1 David Yakobson
From: Brodsky, Michael <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, September 4, 2026 7:41 PM
To: Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Lana Negrete; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; councilmtgitems
Subject: Support for Ben Kay for Commission on Sustainability, Environmental Justice and the Environment
EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Torosis and Santa Monica City Council members, I enthusiastically support Ben Kay for the Commission on Sustainability, Environmental Justice and the Environment.
As an educator with 46 years of classroom experience, I can confidently say that Ben is an extraordinary educator and leader.
Having observed him both in and out of the classroom, I have seen his dedication firsthand. His work mentoring Samohi's Team Marine is truly world-class and an inspiration to any institution.
Ben’s commitment to science is second to none, and his steadfast dedication to the planet and his community keeps environmental justice at the forefront of everything he does.
Ben Kay will make an excellent Commissioner.
Sincerely,
Michael Brodsky
Professor Emeritus
Loyola Marymount University
Item 16-A
September 8, 2026
Item 16-A
September 8, 2026
2 David Yakobson
From: Ann Hoover <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, September 6, 2026 2:07 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Caroline Torosis; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Lana Negrete; Natalya Zernitskaya; Barry Snell; Jesse Zwick
Subject: September 8, 2026 Council Meeting - Item 16.A. - BENJAMIN W. KAY - Sustainability Commission Appointment
EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Torosis and Councilmembers -
I write to encourage you please to appoint Benjamin Kay to the Commission on Sustainability, Environmental Justice, and the Environment.
As you likely know, Ben is a beloved environmental science teacher at both Santa Monica High School and Santa Monica College. He's extremely knowledgeable in the field with special expertise in coastal issues and public education and he is gifted interpersonally - he will enhance the Sustainability Commission with both his knowledge and his ability to do the work and nurture a team.
I began getting to know Ben when my children attended Samohi and have gotten to know him more through shared and like-minded work in the community. He's a genuinely exceptional educator, a wonderful person who I admire tremendously, and I truly cannot write enough good things about him.
Thank you so much for your consideration of Ben Kay on Tuesday and for your time in reading this.
Best,
Ann Bowman
Santa Monica resident, 30 years
Item 16-A
September 8, 2026
Item 16-A
September 8, 2026
3 David Yakobson
From: Ann Hoover <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, September 6, 2026 2:26 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Caroline Torosis; Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Natalya Zernitskaya; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Jesse Zwick
Subject: September 8, 2026 Council Meeting - Item 16.A. - MATTHEW GOLDENBERG - Appointment to the Recreation and Parks Commission
EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Torosis and Councilmembers -
I write to encourage you please to appoint Matthew Goldenberg to the Recreation and Parks Commission.
As you may know, Matt is a physician and a Santa Monica native son who attended Roosevelt Elementary, Lincoln Middle School, and Santa Monica High School. He is intimately familiar with both our parks and our school campuses, which augment the city's parks network, and he brings both a professional and intuitive understanding of how our parks and open spaces are critical to both mental and physical health in our community.
He will bring a thoughtful, clinical, evidence-based approach to work on the Recreation and Parks Commission and will be an advocate for park expansion and the maintenance of a clean, healthy, and equitable parks network and programming therein.
I have gotten to know Matt through volunteer work in the community including through the Santa Monica Democratic Club, the North of Montana Association, the Santa Monica Protective Association, Montana Avenue Merchants Association events, and the Great Park Coalition.
Matt brings the highest skills and standards to everything he does. He will be a leader on the RPC and do the work at an extremely fine, granular level. I think the world of Matt both as a person and as a professional. Choosing to appoint him will both honor the commission and our city.
Thank you so much for your consideration of Matt Goldenberg on Tuesday and for your time in reading this.
Best,
Ann Bowman
Santa Monica resident, 30 years
Item 16-A
September 8, 2026
Item 16-A
September 8, 2026
1 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 10:18 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Nina Fresco
Subject: Fwd: Item 16C Landmarks Commission Appointment
EXTERNAL
Dear Council, I understand the Landmarks Commission appointments will take place tonight. Here is the letter I sent Previously to recommend Roger Genser's appointment. I also, as before, support the appointment of Carol Lemlein.
Thank you!
Nina
Begin forwarded message:
From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Subject: Item 16C Landmarks Commission Appointment
Date: July 27, 2026 at 10:59:46 AM PDT
To: [email protected]
Dear Mayor and City Council,
I enthusiastically recommend Roger Genser for reappointment to another term on the Santa Monica Landmarks Commission. I have had the pleasure of knowing Roger for many years, both in my previous capacity as a landmarks commissioner and through our ongoing shared interest in Santa Monica history, and I can say without hesitation that Roger’s continued service on the Commission would be a significant asset to our community.
This being his second tenure as Landmarks Commissioner, Roger brings extraordinary depth of institutional knowledge to his decision-making. He understands not only the procedural and regulatory dimensions of the Commission's work, but also the historical context and nuanced significance of our historic resources. It is important to keep a person with Roger’s experience and knowledge in place while newer commissioners grow into the role.
Roger always ensures that preservation decisions are grounded in accurate, well-researched history and precedent. His value as a local historian is based on his extensive and veryimportant personal collection of historic photographs, which he generously draws upon time and again to inform the Commission's work. This invaluable primary resource, built over a lifetime has directly enhanced the quality and accuracy of the Commission's assessments.
For these reasons, I give my strongest endorsement to Roger Genser's reappointment for another term. His institutional knowledge, historical expertise, and unique resources make Item 16-A
September 8, 2026
Item 16-A
September 8, 2026
2 him an exceptional asset to the Landmarks Commission, and I believe the community would be well served by his continued leadership in this role.
Sincerely,
Nina Fresco
Former Landmarks Commissioner
Local Historian
Item 16-A
September 8, 2026
Item 16-A
September 8, 2026
3 David Yakobson
From: Santa Monica Conservancy <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 10:22 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Santa Monica Conservancy
Subject: Fwd: Item 16C Landmarks Commission Appointments Attachments: ATT00001.htm; PastedGraphic-1.tiff; image.png; ATT00002.htm; 2026-0728- SMCRecommendationsForLandmarkCommAppointments.pdf; ATT00003.htm
EXTERNAL
Dear City Council,
Please accept the attached letter recommending the reappointment of Roger Genser and Carol Lemlein to the Landmarks Commission.
Thank you.
Santa Monica Conservancy
2520 Second Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405
310-496-3146
www.smconservancy.org
www.smconservancy.org
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r5uivToCO1gxY8amVi5sM4w1izAueLMT/view?usp=sharing Item 16-A
September 8, 2026
Item 16-A
September 8, 2026
2520 SECOND STREET
SANTA MONICA, CA 90405
310-496-3146
www.smconservancy.org
July 28, 2026
Dear City Council,
The Santa Monica Conservancy recommends the appointment of Roger Genser and Carol Lemlein to the Landmarks Commission. Roger currently serves in the historian position, and Carol was recently appointed as a member-at-large.
Roger’s life work has been dedicated to researching Santa Monica’s history through his vast personal collection of historic photographs, postcards, artwork and documents. He brings scholarship and passion to building these collections, which he shares with the Landmarks Commission in its deliberations. These are unique qualifications for his appointment.
Roger’s devotion to our history, and sharing that knowledge with the public, are vital assets to the work of the Landmarks Commission. His views bring historical context and valuable perspectives to the Commission’s deliberations. His lengthy service on the Commission provides insight into prior cases that help inform his fellow commissioners in their discussions. His willingness to continue his service indicates a generosity and dedication to Santa Monica for which we can be grateful. He is deeply connected to Santa Monica through his archival collections, his lengthy residence in Ocean Park, and as a cousin of former Councilman Ken Genser. He cares very much about our civic wellbeing, and the role that landmarks play in the City’s distinctive identity.
Carol Lemlein was first appointed to the Landmarks Commission just a few months ago to fill the unexpired term of Dolores Sloan and is now offering her services for a full term. Carol has a comprehensive understanding of Santa Monica’s built environment, its historic resources, and the challenges involved in sustaining them for the future. Serving for many years as President of the Santa Monica Conservancy, she regularly attended Landmarks Commission meetings, learning the essential concepts and framework for historic preservation here. She is very thoughtful, intelligent and unbiased in her approach to historic preservation issues. She seeks solutions that allow historic resources to evolve with new development so they contribute to the City’s prosperity and future.
The City of Santa Monica is fortunate to have such highly qualified residents offering their services to the public. We hope you will support the appointments of Roger Genser and Carol Lemlein to the Landmarks Commission.
Sincerely,
Mario Fonda-Bonardi
Board President
Santa Monica Conservancy
Item 16-A
September 8, 2026
Item 16-A
September 8, 2026
1 David Yakobson
From: Cris Gutierrez <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 11:19 AM
To: Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Natalya Zernitskaya; Lana Negrete; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell
Cc: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda Item 16-A: Appointments to Airport, Arts, Recreation & Parks, and Sustainability Commissions
EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Torosis, Mayor Pro Tem Zwick and City Council Members:
As a community leader with respect for the need of and the manner in which our City Council is advised by commissions, I write with full support of the following applicants to be appointed to four City Commissions as indicated below. Each candidate has demonstrated substantive knowledge, capacity and caring to merit appointment to the respective commissions.
Commission on Sustainability, Environmental Justice and the Environment • Robert Lempert has served on the Commission on Sustainability, Environmental Justice and the Environment (Sustainability Commission) with grace and keen acumen. Robert Lempert clearly deserves an additional term on the Sustainability Commission to represent the needs of our community and to uphold the integrity of the City’s sustainability leadership. His knowledge, understanding and skills, particularly pertaining to water, climate and participatory democracy have been enriching and practical. The City’s sustainability institutional history that Robert brings is invaluable.
He has brought to the City’s Sustainability Commission insights and abilities that enable Santa Monica’s local measures and initiatives to embody our values and commitments, to strengthen our community and to deepen Santa Monica's influence. As a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change team that was awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, his reputation and accomplishments reinforce Santa Monica’s esteem and forward thinking at a time when the climate crisis is searing and communities need sensible, responsive leadership. • Benjamin Kay is a remarkable environmental science and marine biology teacher at Santa Monica High School and Santa Monica College. His appointment to the Sustainability Commission will help ensure that this body advances the City’s sustainability imperatives and the City’s follow-up on its many initiatives. In addition, Ben can help identify how the school district and the college can align with and implement better the policy and practices of Santa Monica’s sustainability and environmental justice expectations and commitments. He also can help the voice of diverse young people and students to be heard. (They are paying attention.)
Ben's creative, even ground-breaking, scholarship and research with students, including with Team Marine, has had profound effects. One example is how the testimony and advocacy of his students has helped the California legislature to establish and then strengthen the single-use plastic bag ban. That work continues and extends to many other plastic-reduction fronts most importantly, to safeguard the Santa Monica Bay, our natural environment and our public health. Ben is determined to making sure the City enforces the sustainability and climate measures. Those efforts have consistently enriched Ben's service on the Clean Beaches & Ocean Parcel Tax Citizens Oversight Committee and can now uplift the Sustainability Commission’s work.
Significantly, Ben’s understanding of the City’s history of sustainability leadership and dedication to it will fortify Santa Monica’s capacity.
Recreation and Parks Commission
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2 Matthew Goldenberg is a physician and a community leader who would be a strong and hard-working Recreation and Parks Commissioner. He can bring to the commission a personal commitment to convene people to see the potential of our green open spaces as significant quality-of-life resources. His professional capacities add to the knowledge of how parks and recreation are vital for personal and public health.
He has convened and collaborated with all the neighborhood associations and other community groups on significant issues that affect our parks and playing fields, most notably on the need for the City to ensure that only natural grass fields are installed and maintained for sports. His reasonable, supportive, science and evidence-based approach swayed many and enabled contention to become consensus.
Arts Commission
Leandro Huerto is a refreshing, a superb candidate for an appointment to the Arts Commission. Leandro’s background and personal and professional commitments to uplifting cultural practices of individuals and communities who have not historically been typically embraced would invigorate the City’s aesthetic values and vision. Leandro has vast cultural practice and public policy experience focusing on arts, environmentalism, equity and social justice, nourished by his studies at the University of Madrid and the University of Pennsylvania, and manifested in his current work on the Public Art Committee.
He is an open communicator, ready to engage people everywhere he can and draw on a network of scholars and creators who can help enliven and stretch the bounds of Santa Monica to lead boldly and brilliantly in the arts in a manner that serves the community locally and beyond.
Airport Commission
Diane Reynolds has been a conscientious, smart and open-minded Airport Commissioner who warrants another term. Her attention to the Santa Monica Airport operations and impact on the community have been practical and thorough. With the anticipated closure of the airport in a little more than two years, it is important to have Diane’s participation on the commission continue for thoughtful and meaningful discussions and sound advice to the City Council to ensue. She knows the details of the pertinent issues well and contends with them assuredly and calmly. Diane also fosters good community relationships and communication.
In conclusion, I trust that the City Council will appoint Robert Lempert, Benjamin Kay, Matthew Goldenberg, Leandro Huerto and Diane Reynolds to the respective commissions noted above. With these appointments the Council can receive significant, salient advice to make good, valuable and trustworthy decisions.
With respect,
Cris Gutierrez
Santa Monica Resident
Item 16-A
September 8, 2026
Item 16-A
September 8, 2026
1 David Yakobson
From: David Kaplan <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 12:55 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Item 16 - Arts Commission nomination - David Kaplan
EXTERNAL
I am a long time Santa Monica resident, currently serving on the Public Arts Committee. I recently participated on the selection team for artworks for the City's downtown storefront project and have also been involved in community review of the digital signs for downtown. Through preservation projects I have been involved in the installation of artwork at numerous sites such as the Judy Baca murals in the Ambassador Ballroom (now the Library at the RFK High School). Also at the Ambassador I helped coordinate the recreation of the original sculpture of a female figure at the pylon fountain. In addition to my interest in the arts, my background as an architect provides me with an understanding of the implications of transporting, storing, installing, and maintaining artworks physical and digital. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to serve on the Commission and to help advance our City as a center for the arts.
Thank you,
David Kaplan
Item 16-A
September 8, 2026
Item 16-A
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