1 David Yakobson
From: OZ <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 2024 11:56 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete
Subject: public comment item 3 – soon-to-be Second Latina Mayor's changing views on race
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C O M M U N I T Y , D I V E R S I T Y , S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y A N D O T H E R O V E R U S E D W O R D S Got Whiplash From Following Lana Negrete's Views On
Race
On the changing colors of Santa Monica's soon-to-be second Latina mayor Olga Zurawska | Dec 09, 20240
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Lana Negrete at a SMRR rally in 2022.
In March 2023 it was brought up to the Santa Monica City Council that there was a community member serving on two city boards concurrently, in apparent violation of local rules. Without notice to the public and therefore without hearing public input, the Council took up the issue and voted 4-3 to remove the rule and accommodate the individual so she could continue to serve on two boards at the same time. This was despite the person's less than stellar attendance record due partially to the two boards' scheduling conflicts. The 2 three dissenting votes were cast by the Change Slate. Councilmember Lana Negrete voted in support of nixing the rule.
The next day Negrete explained the rationale behind her vote to multiple community members, who as a result were left in disbelief. "Of course, I don't think people should sit on two city boards or commissions at the same time," Negrete said. "But I'm not dumb..." And she proceeded to explain that she was not going to be the deciding vote that didn't allow a Black person to hold two board seats at the same time. "I have a plan to deal with this," she offered. She was going to have a conversation with Councilmember Torosis to explain that it's not really right that Ericka Lesley serves on both the Rent Control Board and DTSM. Negrete was going to tell Torosis that Ericka Lesley needs to start thinking of resigning from one of those boards, and in the meantime they have to find another Black person to replace Lesley on that board.
Now, there is a lot to unpack here. Nixing a rule whose goal was to promote democracy by preventing the consolidation of political power in the hands of few people is one thing. Applying the lens of race in this situation is another. Doing it as a way to cure political favor with the establishment who the individual in question was supported by, is yet another. Negrete is notoriously vigilant when scanning for opportunities to advance her personal political goals, no matter the price to the community she's supposed to serve. However, it takes things to a whole other level when one expresses the intent to conspire with a fellow councilmember in order to appoint to a city board a person of a specific skin color. It is not only morally reprehensible and unethical, but likely also unlawful.
Now fast forward to a few days ago where Councilmember Negrete stated to the press, "The whole race card thing is silly to me." SAY WHAT?... This is where the whiplash occurs. Negrete's apparent 180° turn took place in the context of discussing the California Voting Rights Act lawsuit filed by The Pico Neighborhood Association against the City of Santa Monica. The suit seeks to change the election system from at-large to districts, in order to ensure democratic elections for all Santa Monicans including racial minorities.
So why was Councilmember Negrete ready to bend over backwards to cancel a democratic rule in order to accommodate a Black person holding two city board seats, but now she discounts the plight of the largely Latino Pico Neighborhood? They are the plaintiffs with whom a Los Angeles Superior Court judge agreed after a six-week trial that found evidence of a biased election system. How does one make sense of Negrete's contradicting attitudes? Does she support some ethnic minorities more than others? Has she promptly jumped off the DEI bandwagon after observing its rejection in the recent cultural shift that has swept the nation? What is it, I ask.
Let's consider the old saying that when you don't know what something is about, it's likely about money.
Could Negrete's flippant comment about race in the context of the CVRA lawsuit be part of her usual positioning for maximum personal benefit? It is no secret that Santa Monica's political establishment includes the urban density lobby that holds control over the School Board that Negrete's music store has contracts with – either directly, or with the funds being funneled through nonprofit organizations. Many believe it is that lobby behind the School Board that Negrete receives her marching orders from, and the last thing that lobby wants to see happening in Santa Monica is district elections.
Lana Negrete has been refusing to cast the deciding vote to settle the CVRA lawsuit which has cost Santa Monicans over $14M over an eight-year period, and which is expected to take another four or five years until it completes its journey through the courts. Negrete has been refusing to act on her fiduciary duty to the taxpayers, to support democracy, and to stand with the Latino community she's part of. Perhaps it is because 3 in reality she is a political tool of the wealthy white Santa Monica establishment which de facto installed her on the Council similarly to other token minority applicants like Ana Jara or Kristin McCowan. Neither those two, nor Lana Negrete ever stood a chance to win an election as independent non-incumbent candidates in this city.
The racist practice of tokenism has been used by the Santa Monica establishment in the years since the CVRA lawsuit against the city was filed. It's been used in order to enhance the appearance of racial equality on the Council, and thus build a case against the plaintiffs from the Pico Neighborhood. Lana Negrete might not understand it, but she's yet another person of color who was plucked out of obscurity, placed on the Council, and is being used by the establishment because of her race – to ensure that the current political power structure in Santa Monica remains unthreatened by a district election system. Whether she finds the role of her own race in this scenario "silly" is not clear.
On Tuesday Lana Negrete, the councilmember who complains that the Council agendas are too long and have too many attachments, will be selected as mayor by the 100% establishment-controlled Council. She will become mayor not despite the fact that she lacks a center of gravity and an ethical anchor, but because of it. * * *
4 David Yakobson
From: DG Brown <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 2024 9:30 AM
To: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; councilmtgitems
Subject: Support for the appointment of Councilmember Negrete as Mayor and Demand for Councilmember Torosis to prioritize punctuality
EXTERNAL
Dear City Councilmembers,
I am writing to express my strong support for the appointment of Councilmember Lana Negrete as the next Mayor of Santa Monica, a historic moment as the first Latina to hold this esteemed position. Her leadership, dedication, and service to our community make her an ideal candidate for this role.
It is crucial that the council adhere to its previously approved rules for appointing the longest-serving councilmember as mayor. Changing these rules now - just because the new council majority finds them unfavorable - would undermine the integrity of the process and set a dangerous precedent. It would be unacceptable for the council to disregard established protocols to suit political convenience.
I urge the council to do the right thing and the ethical thing by unanimously appointing Councilmember Lana Negrete as Mayor. Let’s honor the principles of fairness and transparency, and move forward with a commitment to the values that define Santa Monica.
Additionally, I must once again bring attention to the persistent issue of Councilmember Torosis’ chronic lateness that, at this point, begs the question why the Council has not censured her for her lack of punctuality. She has been late to more than 80% of city council meetings since she was elected, a fact that undermines both her credibility and her commitment to her role. The meeting start time has not changed since before she chose to run for the City Council. She never should have accepted the role knowing she would very rarely be able to arrive on time.
This ongoing pattern would prompt a more self-aware and ethical individual to reconsider her position, yet Councilmember Torosis has refused to resign despite her inability to respect meeting times. The least she could do is make a concerted effort to show respect for her fellow councilmembers, the residents of Santa Monica, and the city staff, all of whom manage to arrive on time. This is a basic expectation of leadership. Your constituents deserve better! I urge the new council to not tolerate this irreverent behavior from Councilmember Torosis.
Thank you for your attention to these important matters.
David G. Brown
North of Montana Resident
5 David Yakobson
From: Ann Hoover <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, December 9, 2024 10:17 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya
Cc: David White; Susan Cline
Subject: December 10, 2024 City Council Meeting - Item 3.F. - Election of Mayor, etc.
EXTERNAL
Dear Sitting and New Councilmembers:
Congratulations to our City's four (4) new Councilmembers! Sending in a quick note to say I'm excited for Mayor Pro Tem Lana Negrete to become mayor for the coming year. She has served our City faithfully and with grace. I value the long view and perspective that she brings to the dais as a Santa Monica native and small business owner. I appreciate the human touch she applies to all issues and interactions.
Happy Holidays to all ~
Best,
Ann Bowman
Resident, 28+ years