg Morena
John C. Smith
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Ann Hoover <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, August 26, 2024 10:09 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; David White
Cc: Heather Averick; Susan Cline; Douglas Sloan; Susan Cola; Jenny Rogers; Ramon Batista; Matthew Hallock; Erika Aklufi; Steven Johnson; Andrew Gomez; John Smith; Lori Brown; Maryanne LaGuardia; Greg Morena
Subject: August 27, 2024 Council Meeting - Item 16.G - Eliminate drug and smoke material distribution in our parks - SUPPORT

EXTERNAL
Item 16.G - SUPPORT
Dear Mayor Brock, Vice Mayor Negrete, Mr. White, and Esteemed Councilmembers - I am one of the City's Recreation and Parks Commissioners but am writing just as a resident today. I truly respect and am deeply grateful to Councilmember De La Torre's continued reasonable and common sense efforts to move the distribution to addicts of free needles/syringes and free glass pipes for smoking methamphetamine out of our parks.
(1) Smoking is illegal in our parks. First, smoking of any combustible substance is illegal in Santa Monica's parks, parklets, at our beaches, and in many other public spaces detailed in Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 4.44.020. So to allow the distribution of smoking materials in places in our City where smoking is illegal makes no sense and effectively violates the law. Therefore, distribution of pipes for alleged "harm reduction" purposes needs to stop and be tolerated only in places where smoking is allowed, which is not in our parks.
(2) Allowing distribution of needles and smoking pipes in our parks is a public policy failure. Second, no one disputes the asserted benefits of "harm reduction" when conducted in a vacuum, but it's an abject failure of public policy when this type of program is allowed to operate in public parks, disenfranchising 1000s of residents (including seniors and children), visitors to our City, and businesses/employees, while deeply burdening our police, fire, emergency response teams, public landscape workers, and social service and outreach teams and also while deeply taxing the public purse to deal with problems the program creates.
(3) The County and the Venice Family Clinic are not in compliance with the requirements of the enabling State statute. Further, Dr. Gary Tsai in his presentation to the Recreation and Parks Commission earlier this year could not substantiate that the addicts in our parks are receiving referrals to support services like housing and drug/alcohol rehabilitation. On that metric alone, the County's "harm reduction" program is not in compliance with the enabling state statute - California Health and Safety Code Section 121349.

Our City needs to do whatever it can to relocate "harm reduction" programs from our parks to a secure location. I recommend under a tent in front of City Hall where support service providers can Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
2 connect directly with addicts and where used needles can be more effectively reclaimed and recycled, but the new location ultimately can be wherever the County and the City agree upon and approved by Council in a public meeting that will not negatively impact the public and the community's right to clean and safe public spaces.
"Clean and Safe Santa Monica" is one of Council's top 5 priorities for 2023-2025, so taking action in this regard is consistent with what you have said as a group is most important to you to achieve.

To effect real change on this issue, the City's municipal code needs to be amended and to be amended in such a way as to not violate the State's enabling statute on harm reduction.

So for your review and consideration below are proposed amendments to the municipal code that (1) make the County's operation of a "harm reduction" program in our jurisdiction more consistent with existing Santa Monica code and policies, and (2) clarify the City's position on where "harm reduction" programs may operate and where it is permissible in our City to distribute clean needles and "safe smoking" materials for "harm reduction" purposes.

These are reasonable, common sense code amendments and I hope Council tonight will direct the City Attorney's office to review what's proposed and to bring these amendments back to Council for a Council vote to amend within 30 days.

Thank you so much -
Ann Bowman
Resident, 28 years
Recreation and Parks Commissioner
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~
FOR REFERENCE - Santa Monica's Smoking prohibitions:
https://ecode360.com/42727715

ATTACHMENT A
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY CODE:

ADD the following new Section 4.44.020 (b) and re-letter the subsequent provisions as (c) through (f):
(b) Distribution of Smoking Materials for "harm reduction" purposes. No person or organization (public or private) may distribute smoking materials for "harm reduction" purposes in any of the Specific Locations where smoking is prohibited in our city as listed in Section (a), above, or in any other Cityowned or City-controlled spaces (unless such City space is not listed in Section (a) and is approved by a Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
3 vote of Council in a noticed public meeting with opportunity for public comment), or anywhere closer than 1,000 feet from any school, other educational facility, church, senior center or senior living facility, child care facility, YMCA/YWCA, or Boys and Girls Club. "Smoking Materials" include glass pipes, electronic smoking devices and all paraphernalia that enable smoking as defined in Section 4.44.010 (Definitions).

ADD NEW Code Section 4.95.010 REGULATION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA DISTRIBUTION as follows:
(a) Distribution of clean needles or other drug paraphernalia. No person or organization (public or private) may distribute clean needle(s) or other drug paraphernalia or equipment, including but not limited to any and all drugs, opioids, needles, syringes, glass pipes, straws, rolling paper, miniature spoons, etc. to any group or individual for the purpose of "harm reduction" as authorized by California Health and Safety Code Section 121349 within any of the "Specific Locations" listed in Section

4.44.020(a) of this Chapter or in any other City-owned or City-controlled spaces not listed in Section

4.44.020(a) (unless such City space is approved by a vote of Council in a noticed public meeting with opportunity for public comment) or anywhere closer than 1,000 feet from any school, other educational facility, church, senior center or senior living facility, child care facility, YMCA/YWCA, or Boys and Girls Club.
(b) Exception for Naloxone. The provisions of this Section 4.95.010 shall not apply to the distribution of naloxone for the purpose of reversing drug overdose.
(c) Enforcement and Penalties.
(1) Misdemeanor. A violation of this Section regarding locations for distribution of "harm reduction" materials is a misdemeanor and shall be punishable as follows: A fine of 50 dollars shall be issued for the first offense, one hundred dollars for the second offense occurring within one year of the first offense, two hundred dollars for the third offense occurring within one year of the second offense, and five hundred dollars for the fourth offense occurring within one year of the third offense. (2) Administrative Citation. Any person or organization (public or private) violating any provision of this Section also may be subject to administrative citation pursuant to Chapter 1.09 of this Code. (3) Organization Receiving City Funds. If any organization (public or private) or if a person representing, employed by or authorized by an organization receiving City funds commits a third offense under Subsection (c)(1), above, the organization shall be prohibited from receiving City funding for a period of one year following such third offense. Determination of such third offense is not appealable and such determination is within the sole discretion of the City and/or its authorized representatives. (4) Nonexclusive Remedies and Penalties. Penalties under this Section shall not preclude punishment pursuant to any provision of California's Health and Safety Code, pursuant to California Penal Code Section 374.4 (prohibiting littering on public property), and/or pursuant to any other law proscribing the act of drug paraphernalia distribution or proscribing the act of littering. Nothing in this Section shall Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
4 preclude any person from seeking any other remedies, penalties or procedures provided by law for actions addressed by this Section.

Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
5 David Yakobson
From: Peter DiChellis <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2024 2:28 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: ITEM 16 G DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

EXTERNAL
I strongly support this Item, and will be interested to note opposing arguments from those who favor distributing drugs, opioids, and glass pipes near schools and other sensitive locations.

Sincerely,
Peter DiChellis
Santa Monica
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2024 6:19 PM
To: Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; councilmtgitems; David White; Douglas Sloan Subject: Santa Monica City Council 16 Item *Eliminate Drug Paraphernalia in SM Parks/PublicTues Aug 27, 2024- Pls support- Thx:) Importance: High

EXTERNAL
I support Item 16 Aug 27, 2024:

Where a proposed Ordinance is going to clarify the specific language regarding the May 2024 Needle Distribution ordinance in our SM parks and public spaces.

Dear Council and City Attorneys..

Please support this item 16 Tuesday August 27, 2024
To make our SM Parks and Public Spaces Safer for our children, residents, tourists and help our businesses..

Needle distribution, pipes and all drug paraphernalia should be provided Only in medically supervised spaces…
Not in our Santa Monica parks and public spaces.. or any parks or public spaces..

Thank you for your support to make Santa Monica safer and cleaner! 28+ yr resident, business and homeowner.
"Eliminate the distribution by the County or any County-affiliated, non County-affiliated, third party, and/or independent private entity, of all drug paraphernalia and equipment, including but not limited to any and all drugs, opioids, needles, syringes, glass pipes, straws, rolling paper, miniature spoons, etc., in our parks, other City-owned spaces and anywhere closer than 1,000 feet away from any school, other educational facility, church, senior center or senior living facility, YMCA/YWCA, or Boys and Girls Clubs.

The only exception would be Narcan, which can help revive someone who is unresponsive. The terms of this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon passage." Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
2 David Yakobson
From: Alyssa G <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2024 7:10 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Oscar de la Torre; Phil Brock; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Christine Parra; Gleam Davis; Lana Negrete
Subject: Eliminate needle distribution - all drug paraphernalia 16 Agenda Item August 27

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council,
Please vote to eliminate the distribution of ALL drug paraphernalia of any kind in our city parks, public spaces, and near schools, senior facilities, and religious buildings. This is not the place to handle harm reduction, if such activities even actually reduce harm.

Parks should not have discarded needles or drug pipes in them. It is not safe. Nor are they places drug addicts should be encouraged to come. Drug addicts should be encouraged to go inside where services are available to them for health care and drug counseling. Their addiction should be addressed and not enabled.

Narcan is not a drug but is used to combat drug overdose. I do not oppose distribution of Narcan anywhere.

Alyssa Ganezer
9th Street
Santa Monica CA 90403
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: The Santa Monica Coalition <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2024 1:41 PM
To: The Santa Monica Coalition
Subject: Santa Monica City Council 16 Item Tuesday August 27, 2024

EXTERNAL
UPDATE:

Santa Monica City Councilmember Oscar de la Torre has enthusiastically agreed to sponsor the following proposed Ordinance intended to fill in the loopholes and remove ambiguity from a similar Ordinance that was passed in May regarding Needle Distribution in our parks and public spaces.

The language proposed (shown below) should remove loopholes that have been used by the Venice Family Clinic, the LA County Department of Public Health and other 'nonprofit' agencies to hand out glass pipes, needles and drug paraphernalia (with the exception of Narcan) in Santa Monica's parks and public spaces, and near schools, senior living facilities and boys and girls clubs.

The Santa Monica Coalition hopes that one or more Councilmembers co-sponsor the proposed Resolution. Regardless, Councilmember de la Torre has assured us he will sponsor it alone if need be, and the votes from the remaining 6 Councilmembers will provide a "yes or no" litmus test on their sincerity and resolve for a safer city.

Written letters of support should be sent to the City Clerk with a copy to Councilmembers, by next Tuesday August 27th, at 12 noon. In-person public comment is welcome, but the Item may not be heard until late evening or early morning. Email addresses are listed below.

We are counting on your support. Please reach out to the Council. Mayor Phil Brock has told us he reports to the County first, and second to residents. Vice Mayor Lana Negrete has told us she "doesn't want to push the County and Board of Supervisors too hard on this issue, because she and Council may lose funding and support for future 'pet' projects." So anticipate an interesting meeting.

The only exception would be Narcan, which can help revive someone who is unresponsive. The terms of this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon passage." ------------------------------------------------------- Dear Oscar,
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
2 Thanks for taking my call yesterday, and thanks for agreeing to propose a new 16 Agenda Item in the next City Council Meeting, scheduled for August 27, 2024.

Here is the proposed language:
"Eliminate the distribution by the County or any County-affiliated, non County-affiliated, third party, and/or independent private entity, of all drug paraphernalia and equipment, including but not limited to any and all drugs, opioids, needles, syringes, glass pipes, straws, rolling paper, miniature spoons, etc., in our parks, other City-owned spaces and anywhere closer than 1,000 feet away from any school, other educational facility, church, senior center or senior living facility, YMCA/YWCA, or Boys and Girls Clubs. The only exception would be Narcan, which can help revive someone who is unresponsive. The terms of this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon passage." Unfortunately, a copy of the prior resolution was modified by City Attorney Doug Sloan, and when passed, included only needles and syringes. The Venice Family Clinic quickly switched from distributing free needles and syringes to glass meth pipes. Venice Family Clinic employees stopped arriving in their marked van, and instead began using a white 4-door sedan to arrive and depart, and canvassed all areas of the parks asking those lying on the grassy areas or benches and tables, if they wanted supplies.

The current procedures and City's tolerance violate State law and place the the City of Santa Monica at great legal and financial risk.

Every resident, business owner and local needs to openly hear from every Councilmember during the next Council Meeting about whether he or she is in favor of needles, glass pipes and drug paraphernalia being distributed in our parks and/or curbside, or in a City or County-owned building where there are other services for transient junkies, or not at all.

The People Concern and Samoshel currently offer similar medical services in Downtown Santa Monica at 503 Olympic Blvd, and share other building facilities in Santa Monica with both the Venice Family Clinic and Clare Matrix non-profit agencies, where the Harm Reduction program could be moved immediately. Venice Family Clinic also owns a large underutilized 2-floor building facility in Santa Monica at 2509 Pico.

The Santa Monica Coalition and majority of residents are opposed to any outdoor and medical unsupervised distribution of needles, glass pipes and other types of drug-related paraphernalia, with the exception of Narcan.

The City Council's inattention to this matter has pushed the issue and voter outrage into the election season. This will be an easy 'litmus test" for the Mayor and Councilmembers - - More talk and no action? Clean and safe parks, or dangerous and dirty, junkie-filled parks? As soon as possible, please confirm receipt of this email, and that you will propose the 16 Agenda Item as written above.

Thanks for your time and all you do for Santa Monica, Oscar.

Respectfully,
John Alle
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
3 Cofounder, The Santa Monica Coalition
Phil Brock <[email protected]>, Christine Parra <[email protected]>, Lana Negrete <[email protected]>, Oscar de la Torre <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, Jesse Zwick <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, Cc: David White <[email protected]>, Doug Sloan <[email protected]>
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Gary Freedman <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2024 7:22 AM
To: [email protected]
Cc: Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; councilmtgitems; David White; Douglas Sloan Subject: Item 16 on August 27, 2024 City Council Meeting Agenda

EXTERNAL
To The City Council and City Clerk:

I request that you put this email in the City records and consider it in your deliberations.

My name is Gary Freedman. My wife and I have been residents of Santa Monica for just under 50 years. My wife grew up in Santa Monica. Her family lived in Santa Monica from the 1950s.

We raised our two children in Santa Monica. They attended Santa Monica public schools and Santa Monica programs in our parks.

Anyone who lives in Santa Monica knows that we have a "homelessness problem".

The Governor has given a directive to each City in California to dismantle homeless encampments. I certainly hope Santa Monica will follow this directive.

The Governor has stated that cities which do not follow the directive will be subject to reduced State funding.

I find it ironic that some of our City Council members are concerned about the loss of County funding if they vote for the proposed resolution quoted below, but are not taking decisive action to dismantle encampments.

Our parks were built for the citizens of Santa Monica to enjoy recreational activities and open space, not for distribution of drug paraphernalia. With all due respect, this program of distribution is a counter productive "solution" to a problem.

Either tackle the problem head on or don't. But, please do not exacerbate it by facilitating bad conduct.

I urge you to vote in favor of the below quoted resolution.

Sincerely,
Gary Freedman
533 9th Street
Santa Monica, CA
"Eliminate the distribution by the County or any County-affiliated, non County-affiliated, third party, and/or independent private entity, of all drug paraphernalia and equipment, including but not limited to any and all drugs, opioids, needles, syringes, glass pipes, straws, rolling paper, miniature spoons, etc., in our parks, other City-owned spaces and anywhere closer than 1,000 feet away from any school, other educational facility, church, senior center or senior living facility, YMCA/YWCA, or Boys and Girls Clubs.

Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
2 The only exception would be Narcan, which can help revive someone who is unresponsive. The terms of this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon passage." Item 16-G
August 27, 2024
Item 16-G
August 27, 2024

Santa Monica City CouncilAugust 27, 2024

Santa Monica City Council
August 27, 2024