Written Comments — Santa Monica City Council, May 13, 2025

1 David Yakobson
From: DanielCollins <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 11:55 AM
To: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; councilmtgitems
Subject: Meeting 5.13.24 Vote NO on Agenda Item 12A & 4K Protect Our Neighborhood and Public Voice

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor and City Councilmembers,
I am writing as a concerned Santa Monica resident to respectfully urge you to vote NO on all five proposals included in Agenda Item 12A & 4K 5/13/2025. These proposals would have a lasting and detrimental impact on the character, safety, and livability of our community. Consequences of your actions will reverberate through history and will not be forgotten if shown to be Here’s why I strongly oppose Agenda Item 12A:

1. SB 79 – Overdevelopment Without Oversight
Allowing apartment and condo towers up to 15 stories tall within would invite unchecked overdevelopment, congestion and safety issues. This bill prioritizes developers over residents and undermines local control.This will be a nightmare for all of the longtime residents in the city. This is abhorrent, as these buildings are rent control exempt. Most people don't know this. You are not helping low income families or poor Santa Monica Residents. You are giving deals to the largest most influential developers. You are not taking care of the people. There is nothing progressive about you deals!

2. Eliminating the Owner-Occupancy Requirement for Lot Splits Do not allow large developments into R1 single family home neighborhoods! This erodes communities and transforms residential areas into apartment zones.

3. Removing Public Input on Commercial Development
Removing the requirement for council votes and public comment on commercial projects would silence the voices of residents and remove critical transparency from the development process.

Decisions that impact the future of our city should never be made behind closed doors.

4. Oppose Upzoning at 1331 Wilshire & 2644 30th Street
These proposals set a dangerous precedent for out-of-scale development in already congested areas. This intersection is a key traffic artery—upzoning both corners will worsen gridlock and create serious public safety risks.

Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
2 During the Palisades fire, residents in the Wilmont neighborhood faced potential evacuation.

Overdevelopment and "road diet" policies that remove traffic lanes are turning vital evacuation routes into bottlenecks. During the Palisades fire residents were trapped in Hollywood and the Palisades due to narrowed streets and obstructed exits.

Councilmember Dan Hall’s remark that he wants to “squeeze people out of their cars” is not only irresponsible—it’s reckless and dangerous. Lives are at stake. Stop making Santa Monica unlivable and unsafe.

5. Reducing Public Speaking Time at Council Meetings
Limiting residents’ ability to speak and removing time donations further diminishes public participation in our democracy. Santa Monica deserves more transparency and engagement, not less.

6. It is deeply troubling that every member of this City Council has accepted campaign contributions from developers and affiliated political action committees. This represents a serious conflict of interest and may constitute a violation of the Fair Political Practices Commission’s (FPPC) Pay-to-Play restrictions. Furthermore, the lack of transparency in how these proposals are being advanced raises legitimate concerns about potential Brown Act violations. Santa Monica residents will not stand by! We will demand full accountability and ensure these matters are thoroughly investigated by the appropriate oversight authorities.

Each of these proposals benefits large developers, not the everyday residents who live, work, and raise families in Santa Monica. We are facing serious challenges in public safety, infrastructure, and affordability handing over our city to speculative interests will only worsen these problems.

Please stand with the residents of Santa Monica, not special interests. Vote NO on Agenda Item 12A & 4K.

Sincerely,
Daniel Collins
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Gregory Cole <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 11:55 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: RE: citizen comments on items before the city council 5/13/25

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council Members- As a long term Santa Monica resident and co-homeowner with my wife, I would like to register our opposition with comment in red to the following four items coming before the council:
1) Agenda Item 4J – Support letter from SM for SB 79 -
We oppose authorizing the City’s support for SB 79 (Wiener) because SB79 would allow 7-story market rate apartment towers and without offering any affordable housing. Like most residents and homeowners, we have all abided the existing regulations limiting our own property buildings and remodels with major investments. Santa Monica is already high density with ever increasing limitations on water and parking and ever increasing congestion. It is flooded with outside visitors beyond this density. It is unacceptable to further damage our lifetime investments in our homes and the quality of life in this city. 2) Agenda Item 12A – End Owner Occupancy Requirement in SB9 We oppose ending this requirement to lose local control and enable developers further latitude to increase density without any of the intended benefits of supporting families trying to house their aging parents and the next generation with fewer and fewer job opportunities as they face the coming AI/ robotics onslaught on jobs. 3) Agenda Item 10A – Promenade Entertainment Zone –
Aside from punishing residents with late night noise, this ordinance will inevitably lead to more visitors coming to party and leaving drunk and disorderly, often behind the wheel and capable of killing people. We see dead people and a council with responsibility.
4) Agenda Item 4K – Public Input Rules -
We oppose this change which limits the ability of any presentation of fact based reasoned arguments that would inform the council and public opinion. It inflates the impact of outsiders and insiders lobbying the council and city staff and diminish democratic governance that respects resident rights to voice their opinions in meaningful ways.

Thank you for considering our views,
Sincerely,
Greg M. Cole and Sally A. Frautschy
18 Seaview Terrace
Santa Monica, Ca. 90401
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: chuck chuckhusting.com <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 11:41 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: City Council Agenda Items 4J - OPPOSE, Item 12A - OPPOSE, Item 10A - OPPOSE, Item4K - OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
I STRONGLY OPPOSE the following measures before the City Council on Tuesday, May 13, 2024:
 Agenda Item 4J – Support letter from SM for SB 79 - OPPOSE  Agenda Item 12A – End Owner Occupancy Requirement in SB9 - OPPOSE  Agenda Item 10A – Promenade Entertainment Zone – OPPOSE Make the parking more economical and more people will go to the promenade. I think the counter car culture that has developed is more of a detraction than the leadershop realizes. Even metered parking, dropped from 90 minutes to 60 minutes on Wilshire. It is very difficult to have a business lunch within 60 minutes. These are important nuances. (the Promenade parking structures were free of charge when initially built. They don’t have to be free, but it has gotten more expensive, and the rates seem to change often. People do not like to be surprised with suddenly high parking rates.  Agenda Item 4K – Public Input Rules - OPPOSE
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Bernd Stephan <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 11:46 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: ITEM 4K , 5/13/25 - OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
As a long-time, tax-paying citizen of the City of Santa Monica, I STRONGLY OPPOSE Item 4K - Change in Public Input Rules. I kindly request our City Council to oppose this proposal.

Sincerely,
Bernd Stephan
Santa Monica Resident
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
2 David Yakobson
From: Bernd Stephan <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 11:44 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: ITEM 4K , 5/13/25 - OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
As a long-time, tax-paying citizen of the City of Santa Monica, I STRONGLY OPPOSE Item 4K - Promenade Entertainment Zone. I kindly request our City Council to oppose this proposal.

Sincerely,
Bernd Stephan
Santa Monica Resident
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
3 David Yakobson
From: Lori Akian <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 11:39 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: ITEM 4K , 5/13/25 - OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
As a long-time, tax-paying citizen of the City of Santa Monica, I STRONGLY OPPOSE Item 4K - Change in Public Input Rules. I kindly request our City Council to oppose this proposal.

Sincerely,
Lori Stephan
Santa Monica Resident
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 11:29 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; [email protected]
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

While I understand and appreciate that this item is being considered as part of a goal to shorten the length of Council meetings, which often run late into the night, time donation is an important part of our collective ability to make certain points and speak coherently as a group. Currently 2-minute time limits (sometimes already shortened to 1-minute on a busy night) exist for any member of the public to comment verbally on an agenda item (with a maximum of 6-minutes total of speaking time per meeting).

When many policy decisions get combined into single items on the agenda, we are already severely limited in our ability to address them, simply because of the maximum time limits on our total speech.

Speaking publicly is the only way that we can know for sure that Council Members hear resident’s voices on important matters.

Thank you,
Nancy Hall
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
2 David Yakobson
From: Eve Lopez <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 11:15 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Cc: Eve Lopez Esq.

Subject: May 13, 2025: Agenda Item 4K (Amending the Council Rules of Procedure) OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete and Members of the City Council,
I write to respectfully object to the proposed amendments to the Council Rules of Order that would limit public comment to one minute per speaker when 25 or more speakers are registered and eliminate the ability of members of the public to donate their time to a designated speaker.

While I recognize the Council’s intent to improve meeting efficiency, the proposed amendments are likely to have the opposite effect—diminishing, rather than streamlining, public participation and risking a serious erosion of the public’s legally protected right to meaningfully engage in local government. The proposed rule change resembles policies more aligned with the Trump administration than with the values of an inclusive, progressive city like Santa Monica.

Donating Time Promotes Efficiency, Not Delay
Allowing members of the public to donate their time to a designated speaker is a proven method for promoting clarity, efficiency, and meaningful participation. A well-prepared speaker with donated time can present organized, representative testimony on behalf of multiple constituents, reducing redundancy and elevating the quality of public input. This approach avoids a series of disjointed one to two minute sound bites and instead enables thoughtful, substantive contributions.

Notably, Mayor Negrete has publicly encouraged this practice in recent months as a way to streamline meetings while still honoring the public’s voice.

The One-Minute Limit is Not Reasonable
Under the Brown Act (Government Code § 54954.3(b)), the Council may adopt reasonable regulations to limit the total time allocated for public testimony. However, the law also requires that the public be given an opportunity to address the legislative body meaningfully before or during consideration of an item.

A blanket rule that automatically limits all speakers to just one minute when 25 or more individuals sign up does not meet the Brown Act’s standard of reasonableness. When dozens of community members take time to appear before the City Council, it signals the presence of an issue that demands more public engagement, not less. These are precisely the moments when the Council should allocate greater time and attention to public input—not curtail it. California courts have made clear that speech limits must preserve the public’s ability to participate meaningfully in the deliberative process. Arbitrarily reducing speaking time—regardless of the complexity or gravity of the matter—risks reducing public comment to a mere formality, undermining its value as a tool for accountability, transparency, and informed policymaking.

Proposed Rule Would Chill Civic Engagement
Santa Monica has a long tradition of civic engagement. Curtailing the ability of residents to fully participate in public meetings—especially during moments of high community interest—sends the wrong message. Rather than discouraging engagement, the City should be adopting tools that elevate public discourse, such as time donations, structured panels, or extended speaking opportunities on high-impact issues.

Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
3 Alternative Options for Streamlining Meetings
If the Council is sincerely committed to streamlining its meetings while enhancing public participation, there are far more effective and transparent alternatives than restricting public comment.

Agenda packets for Council meetings routinely exceed 1,000 pages and are often supplemented with new materials just hours before a meeting begins. It is difficult—if not impossible—for both the public and councilmembers to fully digest and respond to this volume of information on such short notice. This undermines the transparency and accountability that are foundational to effective governance.

Rather than curtailing public input, the Council should prioritize improvements to its own internal processes, including:
 Adopting rules that require staff reports exceeding 20 pages to be made publicly available at least 7 days in advance of a Council meeting, to allow for meaningful review and informed public comment.  Scheduling closed session items after the conclusion of the public agenda, rather than forcing the public to wait— often for hours—without knowing when they’ll have the opportunity to speak. Delaying public comment for lengthy closed sessions discourages participation and disproportionately affects working residents.  Avoiding last-minute continuances of public hearing items without sufficient advance notice. Like many others, I have rearranged work and family obligations to attend and speak on issues, only to arrive and be told the item has been postponed. This is frustrating, wasteful, and disheartening.

These are the types of reforms that would both improve meeting efficiency and demonstrate respect for the time and commitment of the public. I urge the Council to direct its efforts toward solutions that expand access, not restrict it—and to lead by example in making City Hall more transparent, predictable, and responsive.

A Better Path Forward
I urge the Council to:
 Preserve the public’s ability to donate time to a designated speaker;  Avoid adopting a rigid one-minute rule and instead retain discretion to adjust time limits case-by-case, balancing meeting management with public input needs;
 Consider alternative formats (e.g., time caps for total comment periods, written comments as supplements, or advance sign-ups with flexible grouping) that honor both the law and the public’s role in governance; and  Consider improvements to its own internal processes.

Thank you for your consideration and continued service to the residents of Santa Monica. I respectfully request that the Council reject the proposed amendments in their current form and instead recommit to a public process that values both efficiency and robust participation.

Sincerely,
Eve Lopez
Attorney
Santa Monica Resident
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Phil <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 10:41 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Ellis Raskin; Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; [email protected] Subject: Please Vote NO on Agenda Item 12A Protect Our Neighborhood and Public Voice Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor and City Councilmembers,
I am writing as a concerned Santa Monica resident of 35 years to respectfully urge you to vote NO on all five proposals included in Agenda Item 12A 5/13/2025. These proposals would have a lasting and detrimental impact on the character, safety, and livability of our community.

Here’s why I strongly oppose Agenda Item 12A:

1. SB 79 – Overdevelopment Without Oversight
Allowing apartment and condo towers up to 15 stories tall within a 1⁄2 mile of any transit stop, including an ever-growing number of bus stops, would invite unchecked overdevelopment, congestion and safety issues. This bill prioritizes developers over residents and undermines local control.

2. Eliminating the Owner-Occupancy Requirement for Lot Splits This change would accelerate speculative real estate activity in single-family neighborhoods, eroding community stability and transforming residential areas into zones apartment zones.

4. Upzoning 1331 Wilshire and 2644 30th Street
These proposals set a dangerous precedent for out-of-scale development in sensitive areas. Upzoning without community input disregards the values and concerns of surrounding residents.

Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
2 Santa Monica residents will not stand by! We will demand full accountability and ensure these matters are thoroughly investigated by the appropriate oversight authorities.

Each of these proposals benefits large developers, not the everyday residents, like myself, who live, work, and raise families in Santa Monica. We are facing serious challenges in public safety, infrastructure, and affordability by handing over our city to speculative interests will only worsen these problems.

Please stand with the residents of Santa Monica, not special interests. Vote NO on Agenda Item 2A.

Sincerely,
Philip Cass
To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.

Phil Cass
Actor/Photographer
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0143920/?ref_=nv_sr_2
www.PhilCassPhotography.com
(310) 804-9843
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: MarieHernandez <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 10:31 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Meeting 5.13.24 Vote NO on Agenda Item 12A & 4K Protect Our Neighborhood and Public Voice

Here’s why I strongly oppose Agenda Item 12A:

1. SB 79 – Overdevelopment Without Oversight
Allowing apartment and condo towers up to 15 stories tall within a 1Ú2 mile of any transit stop, including an ever-growing number of bus stops, would invite unchecked overdevelopment, congestion and safety issues. This bill prioritizes developers over residents and undermines local control.

4. Upzoning 1331 Wilshire and 2644 30th Street
These proposals set a dangerous precedent for out-of-scale development in sensitive areas.

Upzoning without community input disregards the values and concerns of surrounding residents. This intersection is already congested and will have 2 corners of up zoned development that will further congest and create a traffic nightmare on this crucial artery. STOP making this city unlivable!
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
2 5. Reducing Public Speaking Time at Council Meetings
Limiting residents’ ability to speak and removing time donations further diminishes public participation in our democracy. Santa Monica deserves more transparency and engagement, not less.

Please stand with the residents of Santa Monica, not special interests. Vote NO on Agenda Item 12A.

Sincerely,
Marie Hernandez
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Luba Rosenblum <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 10:49 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: ITEMS 10A, 4J, 4K, 5/13/25 - OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
I would like to voice my strong opposition to items 10A, 4J and 4K being discussed by the City Council.

Why in the world would residents want to live in a city where people can hang out drunk at the local promenade, where large buildings can be built without an environmental impact study and where citizens' rights to voice their opinions is being curtailed? This is a residential neighborhood, not the strip in Las Vegas. This seems like a very clear, wrong direction for the future of this city.

Thank you,
Luba Rosenblum
--
Luba Rosenblum, MS, RDN
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist | Pacific Nutrition Partners 310.486.3901
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Brenda Anderson <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 10:42 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: ITEM 10A - 5/13/25 - OPPOSE; ITEM 4J - 5/13/25 - OPPOSE; ITEM 4K - 5/13/25 - OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
The items above are, in my opinion, proposals that should not be approved, nor even considered.

Open alcohol consumption is a terrible idea. Please do not approve this. Also, The development proposal is also not in alignment with good sense.

Brenda Anderson
475 24th Street
Santa Monica 90402
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Paula Mayerson <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 9:51 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Oppose Items 4J & 10A & 4K

EXTERNAL
As long time residents of Santa Monica we oppose resolutions 10A, 4J and 4K on the agenda for this week's city council meeting. Resolution 10A will increase crime and noise in the already unsafe and over crowded Promenade. Item 4J allows developers to over build large, expensive, tall structures without being subject to the rules ordinary citizens must obey, and Item 4K silences dissent from ordinary citizens who are already frustrated by not having their voices heard. The city council should represent the wishes of their residents. Paula Mayerson and Lawrence Karr 445 15th Street, Santa Monica Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
2 David Yakobson
From: M Wickline <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 8:01 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Marcy Hardart
Subject: OPPOSE Items 4J, 4K, and 10A

EXTERNAL
This is insanity--to allow developers to build these large buildings without formal review or environmental impact studies. It is wrongheaded and smells of corruption.

And then, to limit our ability to speak and comment on these changes at city meetings? What is happening to Santa Monica?
And you also want to allow day drinking in public in the 1200 block of the promenade!? It would be one thing to allow cafe tables assigned to licensed restaurants to serve beverages within 20 feet of the bistro or bar. But turning the whole block into a party zone? For some kind of daily 8 am frat party? Were you raving drunk when you put this item up for review? 8am to 2 am drinking in a public space. I at least thank you for allowing nearby residents some quiet time to recover for 6 hours between the 2 and 8 am block parties. Maybe some part of you does still care about residents! PLEASE do not let these outrages to go through.

Matt Wickline
( resident since 1990 )

Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Suzanne Hunt <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 9:36 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: OPPOSE 4J, OPPOSE 4K, OPPOSE 10A, OPPOSE 12A

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council,
I am resident of the Northeast Neighborhood. Please stop the overbuilding, we cannot get from point A to point B in this city any more in any reasonable time frame. Since the fires, all of the PCH traffic is diverted through our town that used to go north through PCH. This city is becoming unlivable. We have small children, and just getting them home from school can take 20-30 minutes. They have practices in our city, that takes 45 minutes round trip just to cross through the city.

Focus on our residents. Stop putting these builders profits ahead of all of those who live here.

OPPOSE 4J
Stop the overbuilding. We do not need to weigh in on this bill. Leave our city alone, you are ruining it.

OPPOSE 4K -
The public deserves to have a voice in their city.

OPPOSE 10A - Promenade Entertainment Zone.

If you stopped the free needle exchange program, many of these businesses problems would be solved. People are afraid to dine in our city with the mental health crisis that we have with many of our homeless. Help get the homeless to somewhere they can be safe and live.

OPPOSE 12A - End Owner Occupancy Requirement
STOP THE OVERBUILDING. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

Thank you
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
3 David Yakobson
From: Daniel Galamba <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 9:12 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; Daniel Galamba
Subject: City Council Meeting on May 13, 2025: Please oppose items 4J, 12A, 10A and 4K

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council,
I must urge you to oppose items 4J, 12A, 10A and 4K on the May 13, 2025 calendar. 1) Agenda Item 4J – Support letter from SM for SB 79 - OPPOSE SB79 would allow 7-story market rate apartment towers in almost all of Santa Monica without offering any affordable housing.
2) Agenda Item 12A – End Owner Occupancy Requirement in SB9 - OPPOSE The owner occupancy requirement in SB9 was meant to encourage multi-generational housing. Removing it will open up neighborhoods to land speculators.
3) Agenda Item 10A – Promenade Entertainment Zone – OPPOSE This ordinance would allow open alcohol consumption on The Promenade in the 1200 block (Wilshire end) from 8am to 2am, 7 days a week. How will this do anything other than increase noise, public drunkenness, and mayhem, costing taxpayers more money for security and sanitation? This will also scare away non-alcohol users to the Promenade and we need these people to revitalize the Promenade. 4) Agenda Item 4K – Public Input Rules - OPPOSE
This Agenda Item seeks to limit comments from the public to 2 minutes per public input section, rather than 2 minutes on each agenda item. It will automatically reduce public comment to 1 minute each if 25 or more people sign up to speak. It also eliminates the ability to donate time to a single speaker, which is helpful when there is someone who best represents a group and has a more complicated presentation that requires more than 2 minutes.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Dr Daniel Galamba
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Laura M. Gallant <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 9:36 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; [email protected]
Subject: Regarding upcoming votes on development issues

EXTERNAL
Dear council members,
I understand you are considering the following items in an upcoming meeting:
* Removing Owner Occupancy Requirement for single-family lot splits * Eliminating public input on commercial development
* Upzoning of 2644 30th St (30th/Ocean Park Blvd)
* Approving SB79
* Changing the length of public input at Council meetings I am strongly opposed to the actions above and ask you to take the residents' opinions into consideration ahead of your vote. These actions run highly counter to the views of residents of Sunset Park and require meaningful discussion ahead of any changes.

Thank you for your consideration.

Laura Gallant
Resident
2225 26th St, Santa Monica
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: T GROSSMAN <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 10:19 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Cc: [email protected]; zinajosephs; [email protected] Subject: Say no! Re council agenda items for May 13

EXTERNAL
Hello, I'm writing to voice my strong opposition to the following items on your agenda tonight and asking you to vote no to:

Owner Occupancy Requirement Removal
Elimination of public input on commercial development
Changing the length of public input and abolishing time donation at Council Mtgs Changing zoning (upzoning) of 30th Street/Ocean Park parcel SB78 housing bill
There is a public perception the council is encouraging the destruction of our neighborhoods in favor of overdevelopment. What will you do to demonstrate your support of our neighborhoods, residents and livable communities? Say no to the five items listed above.

District elections are coming and for some of us, not soon enough. Residents will still be here, fighting for our environment and the communities that make Santa Monica vibrant and a place to truly call home.

Thank you,
Tina Grossman
Resident of Sunset Park since 1992
Resident of Santa Monica since 1979
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Dustin Shahan <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 10:20 AM
To: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya
Cc: councilmtgitems
Subject: Consideration for item K

EXTERNAL
Councilmembers,
I generally support Item K's efforts to streamline public input, but recommend considering whether to keep the ability to donate time to other speakers. In past meetings with substantial discussion, this donation has allowed large groups to nominate a single speaker on their behalf. In addition to reducing the total time for 20+ people to stand up to repeat a quick talking point, this seemed to allow for a more nuanced discussion from the individual that could best articulate their view. The overall time permitted is already capped at 6 minutes.

Thank you,
Dustin Shahan
90401
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
2 David Yakobson
From: Abby Adams <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 10:16 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Ellis Raskin; Jesse Zwick
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Time donation at least provides some measure of protection against having our voices silenced. It is helpful when one person wants to amplify the message of another, or if someone feels nervous to speak in front of a crowd but still has an important POV and will allow someone else to speak for them. Limiting our ability to speak by abolishing time donation - especially in a moment in time when we face increasingly harsh crackdowns on speech from the current federal administration - feels like the wrong solution to meeting length issues. Speaking publicly is the only way that we can know for sure that Council Members hear resident’s voices on important matters.

Thank you,
Abby and Patrick Adams
475 17th Street
SM. 90402
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
3 David Yakobson
From: Linda V <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 10:01 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: AGENDA ITEM 4K -PUBLIC INPUT RULE - OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
Council Members:

I am OPPOSED to Item 4K.

Per information from NOMA:

This item changes the rules of Public Comment with elaborate restrictions on how long you can speak to City Council.

The board of North of Montana Association summed it up perfectly: “the more upset we are with their actions, the more people who care enough to show up, the less time we will have to speak.”
This Agenda Item seeks to limit comments from the public to 2 minutes per public input section, rather than 2 minutes on each agenda item. It will automatically reduce public comment to 1 minute each if 25 or more people sign up to speak. It also eliminates the ability to donate time to a single speaker, which is helpful when there is someone who best represents a group and has a more complicated presentation that requires more than 2 minutes.

This is unacceptable to me as a citizen of Santa Monica. How will you know and understand our feelings without public comments.

Linda Velonis
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
4 David Yakobson
From: Leslie Butchko <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 9:37 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: 5/13/25 Agenda Item 4K – Public Input Rules - OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
Dear Council Members,
5/13/25 Agenda Item 4K – Public Input Rules - OPPOSE
Leslie Butchko
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
5 David Yakobson
From: Ann Maggio <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 9:14 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: ITEM 4K - OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
Dear Insane-a-Monica Council,
NO. Contrary to your beliefs, Insane-a-Monica is not a fiefdom and you are neither Lords nor Ladies.

Ann Maggio Thanawalla
"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth." - Albert Einstein Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
6 David Yakobson
From: Elizabeth Lerer <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 9:07 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Item #4.K. - Council Rules of Procedure - May 13, 2025

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,
Please OPPOSE changing procedures that restricts residents from giving useful public comments during Council meetings.

Thank you,
Elizabeth Lerer
Santa Monica resident
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
7 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 9:01 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Agenda Item 4K – Public Input Rules – OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
Dear Council Members,
I oppose Agenda Item 4K.

Thank you for considering my opinion for Santa Monica
John Dahl
Santa Monica Resident
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
8 David Yakobson
From: Darko Suvak <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 9:21 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; [email protected]
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE! Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Darko Suvak
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Josephine <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 10:46 PM
To: councilmtgitems

EXTERNAL
Hi to all the city council people,
I want to express my strong opposition to several of the agenda to be discussed at your meeting on may 13, 2025, namely:

The item 4J for SB 9, the item 12A for SB 9, and the item 4K concerning the public input.

My hope is that the decisions made by the city council will be made in the interest of the residents.

Thank you for your attention
Josephine Bakis
2808 Washington Avenue
Santa Monic
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Lee Rosenbaum <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 5:18 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Opposition to several agenda items for May 13 Council Meeting

EXTERNAL
Dear Councilmembers:

Please note that, as a longtime Santa Monica resident, I disapprove of three items on your agenda for your meeting tomorrow:

1. Item 10A - Promenade Entertainment Zone. This looks like a Hail, Mary to save the Promenade.

It’s a terrible idea. It encourages open drinking for 18 hours a day in an area that most residents have come to shun due to the substantial presence of vagrants who mostly appear to have serious addiction or mental health issues. As I said, this is a terrible idea.

2. Item 4J - Letter of Support on SB 79. Why support a give-away to developers with no requirement that they provide affordable housing? Another terrible idea.

3. Item 4K - Change in Public Input Rules. At a time when we are witnessing attacks on public citizens who dare to speak out in opposition to government at all levels, limiting the ability of the public to speak at Council meetings is a retrograde attack on the democratic process. Another terrible idea.

I sincerely hope that you have the good sense to reject all three of these proposals.

Lee Rosenbaum
211 Marguerita Avenue
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
2 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 6:27 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: I OPPOSE three agenda items on Tues 5-13-25 Meeting: 1) ITEM 10A - Promenade Entertainment Zone; 2) ITEM 4J - Letter of Support on SB 79; and 3) ITEM 4K - Change in Public Input Rules

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica Council Members,
I strongly oppose three agenda items on Tuesday, 5-13-25 MeeƟng: 1) ITEM 10A - Promenade Entertainment Zone; 2) ITEM 4J - LeƩer of Support on SB 79; and 3) ITEM 4K - Change in Public Input Rules.

Agenda ITEM 10A is a terrible idea and I believe it will cause many problems and safety issues on the Promenade and will not encourage more people to visit the Promenade. I want the Promenade to be a safe place and this will not help with that. I am strongly against ITEM 4J as I oppose taller structures in general and do not like that affordable housing would not be included. I oppose ITEM 4K as it’s a bad idea to limit public comment—it’s important to get adequate public feedback that’s not limited to such a short Ɵme.

Thank you,
Howard Eliash
LongƟme Resident of Santa Monica
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 5:56 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Hi

EXTERNAL
Hello Counsel Members, Item 4J, and 4k as a member of the city - I encourage you all to OPPOSE these two items - oppose high rise and population density, and the public needs adequate time to express their view before he counsel.

Mitchell Lachamn
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Nancy HR <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 2:40 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Oppose!

EXTERNAL
To the city of Santa Monica council:

I, Nancy Hochman Ross, who live at 616 20th St., Santa Monica 90402, oppose items 4J, 12A and 4K.

Thank you,
Nancy
Sent from my iPhone
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
2 David Yakobson
From: Michele Garber <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 1:09 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: [email protected]; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: SM Council Meeting 5/13/25, OPPOSE AGENDA ITEMS 4J, 12A, 4K

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council Members,
It has come to my attention that on Tuesday, May 13, you will be voting on several issues that if passed will adversely affect the members of our community. I therefore want to respectively submit my firm opposition to these harmful policies. If approved, they will only benefit outside interests at the severe detriment of Santa Monica residents and further damage our already fragile quality of life.

As a nearly 40 year resident of Santa Monica, I have witnessed first-hand the slow degradation of our once affordable, safe and peaceful bedroom community. Our bucolic neighborhoods are now rife with over-development, congestion, crime, and unaffordability. It’s heart-breaking.

Allowing these measures to pass will exacerbate our already complex issues. When each of you were elected to your seat, the members of this community instilled our trust in you to fairly and properly represent us. Our community needs you to do right by us. I implore you to listen to your constituents and please vote no on the measures listed below.

Agenda Item 4J – Support letter from SM for SB 79 – OPPOSE Agenda Item 12A – End Owner Occupancy Requirement in SB9 – OPPOSE Agenda Item 4K – Public Input Rules – OPPOSE
As a further comment on SB79 and the possibility that 7-story apartment buildings could ostensibly be built throughout Santa Monica, including in many neighborhoods once zoned for single family homes, may I remind you that we are neither Chicago nor Manhattan. Not only do we not have the infrastructure to handle this density, but we are located in a perilous and severe seismic activity zone. We are not meant to have high-rise apartments throughout our residential neighborhoods. There is absolutely no amount of profit worth destroying all that makes Santa Monica special…and I voice this passionate opposition whilst also being a diehard free-market capitalist. If approved, the measures you are considering will surely cause irreparable harm to our beloved city. Please do not approve these measures.

Sincerely,
Michele Garber
1128 Princeton St.

SM 90403
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
3 David Yakobson
From: Linda Karr O'Connor <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 10:15 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; [email protected]
Subject: Items 12:A.2, 4-J, 4-K: Oppose

EXTERNAL
Dear Council Members:

It’s gotten difficult to find a quiet, safe place in Santa Monica. I moved here from San Francisco in 1983 after a 4 story building went up next door to me, blocking all my light and air. That was the year the pier blew down. When it was rebuilt, the pier was a lovely place to walk and listen to the ocean. The only loud section was the arcade near the rides.

Now, there isn’t a single spot on the pier where you can have a conversation, free of over-amplified music and proselytizing. Same with the Promenade. After years of construction, it became a wonderful place where I felt safe walking at night alone or with my daughter. I’d go to a movie and then to the Midnight Special bookstore. There were buskers, but they didn’t have amplifiers. Now not only is it over-amplified but desolate. Is turning it into Pinnocchio’s Pleasure Island for drinkers really the best we can imagine for our city?

What we are left with is our homes. After decades of apartment living, where I had to listen to the conversations and music of other people and keep my own music down, we bought our one and only home in Sunset Park. It was very important to us that it was zoned R-1. I prize the ability, even though I live on a busy street, to go in my backyard and not have neighbors looking down into my yard. I value the light in my home that is not blocked by tall buildings next door. Yes, I had to endure my neighbor turning his house into an AirBnB hotel, but at least he was there when things got out of hand.

I oppose: the elimination of the “Owner Occupancy Requirement” for lot splits I oppose: SB79
I oppose: changing the length of public input. People need sufficient time to express complex ideas including time donation.

Thank you.

Linda Karr O’Connor
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
4 David Yakobson
From: Jason Moore <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 6:13 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: OPPOSE ITEMS 10A, 4J, 4K

EXTERNAL
Please oppose -
Item 10A - This is a horrible proposal and will do nothing but create more chaos on the promenade thanks to an already out of control homeless crisis.

Item 4J - Please oppose this giveaway to developers.

Item 4k - Please oppose the change in public input rules. We deserve the right to show up to meetings and provide our comments, this should not be shortened, and the City Council works for the residents of Santa Monica, and please respect that.

Thank you
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Marcy Hardart <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 9:10 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: ITEM 4K - Change in Public Input Rules, 5/13/25 OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
This is clearly an effort to stifle the voice of the residents of Santa Monica. Yes, I understand that meetings get long, but free speech is SO important, now more than ever. The people of the city need to be able to make our voices heard.

Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: girltunes <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 1:19 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: OPPOSE Agenda Items: 4J, 12A, 10A, and 4K

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council,
I stand with Northeast Neighbors in OPPOSING Agenda Items 4J, 12A, 10A and 4K.

When are you going to actually represent the residents? We don't want a high rise, shadowy. overdeveloped urban jungle with no open space and scarce resources. And your gag rule in Item 4K exemplifies your hostility to Santa Monicans.

Sincerely,
Ferris Gluck
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
2 David Yakobson
From: Rose Nelson <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 10:39 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: OPPOSE Agenda items 4J, 12A, 10A,4K meeting 5/13/25 I OPPOSE these items

EXTERNAL
I oppose the agenda items as noted in subject line.

Rose Nelson
35 year Santa Monica resident
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
3 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 9:24 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: 4j - 12a - 10a - 4k

EXTERNAL
Hello
I’m writing you today to express my opposition of the following items - 4j - 12a - 10a - 4k.

I am a lifelong Santa Monica resident, born and raised attending Santa Monica schools. Roosevelt, Lincoln, samo high and crossroads.

My grandparents moved to Santa Monica in the 50s - you’d be hard pressed to find a resident with deeper roots here than myself.

I love this city very much.

With that I ask you to please oppose these actions items.

Public drinking all day long on the promenade does not help us restore what was once the envy of the country for family entertainment.

Nor does building 7 story apartments buildings in our beautiful residential neighborhoods.

Thank you
Jared Freedman
Sent from my iPhone
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
4 David Yakobson
From: Carol Dickinson <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 9:09 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 0PP0SE Items 12A, 4J, 4K & 10A at City Council Meeting 5/13/25

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete and City Councilmembers,
I oppose Item 12A and its 5 development proposals that would ruin our city forever. Items 4J and 4K are included in12A along with the up-zoning of 1331 Wilshire and 2644 30th Street, the elimination of public input on commercial developments and the end to owner occupancy requirements for single-family lot splits.

SB 79 is a terrible bill that will ruin single-family and small multi-family neighborhoods. There are no requirements in the bill for affordable housing, public input or environmental impact studies. The developers will have a feeding frenzy! Residents are not in favor of SB 79 Developers are.

Item 10A is an absolute joke! Only alcoholics drink at 8:00 in the morning. The result will be public drunkenness, more criminal acts and chaos. At present, we do not have enough police officers in our neighborhoods. With public alcohol consumption going on between 8:00 A.M. and 2:00 A.M., we will have even less officers available.

I doubt that the atmosphere will be very inviting for families. In reality, more tourists will be attracted to the Promenade if it’s clean and safe and not overrun with homeless people instead of shoppers.

Lastly, what is the point of Item 4K besides stifling public comments? You would think that these new time limits were proposed by the MAGA crew and Trump. Please represent your constituents and vote NO on items 12A, 4J, 10A and 4K.

Sincerely,
Carol Dickinson
1030 25th Street
Santa Monica
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: S Ruth <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 7:11 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: City Council Agenda Items 4J - OPPOSE, Item 12A - OPPOSE, Item 10A - OPPOSE, Item4K - OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
My family and I STRONGLY OPPOSE the following measures before the City Council on Tuesday, May 13, 2024:
 Agenda Item 4J – Support letter from SM for SB 79 - OPPOSE  Agenda Item 12A – End Owner Occupancy Requirement in SB9 - OPPOSE  Agenda Item 10A – Promenade Entertainment Zone – OPPOSE While I am not opposed to the idea in concept, the Council needs to consider limited locations, security and hours. This could be a nightmare if not properly monitored and controlled. It also needs to be an asset for the existing small businesses, not an additional liability.
 Agenda Item 4K – Public Input Rules - OPPOSE
Best Regards,
Steve Ruth
1501 Georgina Ave, Santa Monica
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Richard Robin <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 7:11 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Oppose

EXTERNAL
Agenda Item 4J – Support letter from SM for SB 79 - OPPOSE Agenda Item 12A – End Owner Occupancy Requirement in SB9 - OPPOSE Agenda Item 10A – Promenade Entertainment Zone – OPPOSE Agenda Item 4K – Public Input Rules - OPPOSE
Richard Robin
818-621-3964
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Adeena Karsseboom Fitterman <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 7:33 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: 5/13/2025 Agenda Item 4K – Public Input Rules - OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
I OPPOSE AGENDA ITEM 4K - PUBLIC INPUT RULES
To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.

Adeena K. Fitterman
Estates Director
310.991.8166
[email protected]
9440 Santa Monica Blvd, PH | Beverly Hills CA. 90210
carolwoodre.com
DRE 02012059
The content of this email is confidential and intended for the recipient specified in message only. It is strictly forbidden to share any part of this message with any third party, without a written consent of the sender. If you received this message by mistake, please reply to this message and follow with its deletion, so that we can ensure such a mistake does not occur in the future.

Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
2 David Yakobson
From: Gary Freedman <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 6:06 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Agenda Item 4K-May 13 Meeting--OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
To Whom It May Concern
We are 50+ year residents of Santa Monica.

This Item reads like a Trumpian proposal. Shut off democracy.

Why would a Council that prides itself on being inclusive want to limit public discussion and public participation?
Shame shame shame.

Sincerely,
Donna and Gary Freedman
533 9th Street
Santa Monica 90402
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
3 David Yakobson
From: Ellen Mark <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 12:32 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Lana Negrete; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Caroline Torosis; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Fwd: Agenda Item 4k -5/13/25 - OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:

From: Ellen Mark <[email protected]>
Date: May 13, 2025 at 12:30:04 AM PDT
To: [email protected]
Subject: Agenda Item 4k -5/13/25 - OPPOSE
Dear Councilmembers,
I oppose Agenda Item 4K. Public speakers should be allowed 2 minutes per Agenda Item to voice their opinions.

Sincerely,
Ellen Mark
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
4 David Yakobson
From: Ellen Mark <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 12:30 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda Item 4k -5/13/25 - OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
Dear Councilmembers,
I oppose Agenda Item 4K. Public speakers should be allowed 2 minutes per Agenda Item to voice their opinions.

Sincerely,
Ellen Mark
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
5 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 12:14 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Agenda Item 4K on 5/13/25 -- OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council Members,
Please do NOT support Agenda Item 4K on 5/13/25. Let’s not damage or ruin this city with this ill-conceived proposal.

Thank you,
Kirk & Nan Borcherding
residents
924 25th Street
Santa Monica
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
6 David Yakobson
From: Nikki Kolhoff <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 12:12 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; [email protected]
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

Currently 2-minute time limits (sometimes already shortened to 1-minute on a busy night) exist for any member of the public to comment verbally on an agenda item (with a maximum of 6-minutes total of speaking time per meeting). When many policy decisions get combined into single items on the agenda, we are already severely limited in our ability to address them, simply because of the maximum time limits on our total speech. Time donation at least provides some measure of protection against having our voices silenced. It is helpful when one person wants to amplify the message of another, or if someone feels nervous to speak in front of a crowd but still has an important POV and will allow someone else to speak for them.

Limiting our ability to speak by abolishing time donation - especially in a moment in time when we face increasingly harsh crackdowns on speech from the current federal administration - feels like the wrong solution to meeting length issues. Speaking publicly is the only way that we can know for sure that Council Members hear resident’s voices on important matters.

Thank you,
Nikki Kolhoff
Santa Monica Resident
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
7 David Yakobson
From: Elizabeth Van Denburgh <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 11:50 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: City Council Mtg. 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Elizabeth Van Denburgh
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
8 David Yakobson
From: George Ferrell <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 10:54 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; [email protected]
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members:

I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments. While I understand and appreciate that this item is being considered as part of a goal to shorten the length of Council meetings, which often run late into the night, time donation is an important part of our collective ability to make certain points and speak coherently as a group. Currently 2-minute time limits (sometimes already shortened to 1-minute on a busy night) exist for any member of the public to comment verbally on an agenda item (with a maximum of 6-minutes total of speaking time per meeting). When many policy decisions get combined into single items on the agenda, we are already severely limited in our ability to address them, simply because of the maximum time limits on our total speech. Time donation at least provides some measure of protection against having our voices silenced. It is helpful when one person wants to amplify the message of another, or if someone feels nervous to speak in front of a crowd but still has an important POV and will allow someone else to speak for them. Limiting our ability to speak by abolishing time donation - especially in a moment in time when we face increasingly harsh crackdowns on speech from the current federal administration - feels like the wrong solution to meeting length issues. Speaking publicly is the only way that we can know for sure that Council Members hear resident’s voices on important matters.

Thank you,
George Ferrell
338 15th St
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
9 David Yakobson
From: George Ferrell <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 10:53 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; [email protected]
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members:

Thank you,
Peggy Ferrell
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
10 David Yakobson
From: Sue Edwards <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 10:23 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Item 4-K. OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
OPPOSE
Sue Edwards
428 - 15th St.
90402
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
11 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 10:17 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Jesse Zwick; Lana Negrete; Natalya Zernitskaya
Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: FOSP: 5/13 Council agenda item 4-K -- Limiting public input -- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
May 12, 2025

To; Mayor Negrete and Council members

From: Board of Directors, Friends of Sunset Park

RE: 5/13/25 agenda item 4-K -- Limiting Public Input -- OPPOSE!

"Members of the public will no longer be able to donate their time to another speaker."

The FOSP Board opposes the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

What is the rationale for this proposed change?
While we understand and appreciate the goal of shortening the length of Council meetings, which often run late into the night, time donation is an important part of our collective ability to make certain points and speak coherently as a group.

As a fairly new Council, you may not realize that the time limit used to be 3 minutes.

Currently, 2-minute time limits (sometimes already shortened to 1-minute on a busy night) exist for any member of the public to comment verbally on an agenda item (with a maximum of 6-minutes total of speaking time per meeting).

When many policy decisions get combined into single items on the agenda, we are already severely limited in our ability to address them, simply because of the maximum time limits on our total speech.

Limiting our ability to speak by abolishing time donation - especially in a moment in time when we face increasingly harsh crackdowns on speech from the current federal administration - feels like the wrong solution to issues of meeting length. Speaking publicly is the only way that we can know for sure that Council members hear residents' voices on important matters.

Again, the FOSP Board opposes the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
12 Thank you for your consideration.

Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
13 David Yakobson
From: Ralph Barton <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 10:12 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Agenda Item 4K – 5/12/2025 - "Public Input Rules" - OPPOSE - So you're tired of hearing from those who voted for you? Yes, Comrade.... geesh.....

EXTERNAL
This item is INSULTING. You continuously jam all these totally unbalanced “pro-housing” (which IF balanced is a great and needed thing) city laws and ordinances wrapped as a giant gift to your developer buddies. So now you just want to vote an limit our input? Are we a burden to your own agenda ? No growth is not good, we need more housing, but not 70 foot buildings next to single story family homes. That’s the entire point of zoning the PLANNING part with PUBLIC COMMENT and input from the people it actually aƯects.

How about actually having a real zoning plan? 4 story apartments can turn into 6 story apartments, 2 story apartments can turn into 4 story apartments. Provide incentives or looser rules on ADUs, I have tried to do one but the rules are so restrictive it’s not worth me spending $350,000 to build a 1,000 ft unit.

I know being a councilperson is not an easy job but this item 4K and 4J are just flat out intellectual laziness. CA is a HUGE state and can’t possibly work if we treat every city the same AND STIFLE THE VOICES THAT YOU DON’T WANT TO HEAR.

Ralph Barton
908 26th St.

Santa Monica, CA
Ralph
_______________________________
Ralph G. Barton, Jr. (Mobile) 310-633-4963 (Fax) 310-564-7577 Bring the Joy®
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Manhattan Beach,CA – Torrance,CA - Costa Mesa,CA – Mission Viejo,CA Roseville,CA – Folsom,CA - Newton,MA
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
14 David Yakobson
From: Dannie Charney <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 9:21 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fwd: AGENA ITEM 4K-PUBLIC INPUT RULES -OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Dannie Charney <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, May 12, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Subject: Fwd: AGENA ITEM 4K-PUBLIC INPUT RULES -OPPOSE
To: <[email protected]>
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Dannie Charney <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, May 12, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Subject: AGENA ITEM 4K-PUBLIC INPUT RULES -OPPOSE
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Cc: <[email protected]>, lana.negrete <[email protected]>, Ellis Raskin <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, Jesse Zwick <[email protected]>
"Adding insult to injury, this item changes the rules of Public Comment with elaborate restrictions on how long you can speak to the City Council.

The board of North of Montana Association summed it up perfectly: “the more upset we are with their actions, the more people who care enough to show up, the less time we will have to speak.” This Agenda Item seeks to limit comments from the public to 2 minutes per public input section, rather than 2 minutes on each agenda item. It will automatically reduce public comment to 1 minute each if 25 or more people sign up to speak. It also eliminates the ability to donate time to a single speaker, which is helpful when there is someone who best represents a group and has a more complicated presentation that requires more than 2 minutes." WHY NOT JUST START ARRESTING PEOPLE? SEEMS LIKE THAT IS WHO YOU ARE- WHY LISTEN WHEN YOU HAVE ALREADY DECIDED ON AN ITEM - SO SOLD OUT YOU ARE ..

Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
15 SO TIRED OF IT... JUST QUIET PEOPLE - YOU DON'T CARE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ANYWAY..

HOW ABOUT HAVING CLOSED SESSIONS ON ANOTHER DAY..THAT WOULD SURE HELP

DANIELLE CHARNEY
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
16 David Yakobson
From: Dannie Charney <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 9:19 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fwd: AGENA ITEM 4K-PUBLIC INPUT RULES -OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Dannie Charney <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, May 12, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Subject: AGENA ITEM 4K-PUBLIC INPUT RULES -OPPOSE
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Cc: <[email protected]>, lana.negrete <[email protected]>, Ellis Raskin <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, Jesse Zwick <[email protected]>
"Adding insult to injury, this item changes the rules of Public Comment with elaborate restrictions on how long you can speak to the City Council.

The board of North of Montana Association summed it up perfectly: “the more upset we are with their actions, the more people who care enough to show up, the less time we will have to speak.” This Agenda Item seeks to limit comments from the public to 2 minutes per public input section, rather than 2 minutes on each agenda item. It will automatically reduce public comment to 1 minute each if 25 or more people sign up to speak. It also eliminates the ability to donate time to a single speaker, which is helpful when there is someone who best represents a group and has a more complicated presentation that requires more than 2 minutes." WHY NOT JUST START ARRESTING PEOPLE? SEEMS LIKE THAT IS WHO YOU ARE- WHY LISTEN WHEN YOU HAVE ALREADY DECIDED ON AN ITEM - SO SOLD OUT YOU ARE ..

SO TIRED OF IT... JUST QUIET PEOPLE - YOU DON'T CARE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ANYWAY..

HOW ABOUT HAVING CLOSED SESSIONS ON ANOTHER DAY..THAT WOULD SURE HELP

DANIELLE CHARNEY
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
17 David Yakobson
From: Bea Nemlaha <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 9:16 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 5/13/25 Agenda 4K - Public Input Rules - OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
Council,
You work hard, you devote many late hours to Council work and many more hours the public never sees. Your wish to minimize late night sessions through limited public input is understandable.

But minimizing public input is wrong. The proposed new rules will isolate you from your constituents, the people you are elected to serve.

Perhaps creating a resident task force charged with proposing several alternatives might be a better approach.

NO on Agenda Item 4K – Public Input Rules
Bea Nemlaha
Ocean Park
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
18 David Yakobson
From: Olga Milosavljevic <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 8:43 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: 4K, 5/13/25 - OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
I opposed limiting our voices. We elected you and yet we see patterns of voting that is not representative of Santa Monica residents but of mystery personal interests - case in point Zwick's support of 4J. Perhaps there's an explanation but if we're not able to sufficiently participate in council meetings, ask questions and get explanations to hold council members accountable - why do we have elections? a periodic rubber stamp?
I oppose in the strongest terms 4K
/Olga
--
Olga Milosavljevic
[email protected]
What we have before us are some breathtaking opportunities disguised as insoluble problems -- John W.

Gardner 1965
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
19 David Yakobson
From: William Schoene <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 8:17 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; [email protected] Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, We are concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

While we understand and appreciate that this item is being considered as part of a goal to shorten the length of Council meetings, which often run late into the night, time donation is an important part of our collective ability to make certain points and speak coherently as a group.

Thank you,
William and Mary Lou Schoene
1519 Oak Street
Santa Monica 90405
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
20 David Yakobson
From: Karen Freedman <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 8:11 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Agenda item 4K, 5/13/2025

EXTERNAL
Please accept this email as an official declaration of my opposition to Agenda Item 4K. I want my opposition included in the official record.

Thank you,
Karen Freedman
Santa Monica 90402
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
21 David Yakobson
From: Rachel Harms <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 8:08 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Agenda Item 4K 5/13/25 – Public Input Rules - OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council Members
I am a 30 year resident of Santa Monica. In a time when public engagement has never been more important, it is shocking to witness this blatant attempt to limit and stifle public comment.

I strongly oppose this rule change that would repress the voices of our citizens and severely limit opportunities for them to express their views directly to you. As our representatives, you should be encouraging public comment rather than making it obsolete or meaningless. These severe restrictions would do just that.

Sincerely,
Rachel Harms
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
22 David Yakobson
From: Vivien Flitton <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 8:03 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Agenda Item 4K – Public Input Rules - OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
Sincerely,
Vivien Flitton
Santa Monica Resident
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
23 David Yakobson
From: Tricia Crane <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 7:51 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Elaine Polachek; Douglas Sloan
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Council Agenda Item 4K – Public Input Rules - OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
To: City Council
From: Northeast Neighbors
Re Agenda Item 4K - OPPOSE further restrictions on public input Councilmembers,
Agenda item 4K to limit Public Comment is deeply disturbing to longtime residents like myself because it takes us further and further away from public engagement. When I first moved to Santa Monica the Council meetings were opportunities for genuine exchanges between the residents and the Councilmembers.

Back then, there was no automatic timer that shut off when a member of the public had hit the one-minute or two-minute limit. Instead, if your time was up and you were midsentence the mayor would invite you to complete the sentence.

On some occasions a Councilmember might ask you a question and this engagement really contributed to the discussion that followed.

It was – looking back – a very different relationship between the elected officials and the community. We were not just spectators.

We should not allow further erosion of our local democracy.

Tricia Crane and the Board of Northeast Neighbors
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
24 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 7:21 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: AGENDA ITEM 4K Public Input Rules 5/13/25 - OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
We need more Police and a SubStation in the Promenade, not an Entertainment Zone.

AGENDA ITEM 4J-Support Letter from SM for SB 70 5/13/25 - OPPOSE AGENDA ITEM 12A-End Owner Accompany Requirement in SB9- 5/13/25 - OPPOSE AGENDA ITEM 10A-Promenade Entertainment Zone - 5/13/25 - OPPOSE AGENDA ITEM 4K Public Input Rules 5/13/25 - OPPOSE
30 Year SM Resident and Homeowner
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
25 David Yakobson
From: Heather Thomason <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 7:12 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; Friends of Sunset Park
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- Oppose

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

As someone who has very recently gotten engaged on several issues for the city, I have learned personally that Council meetings are often quite long. I have much respect for how much work and time you all put into Santa Monica, and don't want to take up any more of your time than is necessary.

But it seems to me that time donation is an important part of our collective ability to make certain points and speak coherently as a group.

Time donation is helpful when one person wants to amplify the message of another, or if someone feels nervous to speak in front of a crowd but still has an important POV and will allow someone else to speak for them.

Also, doesn't having one person speak for many actually reduce public comment time? If multiple people have to speak, when some of them would have been willing to let another speak for them, don't we then have the extra friction of physically switching speakers, starting new timers, etc etc.

Thank you,
Heather Thomason
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
26 David Yakobson
From: Leslie Neale <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 6:32 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Leslie Neale
Sent from my iPhone
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
27 David Yakobson
From: Richard Thaler <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 5:15 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Re: Item 4K, 5/13/25 - OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
Please vote no on Item 4K- Change in Public Input Rules. Limiting the amount of time to comment and give input on agenda items is in effect limiting our citizen right to express our opinion and give input regarding political actions that directly affect us and our fellow citizens. Given the historically liberal nature of Santa Monica, I’m shocked that this is even being seriously considered.

Regards,
Richard Thaler
740 Adelaide Place
Santa Monica 90402
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Ann Hoover <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 4:48 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Ellis Raskin; Natalya Zernitskaya; Barry Snell; Dan Hall
Cc: Elaine Polachek; Susan Cline; Douglas Sloan; Susan Cola; Jing Yeo; Armine Chaparyan; Heidi von Tongeln; Heather Averick; Jing Yeo; Nikima Newsome Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor Pro-Tem Torosis, and Council Members - I am concerned about and OPPOSE the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Councilmembers and appointees to Boards and Commissions do not necessarily read written public comment, which makes provision for adequate oral public comment at Council and other key meetings critical.

Speaking publicly is the only way that we can know for sure that Council Members hear resident’s voices on important matters.

Thank you,
Ann Bowman
Resident, 28+ years
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
2 David Yakobson
From: danilobach <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 4:02 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Item 4K - 5/13/25 Council Meeting

EXTERNAL
OPPOSE.

Public input should never be discouraged or disparaged.

Respectfully,
Danilo Bach
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Ed Towle <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 2:35 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: City Council mtg. 5/13/25

EXTERNAL
Item 4J 5/13/25 OPPOSE
Item 4-K 5/13/25 OPPOSE
Edmund J. Towle III
349 15th street
SM
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Gail Gordon <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 2:54 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Gail Gordon
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
2 David Yakobson
From: danilobach <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 4:02 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Item 4K - 5/13/25 Council Meeting

EXTERNAL
OPPOSE.

Public input should never be discouraged or disparaged.

Respectfully,
Danilo Bach
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Johanna Rogers <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 3:43 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Agenda items for City Council meeting on Tuesday May 13

EXTERNAL
Hello,
I’m a resident of Santa Monica, residing at 223 21st Street. Please note that I oppose the following items that are on the agenda for tomorrow night’s meeting.
1)ITEM 10A - Promenade Entertainment Zone. - OPPOSE
2)ITEM 4J - Letter of Support on SB 79. OPPOSE
3)ITEM 4K - Change in Public Input Rules. - OPPOSE
Thanks,
Johanna Rogers
310-699-3782
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
2 David Yakobson
From: Julie Cantor <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 1:34 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Opposition to items on agenda of tomorrow's City Council meeting

EXTERNAL
Hello —
I am respectfully lodging opposition to the following items, and, if possible, I will attend the meeting in person to voice the concern:
 1. Item 10A - Promenade Entertainment Zone. OPPOSE. There is no upside to walking around with alcohol, especially at 8 a.m., and the normative value of showing the community and the kids that the adults need alcohol to entertain themselves is concerning. Just drink in the restaurants, if you must.
 2. Item 4J - SB 79. OPPOSE. We do not need 7 story buildings in Santa Monica. Do not give control of build by forgoing formal review and environmental impact studies. Following the money, who benefits??
 3. Item 4K - Change in Public Input Rules. OPPOSE. Let people speak.

Thank you and best regards.

Julie Cantor
Santa Monica resident
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: gary samson <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 3:13 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis Subject: , 4J and 4K

EXTERNAL
We want to express our opposition to these Items on the counsel agenda.

ITEM 10A - Promenade Entertainment Zone. This ordinance would allow open alcohol consumption on The Promenade in the 1200 block (Wilshire end) from 8am to 2am, 7 days a week. Revitalization of the Mall is essential but allowing open consumption will invite trouble and the need for increased law enforcement and will further discourage families and senior citizens from going to the mall. . 2)ITEM 4J - Letter of Support on SB 79. This is terrible for our city. Up to seven story buildings' everywhere in the city?. Who gains from this except developers who care nothing about the livability of Santa Monica. This bill will turn our city into streets of concrete walls and destroy the charm of Santa Monica. .
3)ITEM 4K- We should encourage more public expression on city issues, not less. Let's not stifle free speech.

Gary Samson Laurie Samson
1407 Car;y;e Ave 90402
[email protected]
Cell: 213-598-4043
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: ADRIANA SHEINBAUM <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 3:21 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: ITEM 10A - ITEM 4K - ITEM 4J OPPOSE

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor and City of Santa Monica Councilmembers,
We are writing to express our strong opposition to three items currently under consideration during tomorrow’s meeting:

ITEM 10A – Promenade Entertainment Zone
We strongly oppose the proposed ordinance allowing open alcohol consumption on the 1200 block of The Promenade from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week. This policy raises serious concerns about public safety, noise, sanitation, and the overall character of the Promenade. Extending alcohol consumption to public spaces for such long hours is inappropriate and incompatible with maintaining a welcoming and family-friendly environment.

ITEM 4K – Change in Public Input Rules
We also oppose any changes that would reduce the public's right to comment and provide input on Council decisions.

Community participation is essential to a healthy democracy, and any attempt to limit our voices undermines the transparency and accountability we expect from our local government.

ITEM 4J – Letter of Support for SB 79
We oppose the endorsement of SB 79, which we view as a giveaway to developers. Allowing buildings of up to seven stories without formal review or environmental impact studies—and without requiring any affordable housing—erodes responsible urban planning and disregards the needs of Santa Monica residents. This legislation would lead to unchecked development without addressing the housing affordability crisis.

We urge the Council to reject these items to preserve our community's public safety and democratic participation.

Sincerely,
Adriana Sheinbaum
Rodrigo Garcia
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Joan Goldsmith Gurfield <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 12:49 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Misguided meeting items

EXTERNAL
Dear Council Members,
Several items scheduled to be discussed seem misguided and/or dangerous.

Item 10A allows open alcohol consumption from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., daily. What is the necessity for this? I think it will lead to public drunkenness, accidents, fights, etc.

Item 4J, supporting the development of buildings with no affordable housing requirement contradicts what has been policy in Santa Monica for many years. Why do we need market rate apartments that ignore affordable housing? Our Senator, Ben Allen, opposes this bill.

Item 4K, changing the time for public input, while understandable (in terms of long meetings and people's patience) doesn't allow adequate time for some arguments to be made.

I strongly urge you to reconsider all of these items.

Thank you
Joan Gurfield
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Cindy Fraser <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 11:22 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Cynthia Fraser
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
2 David Yakobson
From: nancykless <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 10:50 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Nancy Kless
310-890-4266
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
3 David Yakobson
From: Susan Jain <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 10:10 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; [email protected] Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Susan Jain
Sunset Park Resident
Vice Chair, SM Arts Commission
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
4 David Yakobson
From: Amy <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 9:37 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Amy Bisson
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
5 David Yakobson
From: Danny Guggenheim <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 9:21 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and City Council Members, I do not support abolishing "time donation" during public comments. I sympathize with the goal of shortening the length of Council meetings, but time donation is an important part of residents’ collective ability to make certain points and speak coherently as a group. Especially when many policy decisions get combined into single items on the agenda, the public is already severely limited in the ability to address them, simply because of the maximum time limits on total speech. Time donation provides some measure of protection against having voices silenced, and is helpful when one person wants to amplify the message of another, or if someone feels nervous to speak in front of a crowd but still has an important message that can be better delivered by someone else. Limiting the ability to speak by abolishing time donation feels like the wrong solution to meeting length issues, as speaking publicly is the only way that residents can be certain that the Council hears our voices on important matters.

Thank you,
Danny Guggenheim
Sunset Park homeowner since 2006
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
6 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 9:03 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments. While I understand and appreciate that this item is being considered as part of a goal to shorten the length of Council meetings, which often run late into the night, time donation is an important part of our collective ability to make certain points and speak coherently as a group. Currently 2-minute time limits (sometimes already shortened to 1-minute on a busy night) exist for any member of the public to comment verbally on an agenda item (with a maximum of 6-minutes total of speaking time per meeting). When many policy decisions get combined into single items on the agenda, we are already severely limited in our ability to address them, simply because of the maximum time limits on our total speech. Time donation at least provides some measure of protection against having our voices silenced. It is helpful when one person wants to amplify the message of another, or if someone feels nervous to speak in front of a crowd but still has an important POV and will allow someone else to speak for them. Limiting our ability to speak by abolishing time donation - especially in a moment in time when we face increasingly harsh crackdowns on speech from the current federal administration - feels like the wrong solution to meeting length issues. Speaking publicly is the only way that we can know for sure that Council Members hear resident’s voices on important matters. Thank you, Vincent Esparza
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
7 David Yakobson
From: JORDAN ELLIS <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 8:45 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; [email protected]
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Jordan Ellis
Resident of Sunset Park
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Jacob Wasserman <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 11:34 AM
To: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya
Subject: In Support: Item 4.K
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Completed

EXTERNAL
Councilmembers,
As a resident, voter, and parent, I am writing in support of making permanent the telephone option for public comment. This has the potential, backed up by the experience during the start of the pandemic, to open public participation more widely, especially to those who have various difficulties attending meetings in person, whether due to work or childcare schedules, disabilities, illnesses, etc.

Thank you,
Jacob Wasserman
90403
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Kara Fox <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 1:05 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: pam hausman
Subject: Please, vote NO NO NO

EXTERNAL
To our city council. How many of y ou have driven through our wonderful city lately. Please take a good look and see what is happening. Who is looking out for the community itself? Please vote no on the following issues:
10A…prominent entertainment zone??? Is this in the best interest of the community or people who like to party at the expense of others? Till 2 am…why??? Please vote no. 4J…in support of SB79…drafted by Scott Weiner who doesn’t even live in Santa Monica and who has allegedly received large campaign contributions from large R.E. companies. And allegedly bomb threats???Please vote NO
4K…change in public input rules…shouldn’t we encourage the community to have enough time to speak so we can know how the public feels and also, in hopes we can learn.

Let’s help our city, not destroy it. Thank you. Kara Fox, 235 14th street for more than 22 years.

Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Pamela S. Hausman <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 1:18 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: HELP!! VOTE NO!!!

EXTERNAL
To our city council, HELP!!
Please take a good look and see what is happening in our city!! Who is looking out for the community itself? Please vote NO on the following issues IF you really care about our beautiful city and do not want to see it continue to go to thieves, drunks and homeless 10A…prominent entertainment zone??? Is this in the best interest of the community or people who like to party at the expense of others? Till 2 am…why??? Please VOTE NO 4J…in support of SB79…drafted by Scott Weiner who doesn’t even live in Santa Monica and who has allegedly received large campaign contributions from large R.E. companies. And allegedly bomb threats???Please VOTE NO!!
4K…change in public input rules…shouldn’t we encourage the community to have enough time to speak so we can know how the public feels and also, in hopes we can learn.

PLEASE MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN OUT COMMUNITY!
Nobody shops here any more. Stores closing down. And it just keeps getting worse! WHAT CAN YOU DO TO MAKE A POSITIVE CHANGE???? Perhaps less affordable housing, more police presence,
offer incentives for nice stores and restaurants to open again.

How about refreshing 3rd Street Promenade? It is like a morgue! Pamela
[email protected]
449 24th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90402
This message is Proprietary & Confidential. The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination, or other use of this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer.

Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Maria Loya <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 1:28 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Maria Loya
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
2 David Yakobson
From: Susan Judd <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 1:08 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: ITEM 4K, 5/13/25-OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Sent from my iPhone
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
3 David Yakobson
From: Will von Bernuth <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 12:54 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; [email protected]
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

Speaking publicly is the only way that we can know for sure that Council Members hear resident’s voices on important matters.

Thank you,
Will von Bernuth
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
4 David Yakobson
From: Leslie Wizan <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 12:44 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: OPPOSE - 5/13/25 AGENDA ITEMS - 10A, 4J, 4K

EXTERNAL
As a 38 year resident of Santa Monica, I vehemently oppose the following 5/13/25 agenda items:
10A - promenade entertainment zone
4J - letter of support on SB79
4K - change in public input rules
Leslie Wizan
[email protected]
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Susan Stangl <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 1:33 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Subject: ITEMS 10A, 4J, 4K, 5/13/25 - OPPOSE
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Completed

EXTERNAL
Regarding Item 10A - What are you thinking?! This is a BAD IDEA. Nothing good comes from drinking early in the day. We have enough crime and noise downtown already. Our police force is already stretched to the limit and doesn't need more nonsense like public drunkenness. I have been to Bourbon Street. It's horrible.

Regarding Item 4J - This makes no sense. The city has different areas that have different needs and should not give away its remaining control to say what can be built where. Yes, It would be great to have more affordable housing, but that is not what this bill would do. It only encourages developers to build expensiver housing all over the city. I was a fan of Jesse Zuick, but not of his support for this bill.

Regarding 4K - Enough of cracking down on free speech. I always appreciated the fact that my city allows open interchange with its citizens. Now if not the time to restrict that. You should care what we think and give us the chance to express ourselves fully.

Thank you!
Susan Stangl
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Cindy Mollo <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 10:14 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Cynthia Mollo
2677 Centinela Avenue
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Lauren Marie <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 8:09 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; Friends of Sunset Park
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Lauren Wyka
821 Bay St.

Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
2 David Yakobson
From: Kelli <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 7:38 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; [email protected]
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

Thank you,
Kelli Urode
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
3 David Yakobson
From: Phyllis Chavez <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 1:34 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; [email protected]
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

It is helpful when one person wants to amplify the message of another, or if someone feels nervous to speak in front of a crowd but still has an important POV and will allow someone else to speak for them. Limiting our ability to speak by abolishing time donation - especially in a moment in time when we face increasingly harsh crackdowns on speech from the current federal administration - feels like the wrong solution to meeting length issues. Speaking publicly is the only way that we can know for sure that Council Members hear resident’s voices on important matters. Thank you, Phyllis Chavez
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
1 David Yakobson
From: Ivana Suvak <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 8:23 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; [email protected]
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Ivana and Darko Suvak
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
2 David Yakobson
From: Cydney Kirschbaum <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 8:03 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; [email protected]
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Cydney and Kenneth Kirschbaum
Sunset Park residents for over 30 years
Cydney Kirschbaum
[email protected]
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
3 David Yakobson
From: Mary Duprey <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 7:22 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; [email protected]; Dan Hall; Council Mailbox; Natalya Zernitskaya; Caroline Torosis; Barry Snell; Ellis Raskin Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Mary Duprey
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
4 David Yakobson
From: Patty McCollim <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 7:13 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, We are concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Richard Sproul
& Patty McCollim
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
5 David Yakobson
From: Diane Sabatini <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 6:13 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; [email protected]
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Diane Sabatini
Diane Sabatini | 1801 Pier Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90405 |
(c) 310.804.9811
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
6 David Yakobson
From: S V <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 5:01 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; [email protected] Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Sharon Cunningham
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
7 David Yakobson
From: Kenneth Legaux <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 3:00 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; [email protected]
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments. While I understand and appreciate that this item is being considered as part of a goal to shorten the length of Council meetings, which often run late into the night, time donation is an important part of our collective ability to make certain points and speak coherently as a group. Currently 2-minute time limits (sometimes already shortened to 1-minute on a busy night) exist for any member of the public to comment verbally on an agenda item (with a maximum of 6-minutes total of speaking time per meeting). When many policy decisions get combined into single items on the agenda, we are already severely limited in our ability to address them, simply because of the maximum time limits on our total speech. Time donation at least provides some measure of protection against having our voices silenced. It is helpful when one person wants to amplify the message of another, or if someone feels nervous to speak in front of a crowd but still has an important POV and will allow someone else to speak for them. Limiting our ability to speak by abolishing time donation - especially in a moment in time when we face increasingly harsh crackdowns on speech from the current federal administration - feels like the wrong solution to meeting length issues. Speaking publicly is the only way that we can know for sure that Council Members hear resident’s voices on important matters. Thank you, Kenneth Legaux Sunset Park
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
8 David Yakobson
From: Jon Gibson <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 2:25 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

It is helpful when one person wants to amplify the message of another, or if someone feels nervous to speak in front of a crowd but still has an important POV and will allow someone else to speak for them. Limiting our ability to speak by abolishing time donation - especially in a moment in time when we face increasingly harsh crackdowns on speech from the current federal administration - feels like the wrong solution to meeting length issues. Speaking publicly is the only way that we can know for sure that Council Members hear resident’s voices on important matters. Thank you, Jonathan Gibson
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
9 David Yakobson
From: Robert Posek <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 2:45 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Robert Posek
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
10 David Yakobson
From: Michael Fisher <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 2:23 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; [email protected]
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Michael Fisher
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
11 David Yakobson
From: Margery Kratz <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 2:21 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Margery Kratz
1205 Grant Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405
———————————
Margery Kratz
310.463.4129 Cell
310.450.5461 Home
[email protected]
Sent from my iPhone
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
12 David Yakobson
From: Eric Garner <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 2:20 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Recall: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Eric Garner would like to recall the message, "5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time DonationOPPOSE!".

To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.

Eric Garner
(He/Him)
Partner
[email protected]
T: (213) 787-2561 | C: (951) 544-2053
bbklaw.com |

Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
13 David Yakobson
From: Eric Garner <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 2:17 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
[YOUR NAME]
bbklaw
To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.

Eric Garner
(He/Him)
Partner
[email protected]
T: (213) 787-2561 | C: (951) 544-2053
bbklaw.com |

Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
14 David Yakobson
From: Tom Richards <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 2:12 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Tom Richards
2913 tenth st #1
Santa Monica 90405
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
15 David Yakobson
From: Dalila Fuentes <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 2:07 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; [email protected]
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Dalila Fuentes
35 yr resident Sunset Park
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
16 David Yakobson
From: janet rt <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 2:00 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick; [email protected]
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Janet Tunick
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
17 David Yakobson
From: DARKO SUVAK <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 1:44 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Darko Šuvak
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
18 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 1:38 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 5/13/25 Item 4-K - Abolishing Speaking Time Donation- OPPOSE!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete, Mayor pro-tem Torosis, and Council Members, I am concerned about and oppose the abolishing of "time donation" during public comments.

Thank you,
Ofer Grossman
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
19 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Friday, May 9, 2025 10:40 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Barry Snell; Caroline Torosis; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Jesse Zwick; Lana Negrete; Natalya Zernitskaya
Cc: [email protected]; Elaine Polachek
Subject: City Council 5/13 agenda item 4-K -- Public Input question

EXTERNAL
May 9, 2025

To: Mayor Negrete and Council members

From: Zina Josephs

RE: 5/13/25 agenda item 4-K -- Public Input

"Members of the public will no longer be able to donate their time to another speaker."

What is the rationale for this proposed change?

Item 4-K
May 13, 2025
Item 4-K
May 13, 2025

Santa Monica City CouncilMay 13, 2025

Santa Monica City Council
May 13, 2025