Written Comments — Santa Monica City Council, September 8, 2026

1 David Yakobson
From: Mathew Millen <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 7, 2026 11:35 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Sept 8 item 5 F
Attachments: bergamot13B.pdf

EXTERNAL
I am opposed to the City plan to perpetuate segregation of the Pico Neighborhood..Attached are my previous comments
that apply to item 5 F
The proponent of the segregation plan is no longer on the City Council, so it is time to stop this I am shocked, shocked our new City Attorney supports segregation mathew millen
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2 David Yakobson
From: Mathew Millen <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 7, 2026 1:07 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Sept 8 #5 F
Attachments: HousingMay7.pdf

EXTERNAL
Additional comment on this issue
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1 David Yakobson
From: Nathaniel Wilson <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, September 6, 2026 9:44 AM
To: Lana Negrete; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; [email protected]; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Oliver Chi; Jing Yeo; Ross Fehrman Cc: councilmtgitems
Subject: RE: September 8 City Council Meeting — Bergamot / Bundy TOD neighborhood plan.

EXTERNAL
City of Santa Monica Mayor and City Council,
The residents of the City of Santa Monica take pride in the Office of Sustainability and the Environment (OSE). This department does some original thinking regarding:
 Climate Action & Adaptation
 Building electrification and sustainable buildings
 Energy and green-building codes
 Water conservation and resilience
 Zero waste
 Coastal resilience
 EV charging and transportation electrification
 Green business programs
 Single-use plastics
 Watershed and urban-runoff issues.

The principals of Sustainable Design begin with adaptable reuse of existing buildings. For our R-1 neighborhood this means renovation and construction, including new Accessory Dwelling units up to 800sf. These types of projects are sustainable, the new 45’ 5 unit condominium project on Delaware is not sustainable. The same developer has already demolished an existing Single Family residential home on Delaware Avenue leaving a vacant lot which has no dust control or stormwater management in place. Please take legal action to stop this.

The OSE is within the City of Santa Monica Public Works Department. The responsibilities of this department include:
 Engineering & Street Services — infrastructure engineering, development-related plan review, right-of-way permits, streets, sidewalks, utilities, streetlights and EV charging. o Water is there capacity for the proposed upzoning? How much more water will the City have to purchase from MWD and what will it cost in 5 – 10 years. o Water independence? That is what the city says but what are they doing about it? Is City Hall the only place where toilets are not flushed with drinking water?? o Sewer Is there capacity for the proposed upzoning? Who will pay for the cost of new sewer? o Streetlights Why are there no streetlights along Virginia Avenue? This injustice dates from the 10 Freeway which should have been below grade and which first galvanized the PNA.  Water Resources — water supply, wastewater, recycled water, stormwater and urban runoff. Single family home with yard space can use graywater from showers and washing machines to irrigate, the proposes upzoning would make this impossible.
 Public Landscape — parks, beach, urban forest and more than 35,000 public trees. o Landscape in the Cal Trans Right of way along Virginia Avenue ?? Maybe engagement with Cal Trans will reduce the existing fire hazard. There is no reason for a fence since the Sound Wall protects the freeway from unauthorized access and the fence facilitates homeless encampments.

Why are Public Works and the OSE not included in the planning and drafting of the proposed ordinance. They are responsible for the city infrastructure.

Within the Public Works Department there is world class expertise in design and planning to address these issues.

Item 5-F
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Item 5-F
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2 Has this expertise been intentionally sidelined? Please address these issues and concerns in your meeting.

Best Regards,
Nathaniel Wilson, AIA
Bergamot/Bundy R-1 TOD Resident.

Item 5-F
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1 David Yakobson
From: JL H <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 7, 2026 7:18 PM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya
Cc: Oliver Chi; Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox
Subject: Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bermagot for Homeless Housing

EXTERNAL
Dear Oliver Chi, Lana Negrete, Caroline Tsorsis, Jesse Zwick, Lana Negrete, Natalya Zernitzkaya, Dan Hall, Barry Snell,
Regarding the agenda item that you added on Saturday Sept 3 during Labor Weekend that you thought no one would notice for a closed door session for Tuesday September 8th to negotiate a real estate deal to SELL AND DEMOLISH THE BERGOT ARTS STATION in favor of a MASSIVE OPEN DOOR HOMELESS BRIDGE HOUSING FACILITY.

This would dramatically impact the neighborhood, the city, Crossroads School and the business at the Watergarden and which will also strain police and fire resources that will have to respond to the calls that inevitably skyrocket surrounding these projects.

We Demand that the Santa Monica City Council immediately halt negotiations to sell, lease, or turn over Bergamot Station to housing developers for affordable, bridge, supportive, or other homeless housing.

Last year when you tried to put two bridge housing projects on Ocean Avenue across from Palisades park –which we only shamed the county into thwarting – We asked that you  STOP EXPANDING HOMELESS SHELTERS and putting them in unvetted locations  STOP SELLING OFF CITY LAND (!) instead of leveraging our unique irreplaceable assets to generate revenue
 RESCIND THE EMERGENCY HOMELESS PROCLAMATION which excludes the public when LA Mayor Karen Bass already ended their emergency on November 5th of 2025.

No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility without full disclosure and public input.

Jennifer Happillon
SM Resident
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
2 David Yakobson
From: Louise DeCordoba <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 7, 2026 7:58 PM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Oliver Chi; Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox
Subject: Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bergamot Station for Homeless Housing

EXTERNAL
Dear Oliver Chi, Lana Negrete, Caroline Tsorsis, Jesse Zwick, Lana Negrete, Natalya Zernitzkaya, Dan Hall, and Barry Snell
Regarding the agenda item 5F that you added on Sept 3, 2026 over Labor Weekend that you thought no one would notice for a closed door session for Tuesday September 8th to negotiate a real estate deal to SELL AND DEMOLISH THE BERGAMOT ARTS STATION in favor of a MASSIVE OPEN DOOR HOMELESS BRIDGE and AFFORDABLE HOUSING FACILITY.

This would dramatically impact the neighborhood, the city, Crossroads School, the Watergarden businesses and strain police and fire resources that will have to respond to the calls that inevitably skyrocket surrounding these projects.

We demand that the Santa Monica City Council immediately halt negotiations to sell, lease, or turn over Bergamot Station to housing developers for affordable, bridge, supportive, or other homeless housing.

Last year when you tried to put two bridge housing projects on Ocean Avenue across from Palisades park –which we only shamed the county into thwarting – we asked that you  STOP EXPANDING HOMELESS SHELTERS and putting them in unvetted locations  STOP SELLING OFF CITY LAND (!) instead of leveraging our unique irreplaceable assets to generate revenue
 RESCIND THE EMERGENCY HOMELESS PROCLAMATION which excludes the public when LA Mayor Karen Bass already ended their emergency on November 5th of 2025.

We are repeating this request. No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full disclosure and public input.

Sincerely, Louise Decordoba
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
3 David Yakobson
From: Christine Thomas <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 7, 2026 8:25 PM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox Subject: Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bergamot Station for Homeless Housing

We are repeating this request. No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full disclosure and public input.

Christine Thomas
76 year Sunset Neighborhood Resident
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
4 David Yakobson
From: Larry Shapiro <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 7, 2026 8:43 PM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox Subject: Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bergamot Station for Homeless Housing

We are repeating this request. No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full disclosure and public input.

Lawrence Shapiro (Santa Monica Resident),
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
5 David Yakobson
From: lori brown <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 7, 2026 9:05 PM
To: Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Caroline Torosis; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Lana Negrete Cc: Oliver Chi; Jesse Zwick; Heidi von Tongeln; councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Attorney Mailbox
Subject: Subject line: Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bergamot Station for Homeless Housing

We are repeating this request. No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full disclosure and public input.

Your name,
Your Santa Monica Neighborhood Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
6 David Yakobson
From: Andra Bard <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 7, 2026 10:20 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Lana Negrete; Oliver Chi; [email protected] Subject: Leave Bergamot station as is

EXTERNAL
Please preserve Bergamot station and consider expanding its footprint as an Arts destination. Consider having events there, promote community events.

Not everything needs to be converted to generic, ugly, mixed use housing.

Thank you,
Andra Bard, Sunset Park
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
7 David Yakobson
From: spensive (null) <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 7, 2026 10:21 PM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya
Cc: Attorney Mailbox; Heidi von Tongeln; Oliver Chi
Subject: Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bergamot Station for Homeless Housing

We are repeating this request. No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full disclosure and public input.

Susan Newirth
North of Montana
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
8 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, September 7, 2026 11:17 PM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox; Oliver Chi
Subject: **Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bergamot Station for Homeless Housing!!! Without Resident Input!!
Importance: High

EXTERNAL
Subject line: Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bergamot Station for Homeless Housing
Dear Oliver Chi, Lana Negrete, Caroline Tsorsis, Jesse Zwick, Lana Negrete, Natalya Zernitzkaya, Dan Hall, and Barry Snell
Regarding the agenda item 5F that you added on Sept 3, 2026 over Labor Weekend that you thought no one would notice for a closed door session for Tuesday September 8th to negotiate a real estate deal to SELL AND DEMOLISH THE BERGAMOT ARTS STATION in favor of a MASSIVE OPEN DOOR HOMELESS BRIDGE and AFFORDABLE HOUSING FACILITY.

We are repeating this request. No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full disclosure and public input.

Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
9 Chris and Amani Spielman, Santa Monica
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
10 David Yakobson
From: Marc Verville <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 1:31 AM
To: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Oliver Chi
Cc: councilmtgitems
Subject: Cancel agenda item 5.F. - Closed Door Discussions on the Sale of Bergamot Arts Center Complex for conversion to Homeless Bridge Housing
Importance: High

EXTERNAL
Dear Oliver Chi, Lana Negrete, Caroline Tsorsis, Jesse Zwick, Lana Negrete, Natalya Zernitzkaya, Dan Hall, and Barry Snell
It is beyond the pale that this Council is engaging in discussions to negotiate a sale of the 5.6 acre Bergamot Arts Station in favor of a homeless bridge housing facility without ANY public input whatsoever.

This proposed action is defective on multiple dimensions:

1. If the land is to be sold, what is the competitive bidding data that indicates this is the best offer for the City? Where is that data and why has that not been presented to the residents?

2. The City cannot use one-time land sales to spearhead the city’s economic recovery. That recovery is entirely dependent on revitalizing the city’s visitor economy. These new actions reveal that the City is doubling down on its failed management of the homeless crisis. These failed policies have already destroyed our visitor economy.

3. This permanent impact of this initiative will serve to cement Santa Monica as the homeless destination of choice, increasing the thousands (if not in excess of 10,000) existing annual throughput of homeless individuals from LA City and LA County, and incentivizing them to stay in Santa Monica. This is guaranteed to ensure the permanent inability of our economy to ever recover.

4. The data is unequivocal that police and fire resources are strained by the skyrocketing calls for service that accompany such projects. The ensuing social chaos from this type of facility would dramatically impact the neighborhood, Crossroads School, Water Garden businesses, and the city at large.

5. Without economic recovery, and with the added services burden of these proposed facilities, the widening gap between City General Fund revenue and expenditure growth will accelerate rather than narrow and close.

These glaring deficiencies require that the Council (1) immediately cease all negotiations to sell, lease, or turn over Bergamot Station to housing developers for affordable, bridge, supportive, or other homeless housing and (2) present to the residents the actual scale of the homeless throughput in Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
11 Santa Monica, and (3) concrete evidence that whatever homeless plan that is driving these initiatives is massively reducing this throughput of the thousands of homeless individuals that are migrating through the City annually.

Combined with other irresponsible actions that include placing a homeless shelter in the Sunset Park neighborhood despite overwhelming resident opposition, and the resident pressure-driven abandonment of the closed-door deal for bridge housing projects on Ocean Avenue across from Palisades Park, these actions betray what can only be described as a comprehensive anti-resident, anti-economy agenda.

No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full and comprehensive disclosure, analysis, and public input.

Respectfully,
Marc Verville
Former Chair, Santa Monica Audit Subcommittee
Sunset Park
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
12 David Yakobson
From: Miles Freeman <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 7:27 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya
Cc: Oliver Chi; Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox
Subject: Agenda Item 5.F - Bergamot Arts Center

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council,
I recently learned, with alarm, that there will be a closed session item regarding potentially selling the Bergamot Arts Center to a homeless housing developer. PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS. As a resident of the neighboring Pico neighborhood, this would be an absolute disaster for our neighborhood. The Pico neighborhood already suffers from a large number of homeless individuals who frequently dump trash in our neighborhood and harass our families and children. I myself have been harassed on numerous occasions and my young child is regularly exposed to human waste and drug paraphernalia in our local parks.

Adding yet more homeless facilities in our neighborhood would only increase this and be an absolute disaster. Please, on behalf of all of the families in this neighborhood, do not do this. Construction of this facility would also make transit less popular, more dangerous, and be counterproductive to the goals of getting cars off the streets so more people take LA Metro.

Please look at the big picture here. There are so many incredible uses of the Bergamot property. Homeless housing is the one that benefits the least people and imposes the most costs on the neighboring communities.

Please please please do not do this. And particularly do not do this without consulting the neighborhood first.

Thank you.

Best,
Miles Freeman
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
1 David Yakobson
From: John Alle <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 7, 2026 10:54 PM
To: Santa Monica Coalition
Subject: Every City Council Candidate Should State Their Position on This Issue NOW. The Remaining Councilmembers Should Be Recalled

EXTERNAL
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HOW DARE THEY!
SM City Council Adds Agenda Item to Sell Bergamot Station Arts for Massive Open-Door Homeless Housing Project
ONCE AGAIN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, the City is negotiating to SELL Bergamot Station, the largest public arts complex on the West Coast, 5.6 contiguous acres (approx $120M) to West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation for a BRIDGE open-door homeless housing facility. This would dramatically impact Crossroads families, the Water Garden, local businesses and every surrounding neighborhood while placing additional demands on police, fire and 911 services.

HERE ARE THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTING TO GIVE YET ANOTHER PIECE OF SANTA MONICA TO THE HOMELESS INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX:

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Caroline Torosis
Works for
LA COUNTY Board of
Supervisors alongside Lindsay
Horvath. formative in the
development of the 2025
Ocean Avenue Homeless
Project. Up for re-election and
has been on the City Council
already for 4 years.

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Jesse Zwick
A housing
lobbyist, repeatedly
asked to recuse
himself for conflicts
of interest. Will not
seek re-election.

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Lana
Negrete
Up for reelection
and was
mayor
during
the
Ocean
Avenue
Homeless
Fiasco.

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Barry Snell
Gets FREE
RENT from the
low income and
affordable
housing
Developer called
“Cypress Equity”
and has to
repeatedly
recuse himself
as a result.

Wife’s nonprofit
receives city
money.

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Natalya
Zernitzkaya
The tiebreaking
vote
to keep the
homeless
projects in
Santa
Monica
instead of
the City of
Bell and
took
campaign
Dan
Hal
Land
her
from
out
stat
onl
thre
yea
ago
ente
the
politi
sphe
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
2 donations
from The
People’s
Concern,
which runs
current
shelters at
the Civic
Center and
DTSM.

CALL TO ACTION:

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Subject line: Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bergamot Station for Homeless Housing
Dear Oliver Chi, Lana Negrete, Caroline Tsorsis, Jesse Zwick, Lana Negrete, Natalya Zernitzkaya, Dan Hall, and Barry Snell
Regarding the agenda item 5F that you added on Sept 3, 2026 over Labor Weekend that you thought no one would notice for a closed door session for Tuesday September 8th to negotiate a real estate deal to SELL AND DEMOLISH THE BERGAMOT ARTS STATION in favor of a MASSIVE OPEN DOOR HOMELESS BRIDGE and AFFORDABLE HOUSING FACILITY.

Last year when you tried to put two bridge housing projects on Ocean Avenue across from Palisades park –which we only shamed the county into thwarting – we asked that you  STOP EXPANDING HOMELESS SHELTERS and putting them in unvetted locations Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
3  STOP SELLING OFF CITY LAND (!) instead of leveraging our unique irreplaceable assets to generate revenue
 RESCIND THE EMERGENCY HOMELESS PROCLAMATION which excludes the public when LA Mayor Karen Bass already ended their emergency on November 5th of 2025.

We are repeating this request. No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full disclosure and public input.

Your name,
Your Santa Monica Neighborhood
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MORE CRITICAL QUESTIONS TO ASK
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WHY DID THE CITY COUNCIL VOTE TO KEEP HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN

SANTA MONICA INSTEAD OF PAYING TO HOUSE THEM IN THE CITY OF BELL Santa Monica had an opportunity to pay the City of Bell to provide housing and services for homeless individuals who otherwise remain on Santa Monica’s streets. Instead, the City Council voted against using the funds for that purpose, effectively choosing to keep those individuals in Santa Monica rather than placing them in available housing elsewhere. Whatever rationale was offered for the decision, the practical result was extraordinary: housing was available, a mechanism existed to pay for it, and the Council chose not to use it.

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WHY DID THE 3RD STREET PROMENADE PARKING STRUCTURE #3 TURNED

PICKLEBALL COURTS BECOME YET MORE HOMELESS HOUSING UNDER THE SURPLUS LAND ACT?
Thanks to former Councilmember and current candidate PHIL BROCK, who championed the conversion of valuable downtown parking garage #3 into pickleball courts, it now qualifies under the requirements of California’s Surplus Land Act, opening the door to its planned redevelopment for housing, including more Homeless EAH housing, right in the heart of downtown where families are supposed to congregate and businesses try and operate. The City Council has the SAME PLANS FOR PARKING STRUCTURE #1.

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WHAT THE HECK IS THE SURPLUS LAND ACT: HOW BERGAMOT BECAME ONE OF ITS ROADKILL. THE AIRPORT AND CIVIC CENTER ARE NEXT.

The mechanism that put Bergamot Station on this path is California’s Surplus Land Act, strengthened by AB 1486 in 2019 to prioritize affordable housing when public land is sold Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
4 or leased. To initiate that process, Santa Monica formally declared Bergamot, 4th/5th/Arizona and Parking Structure 1 “surplus” and invited affordable-housing developers to respond. This is extraordinary in the case of Bergamot: it is not an abandoned lot but a functioning, 5.6-acre, publicly owned arts campus filled with galleries, artists and creative businesses. The City’s Housing Element has already assigned 707 affordable apartments to Bergamot, and once qualified developers responded to the Notice of Availability, the City entered the negotiation process required by state law. If the City ultimately accepts one of those proposals, its own description of the process says no subsequent RFP is required. The crucial question is therefore not simply what is happening in this week’s closed session. It is: How did one of Santa Monica’s most cherished public cultural assets come to be declared “surplus” in the first place—and how far has its redevelopment been allowed to advance before the public has had a meaningful say?

WHY ARE LA COUNTY PERSONNEL SO INVOLVED IN SANTA MONICA POLITICS? LAND, LAND AND MORE LAND.

Current Council Member and Santa Monica Mayor CAROLINE TOROSIS works for Los Angeles County as Policy Director for Supervisor Holly Mitchell and has advocated using public land for affordable housing. Council candidate BRETT MORROW ALSO works for LA County, in the Department of Public Health, while serving on Santa Monica’s Housing and Human Services Commission. DANNY IVANOV chairs Santa Monica’s Rent Control Board. Now TOROSIS, MORROW AND IVANOV ARE RUNNING TOGETHER FOR CITY COUNCIL. As City Hall declares Bergamot and other irreplaceable public properties “surplus” and targets them for housing, Santa Monicans should demand an answer:

WHY ARE SO THESE CANDIDATES TIED TO LA COUNTY AND HOUSING POLICY SEEKING CONTROL OVER SANTA MONICA’S LAND?
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BRETT MORROW
Works for LA County
Department of Public Health.

Serves on Santa Monica’s
Housing and Human Services
Commission.

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CAROLINE TOROSIS
On Santa Monica City Council
for 4 years and currently on the
LA County Board of
Supervisors, formative in the
development of the Ocean
Avenue Homeless Projects in
2025.

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DANNY IVANOFF
Chairs Santa Monica’s Rent
Control Board. Inexperienced,
just moved to Santa Monica 5
years ago.

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WHY IS SANTA MONICA PARKING $27 FOR TWO HOURS WHEN CENTURY CITY IS FREE? WHY DO THEY NOT WANT LOCALS TO USE CARS?
Activist council members trying to get us to stop using our cars continue the steady dismantling of the infrastructure that allows residents to use their own downtown. Parking spaces and structures disappear, curb parking becomes increasingly expensive, and local residents and families who want to drive downtown, shop, eat or take their children are the victims. Santa Monica continues making parking access more difficult and expensive, undermining the very local businesses it claims to be trying to save.

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Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
5 WHO DESTROYED THE 3RD STREET PROMENADE? IT HAPPENED JUST WHEN

CITY HALL TOOK GREATER CONTROL OF DOWNTOWN SANTA MONICA AS

THE THIRD STREET PROMENADE DECLINED
The deterioration of the Third Street Promenade can be directly correlated with of course the metro which drops off almost one hundred homeless people EVERY. SINGLE.

NIGHT. from around the city but also because of the well-paid, overstaffed Downtown Santa Monica Board structure which gave the City Council Veto Power in 2013. Since then, the City Council fundamentally altered the relationship between downtown stakeholders and City Hall. Since then, the Promenade has suffered extraordinary vacancies, declining foot traffic and the loss of businesses that once made it one of Southern California’s most successful pedestrian commercial districts.

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NEVER FORGET WHAT THEY TRIED TO DO TO OCEAN AVENUE ACROSS

FROM PALISADES PARK
LA County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath Approved a plan to place two OPEN DOOR 49-bed Facilities for the Severely Mental Ill, Homeless and Drug-addicted Individuals at 413 and 825 Ocean Avenue, directly overlooking Palisades Park in Santa Monica— one of California’s most iconic public spaces, just two weeks before it was to open. Mayor Negrete and Santa Monica Daily Press confirmed that The Santa Monica City Council HID IT FROM THE PUBLIC and knew since April. It was paused Oct 14 and then shelved Oct

27. Those plans did not disappear on their own; residents organized, objected and generated enough public outrage to stop or derail them. The city’s continuing strenuous efforts to fill the city with what they call “Bridge Housing” in Santa Monica makes one question who they’re really working for.
--
John E. Alle

JOHN ALLE COMPANY

THE SANTA MONICA COALITION / SAFE CITIES
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
6 David Yakobson
From: Julia Nicholls <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 7:59 AM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya
Cc: Oliver Chi; Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox
Subject: Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bergamot Station for Homeless Housing

EXTERNAL
Dear Oliver Chi, Lana Negrete, Caroline Tsorsis, Jesse Zwick, Lana Negrete, Natalya Zernitzkaya, Dan Hall, and Barry Snell
When I first came to Santa Monica over 30 years ago Bergamot Station was one of the first places I went to for an event and I thought it the coolest place. I said yo my friend that I would love to live near it so I could there whenever I wanted. It took me 25 years, a Masters degree and working 3 jobs to get here and you want to tear it down and sell it off behind closed doors. How dare you think that is the way to behave in your positions.

Regarding the agenda item 5F that you added on Sept 3, 2026 over Labor Weekend that you thought no one would notice for a closed door session for Tuesday September 8th to negotiate a real estate deal to SELL AND DEMOLISH THE BERGAMOT ARTS STATION in favor of a MASSIVE OPEN DOOR HOMELESS BRIDGE and AFFORDABLE HOUSING FACILITY.

We are repeating this request. No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full disclosure and public input.

Julia Nicholls
Working 3 jobs to stay in this neighborhood.

Bergamot Station neighborhood.

Sent from my iPhone
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
9 David Yakobson
From: Karen Croner <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 8:07 AM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Oliver Chi; Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox
Subject: Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bergamot Station for Homeless Housing

EXTERNAL
Dear Oliver Chi, Lana Negrete, Caroline Tsorsis, Jesse Zwick, Lana Negrete, Natalya Zernitzkaya, Dan Hall, and Barry Snell,
I am very disappointed that you would consider decimating Bergamot Arts Complex. You should be promoting it and using it as a
way to get more people to come to Santa Monica. It is a treasure. I know you were considering housing there, but now without any public
input you are going farther without public input and that is not OK. You like Vegas billboards but you hate art? Stop. Stand back. Think about how you are changing the character of this city and contributing to the cratering of what should be a jewel by the ocean.

We are repeating this request. No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full disclosure and public input.

Karen Croner
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
10 David Yakobson
From: Kati K <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 8:33 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Lana Negrete; Oliver Chi; Council Mailbox
Subject: Keep your hands off Bergamont Station!

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Torosis, Mayor Pro Tem Zwick, and Councilmembers Hall, Raskin, Snell, Zernitskaya, and Negrete,
I am writing to oppose the closure of Bergamont Station. Santa Monica has always been a place where resident cliche is not going past the 405 but part of that is because Santa Monica has so much to offer we don’t need to go anywhere else. This incessant cash grab of creating more and more housing and just bulldozing whatever character is left of this former little beach town to create a Miami-like feel is not what residents want. You’re turning the arts zone into more housing when other recent builds are not even full after years of availability? With tons of daily traffic of residents that are here already, and by eliminating a wonderful area where families can spend the day and expose their children to the arts? You should be ashamed of yourselves for considering this and really assess what you’re doing to this city.

Thanks,
Kati Kelleher Sent from Gmail Mobile
DTSM resident
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
11 David Yakobson
From: Laurel Maddox <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 8:38 AM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya
Cc: Oliver Chi; Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox
Subject: Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bergamot Station for Homeless Housing

Last year when you tried to put two bridge housing projects on Ocean Avenue across from Palisades park –which we only shamed the county into thwarting – we asked that you STOP EXPANDING HOMELESS SHELTERS and putting them in unvetted locations STOP SELLING OFF CITY LAND (!) instead of leveraging our unique irreplaceable assets to generate revenue
RESCIND THE EMERGENCY HOMELESS PROCLAMATION which excludes the public when LA Mayor Karen Bass already ended their emergency on November 5th of 2025.

We are repeating this request. No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full disclosure and public input.

Thank you,
Laurel Maddox
From Your Santa Monica Neighborhood
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
12 David Yakobson
From: Chelsie Di Paola <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 8:41 AM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox; Oliver Chi
Subject: Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bergamot Station for Homeless Housing

We are repeating this request. No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full disclosure and public input.

Chelsie Di Paola
Your Santa Monica neighborhood
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
13 David Yakobson
From: Erick Brownstein <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 8:59 AM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox Cc: Oliver Chi
Subject: Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bergamot Station for Homeless Housing

We are repeating this request. No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full disclosure and public input.

Thank you
Erick Brownstein
Homeowner
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
14 David Yakobson
From: Ann Hoover <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 9:03 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Caroline Torosis; Dan Hall; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Natalya Zernitskaya; Jesse Zwick
Cc: Heidi von Tongeln; Susan Cola; Stelios Makrides; Amber Richane; Peter James; Christopher Dishlip; Jennifer Taylor; Jenny Rogers; Susan Cline Subject: September 8, 2026 Council Meeting - Closed Session Item 5.G. - Airport Leases

EXTERNAL
Dear Mr. Chi, Mayor Torosis, and Councilmembers -
I am concerned that with these opaque new leases the City is making deals that create possible "entitlements" or new stakeholders in the airport conversion process while at the same time, seriously disadvantaging others (typically those with less clout and capital), all without involving the public, which is the largest stakeholder of all.

This concern applies to these leases, including the eviction of artists from 2900 Airport Avenue next month, and proposing to relocate the private business trapeze school to the middle of one of our neighborhood parks without any public process.

Creating new stakeholders now, while simultaneously disenfranchising others, is a serious concern and the City Manager and Council owe the public - again, the largest stakeholder by far here - an explanation before anything becomes final.

Sincerely,
Ann Bowman
Santa Monica resident, 30 years
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
1 David Yakobson
From: Will Finch <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 8:36 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Item 5f: Build more affordable housing

EXTERNAL
I am writing in support of building affordable housing on the Bergamot site. This is directly adjacent to the Metro station so it makes an ideal location for housing and transit oriented housing, for affordable housing that Santa Monica desperately needs.

Thank you,
Will Finch
90405
Sent from my iPhone
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
1 David Yakobson
From: Alyssa <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 10:10 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: KEEP BERGAMOT STATION AS IS

EXTERNAL
Dear City Councilmembers,
Bergamot Station is a unique and valuable asset to the Santa Monica community. To even imagine tearing it down and replacing it with anything else is incredible to me. There is no other use, housing or otherwise, that should replace this precious cultural commodity.

LEAVE BERGAMOT ALONE.

Alyssa Ganezer
Santa Monica
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
2 David Yakobson
From: Kayla Carmichael <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 10:21 AM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya
Cc: Oliver Chi; Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox; Doug Shaffer Subject: Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bergamot Station for Homeless Housing

EXTERNAL
Dear Oliver Chi, Lana Negrete, Caroline Tsorsis, Jesse Zwick, Lana Negrete, Natalya Zernitzkaya, Dan Hall, and Barry Snell:

Regarding agenda item 5F, which was added on September 3, 2026, over Labor Day weekend, for a closed-door session on Tuesday, September 8, to negotiate a real estate deal to SELL AND DEMOLISH THE BERGAMOT ARTS STATION in favor of a MASSIVE OPEN-DOOR HOMELESS BRIDGE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FACILITY:

This would dramatically impact the neighborhood, the City, Crossroads School, the Watergarden businesses, and strain police and fire resources that will have to respond to calls that inevitably increase surrounding these projects.

Last year, when you tried to put two bridge housing projects on Ocean Avenue across from Palisades Park—which we only shamed the County into thwarting—we asked that you:

STOP EXPANDING HOMELESS SHELTERS and putting them in unvetted locations.

STOP SELLING OFF CITY LAND (!) instead of leveraging our unique, irreplaceable assets to generate revenue.

RESCIND THE EMERGENCY HOMELESS PROCLAMATION, which excludes the public, when LA Mayor Karen Bass already ended their emergency on November 5, 2025.

We are repeating this request. No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full disclosure and meaningful public input.

IN ADDITION: Why would Santa Monica reject an available and potentially cost-effective option to house homeless individuals in Bell? What financial relationships, contracts, or other interests were considered in making that decision, and can the City assure residents that no private parties or insiders benefited financially from keeping these services—and these expenditures—in Santa Monica? Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
3 The residents of Santa Monica deserve transparency, accountability, and a meaningful voice in decisions that fundamentally alter our community. Attempting to make consequential decisions behind closed doors and over a holiday weekend is unacceptable. Shame on you.

Kayla Carmichael
Santa Monica Resident
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
4 David Yakobson
From: Laura Vidal Leib <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 10:29 AM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox; Oliver Chi
Subject: No Closed Door Meeting: Bergamot Station Is A *Community* Space

EXTERNAL
Dear Oliver, Lana, Caroline, Jesse, Natalya, Dan, and Barry, There was an agenda item added on September 3 over the holiday weekend (item 5F) for a closed door session scheduled to take place today, Tuesday, September 8, to negotiate a real estate deal to sell and demolish Bergamot Station in favor of a BRIDGE open-door homeless housing facility and and an affordable housing facility.

I understand and sympathize with the need for more housing, particularly homeless and affordable housing in our community. That said, Bergamot Station is our only local arts facility that offers free access to galleries. It is a community space and "third space" that we do not have a replacement for if it is lost to new housing. Small businesses like The Crow and Le Grand Outdoor have done great work in our community and the surrounding area- I remember La Grand Outdoor giving away free meals to first responders and people impacted by the Palisades fire. The Crow offers free and affordable access to comedy in a way that's accessible to all ages, including kids. Bergamot Station is a resource that the city should be less quick to let go of, especially given the impact on the citizens during a time when people are struggling and need places to go and connect with one another.

I ask that the Santa Monica City Council immediately halt negotiations to sell, lease, or turn over Bergamot Station to housing developers. This should not be discussed behind closed doors, (and especially not last minute) but transparently with Santa Monica residents. There needs to be intentional work to build the trust of your constituents rather than closed door meetings that leave people feeling like you have something to hide.

Sincerely,
Laura Vidal Leib
518-926-0350
Mid-City Santa Monica resident, SMMUSD parent, and small business owner Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
5 David Yakobson
From: Popenoe <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 10:58 AM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya
Cc: Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox; Oliver Chi
Subject: Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bergamot Station for Homeless Housing

We are repeating this request. No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full disclosure and public input.

Cris Popenoe
1035 17th St /Wilmont
[email protected]
917-566-8770
Sent from my iPhone
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
6 David Yakobson
From: Irina Goosby <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 11:44 AM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox; Oliver Chi
Subject: Don’t sell Bergamot

Last year when you tried to put two bridge housing projects on Ocean Avenue across from Palisades park –which we only shamed the county into thwarting – we asked that you STOP EXPANDING HOMELESS SHELTERS and putting them in unvetted locations STOP SELLING OFF CITY LAND (!) instead of leveraging our unique irreplaceable assets to generate revenue RESCIND THE EMERGENCY HOMELESS PROCLAMATION which excludes the public when LA Mayor Karen Bass already ended their emergency on November 5th of 2025.

We are repeating this request. No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full disclosure and public input.

Thank you,
Irina Goosby
WILMONT Neighborhood
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
1 David Yakobson
From: Phil Brock <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 10:24 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 5F. Conference with real estate negotiator - Gov. Code § 54956.8

EXTERNAL
Item
5F.

Conference with real estate negotiator -
Gov. Code § 54956.8
As you continue negotiating the term of a state-mandated affordable housing complex at Bergamot Station, please
consider the existing businesses at Bergamot. As an Arts Commissioner who was intimately involved with the art
purveyors, theatre and restaurant owners, and other affiliated businesses on the property, I know how tragic the loss would be for our city's cultural identity, the general public, and the merchants. We fervently hope the city would designate a successor facility to move the businesses to, rather than simply evicting them. As I left the city council, we hoped to form a new arts and cultural district on the south side of Airport Avenue. I would hope that Santa Monica is not cavalier about the potential loss of much of our art heritage that has existed for the past few decades.

Best
Phil Brock
Phil Brock / Mayor (ret)[email protected]
To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.

Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
1 David Yakobson
From: Rebecca hogan <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 11:58 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Dan Hall; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Lana Negrete; Oliver Chi; Council Mailbox
Subject: 9/8/26 closed session agenda item 5-F re: Bergamot Station - Sept 8, 2026 City council meeting

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Torosis, Mayor Pro Tem Zwick, and Councilmembers Hall, Raskin, Snell, Zernitskaya, and Negrete,
I am writing to oppose the dismantling of our treasured Bergamot station.

Agenda Item closed session 5-F for the September 8, 2026 SM city council meeting.

Bergamot Station became our city's art destination decades ago.

It became world-famous for the quality and quantity of art available there. While the land has been designated for housing, it should not be destroyed without a suitable replacement campus designated for all Bergamot purveyors.

If a relocation site within Santa Monica, that is equally suited with the same space, accessibility (parking), comparable to and with and equal historic significance as The existing Bergamot Station can’t be found,
then the existing Bergamot art campus should be left intact.

Growing up as a 3rd Gen SM resident smmusd - SMC alum/ SM community member and arts contributor, Bergamot is very much a significant part of our history. Recognition and respect is due toward the art galleries, and associated businesses there.

Santa Monica is so much more that a town for visitors’ shopping, drinking and water play.

We have a heart and soul, and much of that is deeply connected to the arts.

Please preserve our soul, please respect our roots and foundation.

Please keep other’s “hands-off" Bergamot Station!!
There is so much art-life still to be lived there. Please be active in preserving the quality of life for SM residents and community.

Rebecca Hogan
Sunset Park resident
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
2 David Yakobson
From: Nikki Kolhoff <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 11:58 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: July 8 City Council Item 5F - Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bergamot Station for Homeless Housing

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council and City Manager -
I am writing to oppose Item 5F, which is inappropriate to be agendized as a closed session item. It appears to be a real estate deal to SELL AND DEMOLISH THE BERGAMOT ARTS STATION in favor of a homeless and/or affordable housing facility.

There has been no public analysis of the impact to the neighborhood, and strain police and fire resources. More importantly this is an arts complex that is a vibrant part of the community and residents have been objecting to its removal.

Please also rescind the emergency homeless proclamation that you continue to use to exclude the public in Santa Monica, when LA Mayor Karen Bass already ended their emergency on November 5th of 2025.

No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No demolition of arts complex. No expansion of homeless facilities and services without full disclosure and public input.

Regards,
Nikki Kolhoff
Santa Monica Resident
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
1 David Yakobson
From: John Alle <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 9:15 AM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox; Oliver Chi
Subject: Santa Monica City Council Meeting Tonight -- Council Agenda Item 5.F

EXTERNAL
Dear City Attorney, City Manager and City Council:

Please pull the Items from the Agenda and allow for an open Town Hall discussion to present to the public
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------
If the land is to be sold, what is the competitive bidding data that indicates this is the best offer for the City? Where is that data and why has that not been presented to the residents? The City cannot use one-time land sales to spearhead the city’s economic recovery. That recovery is entirely dependent on revitalizing the city’s visitor economy. These new actions reveal that the City is doubling down on its failed management of the homeless crisis. These failed policies have already destroyed our visitor economy.

This permanent impact of this initiative will serve to cement Santa Monica as the homeless destination of choice, increasing the thousands (if not in excess of 10,000) existing annual throughput of homeless individuals from LA City and LA County, and incentivizing them to stay in Santa Monica. This is guaranteed to ensure the permanent inability of our economy to ever recover.

The data is unequivocal that police and fire resources are strained by the skyrocketing calls for service that accompany such projects. The ensuing social chaos from this type of facility would dramatically impact the neighborhood, Crossroads School, Water Garden businesses, and the city at large,
Without economic recovery, and with the added services burden of these proposed facilities, the widening gap between City General Fund revenue and expenditure growth will accelerate rather than narrow and close.

These glaring deficiencies require that the Council (1) immediately cease all negotiations to sell, lease, or turn over Bergamot Station to housing developers for affordable, bridge, supportive, or other homeless housing and (2) present to the residents the actual scale of the homeless throughput in Santa Monica, and (3) concrete evidence that whatever homeless plan that is driving these initiatives Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
2 is massively reducing this throughput of the thousands of homeless individuals that are migrating through the City annually.

No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full and comprehensive disclosure, analysis, and public input. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -
You place the City at risk of another costly lawsuit. The Brown Act Section 54954.2 (a) (1) (B) has not been presented nor is it readable or availaable hidden away Review pages 51 and 52 https://www.certnaca.gov/files/d024c0ab8/2027_BrownActManual-011326- WEB.pdf
________________________________________________________________________________ __
Be open. Be open, be diligent, and follow the law.

John Alle 310 990 7124
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
3 --
John E. Alle

JOHN ALLE COMPANY

THE SANTA MONICA COALITION / SAFE CITIES
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
4 David Yakobson
From: Brent Thompson <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 9:12 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Caroline Torosis; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Council Mailbox
Subject: Item 5F — Bergamot Station: Do not give away the leverage tonight

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Torosis, Councilmembers Negrete, Zwick, Hall, Raskin, Snell, and Zernitskaya:

I live in the Gandara Park neighborhood with my wife and our two-year-old daughter. We rent a small SFH. I am writing about Item 5F, tonight's closed-session negotiation over Bergamot Station.

My family was attacked in Santa Monica by an unhoused man. That is not a policy position. It is something that happened to us, near our home. SMPD does what it can. It was not enough, and it is not enough on an ordinary day either. I am telling you this because every decision this Council makes about this corner of the city lands on families like mine first.

Three things.

First, declaring Bergamot surplus was a choice, and it was never debated in public. Bergamot is 5.6 acres, roughly thirty galleries and small businesses, and widely described as the largest gallery complex on the West Coast. When Council declared it surplus last year, it classified a working arts campus the same way it would an empty lot. That single vote is what made tonight possible, and it was never put to residents as a question.

Second, tonight is the last moment the city has leverage, and you are about to spend it behind a closed door. Whatever you are told about size, height, unit count, or who will live there describes current law, not a commitment. The Surplus Land Act was rewritten in 2019 to strip cities of exactly this discretion. AB 1763 gives 100% affordable projects near transit unlimited density and waivers of local standards; BRIDGE's own 2023 Santa Monica bid assumed those waivers. SB 35 and SB 423 make these projects ministerial: no hearing, no vote. SB 79 is doing this to R-1 lots on my street right now. A deal signed under 2026 rules and built out over seven years can end up larger and less reviewable than anything said tonight, without anyone breaking a promise. The only terms that survive a change in state law are recorded covenants in the ground lease. And once you select a developer, the city's own materials say no further solicitation is required. After that, your leverage is gone.

Third, this neighborhood is already carrying more than its share. The Expo corridor, the encampments along the right-of-way, the service calls, and now the SB 79 projects on Delaware. No one has ever added up what Pico and Gandara Park already absorb before asking them to absorb more.

I am asking Council to do the following before any disposition agreement is executed:

1. Bring the surplus designation back to a public hearing.

2. Commission a cumulative public-safety and service-demand analysis for the Pico/Gandara Park area.

Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
5 3. Commit that any deal will carry recorded covenants — maximum units, maximum height, population mix, service provider and staffing, and comparable replacement space for the arts center — and that those terms come to a public hearing before signature.

4. State on the record what population and unit mix the city is negotiating for. If this project is a good neighbor, it should be easy to say so in the open.

I am not asking you to abandon the city's housing obligations. I am asking you to stop meeting them by drawing repeatedly from the same neighborhood and selling off the assets that make Santa Monica worth living in.

I am one of many people in this neighborhood paying close attention to Item 5F, and we will be paying the same attention when this comes back for a vote. How each of you handles tonight will tell us whether this Council still considers this part of the city worth representing.

Respectfully,
Brent Thompson
Delaware Ave, Santa Monica 90404
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
1 David Yakobson
From: Elizabeth Lerer <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 12:01 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Item 5.F Bergamot Art Center

EXTERNAL
Please keep the places for the arts thriving in our community! Stop packing Santa Monica with homeless housing and homeless services that disregard our existing community.

Thank you
Resident Elizabeth Lerer
Sent from my phone
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
2 David Yakobson
From: TROY PARR <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 12:22 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Reject Sale of Bergamot Station

EXTERNAL
JoseGutIba Re-eval ID
I am against any sale or development of Bergamot Station. In recent years, almost everything that had made Santa Monica the charming beach community that attracted people from around the world, has been erased. Stores and restaurants have been replaced by nearly empty over-priced 5-story apartment buildings that are unaffordable. And you wonder why no one is coming to our city.

And now, one of the last remaining jewels of our community is threatened. Why would you get rid of something that brings people to our community and brings our community together. You should be helping the Bergamot Station, not destroying it.

Selling this treasured site for homeless development will devastate the city, and all the communities around the area. How do you expect to attract businesses, new residents, and visitors when the first stop on the Metro is a 5 acre homeless compound???

I urge you to reject the sale of Bergamot Station.

Sincerely,
Troy Parr – VOTER
Delaware Avenue
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
3 David Yakobson
From: DRG <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 12:22 PM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya
Cc: Oliver Chi; Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox
Subject: Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bergamot Station for Homeless Housing

EXTERNAL
Dear Oliver Chi, Lana Negrete, Caroline Tsorsis, Jesse Zwick, Lana Negrete, Natalya Zernitzkaya, Dan Hall, and Barry Snell:

We are repeating this request. No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full disclosure and public input.

Sincerely,
David and Dena Ginsburg
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
4 North of Montana
376 24th Street
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
5 David Yakobson
From: Duo Momentum <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 11:11 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda item K in Support the Trapeze School's New Home

EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor and Members of the Santa Monica City Council, I am writing to urge you to vote in favor of relocating the Trapeze School to Clover Park.

This school is far more than just an athletic facility—it is a cherished community hub that brings immense value to Santa Monica. Over the years, it has empowered residents of all ages by fostering confidence, mental resilience, physical strength, and a genuine sense of connection. Preserving positive spaces that enrich our local culture is essential for keeping our city vibrant.

Moving to Clover Park represents an ideal solution that will allow this institution to continue serving our community for years to come. I strongly encourage the Council to approve this proposal tonight and support the future of the Trapeze School.

Best regards,
Alejandro Malfitani
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
6 David Yakobson
From: Molly Read <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 12:59 PM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya
Cc: Oliver Chi; Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox
Subject: Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bergamot Station for Homeless Housing

We are repeating this request. No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full disclosure and public input.

Molly Read
Wilshire/Montana Neighborhood Resident
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
7 David Yakobson
From: Tricia Crane <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 1:35 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Oliver Chi
Subject: STOP THE SECRET SALE by City Council of Bergamot Station Arts Center

EXTERNAL
STOP THE SECRET SALE of our City asset tonight in Closed Session.

Santa Monica City Council is poised to destroy this historic arts center on City owned land and replace it with a housing project for the “formerly” homeless Dear Northeast Neighbors and friends,
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
8 Tonight City Council and the City Manager will negotiate in CLOSED SESSION a sale of the historic

5.6 acre Bergamot Arts Station in favor of a homeless bridge housing facility without ANY public input.

Why is this deal being rushed through in advance of the City Council election? Why is the public excluded from this decision of monumental importance to our economic recovery? The people of Santa Monica have a right to know the following:
1) If the land is to be sold, what is the competitive bidding data that indicates this is the best offer for the City?
2) Where is that data and why has it not been presented to the residents? 3) Where is the evidence that selling our public land will spearhead the city’s economic recovery, which we know depends on revitalizing the city’s visitor economy? This action reveals that the current City Council is doubling down on its commitment to making Santa Monica the homeless destination of choice, guaranteeing skyrocketing calls for service by police and fire that accompany such projects and ensuring that our economy will never recover.

What will the impact of such a housing project be on the neighborhood, Crossroads School, Water Garden businesses, and the city at large?
Tell the Council they must not proceed with negotiations to sell, lease, or turn over Bergamot Station to housing developers for affordable, bridge, supportive, or other homeless housing.

Tricia Crane
#
Here’s the link to today’s news story in the Santa Monica Daily Press detailing another gross error being pursued by the current Council:

Santa Monica Council Agenda: Red-Light Cameras, Housing, City Deals Agenda item 12-B targets 89 single-family homes in the Pico neighborhood for upzoning to satisfy the requirements of Senate Bill 79, the so-called “Abundant Homes Near Transit Act.” Residents are fighting this latest YIMBY assault on R-1 neighborhoods. Residents of the targeted neighborhoods are calling on Council to pivot and support Option 3 (upzoning in R2-R3) Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
9 instead of Option 1 (upzoning 89 R1 parcels). Option 3 was originally recommended by the Planning Commission and City Staff.

Here’s the link to tonight’s full City Council Agenda:

City Council - Regular Meeting - Sep 8, 2026 5:30 PM
You may attend the Council meetings via Zoom. Dial the phone number to access Zoom’s audio system and enter Zoom Meeting ID to join the meeting.

Zoom Dial-In Information: Phone Number (669) 900-6833 (US), Meeting ID: 978 8290 3006# Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
10 David Yakobson
From: Thea Phillips <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 1:49 PM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox Cc: Oliver Chi
Subject: Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bergamot Station for Homeless Housing

EXTERNAL
Dear Oliver Chi, Lana Negrete, Caroline Tsorsis, Jesse Zwick, Lana Negrete, Natalya Zernitzkaya, Dan Hall, and Barry Snell,
Regarding the agenda item 5F that you added on Sept 3, 2026 over Labor Weekend that you thought no one would notice for a closed door session for Tuesday September 8th to negotiate a real estate deal to SELL AND DEMOLISH THE BERGAMOT ARTS STATION in favor of a MASSIVE OPEN DOOR HOMELESS BRIDGE and AFFORDABLE HOUSING FACILITY.

We are repeating this request. No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full disclosure and public input.

Sincerely,
Thea Phillips
NOMA Neighborhood
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
11 David Yakobson
From: Shari Phillips <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 1:51 PM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox Cc: Oliver Chi
Subject: Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bergamot Station for Homeless Housing

We are repeating this request. No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full disclosure and public input.

Sincerely,
Shari Phillips
NOMA Neighborhood
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
12 David Yakobson
From: Sean Phillips <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 1:56 PM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox Cc: Oliver Chi
Subject: Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bergamot Station for Homeless Housing

We are repeating this request. No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full disclosure and public input.

Sincerely,
Sean Phillips
NOMA Neighborhood
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
13 David Yakobson
From: Dennis Puri <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 1:59 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya
Subject: Fwd: STOP THE SECRET SALE by City Council of Bergamot Station Arts Center

EXTERNAL
Hi City Council,
I hope this finds all of you well. I don't know if the below is accurate but in case it is...

I really enjoy the Bergamots Art Center. It's such a great, cute feature of Santa Monica and so nice to have such a lovely art experience in our city.

Could we please keep it as is for our community to enjoy? Thank you,
Dennis Puri
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Tricia Crane <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, Sep 8, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Subject: STOP THE SECRET SALE by City Council of Bergamot Station Arts Center To: Tricia Crane <[email protected]>
To: councilmtgitems <[email protected]>, Lana Negrete <[email protected]>, Jesse Zwick <[email protected]>, Caroline Torosis <[email protected]>, Dan Hall <[email protected]>, Ellis Raskin <[email protected]>, Barry Snell <[email protected]>, Natalya Zernitskaya <[email protected]>, Oliver Chi <[email protected]> Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
14 STOP THE SECRET SALE of our City asset tonight in Closed Session.

Santa Monica City Council is poised to destroy this historic arts center on City owned land and replace it with a housing project for the “formerly” homeless Dear Northeast Neighbors and friends,
Tonight City Council and the City Manager will negotiate in CLOSED SESSION a sale of the historic

5.6 acre Bergamot Arts Station in favor of a homeless bridge housing facility without ANY public input.

Why is this deal being rushed through in advance of the City Council election? Why is the public excluded from this decision of monumental importance to our economic recovery? The people of Santa Monica have a right to know the following:
1) If the land is to be sold, what is the competitive bidding data that indicates this is the best offer for the City?
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
15 2) Where is that data and why has it not been presented to the residents? 3) Where is the evidence that selling our public land will spearhead the city’s economic recovery, which we know depends on revitalizing the city’s visitor economy? This action reveals that the current City Council is doubling down on its commitment to making Santa Monica the homeless destination of choice, guaranteeing skyrocketing calls for service by police and fire that accompany such projects and ensuring that our economy will never recover.

Tricia Crane
#
Here’s the link to today’s news story in the Santa Monica Daily Press detailing another gross error being pursued by the current Council:

Santa Monica Council Agenda: Red-Light Cameras, Housing, City Deals Agenda item 12-B targets 89 single-family homes in the Pico neighborhood for upzoning to satisfy the requirements of Senate Bill 79, the so-called “Abundant Homes Near Transit Act.” Residents are fighting this latest YIMBY assault on R-1 neighborhoods. Residents of the targeted neighborhoods are calling on Council to pivot and support Option 3 (upzoning in R2-R3) instead of Option 1 (upzoning 89 R1 parcels). Option 3 was originally recommended by the Planning Commission and City Staff.

Here’s the link to tonight’s full City Council Agenda:

City Council - Regular Meeting - Sep 8, 2026 5:30 PM
You may attend the Council meetings via Zoom. Dial the phone number to access Zoom’s audio system and enter Zoom Meeting ID to join the meeting.

Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
16 Zoom Dial-In Information: Phone Number (669) 900-6833 (US), Meeting ID: 978 8290 3006# Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
17 David Yakobson
From: Aleese Orr <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 2:58 PM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox; Oliver Chi
Subject: Stop The Closed Door Meeting about Selling Bergamot Station for Homeless Housing

Last year when you tried to put two bridge housing projects on Ocean Avenue across from Palisades park –which we only shamed the county into thwarting – we asked that you:
 STOP EXPANDING HOMELESS SHELTERS and putting them in unvetted locations  STOP SELLING OFF CITY LAND (!) instead of leveraging our unique irreplaceable assets to generate revenue
 RESCIND THE EMERGENCY HOMELESS PROCLAMATION which excludes the public when LA Mayor Karen Bass already ended their emergency on November 5th of 2025.

We are repeating this request. No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full disclosure and public input.

Aleese Orr
NOMA neighborhood
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
18 David Yakobson
From: David Yuguchi <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 4:43 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya
Cc: [email protected]; Oliver Chi
Subject: 5.F. Conference with real estate negotiator: 2525 Michigan (Bergamot Station)

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council,
I urge you to immediately stop and reconsider all City efforts to sell, lease, turn over or otherwise dispose of the Bergamot Station, a historically-treasured property and venue of our City, to housing developers. The future of this property as an important asset of Santa Monica cultural arts is an important subject of considerable concern for all of our residents and citizens. The prospects for this land should be the subject of a citywide task force to ensure maximum benefit to the City.

Please stop all negotiations for this property at this time.

Best regards,
David Yuguchi
Santa Monica, CA
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
19 David Yakobson
From: S Bracey <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 4:32 PM
To: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Heidi von Tongeln; Attorney Mailbox; Oliver Chi
Subject: ITEM 5F - SM Resident requesting you to Vote NO on closed door session to sell Bergamont to developer for Homeless Shelter

EXTERNAL
Dear Oliver Chi, Lana Negrete, Caroline Tsorsis, Jesse Zwick, Lana Negrete, Natalya Zernitzkaya, Dan Hall, and Barry Snell
Please hear out cry on this -
Remember you work for us, the residents and taxpayers of Santa Monica! Stop destroying our city by voting in favor of developers who overdevelop and don’t care about the direction of our town.

We are repeating this request. No closed-door deal. No transfer of this land. No open-door homeless facility next to families and businesses without full disclosure and public input.

Sincerely,
Susan Bracey
Santa Monica Homeowner and Taxpayer
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
1 David Yakobson
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 12:56 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Please stop this project

EXTERNAL
To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.

SM City Council Adds Agenda Item to Sell Bergamot Station Arts for Massive Open-Door Homeless Housing Project
ONCE AGAIN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, the City is negotiating to SELL Bergamot Station, the largest public arts complex on the West Coast, 5.6 contiguous acres (approx $120M)to West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation for a BRIDGE open-door homeless housing facility. This would dramatically impact Crossroads families, the Water Garden, local businesses and every surrounding neighborhood while placing additional demands on police, fire and 911 services.

Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
1 David Yakobson
From: Steve Mount <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 2:53 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Bergamot Station

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council,
As a life long resident of Santa Monica and a frequent visitor to Bergamot, I wish to express my strongest feelings possible in opposition to this plan of selling off this cherished gem to develop housing of any kind.

This is not a good plan in any way, shape or form. Bergamot enhances our town, brings joy to both citizens and visitors alike. The loss of such is simply too great. Please give deep consideration to the value of Bergamot as it stands today and do not vote to destroy it.

Regards,
Steve Mount
2519 California Avenue
Santa Monica 90403
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026
Item 5-F
September 8, 2026

Santa Monica City CouncilSeptember 8, 2026

Santa Monica City Council
September 8, 2026