1 David Yakobson
From: Nikki Kolhoff <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 11:53 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Natalya Zernitskaya; Barry Snell; Ellis Raskin
Subject: May 26, 2026 - City Council - Item 4I - Pull for Full Discussion at Next Meeting and Opposition to AB1740
EXTERNAL
Dear Councilmembers -
It was with much fanfare that Mayor Caroline Torosis called an "emergency" meeting to announce the re-engagement of the City with the Coastal Commission regarding its LCP. After years of stalling, she couldn't give us normal notice and information for a discussion of this critical topic. At that meeting, the MOU wasn't available and details were fuzzy. We were told to wait for the full discussion.
But instead of a full staff report and public discussion, the MOU is placed on the Consent Calendar on the Friday night before a holiday weekend. What a joke you all have made of this process. Santa Monica absolutely needs an LCP, but the "priorities" expressed in the MOU must come from the people of Santa Monica, not a list prepared by staff and ordained by you in a consent item And, no, it's not good enough to pull it tonight for a rushed presentation that nobody is prepared for.
The should come through the appropriate boards and commissions, and the city staff should engage with residents, to confirm the priorities for our LCP.
As an example, the mere existence of "multimodal transit" should NOT trigger increased larger development. That's why we oppose SB79 and the displacement that comes with it. In addition, overdevelopment will have a negative impact on the health of our coast. Furthermore, the Coastal Act is about access to the coast for regular people who don't live at the beach. It doesn't matter how many bus and bike lanes we have in Santa Monica, when families are driving here from Riverside, or renting a car for a CA road trip. They need to park their car here. Parking = access.
Finally, no entry into an MOU should be made without removal of Santa Monica's support for AB1740. Even with all its amendments, AB1740 is a giant threat to the Coastal Commission because if we don't have an LCP by 2029, the Coastal Commission loses its power. But whether or not we get an LCP is in the hands of our city staff and council, the same people who were totally fine with removing Coastal Commission authority over Santa Monica in the first place, so you all cannot be trusted. If you really mean to negotiate an LCP in good faith, you don't need AB1740.
I ask that you pull this item and bring it back after a full engagement with the community on the shared "priorities" of our LCP, and then return with a full staff report and discussion that includes opposition to AB1740.
Regards,
Nikki Kolhoff
Santa Monica Resident
Item 4-I
May 26, 2026
Item 4-I
May 26, 2026
2 David Yakobson
From: Karen Croner <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 11:22 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Item 4I MOU
EXTERNAL
I am writing to oppose this MOU with the coastal commission. Give the coastal commission full power over housing, hotels, parking, access to the beach for all.
You are requesting that there be NO PUBLIC MEETINGS. This is anti-democratic, and pro-developer.
You are requesting that residential project approval be streamlined in the coastal zone. Why??? Santa Monicans do not want this! No!
Be transparent with your numbers - your developments are half empty. No one wants to live in an unsafe city that has little of its unique beach town character left. And now you want to go into hyperdrive and erase what little we have left? No.
If you approve this MOU that rejects public input, you are sending a clear message to residents that you don’t represent them, that you don’t care what Santa Monicans think. This is major overreach on your part and truly the opposition to your campaigns are growing every time you prove you don’t care at all what residents think. No one elected you to destroy our coast.
It does not belong to you. And your secretiveness is deeply alarming. We simply can’t let you use Santa Monica as a stepping stone to Sacramento. We won’t.
Ellis, Lana, many of us believe you care about Santa Monica residents. Show us.
Do the right thing.
Ms. Torosis, sadly your legacy will be your wish to silence residents and destroy the coast.
I so wish you were a true visionary who saw the opportunity to preserve our unique beach culture and environment which is our greatest asset. But that doesn’t appear to be on your agenda. Now We the People of Santa Monica will have to fight for the city we so love.
You are giving enormous inspiration to those opposing your reelection. It is a sad day in Santa Monica history.
Karen Croner
Item 4-I
May 26, 2026
Item 4-I
May 26, 2026