1 David Yakobson
From: Judy Branfman <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2026 3:49 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support for Item 16F on the July 28 City Council agenda
EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Council:
I support Item 16F. I want the city to make sure all the unhoused people staying in SaMoShel will be able to stay there unƟl they can get equal, or hopefully beƩer, housing support going forward. None of them should land up sleeping on the beach or streets again in the process of closing the shelter because there are not adequate spaces in Santa Monica.
This is an opportunity for the city to work out a truly good plan that gives all Santa Monicans, no maƩer where they sleep, an opportunity to have a path to a real permanent home and a beƩer life.
Thanks for your serious consideraƟon,
Judy Branfman
Santa Monica, CA
Item 16-F
July 28, 2026
Item 16-F
July 28, 2026
1 David Yakobson
From: Rev. Jim Conn <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2026 10:29 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: ITEM 16-F
EXTERNAL
Mayor and Councilmembers...
“I support Item 16F because I want all the unhoused people staying in SaMoShel to be able to stay there until they can get the best possible housing support going forward. None of them should land up sleeping on the beach or streets again in the process of closing the shelter.
This is an opportunity for the city to work out a truly good plan that gives all Santa Monicans, no matter where they sleep, an opportunity to have a path to a real permanent home and a better life.” And without SaMoShel where are we to send homeless people looking for a safe place? JIM
Rev. Jim Conn
230 Pacific St #108
Santa Monica, CA 90405
310/392-5056
Associations:
CLUE - A Founding Member: www.cluejustice.org
Climate Action Santa Monica - Advisory Board
Asset Based Community Development: www.abcdinstitute.org/ United Methodist Minister - Retired: www.calpacUMC.org
Former Council Member and Mayor of Santa Monica
Item 16-F
July 28, 2026
Item 16-F
July 28, 2026
1 David Yakobson
From: Joanne Leslie <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2026 5:34 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda items 16F and 11B concerning housing for unhoused people in Santa Monica
EXTERNAL
Dear council members and staff,
I write as a 30 year resident of Santa Monica and a concerned member of the clergy (retired deacon at St.
Augustine’s-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church). It has recently come to my attention that the city is planning to close SoMoShel. I don’t know enough about the specific considerations to know if this is a good idea, but I am sure that I do not want us to lose any capacity to house and support those who need temporary housing. For this reason, I strongly support Agenda item 16 F, put forward by Mayor Torosis, Mayor Pro Tem Zwick and Councilmember Raskin. I want all the unhoused people staying in SaMoShel to be able to stay there until they can get the best possible housing support going forward. We don’t need to be in a rush and push already suffering and vulnerable people into sleeping on the streets, or parks or beaches, hoping that they will somehow just disappear. If closing SaMoShel gives the city an opportunity to work out a truly good plan, one that gives all Santa Monicans, no matter where they sleep, an opportunity to have a path to a real permanent home and a better life, then I am in favor.
But this must be carried out with a real concern for the short term and longer term well being of unhoused people, not simply for cosmetic purposes of making Santa Monica comfortable for rich tourists.
I would also like to briefly make an even more personal observation relevant to item 11B. I live on the corner of 14th and Grant streets, where I have owned my home for the past 30 years. I am on the same block as the Palm Motel. Therefore I have lived here all the time that People Concern has operated the Palm Motel as a shelter for unhoused folks. As a neighbor, I can attest to the fact that there have been no problems. Several people whom I believe to be residents at the Palm Motel avail themselves of the Little Free Library in front of my house. I am happy to have them do so. This seems to me to be a good use of motel space and I would be happy to speak with any neighbors of new shelters that the city might open to assure them that I have had nothing but positive experience with the People Concern facility at the Palm Motel.
Thank you for your consideration and attention,
The Rev. Dr. Joanne Leslie
1351 Grant St.
Santa Monica 90405
Item 16-F
July 28, 2026
Item 16-F
July 28, 2026
1 David Yakobson
From: Joan Sekler <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2026 7:17 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Item 16F
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Completed
EXTERNAL
I support Item 16F because I want the unhoused people staying in SaMoShel to continue staying there until they can get more permanent housing. It doesn’t make sense to close the shelter and then see them living back on the streets or on the beaches.
Sent from my iPhone
Item 16-F
July 28, 2026
Item 16-F
July 28, 2026