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CITY OF SANTA MONICA, CA
FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
2025-2026
The City of Santa Monica, California is an innovative, progressive, and diverse beachfront community of approximately 93,000 residents on the Southern California coast.
Historically, the City Council’s key legislative priorities have been focused in the following policy areas:
Affordability
Addressing Homelessness
Climate Change
Keeping Neighborhoods Safe
Enhancing Mobility and Access
Engaged and Thriving Community
This document continues a focus on the following priorities:
• Addressing Homelessness: Prevent housed Santa Monicans from becoming homeless and increase the supply of affordable housing, address the behavioral health needs of vulnerable individuals and advocate for regional capacity to address homelessness. • Clean & Safe Santa Monica: Create an atmosphere marked by clean and safe public spaces and neighborhoods, including parks for recreation and leisure activities. • Cultivate Economic Recovery & Expand Community & Cultural Offerings: Cultivate economic opportunity and recovery and invest in community and cultural amenities and programs for all community members, focused on expanding opportunities for youth, teens and seniors.
• Racial Justice, Equity & Social Diversity: The City of Santa Monica acknowledges the effects of generational and institutional racism and discrimination, and their consequences that continue to impact our residents and businesses. These lessons of our history cannot be ignored. The City is committed to advancing racial equity and social diversity to improve the wellbeing of people who live, work, learn, play, and do business in our City and creating a community where differences in life outcomes cannot be predicted by race, class, gender identity, disability or other identities.
Everyone in Santa Monica must have an opportunity to thrive. • Sustainable & Connected Community: Ensure that City policies and programs enhance our resources, prevent and remedy harm to the natural environment and human health, and benefit the social and economic wellbeing of the community for the sake of current and future generations.
The City’s priorities are reflected in the policy positions outlined below for engagement in federal policy and regulatory initiatives and to secure resources (e.g., grants, authorizations and appropriations) to invest in priority projects and programs.
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ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS
Homelessness
• Support legislation and secure federal resources, either directly or in partnership with other entities, that address and prevent homelessness with innovative strategies that maintain and expand the inventory of affordable housing; protect low-income renters from discrimination and eviction; promote income stability; provide direct services and varied housing options for people experiencing homelessness or at high risk of homelessness including veterans, older adults and people with disabilities; • Support funding for alternatives to incarceration for adults and youth, regardless of housing status;
• Support legislation to ensure individuals are utilizing Housing First when offered suitable housing options and seeks to minimize individuals declining these resources when they are offered.
• Support legislation that allows for data sharing between municipalities and treatment providers;
• Support legislation that safeguards against the criminalization of homelessness; • Support legislation that expands and increases flexibility of affordable housing funding to allow for construction of varied housing types in one development, such as transitional housing paired with permanent supportive housing; • Support legislation that expands and increases flexibility of affordable housing funding to provide for development of in-patient and higher need beds to ensure individuals are not placed into permanent supportive housing due to lack of other adequate housing options.
Health
• Support legislation and secure federal resources that support mental health care (e.g., access to psychiatric facilities, behavioral health care treatment, and mobile and streetbased services). • Support legislation that expands the definition of “gravely disabled” and allows for additional flexibility in conservatorship as a tool in mental health care treatment, behavioral health care treatment, or substance use treatment to ensure individuals are not discharged to the streets;
• Secure federal resources for education and training of paramedics and other emergency medical service personnel and uniformed officers in their ability to be responsive to those individuals experiencing homelessness and living in our community, including how to utilize the expanded criteria under SB43;
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• Support legislation to reform mental health and substance use disorder treatment access, including legislation that destigmatizes and normalizes behavioral health as part of primary health care to be covered by public and private health plans; • Support legislation to increase federal funding that is flexible for building varied housing options to support individuals as they move through the spectrum of behavioral health services;
• Support legislation that removes barriers to and expands the availability of mental health and substance use disorder treatment;
• Support legislation to expand funding to provide adequate mental, behavioral health, and substance use treatments for youth, as well as funding to cover construction costs to develop these services where lacking and funding staff positions related to these areas within schools or via service providers;
Housing/Tenant Protection
• Support legislation and expand funding resources to provide for the creation of safe, decent and affordable housing to meet the City’s diverse needs and contribute to the well-being of all residents;
• Support legislation that allocates funding to provide services to individuals who have housing vouchers but are unable to find eligible housing; • Support legislation that secures additional federal resources for HUD-funded affordable housing programs (e.g., HOME, Section 8);
• Support legislation to allocate federal resources and regulatory support for the “Preserving our Diversity” (POD) program;
• Support legislation to expand funding to provide support to housing unstable individuals to cover basic needs such as food and medicine;
• Support legislation to prevent CalFRESH benefits being reduced for unstably housed individuals receiving support for basic necessities;
• Support legislation and secure federal resources to provide housing opportunities combined with effective and ample supportive services, including healthcare services. • Support legislation to increase the funding for the Section 8 Housing Voucher program and increase the payment standards.
• Support legislation to expand HUD voucher types to allow more flexibility for allowable Area Median Income (AMI) to support individuals who are above the 80-100% AMI range but are still rent burdened;
• Support legislation to expand affordable housing funding to provide housing to a broadened demographic, including individuals who are above the 100% AMI level, as well as a broadened array of housing types;
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CLEAN AND SAFE SANTA MONICA
• Support legislation and secure federal resources that enhance law enforcement and emergency services to maintain a safe environment and quality of life for City residents and visitors.
• Support legislation that provides funding for debris removal for structures burned following a wildfire
• Support legislation that would provide resources to local governments to respond and remove graffiti from and litter from Interstate Highways. • Support legislation that provides funding and resources to implement improved security measures for major transportation corridors (eg. Interstate freeways) to increase safety and reduce unauthorized access.
• Support legislation to provide full funding for the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant; additional funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program; the Byrne/Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) programs as well as integrated public safety communications systems.
• Support legislation authorizing providing federal resources to support the Police Department’s current and ongoing equipment needs (i.e., real-time crime center, tablets, in-car camera system, mobile command center equipment, forensic equipment, records management and system updates, and data tracking systems). • Support legislation that provides resources to provide mental health training for public safety officers and first responders and to hire mental health professionals to support local law enforcement activities in the community.
• Support legislation that provides federal resources to cover costs of implicit bias and cultural training for sworn and non-sworn personnel.
• Support legislation and federal resources that promote the safety and constitutional rights of our citizens and bring greater transparency and accountability to law enforcement.
• Support legislation and secure federal resources that advances the model of community-based 21st century policing.
• Support common sense gun safety legislation including a ban on assault weapons, ghost guns and high-capacity magazines and a requirement for a federal background check before the purchase of a gun or high-capacity ammunition. • Support legislation and federal funding for the advancement of the Safe Systems Approach and the realization of Vision Zero, to end crashes resulting in fatal or severe injuries, through infrastructure, policy, enforcement, education, and vehicle safety standards.
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• Support legislation that provides federal resources for mobile crisis intervention programs or other alternate dispatch strategies that provide response to mental health or addiction crises where public safety is not at risk
• Support legislation to provide federal funding for community paramedic and Mobile Integrated Health(MIH) initiatives which play a critical role in addressing behavioral health, supporting vulnerable adults , and assisting individuals with substance use challenges.
CULTIVATE ECONOMIC RECOVERY & EXPAND COMMUNITY & CULTURAL OFFERINGS • Support legislation that provides for new direct, flexible emergency fiscal relief for all cities, with an equitable funding formula not solely calculated by population size. • Support legislation that would provide federal resources to assist localities in high-speed broadband, and public space projects, and /workforce development. • Support legislation that provides flexible funding and specific set-asides for tourism and hospitality sectors, including businesses in these sectors and their workers. • Support legislation that creates opportunities for and invests in artists and other creative workers.
• Support legislation/seek funding that supports working families in regard to securing affordable, high-quality childcare.
• Support legislation that provides financial stabilization to local childcare providers to remain operational.
Support legislation and federal resources for cities impacted by the expected increase in visitors due to the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.RACIAL JUSTICE, EQUITY & SOCIAL DIVERSITY • Support legislation that assures everyone the right to equal treatment in all government-sponsored benefits or funded programs.
• Support legislation to protect the civil, fair housing, and equitable employment rights of all persons.
• Support legislation that promotes equal opportunity and treatment for people of all races and addresses systematic racism against African Americans. • Support legislation to preserve and fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
• Support legislation that calls for comprehensive immigration reform and border security that is thoughtful in manner and guided by our nation's principles of due process, human rights, accountability, and equal protection for all under the law. • Support legislation that promotes LGBTQ+ inclusion and stands firmly against homophobia and transphobia.
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SUSTAINABLE & CONNECTED COMMUNITY
• Support legislation and secure resources for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and protection and preservation of our environment and public health. • Support legislation and secure federal resources to enhance the City’s continued investment in renewable energy, green buildings, green public transit and infrastructure, to meet the City’s carbon neutrality goal. • Support legislation and secure federal resources that allow for the creation of sustainable water and wastewater infrastructure, including reuse, treatment, conservation and sustainability, in order to reach the City’s water self-sufficiency goal. • Support legislation and secure federal resources that assist local governments in developing and implementing energy efficiency, conservation, and generation strategies that maximize available resources, reduce costs, and expand community access. • Support legislation and secure federal resources that assist municipalities in their composting, recycling and waste reduction efforts to reach the City’s zero waste goal. • Support legislation and secure resources that assist municipalities in their sustainable procurement, extended producer responsibility and circular economy efforts • Support legislation and secure federal funding that support community resiliency efforts regarding climate change, sea level rise, biological and radiological events. • Support federal incentives that assist local governments in developing and implementing transportation, land use and building policies that encourage maximum use of resources and lower energy consumption.
• Support legislation and secure federal resources to increase usage of green modes of transportation among residents and visitors through infrastructure projects (such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities and transit facility enhancements) and supportive programs (such as safe routes to school and Vision Zero). • Support continued funding of the Federal Highways Program especially the Highway Bridge Rehabilitation Program.
• Support legislation to secure federal rsoursces for roadway maintenance. • Support legislation to provide funding for ADA upgrades (accessible pathway) along the Pier.
• Secure federal resources to adapt infrastructure for Smart City needs (signaling system, transit signal priority, parking system, data sensors, security cameras, autonomous vehicles).
• Support federal resources to expand EV infrastructure, including parking structures and charging stations, and to incentivize property owners to install EV infrastructure in single-family and multi-family dwellings.
• Support legislation that ensures local governments can continue, without preemption, their efforts to electrify buildings and secure resources for alternative energy solutions, Page | 7
such as solar plus storage, to enhance emergency preparedness, community resiliency, and public facility EVs and charging infrastructure.
For more information:
Charmayne Anderson
Partner
The Ferguson Group
(202) 261-6016
[email protected]