September 23, 2024
Santa Monica faces a historic City Council election this November, one which could fundamentally change the character of our city.
There is a stark contrast between the two slates vying for your votes. One slate – Vivian Roknian, John Putnam, Phil Brock, and Oscar de la Torre are home-grown: their philosophies and actions are in sync with SMCLC – to advocate for residents, not developers, and fight for the scale, character, and livability of Santa Monica.
The other slate, fueled by big money and entrenched political interests, strongly supports high-density overdevelopment throughout our city, including letting developers build apartment buildings in single-family neighborhoods, and the removal of parking requirements for new projects. They will not push back against new state mandates overriding local zoning because they agree with those mandates.
This sharp contrast about Santa Monica’s future was evident at the recent City Council candidate's forum, hosted by Santa Monica’s neighborhood associations and attended by over 400 residents. Here’s the link to the video:
https://youtu.be/IAVle1qzUT0?feature=shared
Recently, SMCLC interviewed Vivian Roknian and John Putnam. Like Phil and Oscar, whom we supported in 2020, they are long-time residents who are passionate about our City and helping its residents. We believe they are strong, ethical, hard-working and smart candidates who will prioritize residents, not developers, and usher in needed change at City Hall. With your help they can win.
Together with Phil and Oscar, Vivian and John would constitute a powerful resident-friendly Council majority, improve City government across the board, and hold the City accountable in controlling unrestrained, unsustainable growth.
Over the next few weeks SMCLC will be sending out more information on Vivian (https://www.electdrvivian.com/)
John (https://www.electjohnputnam.com/)
Phil (https://www.votebrock.org/)
Oscar (https://www.vote4oscar.org/)
Take a look at their websites, donate if you can, and if you hear of an event for them, go meet them!
Please circulate this to your friends and neighbors and ask them to join our mailing list at www.smclc.net so we can keep them informed throughout this election cycle.