1 David Yakobson
From: David Whatley <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2024 11:19 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: London, SCS; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: Public Comments: Santa Monica City Council Meeting on Monday November 11, 2024 Fwd: Advocacy in support of Santa Monica High School Band students - upcoming tour in The United Kingdom Fwd: Ideas pertaining to Latino Voting Rights matter
EXTERNAL
November 10, 2024
Dear Santa Monica City Council,
I am writing to advocate in support of the proposed funding to be provided to Santa Monica High School music students for their upcoming band tour in the United Kingdom: here is weblink to the proposed funding for reference:
https://santamonicacityca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1442 Below is email dated October 28, 2024 written to The Mayor of Santa Monica in which I stated that my my former Academic mentee is an alumnus of Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District band programs of which I believe had a significant impact upon his development: he graduated this year from George Washington University in Washington DC; I also stated that traveling to and performing in The United Kingdom will be an incredible opportunity and experience for Santa Monica High School music students.
Thank you for your time with this email and I urge the Santa Monica City Council to support funding for Santa Monica High School music students' upcoming band tour that is proposed on the public agenda for The City of Santa Monica's Monday November 11, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting.
Sincerely,
David Whatley
cc:
VIA EMAIL
The US Embassy in London
([email protected])
additional cc:
VIA EMAIL
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November 11, 2024
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2 Ms. Rebecca Terlizzi & Mr. Kevin McKeown
Santa Monica High School's Band Program
([email protected])
Diplomat In Residence, Southern California
University of California, Los Angeles
([email protected])
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: David Whatley <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, Oct 28, 2024, 9:44 AM
Subject: Advocacy in support of Santa Monica High School Band students - upcoming tour in The United Kingdom Fwd: Ideas pertaining to Latino Voting Rights matter To: <[email protected]>
Cc: <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>
October 28, 2024
VIA EMAIL ([email protected])
The Honorable Phil Brock, Mayor
The City of Santa Monica
Dear Mayor Brock,
This is David Whatley and I am writing to follow-up on my recent advocacy to you and the rest of the City at last week's City Council meeting.
Here is weblink to the City Council meeting for reference:
https://www.youtube.com/live/xSEmyQoX70Q?feature=shared First and foremost I want to thank you and the City once again for granting my ADA accommodation request and allowing me to participate in the meeting via telephone.
Secondly, with regard to my advocacy pertaining to the City ending the Latino voting rights litigation, below are some ideas I presented earlier this month to both Gibson & Dunn and Shenkman & Hughes with regard to legal fees:
I advocated that a portion of the financial costs associated with the matter be used to fund youth programs and education programs in the community:
I suggested The Boys and Girls Club; The Pico Youth and Family Center; and literacy and other programs at the City's public libraries.
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3 However after listening to public comments at last Tuesday's meeting, I would also like to advocate in support of Santa Monica High School's band program and efforts being made to provide scholarships for wind ensemble music students for the band's upcoming tour in The United Kingdom.
As you are aware I am a classically trained singer: it was an honor to have invited you to a concert I sang in many years ago at First United Methodist Church Santa Monica when I was a Walter Fox Singer with The Verdi Chorus: www.verdichorus.org/
I also previously sang with Opera Nova Santa Monica, a regional opera company founded by Santa Monica Housing Commission Chair Gail Gordon and who previously was one of my voice teachers: today she serves as founder and artistic director of Numi Opera: www.numiopera.org In addition I have sung in the music ministries of multiple Santa Monica faith-based organizations including St. Monica's Catholic Community; Mt. Olive Lutheran Church; and First Presbyterian Church Santa Monica.
I am advocating that the City provide the fifteen thousand dollars in funding for scholarships for Santa Monica High School music students that was asked for at last week's City Council meeting by Ms.
Rebecca Terlizzi, Band Parent Volunteer: Mr. Kevin McKeown, Director of Bands with Santa Monica High School also spoke at last week's meeting.
www.samohiband.org
My former Academic mentee is an alumnus of Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District band programs of which I believe had a significant impact upon his development: he graduated this year from George Washington University in Washington DC.
Traveling to and performing in The United Kingdom will be an incredible opportunity and experience for Santa Monica High School music students.
Thank you for your time and consideration with regard to my advocacy.
Respectfully submitted,
David Whatley
1550 Wilson Blvd. Ste. 700
Arlington, VA 22209
+1-202-436-4340 Google Voice
cc:
VIA EMAIL
Ms. Rebecca Terlizzi & Mr. Kevin McKeown
Santa Monica High School's Band Program
([email protected])
Diplomat In Residence, Southern California
Item 16-D
November 11, 2024
Item 16-D
November 11, 2024
4 University of California, Los Angeles
([email protected])
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: David Whatley <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, Oct 8, 2024, 10:25 AM
Subject: Ideas pertaining to Latino Voting Rights matter To: <[email protected]>, <[email protected]> Cc: <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>
October 8, 2024
VIA EMAIL
Mr. Daniel Adler, J.D.
([email protected])
Mr. Kevin Shenkman, J.D.
([email protected])
Dear Mr. Adler and Mr. Shenkman,
My name is David Whatley and I am writing to you with regard to Latino Voting Rights.
It was mentioned in a September 2024 local news article that one of the key hindrances with regard to moving forward with regard to the Latino Voting Rights matter in The City of Santa Monica concerns that of legal fees.
In the article the judge is quoted as having said, "I don't know if you can do it, but maybe think outside the box as to how you might come up with a resolution". Here is weblink to the news article for reference:
https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2024/September2024/09_09_2024_Voting_Rights_Judge_Issues_Dire_Warning.html I would like to present to the community the following ideas with regard to this matter:
What if attorneys for both parties agree that a portion of the total legal fees be used to fund community programs for youth?
For example a portion of the fees could be used to fund local nonprofits that provide music, sports, and other extracurricular activities to Santa Monica youth.
Two examples that come to mind are The Santa Monica Boys and Girls Club and The Pico Youth and Family Center.
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5 Another idea is that a portion of the fees could also be used to expand education programs in the community for example literacy and other programs at the City's public libraries.
Over the years I have had the honor and privilege to serve as a volunteer on over a dozen American election campaigns including on The George W. Bush and Barack Obama Presidential campaigns.
Voting Rights are a fundamental part of our nation's democracy.
I am advocating that the original court ruling in favor of Latino Voting Rights be implemented in Santa Monica and that a portion of the financial costs associated with this matter be used to fund youth programs and education programs in the community.
Thank you for your time and consideration with regard to my advocacy.
Sincerely,
David Whatley
cc:
VIA EMAIL
The City of Santa Monica
([email protected])
additional cc:
VIA EMAIL
Barack Obama Presidential Library
([email protected])
George W. Bush Presidential Library
([email protected])
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