1 David Yakobson
From: Ernest Cornish <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2026 7:17 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: 16D - Support
EXTERNAL
Mayor Torosis, Mayor Pro Tempore Zwick, and Councilmembers, I am writing as a Democrat who strongly supports LGBTQ+ rights and urge you to vote yes on Item 16D to participate in federal rulemaking to protect access to gender-affirming health care for transgender, gender diverse, and intersex youth.
Gender-affirming care is evidence-based, supported by every major medical association, and often lifesaving. The proposed federal rules that would strip funding from providers and deny young people medically necessary care are dangerous, discriminatory, and contrary to established medical consensus.
Santa Monica has long been a leader in standing up for equality, dignity, and the right of every family to make health care decisions free from political interference. I strongly support directing the City to formally oppose these federal actions and to consider joining litigation to defend access to care.
Thank you for continuing Santa Monica’s proud tradition of protecting LGBTQ+ residents and standing on the side of civil rights, science, and compassion.
Sincerely,
Ernest Cornish
[email protected]
714-981-7806
Item 16-D
January 27, 2026
Item 16-D
January 27, 2026
2 David Yakobson
From: Ricardo Marquez <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2026 7:18 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: [email protected]; Latino Coalition Los Angeles Subject: 16D - Support
EXTERNAL
Mayor Torosis, Mayor Pro Tempore Zwick, and Councilmembers, I am writing as a Democrat who strongly supports LGBTQ+ rights and urge you to vote yes on Item 16D to participate in federal rulemaking to protect access to gender-affirming health care for transgender, gender diverse, and intersex youth.
Gender-affirming care is evidence-based, supported by every major medical association, and often lifesaving. The proposed federal rules that would strip funding from providers and deny young people medically necessary care are dangerous, discriminatory, and contrary to established medical consensus.
Santa Monica has long been a leader in standing up for equality, dignity, and the right of every family to make health care decisions free from political interference. I strongly support directing the City to formally oppose these federal actions and to consider joining litigation to defend access to care.
Thank you for continuing Santa Monica’s proud tradition of protecting LGBTQ+ residents and standing on the side of civil rights, science, and compassion.
Sincerely,
Ricardo Márquez
Item 16-D
January 27, 2026
Item 16-D
January 27, 2026
3 David Yakobson
From: John Pelletier <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2026 7:19 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: 16D - Support
EXTERNAL
Mayor Torosis, Mayor Pro Tempore Zwick, and Councilmembers, I am writing as a Democrat who strongly supports LGBTQ+ rights and urge you to vote yes on Item 16D to participate in federal rulemaking to protect access to gender-affirming health care for transgender, gender diverse, and intersex youth.
Gender-affirming care is evidence-based, supported by every major medical association, and often lifesaving. The proposed federal rules that would strip funding from providers and deny young people medically necessary care are dangerous, discriminatory, and contrary to established medical consensus.
Santa Monica has long been a leader in standing up for equality, dignity, and the right of every family to make health care decisions free from political interference. I strongly support directing the City to formally oppose these federal actions and to consider joining litigation to defend access to care.
Thank you for continuing Santa Monica’s proud tradition of protecting LGBTQ+ residents and standing on the side of civil rights, science, and compassion.
Sincerely,
John Pelletier
Item 16-D
January 27, 2026
Item 16-D
January 27, 2026
4 David Yakobson
From: Ricardo Marquez <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2026 7:20 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: 16D - Support
EXTERNAL
Mayor Torosis, Mayor Pro Tempore Zwick, and Councilmembers, I am writing as a Democrat who strongly supports LGBTQ+ rights and urge you to vote yes on Item 16D to participate in federal rulemaking to protect access to gender-affirming health care for transgender, gender diverse, and intersex youth.
Gender-affirming care is evidence-based, supported by every major medical association, and often lifesaving. The proposed federal rules that would strip funding from providers and deny young people medically necessary care are dangerous, discriminatory, and contrary to established medical consensus.
Santa Monica has long been a leader in standing up for equality, dignity, and the right of every family to make health care decisions free from political interference. I strongly support directing the City to formally oppose these federal actions and to consider joining litigation to defend access to care.
Thank you for continuing Santa Monica’s proud tradition of protecting LGBTQ+ residents and standing on the side of civil rights, science, and compassion.
Sincerely,
Ricardo Márquez | Treasurer
South Central Neighborhood Council
SOUTH CENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL – EmpowerLA
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Item 16-D
January 27, 2026
Item 16-D
January 27, 2026
5 To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.
To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.
Item 16-D
January 27, 2026
Item 16-D
January 27, 2026
6 David Yakobson
From: Latino Coalition Of Los Ángeles <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, January 26, 2026 7:25 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: 16D - Support
EXTERNAL
Mayor Torosis, Mayor Pro Tempore Zwick, and Councilmembers, I am writing as a Democrat who strongly supports LGBTQ+ rights and urge you to vote yes on Item 16D to participate in federal rulemaking to protect access to gender-affirming health care for transgender, gender diverse, and intersex youth.
Gender-affirming care is evidence-based, supported by every major medical association, and often lifesaving. The proposed federal rules that would strip funding from providers and deny young people medically necessary care are dangerous, discriminatory, and contrary to established medical consensus.
Santa Monica has long been a leader in standing up for equality, dignity, and the right of every family to make health care decisions free from political interference. I strongly support directing the City to formally oppose these federal actions and to consider joining litigation to defend access to care.
Thank you for continuing Santa Monica’s proud tradition of protecting LGBTQ+ residents and standing on the side of civil rights, science, and compassion.
Sincerely,
With gratitude,
To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. Ricardo Márquez, BA (he/his/él)
Treasurer|Latino Coalition of Los Angeles
website: latinocoalitionla.org
email: [email protected]
phone: (213) 924-1501
Item 16-D
January 27, 2026
Item 16-D
January 27, 2026
7 David Yakobson
From: Sara Roos <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2026 10:43 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: 16D - Support
EXTERNAL
Mayor Torosis, Mayor Pro Tempore Zwick, and Councilmembers, I am writing as a Democrat who strongly supports LGBTQ+ rights and urge you to vote yes on Item 16D to participate in federal rulemaking to protect access to gender-affirming health care for transgender, gender diverse, and intersex youth.
Gender-affirming care is evidence-based treatment, supported by every major medical association, that has been shown to save lives. The proposed federal rules that would strip funding from providers and deny young people medically necessary care are dangerous, discriminatory, and contrary to established medical consensus.
Santa Monica has long been a leader in standing up for equality, dignity, and the right of every family to make health care decisions free from political interference. I strongly support directing the City to formally oppose these federal actions and to consider joining litigation to defend access to care.
Thank you for continuing Santa Monica’s proud tradition of protecting LGBTQ+ residents and standing on the side of civil rights, science, and compassion.
Sincerely,
Sara Roos
Mar Vista, CA.
Item 16-D
January 27, 2026
Item 16-D
January 27, 2026
8 David Yakobson
From: lmarreola <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2026 6:23 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: CC tonight ITEM 11D
EXTERNAL
Dear Councilmembers,
Please , no new artificial turf for all the reasons that you are keeping real grass fields.
Thank you,
Larry Arreola
SM Youth Baseball Coach
For 30 years
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone Item 16-D
January 27, 2026
Item 16-D
January 27, 2026
1 David Yakobson
From: Jacob Wasserman <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2026 9:50 AM
To: Lana Negrete; Barry Snell; Dan Hall; Jesse Zwick; Natalya Zernitskaya; Caroline Torosis; Ellis Raskin
Cc: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: In Support: Item 16D
EXTERNAL
As a Santa Monica resident, I write in a personal capacity to support the City taking any and all actions to protect our transgender and nonbinary residents from the ceaseless persecution they have faced. Thank you,
Jacob Wasserman
90403
Item 16-D
January 27, 2026
Item 16-D
January 27, 2026
2 David Yakobson
From: Santa Monica Democratic Club <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, January 23, 2026 11:25 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Lana Negrete; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya
Subject: Item 16D - SUPPORT
Attachments: Letter to Council 16D.pdf
EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Torosis and Members of the City Council:
On behalf of the Santa Monica Democratic Club, I am writing to express our strong support for Item 16D, brought forward by Councilmembers Dan Hall and Natalya Zernitskaya, and to urge a unanimous “Yes” vote to protect access to gender-affirming healthcare for transgender, gender diverse, and intersex youth.
Across the country, we are seeing coordinated federal efforts to override medical expertise, intimidate healthcare providers, and restrict evidence-based care for young people through coercive funding mechanisms. In that context, local leadership is essential. Item 16D reflects the moral seriousness this moment demands. These are meaningful, concrete steps that affirm Santa Monica’s refusal to be complicit in policies that endanger youth, undermine medical consensus, or target LGBTQ communities for political gain.
Councilmembers Hall and Zernitskaya, both former board members of the Santa Monica Democratic Club and respected leaders within the LGBTQ community, exemplify the progressive values our Club stands for: defending vulnerable communities, grounding policy in science and expertise, and standing firm in the face of political intimidation. We are deeply proud of their continued leadership and grateful for their work on behalf of our city.
We urge the full Council to join them in affirming Santa Monica Values through a strong, united vote in favor of this item. Doing so will send a clear message that Santa Monica stands for dignity, care, and justice.
Thank you for your consideration and for your continued service to our community.
In solidarity and appreciation,
Jon Katz
President, Santa Monica Democratic Club
Item 16-D
January 27, 2026
Item 16-D
January 27, 2026
President
Jon Katz
VP Political Action
Sean Kolodji
VP Membership
Michael Soloff
VP Programs
Michelle Grant
VP Communications
Philip Nazzal
VP Diversity & Inclusion
Keith Coleman
VP Legislation
Isabel Storey
Treasurer
Marcy Lebovitz
Recording Secretary
Lynn Cervini
At-Large
Derek Devermont
Patricia Hoffman
Susan Sheu
January 23, 2026
Dear Mayor Torosis and Members of the City Council:
On behalf of the Santa Monica Democratic Club, I am writing to express our strong support for Item 16D, brought forward by Councilmembers Dan Hall and Natalya Zernitskaya, and to urge a unanimous “Yes” vote to protect access to gender-affirming healthcare for transgender, gender diverse, and intersex youth.
Across the country, we are seeing coordinated federal efforts to override medical expertise, intimidate healthcare providers, and restrict evidence-based care for young people through coercive funding mechanisms. In that context, local leadership is essential. Item 16D reflects the moral seriousness this moment demands. These are meaningful, concrete steps that affirm Santa Monica’s refusal to be complicit in policies that endanger youth, undermine medical consensus, or target LGBTQ communities for political gain.
Councilmembers Hall and Zernitskaya, both former board members of the Santa Monica Democratic Club and respected leaders within the LGBTQ community, exemplify the progressive values our Club stands for: defending vulnerable communities, grounding policy in science and expertise, and standing firm in the face of political intimidation. We are deeply proud of their continued leadership and grateful for their work on behalf of our city.
We urge the full Council to join them in affirming Santa Monica Values through a strong, united vote in favor of this item. Doing so will send a clear message that Santa Monica stands for dignity, care, and justice.
Thank you for your consideration and for your continued service to our community.
In solidarity and appreciation,
Jon Katz
President, Santa Monica Democratic Club
P.O. Box 1052 • Santa Monica,CA 90406 • 215-962-4357 • [email protected] Item 16-D
January 27, 2026
Item 16-D
January 27, 2026