1 David Yakobson
From: Dannie Charney <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2025 4:27 PM
To: Lana Negrete
Cc: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Douglas Sloan; Santa Monica City Manager's Office Subject: Re: Meeting ITEM 16 F TRAVEL MONEY - OPPOSE
EXTERNAL
Of course it's not enough to stop the bloodletting but it's enough to do some smaller things residents need badly. Keeping libraries open a few more days here and there - or hiring more security to monitor the parking garages which are not safe... there are many uses for it ..and the $10 grand for the LBGTQ+ indulgence. Enough already of all that is superfluous ..
When I lost everything years ago and went from making lots of $$ to having nothing..I learned where and how you cut. It was quite the lesson. Now that I can breathe a drop easier ..but nothing fat or porky.. I am glad for the lesson. Every dollar counts when you are broke.
You know the old saying "a thousand here a thousand there -pretty soon you are talking about real money"...
Danielle
On Tue, Mar 25, 2025 at 4:18 PM Lana Negrete <[email protected]> wrote:
I wish that what we have in our travel budget would help resolve our budget problems, but I think it’s more than that. I ended up spending my own money because the entity that offered to cover the cost of my travel there to speak at their conference for three days was unable to do so per our rules. So it stayed a personal expense for me something that definitely impacted me but in a hope to bring a future conference as well as other events to our city to help bring revenue I felt it worth it at the time. Of course I would’ve preferred to have been reimbursed for the time I spent discussing business around the city. It did not work out and I had to sustain the cost. I continue to do that with many trips as well as I’m sure other council members we all spend a lot of time working on City issues. There’s just not enough time in the day.
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
2 Every department is taking a look at their budget and making cut we hope to come back this summer with a pair down budget that really focuses on the top three priorities all of council has agreed need to be the main focus
Lana Negrete
Mayor
santamonica.gov
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Subscribe to City of Santa Monica Email Updates
From: Dannie Charney <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2025 10:47:14 AM
To: Lana Negrete <[email protected]>; councilmtgitems <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]>; Douglas Sloan <[email protected]>; Santa Monica City Manager's Office <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Meeting ITEM 16 F TRAVEL MONEY - OPPOSE
EXTERNAL
Thanks for your response. Honestly, I don't care where the money is coming from. I know there are separate budgets..I follow things pretty closely. Just move it back to the fund for general services. The Council moves the housing trust fund money to pay for the Uller "victims"...same idea you know what I mean ..move it around.
I love that the kids go to Japan and others come here -always have.
This is all well and good when we can afford it, we can't now. Thinking needs to change. We have a huge shortfall and floating more bonds is not the way to go. Saving money and using it for badly needed services for our residents is. This is a good start to show us you have creative ideas in this area instead of just more taxes. I also find it odd Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
3 that you are often saying how you have no money personally but are telling me you actually paid for the trip to El Salvador yourself with no reimbursement ? Now why would you choose to spend your own hard earned money this way?
Please consider letting go of some overpaid staff..we have many.. stop giving out $10 grand to a small group of people to prance around waving flags to celebrate their gender choices. Start doing discovery and open the books on the Uller case. Drop the District Election lawsuit.
I am 77. I moved here in 1982 ..43 years this April Fool's Day. It took me a while to get the message about how this City does things. I am no longer a fool about it .
Thanks for your response. Don't take the trip. Move the money.
Danielle
On Tue, Mar 25, 2025 at 9:18 AM Lana Negrete <[email protected]> wrote:
Good morning Danielle
I think our kids may have gone to school together?
Thank you for your email, I too like you would be scrutinizing council travel after our last budget meeting. I just want you to understand that there’s separate budgets. I’m not getting money from the general fund and every council or mayor before has taken these trips. they are not leisure trips they are supportive of Business between our cities and celebratory in this case of a 50 year relationship between Japan. We send 40 students from Samo hi there through the immersion program and receive Japanese students and dignitaries here multiple times throughout the year.
We have a travel budget, so the money is just being transferred from one council member who didn’t use theirs to my travel budget. As far as El Salvador I paid for that myself nobody paid for it not the bitcoin office nor the city.
Thank you for your inquiries. I’m always happy to answer these questions directly. As you know we work more than just part-time and we get paid roughly $17,000 a year. All of us have full-time jobs but most of us spend over 40 hours a week doing this job. That’s what we signed up for! And I appreciate you being a concerned, citizen and checking in on all the details happy to talk and meet over coffee anytime.
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
4 Lana Negrete
Mayor
santamonica.gov
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Subscribe to City of Santa Monica Email Updates
From: Dannie Charney <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2025 8:04:53 PM
To: councilmtgitems <[email protected]>; Lana Negrete <[email protected]>; Ellis Raskin <[email protected]>; Barry Snell <[email protected]>; Natalya Zernitskaya <[email protected]>; Caroline Torosis <[email protected]>; Dan Hall <[email protected]>; Jesse Zwick <[email protected]>; Santa Monica City Manager's Office <[email protected]>; Douglas Sloan <[email protected]> Subject: Meeting ITEM 16 F TRAVEL MONEY - OPPOSE
EXTERNAL
I find it very wrong that at the time of such a massive shortfall that we even consider items like this for any reason. That $4000 dollars can keep the OP Library open a few extra days or stop a senior from falling into homelessness
The $10,000 requested for the LBGTQ+ parade is also an
indulgence we cannot afford. Is a parade more important than other needs like libraries who are suffering due to cut funding or stopping a few single parents from falling into homelessness ?
Is a vanity trip to Japan, Paris or anywhere really okay for any reason right now? NO ..the answer is NO. It speaks to the selfishness of the request and lack of caring for what really matters.
Was the BitCoin vote before or after the trip to El Salvador - I assume paid by the Bitcoin office.
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
5 This isn't fun and games anymore with free trips, parades..free dinners and lunches.. it is serious business time. Show us you actually care.
Danielle Charney
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
6 David Yakobson
From: Lana Negrete
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2025 4:18 PM
To: Dannie Charney; councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Douglas Sloan; Santa Monica City Manager's Office
Subject: Re: Meeting ITEM 16 F TRAVEL MONEY - OPPOSE
I wish that what we have in our travel budget would help resolve our budget problems, but I think it’s more than that. I ended up spending my own money because the entity that offered to cover the cost of my travel there to speak at their conference for three days was unable to do so per our rules. So it stayed a personal expense for me something that definitely impacted me but in a hope to bring a future conference as well as other events to our city to help bring revenue I felt it worth it at the time. Of course I would’ve preferred to have been reimbursed for the time I spent discussing business around the city. It did not work out and I had to sustain the cost. I continue to do that with many trips as well as I’m sure other council members we all spend a lot of time working on City issues. There’s just not enough time in the day.
Every department is taking a look at their budget and making cut we hope to come back this summer with a pair down budget that really focuses on the top three priorities all of council has agreed need to be the main focus
Lana Negrete
Mayor
santamonica.gov
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Subscribe to City of Santa Monica Email Updates
From: Dannie Charney <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2025 10:47:14 AM
To: Lana Negrete <[email protected]>; councilmtgitems <[email protected]>; Council Mailbox <[email protected]>; Douglas Sloan <[email protected]>; Santa Monica City Manager's Office <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Meeting ITEM 16 F TRAVEL MONEY - OPPOSE
EXTERNAL
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
7 Thanks for your response. Honestly, I don't care where the money is coming from. I know there are separate budgets..I follow things pretty closely. Just move it back to the fund for general
services. The Council moves the housing trust fund money to pay for the Uller "victims"...same idea you know what I mean ..move it around.
I love that the kids go to Japan and others come here -always have.
This is all well and good when we can afford it, we can't now. Thinking needs to change. We have a huge shortfall and floating more bonds is not the way to go. Saving money and using it for badly needed services for our residents is. This is a good start to show us you have creative ideas in this area instead of just more taxes. I also find it odd that you are often saying how you have no money personally but are telling me you actually paid for the trip to El Salvador yourself with no reimbursement ? Now why would you choose to spend your own hard earned money this way?
Please consider letting go of some overpaid staff..we have many.. stop giving out $10 grand to a small group of people to prance around waving flags to celebrate their gender choices. Start doing discovery and open the books on the Uller case. Drop the District Election lawsuit.
I am 77. I moved here in 1982 ..43 years this April Fool's Day. It took me a while to get the message about how this City does things. I am no longer a fool about it .
Thanks for your response. Don't take the trip. Move the money.
Danielle
On Tue, Mar 25, 2025 at 9:18 AM Lana Negrete <[email protected]> wrote:
Good morning Danielle
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
8 I think our kids may have gone to school together?
Thank you for your email, I too like you would be scrutinizing council travel after our last budget meeting.
I just want you to understand that there’s separate budgets. I’m not getting money from the general fund and every council or mayor before has taken these trips. they are not leisure trips they are supportive of Business between our cities and celebratory in this case of a 50 year relationship between Japan. We send 40 students from Samo hi there through the immersion program and receive Japanese students and dignitaries here multiple times throughout the year.
We have a travel budget, so the money is just being transferred from one council member who didn’t use theirs to my travel budget. As far as El Salvador I paid for that myself nobody paid for it not the bitcoin office nor the city.
Thank you for your inquiries. I’m always happy to answer these questions directly. As you know we work more than just part-time and we get paid roughly $17,000 a year. All of us have full-time jobs but most of us spend over 40 hours a week doing this job. That’s what we signed up for! And I appreciate you being a concerned, citizen and checking in on all the details happy to talk and meet over coffee anytime.
Lana Negrete
Mayor
santamonica.gov
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Subscribe to City of Santa Monica Email Updates
From: Dannie Charney <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2025 8:04:53 PM
To: councilmtgitems <[email protected]>; Lana Negrete <[email protected]>; Ellis Raskin <[email protected]>; Barry Snell <[email protected]>; Natalya Zernitskaya <[email protected]>; Caroline Torosis <[email protected]>; Dan Hall <[email protected]>; Jesse Zwick <[email protected]>; Santa Monica City Manager's Office <[email protected]>; Douglas Sloan <[email protected]> Subject: Meeting ITEM 16 F TRAVEL MONEY - OPPOSE
EXTERNAL
I find it very wrong that at the time of such a massive shortfall that we even consider items like this for any reason. That $4000 dollars can Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
9 keep the OP Library open a few extra days or stop a senior from falling into homelessness
The $10,000 requested for the LBGTQ+ parade is also an
indulgence we cannot afford. Is a parade more important than other needs like libraries who are suffering due to cut funding or stopping a few single parents from falling into homelessness ?
Is a vanity trip to Japan, Paris or anywhere really okay for any reason right now? NO ..the answer is NO. It speaks to the selfishness of the request and lack of caring for what really matters.
Was the BitCoin vote before or after the trip to El Salvador - I assume paid by the Bitcoin office.
This isn't fun and games anymore with free trips, parades..free dinners and lunches.. it is serious business time. Show us you actually care.
Danielle Charney
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Dannie Charney <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2025 10:47 AM
To: Lana Negrete; councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Douglas Sloan; Santa Monica City Manager's Office
Subject: Re: Meeting ITEM 16 F TRAVEL MONEY - OPPOSE
EXTERNAL
Thanks for your response. Honestly, I don't care where the money is coming from. I know there are separate budgets..I follow things pretty closely. Just move it back to the fund for general
services. The Council moves the housing trust fund money to pay for the Uller "victims"...same idea you know what I mean ..move it around.
I love that the kids go to Japan and others come here -always have.
This is all well and good when we can afford it, we can't now. Thinking needs to change. We have a huge shortfall and floating more bonds is not the way to go. Saving money and using it for badly needed services for our residents is. This is a good start to show us you have creative ideas in this area instead of just more taxes. I also find it odd that you are often saying how you have no money personally but are telling me you actually paid for the trip to El Salvador yourself with no reimbursement ? Now why would you choose to spend your own hard earned money this way?
Please consider letting go of some overpaid staff..we have many.. stop giving out $10 grand to a small group of people to prance around waving flags to celebrate their gender choices. Start doing discovery and open the books on the Uller case. Drop the District Election lawsuit.
I am 77. I moved here in 1982 ..43 years this April Fool's Day. It took me a while to get the message about how this City does things. I am no longer a fool about it .
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
2 Thanks for your response. Don't take the trip. Move the money.
Danielle
On Tue, Mar 25, 2025 at 9:18 AM Lana Negrete <[email protected]> wrote:
Good morning Danielle
I think our kids may have gone to school together?
Thank you for your email, I too like you would be scrutinizing council travel after our last budget meeting.
I just want you to understand that there’s separate budgets. I’m not getting money from the general fund and every council or mayor before has taken these trips. they are not leisure trips they are supportive of Business between our cities and celebratory in this case of a 50 year relationship between Japan. We send 40 students from Samo hi there through the immersion program and receive Japanese students and dignitaries here multiple times throughout the year.
We have a travel budget, so the money is just being transferred from one council member who didn’t use theirs to my travel budget. As far as El Salvador I paid for that myself nobody paid for it not the bitcoin office nor the city.
Thank you for your inquiries. I’m always happy to answer these questions directly. As you know we work more than just part-time and we get paid roughly $17,000 a year. All of us have full-time jobs but most of us spend over 40 hours a week doing this job. That’s what we signed up for! And I appreciate you being a concerned, citizen and checking in on all the details happy to talk and meet over coffee anytime.
Lana Negrete
Mayor
santamonica.gov
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Subscribe to City of Santa Monica Email Updates
From: Dannie Charney <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2025 8:04:53 PM
To: councilmtgitems <[email protected]>; Lana Negrete <[email protected]>; Ellis Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
3 Raskin <[email protected]>; Barry Snell <[email protected]>; Natalya Zernitskaya <[email protected]>; Caroline Torosis <[email protected]>; Dan Hall <[email protected]>; Jesse Zwick <[email protected]>; Santa Monica City Manager's Office <[email protected]>; Douglas Sloan <[email protected]> Subject: Meeting ITEM 16 F TRAVEL MONEY - OPPOSE
EXTERNAL
I find it very wrong that at the time of such a massive shortfall that we even consider items like this for any reason. That $4000 dollars can keep the OP Library open a few extra days or stop a senior from falling into homelessness
The $10,000 requested for the LBGTQ+ parade is also an
indulgence we cannot afford. Is a parade more important than other needs like libraries who are suffering due to cut funding or stopping a few single parents from falling into homelessness ?
Is a vanity trip to Japan, Paris or anywhere really okay for any reason right now? NO ..the answer is NO. It speaks to the selfishness of the request and lack of caring for what really matters.
Was the BitCoin vote before or after the trip to El Salvador - I assume paid by the Bitcoin office.
This isn't fun and games anymore with free trips, parades..free dinners and lunches.. it is serious business time. Show us you actually care.
Danielle Charney
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Karen Croner <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2025 8:11 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Caroline Torosis; Dan Hall; Jesse Zwick; Santa Monica City Manager's Office; Douglas Sloan Subject: Fwd: Meeting ITEM 16 F TRAVEL MONEY - OPPOSE
EXTERNAL
I think at this dire moment of the city facing serious financial hardship, this is the year to cut back on all travel. We need to use that money
to keep the library open a few extra days, to help a senior not fall into homelessness, this money could go to librarians. Sadly this is not the moment for free trips. The city needs that money far too much for essential services for the community. When you guys right the ship, as I’m sure you will, then it will be a great time for those trips! But for now the residents need to see how much you care for the community. Thank you for your service.
Sincerely,
Karen Croner
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
2 David Yakobson
From: Dannie Charney <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2025 8:05 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Caroline Torosis; Dan Hall; Jesse Zwick; Santa Monica City Manager's Office; Douglas Sloan Subject: Meeting ITEM 16 F TRAVEL MONEY - OPPOSE
EXTERNAL
I find it very wrong that at the time of such a massive shortfall that we even consider items like this for any reason. That $4000 dollars can keep the OP Library open a few extra days or stop a senior from falling into homelessness
The $10,000 requested for the LBGTQ+ parade is also an
indulgence we cannot afford. Is a parade more important than other needs like libraries who are suffering due to cut funding or stopping a few single parents from falling into homelessness ?
Is a vanity trip to Japan, Paris or anywhere really okay for any reason right now? NO ..the answer is NO. It speaks to the selfishness of the request and lack of caring for what really matters.
Was the BitCoin vote before or after the trip to El Salvador - I assume paid by the Bitcoin office.
This isn't fun and games anymore with free trips, parades..free dinners and lunches.. it is serious business time. Show us you actually care.
Danielle Charney
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025
Item 16-F
March 25, 2025