1 David Yakobson
From: Sam Shapiro-Kline <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 9, 2025 9:38 AM
To: Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; councilmtgitems; Caroline Torosis
Subject: Appointment to Measure GS Resident Oversight Committee
EXTERNAL
Hello Councilmembers,
Please consider my application for appointment to the Measure GS Resident Oversight Committee.
The city and Measure GS committee need committed residents who can scrutinize our policies and how funds can be spent in a way that maximizes their impact on keeping residents & community members housed. I bring the right combination of expertise in affordable housing finance & development law, creativity and curiosity to find and apply best practices from other jurisdictions, and urgency & bias to action to address our housing crisis.
I previously attended the August Measure GS Committee meeting and was quite shocked to hear that the city's Flexible Financial Assistance program, which was allocated $6M in GS funds, had not launched. I have brought this up with Oliver Chi as well as some of you, and continue to track whether progress has been made. This is the dedication and focus I will bring to the GS Oversight Committee.
Thanks,
Sam Shapiro-Kline
Application text below:
My experience as a housing advocate in Santa Monica and Los Angeles has equipped me with extensive knowledge of planning, zoning, and land use principles directly relevant to the GS oversight committee's work. Currently, I serve as chair of Abundant Housing Los Angeles’s State Policy Committee, where I lead members in analyzing and interpreting housing legislation. This leadership role requires me to identify ways to improve or resolve flaws in proposed bills, drawing on my understanding of housing policy and development processes to anticipate potential implementation issues. This experience has sharpened my ability to evaluate how policies affect real-world housing outcomes - directly applicable to oversight committee deliberations. Though my expertise in zoning, state law, and planning is self-taught rather than professionally acquired, I consider this background an asset. Having developed my knowledge outside traditional professional channels, I can effectively bridge communication gaps between affordable housing professionals and the general public. During my time on the Westside Community Plan Advisory Group, I witnessed firsthand how planning discussions were frequently delayed by the need to explain technical terminology to participants. The committee would benefit from members who can translate complex concepts into accessible language for community members. Through ongoing personal research and monitoring of proposed projects in both Santa Monica and Los Angeles, I've Item 16-C
September 9, 2025
Item 16-C
September 9, 2025
2 maintained current knowledge of planning trends and development patterns. This continuous engagement with planning issues ensures I would bring informed perspectives to committee deliberations. I believe my combination of technical knowledge, leadership experience in housing policy, and ability to communicate complex housing finance and development concepts makes me wellqualified to serve on the Measure GS Resident Oversight Committee.
Item 16-C
September 9, 2025
Item 16-C
September 9, 2025