“Supporting Airports, Strengthening Communities”
Above Data: Chart Supplement SW 10/31/2024
Santa Monica City Council Email Addresses:
councilmtgitems@santamonica.gov
caroline.torosis@santamonica.gov
natalya.zernitskaya@santamonica.gov
Santa Monica City Council STREAMED VIDEO Meetings - NEW -
Access a Video Meeting Archive by Clicking/Tapping HERE. - Includes video coverage of the July 8 Meeting wherein the Discussion of a Great Park vs. an Airport was Agenda Item 7A
News & Challenges info:
09/10/2025
09/05/2025
07/14/2025 Park proponents emerge victorious at City Council, but airports future remains murky - From SMDP Santa Monica Daily Press - "The Santa Monica City Council voted early Wednesday morning to direct staff to study a preferred scenario for the former airport site that would not require voter approval under Measure LC, effectively choosing to explore a park-only option without housing for the 192-acre property.
The vote came after more than four hours of public testimony and council debate over what should be studied for the site following the airport's possible closure on Dec. 31, 2028. The eventual decision came after a failed effort by a minority group to approve a plan with more housing and revenue generation on the property.
The failed motion, supported by Natalya Zernitskaya, Jesse Zwick and Barry Snell, would have included study of options requiring a public vote to maintain compliance with Measure LC and while the public comments were split between various vacations (including a small contingent who want the airport to remain), the majority view reflected a push by a coalition of groups that have rallied under the Great Parks coalition banner.
"We stand at the threshold of something rare: a once-in-generations chance to transform a space currently devoted to flight into a place that strengthens our bodies and minds, heals nature, and lets our spirits soar," said Hall. "A place that will inspire wonder in every child who runs barefoot through an open field, in every senior who walks beneath the canopy of native trees, in every artist who finds quiet beauty in the shape of the land, in every athlete who needs a space to play, in every renter who needs a backyard."
Council's decision Tuesday is far from the final say. Staff will take the direction from this week’s meeting and return to council in several months with more information at which time the directive for what will go on the site, whether that be housing, parks or other uses, may change."
Highlight from this article: "Staff warned that a park-only approach could require General Fund subsidies for operational costs and increased security, custodial and programming needs for such a large space. They also said the City can’t afford to build a park if the Airport does close at the first available date.
“We don’t have the money as you know, on day 1 to open a park,” said interim City Manager Elaine Polacheck. “So I want to talk about what happens on day one because you’ve already alluded to the fact that you’re concerned this is going to lay fallow for many many years.”
READ THE FULL SMDP ARTICLE HERE.
07/14/2025 Council Approves Airport Park Without Housing - by Jorge Casuso - Santa Monica Lookout - "July 10, 2025 -- The City Council on Tuesday voted 6 to 1 to move ahead with a plan to convert 192 acres of airport land into a "Great Park" that excludes, and does not immediately study, housing. - The vote represents a cautious approach by a staunchly pro-housing Council that was strongly lobbied by its political backers to include some 3,000 units of affordable and workforce housing. - But Council members worried that opening up the prospect of housing on the site -- which would require a vote of the people -- could delay, or even derail, plans for a park when the airport closes at the end of 2028.
The vote "is not foreclosing the opportunity for housing in the future," said Councilmember Caroline Torosis. "We all need to be clear on what the goal is here." Read the Full Report.
7/13/2025 SCAUWG.ORG EDITORIAL: RESULTS of the July 8 Vote can be listened to via the Meeting Video Recording (see above, or view it on YouTube Here). The meeting began with children from a Santa Monica youth softball team wherein once the mayor's daughter was a softball player and the mayor participated in, reading maturely written comments about their need for a better opportunity to play sports, how difficult and inconvenient it presently is, and how creating the "Great Park" in place of the airport is necessary for their successful life development. It was then touted that the softball team just won a games that now places them in the "National." One of the young ladies espoused that she spoke for all kids, and how they needed the park as opposed to current concrete, and that the great park will "be amazing especially when compared to what it is being used for now."
Are these assumptions selfish? They reference all kids as those who want to play sports and have their girl scout's meetings, etc. in the park. One wonders if those kids have considered those left behind. That's right those that dream of being astronauts, those kids who might dream of flight the way in Bob Hoover did, or Chuck Yeager did. Did they consider that some may feel strongly about serving in the military and taking to the skies in order to defend our country. Maybe some dream of transporting those who need lifesaving medical treatment, or those who desire to become public servants serving as a police helicopter pilot, or a scientist who flies through dangerous weather to do lifesaving research, or those who dream of becoming flying firemen or airline pilots necessary to fly the planes that provide transportation to Santa Monica residents, or aircraft engineers, or those who design innovative aircraft that that are so important for public service and commerce. Do any of those types of kids live in Santa Monica? Are there kids in Santa Monica like those who grow up with dreams like Wilbur and Orvil Wright did?
Personally, I don't blame the kids for their narrow vision, I do blame their parents. Those parents might well have allowed their children to be as shortsighted as they may be. Santa Monica Airport's use was apparently despised by the 17-year-old who politely expressed its concrete existence as useless, rather than the world of flight being "amazing."
One wonders what those children would think about the lifesaving helicopters that flew out of Santa Monica Airport and combated the LA Fires as useless if their homes were threatened by fire. Should a sister or brother that needs a lifesaving organ to be flown and received immediately be concerned. Perhaps they would they prefer to wait for some other airport to delay delivery?
When I was young...
Santa Monica Airport is not only important to Santa Monica residents, and I wonder if Santa Monica cares that their airport is really important to the LA's/NAS airspace system? It is a Air Traffic LA Basin reliever, and Santa Monica VOR provides a key ingredient playing a part in several important navigational routes. The parents also... To be continued - work in progress.
07/13/2025 City Council Response to Email Submission:
Sent: Tuesday, July 8, 2025 11:36:45 AM
To: Dan Hall <Dan.Hall@santamonica.gov>; Lana Negrete <Lana.Negrete@santamonica.gov>; Ellis Raskin <Ellis.Raskin@santamonica.gov>; Caroline Torosis <Caroline.Torosis@santamonica.gov>; Natalya Zernitskaya <Natalya.Zernitskaya@santamonica.gov>; Jesse Zwick <Jesse.Zwick@santamonica.gov>; councilmtgitems <councilmtgitems@santamonica.gov>; Barry Snell <Barry.Snell@santamonica.gov>
Subject: Subject: July 8 City Council Meeting, Item 7: Evolve Santa Monica Airport—Don’t Erase It
To: You
"Thank you for your email. Please be advised that this email will: 1) become part of the public record, 2) be filed with the City’s official records, and 3) be posted online at smgov.net/council/agendas. Comments will not be redacted and appear online as they are submitted.
If you plan to speak at the meeting and have an electronic presentation to show, please submit it to clerk.mailbox@santamonica.gov no later than 12 PM on the day of the meeting.
Levine Act Disclosure. Pursuant to the Levine Act (Govt Code Section 84308), any party to a permit, license, contract, or other entitlement before the Council is required to disclose on the record any contribution, including aggregated contributions, of more than $250 made by the party or the party's agents within the preceding 12 months to any City official. Participants and agents are requested to make this disclosure as well. The disclosure must include the name of the party, participant, or agent, and any other person making the contribution; the name of the recipient, the amount of the contribution, and the date the contribution was made.
Thank you,
The City Clerk’s Office"
07/08/2025 EMAILS are invited to be sent to the city council regarding a regular 7/08/2025 meeting agenda item determined to discuss plans for the future airport land use. The letter sent to the SCAUWG.ORG mailing list and posted via a banner is as follows:
Emails to the city council should be addressed to: (To be sent prior to 12 PM Tues. 7/8/2025)
dan.hall@santamonica.gov, lana.negrete@santamonica.gov, ellis.raskin@santamonica.gov, barry.snell@santamonica.gov, caroline.torosis@santamonica.gov, natalya.zernitskaya@santamonica.gov, jesse.zwick@santamonica.gov,
councilmtgitems@santamonica.gov
Subject: July 8 City Council Meeting, Item 7: Evolve Santa Monica Airport—Don’t Erase It
Dear Mayor Negrete and City Councilmembers,
As a member of the community and a long-time admirer of Santa Monica’s historic role in American
aerospace, I urge you to consider a path of evolution, not elimination for Santa Monica Airport.
Santa Monica was once the center of the aviation world—where Donald Douglas built the DC-3 and
helped win a world war. That same pioneering spirit can thrive again if we seize this opportunity not to
close SMO, but to reimagine it for the future.
This is not about preserving the status quo. It’s about leading the next chapter of clean, quiet,
community-minded aviation. Electric aircraft, advanced simulators, flight schools, STEM education hubs,
and green infrastructure can all co-exist alongside open space—and even a modest amount of
thoughtfully integrated housing.
Here’s what evolution could mean:
A world-class STEM education and training center, where Santa Monica students are inspired to
pursue science, technology, and flight
A hub for electric and autonomous aviation, already being tested at SMO and poised to reduce
traffic congestion and emissions
Green space and community access, thoughtfully integrated with aviation infrastructure
Long-term economic vitality for a city facing major fiscal headwinds
Continued local control over airport operations and land use after 2028, allowing the City to shape
SMO’s evolution in line with community values and future technologies
Santa Monica doesn’t need to pick between a park and an airport. We can build a 21st-century innovation
campus—one that honors our history, serves our residents, and inspires future generations.
Please don’t rush to erase our past. Let’s evolve it into something extraordinary.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Aviation Role or Affiliation]
[Optional: Santa Monica Resident / Organization Name]
You are INVITED to ATTEND the Meeting. The meeting will be Tuesday July 8th at 5:30PM at
Santa Monica city hall. Here is the agenda.
07/08/2025 New Survey Finds Santa Monica Voters Strongly Support Housing and Parks on Santa Monica Airport Land - From Business Wire - "SANTA MONICA, Calif., July 08, 2025 - As the Santa Monica City Council considers the future of the soon-to-close airport, new survey results reveal that a majority of local voters support transforming the 191-acre site into a mix of affordable housing and parkland.
The survey was conducted by Goodwin Simon Strategic Research from June 26 to July 1, 2025, with 449 randomly selected Santa Monica voters, and was offered in both English and Spanish. It found:
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65% want at least some housing built on the site
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46% support an even split between housing and open space
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67% support building workforce housing for teachers, nurses, and other essential workers
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Only 28% support using the entire site exclusively for parks or open space
Voters also overwhelmingly acknowledged the urgency of the housing crisis:
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76% say Santa Monica has a serious housing shortage, especially affordable housing
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74% want the city to make affordable housing a high priority
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70% believe more housing is needed so that younger families and non-wealthy residents can afford to stay
07/07/2025 Santa Monica Great Park Coalition and Airport2Park Foundation will host a “Rally for a Great Park” - From smdp Santa Monica Daily Press - "The Santa Monica City Council is expected to take a significant step toward converting Santa Monica Airport into a public park after the facility closes in 2029. - Council members will provide direction to planners on what features to include in a draft project design, selecting from options identified through an extensive public process conducted by Sasaki design firm and city Public Works staff. After additional public outreach this fall, Sasaki will produce a draft design for council consideration and approval in December for environmental review.
The Santa Monica Great Park Coalition and Santa Monica Airport2Park Foundation will host a "Rally for a Great Park" at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in front of City Hall before the council meeting. Former mayors and coalition representatives are scheduled to speak.
"We applaud the City of Santa Monica and the planners for having kept to the schedule of planning for the Great Park," said Neil Carrey, president of the Santa Monica Airport2Park Foundation. The groups are urging the council to choose park elements that comply with Measure LC and can be financed with existing or predictable funding.
Measure LC, added to the city charter in 2014, requires non-park uses on former airport land to be approved by public vote. According to a January opinion from the Santa Monica city attorney, compliant park features may include traditional park uses that the City Council adds to definitions of park uses in the city's zoning code." Continue Reading Here.
0707/2025 Saying the quiet part out loud – the biggest threat to Santa Monica’s Great Park - From smdp Santa Monica Daily Press - "With Santa Monica Airport (SMO) scheduled to close on January 1, 2029, the public process to plan the land’s conversion is well underway. Input has been received on a range of potential park, recreational and open space uses, as well as non-park possibilities. Now the City Council is being asked to begin to choose from among them, to focus further study. - But depending upon the direction the Council takes, there is the threat of a ballot measure from the aviation industry to keep SMO operating as an airport, that would be in response to the City Council recommending anything other than a park on SMO land.
In 2014 Santa Monica voters passed Measure LC with 60.45%, putting into the City Charter to “prohibit new development on Airport land, except for parks, public open spaces and public recreational facilities”, unless/until there is a future ballot measure otherwise. In February 2017 the City Council formally voted to close SMO in 2029. So the clock is ticking.
The aviation lobby knows it can’t defeat a pure park. But they firmly believe they can defeat anything involving housing or commercial development. If aviation interests hire signature gatherers to qualify their own ballot measure to perpetuate the airport like they did in 2014, they will use fear and capitalize on any confusion or discouragement the public perceives about the park. Any ballot measure to amend LC to provide for housing and/or commercial uses - even simply a Council-approved plan that would lead to it — would give them this ammunition" More details explained Here.
07/04/2025 Letter to the Editor: Santa Monica’s Great Park: It’s Time to Deliver on 100 Years of Promise - From Santa Monica Mirror - "For nearly a century, residents have consistently supported turning the airport land into a public park. It began in 1926, when voters taxed themselves to buy this land for public use. In 2014, voters passed Measure LC to protect this land for parks, recreation, and open space — and to ensure any other use would require a direct vote of the people. - In 2017, a unanimous City Council passed Resolution 11026 to close the airport as soon as legally possible. That same year, the City signed a court-approved Consent Decree between the city and the FAA, guaranteeing the ability to close Santa Monica Airport after December 31, 2028. - On Tuesday, July 8, City Council will decide whether to begin planning the Great Park the people have long demanded — or risk delay, division, and the erosion of public trust." You can read the letter to the editor HERE.
06/04/2025 Design Options Emerge for Santa Monica Airport Conversion into Public Park - From Santa Monica Mirror "Community feedback, gathered through over 4,984 survey responses, shows a strong preference for pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly designs, integrated water systems, and a balance of passive and active uses - As the Santa Monica Airport prepares to close on December 31, 2028, the city is unveiling three distinct design scenarios to transform its nearly 200-acre site into a sprawling public park, with community input shaping the future of the space. - The conversion project, outlined in a staff report to the Planning Commission for a June 4, 2025, meeting, aligns with Measure LC, adopted in 2014, which mandates the land—originally purchased for a public park—be used primarily for..." Read the results Here.
05/31/2025 Santa Monica Residents Win 7-Year Battle To Close Airport - From Canyon News - "SANTA MONICA— On May 30, multiple reports confirmed that Santa Monica residents won a seven-year battle to have the Santa Monica Airport, (originally known as, Clover Field), closed. In 2014, residents voted to build a “Great Park,” like New York’s Central Park. In 2017, locals renewed their efforts. This week, the closure date of December 31, 2028, has been announced. - Immigrant Rights, and Affordable Housing advocate, Reverend Joanne Leslie is a Deacon in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and a member of Clergy Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) is advocating for affordable housing as rent in Santa Monica can be upwards of $4,000 a month.
The City of Santa Monica is currently facing a deficit and a housing crisis at the same time. - On May 20, the SM City Council met in a special Airport Commission meeting, the minutes of which are available on their website. - Read the Story and the posted reader comments that follow on the first page, Here.
05/30/2025 Santa Monica Airport Closure Spurs Push for Housing - From Capital & Main - "A campaign to build housing on the site of the soon-to-be-shuttered airport is drawing pushback from opponents of new development. - In the neighborhoods surrounding the Santa Monica Airport, homeowners know little peace. Every few minutes, the whine of a jet engine intrudes on the suburban soundscape.
But relief is coming. In 2017, locals won a more than seven-decade fight to close the airport. It is scheduled to shutter once and for all on Dec. 31, 2028. - Santa Monica residents voted in 2014 to build a park on the site of the airport. But as the 2028 closure date approaches, some residents, councilmembers and pro-housing groups are calling for the construction of affordable housing on the site in addition to a park. - With an organized contingent of development opponents determined to stop them, the airport site is shaping up as the latest flashpoint in Southern California’s battles over housing construction." Read More Here.
05/23/2025 Douglas Day will be September 21st at Barker Hangar.- in 1924, Donald Douglas and his team from Santa Monica achieved a historic milestone with the first flight around the world. Operating from Clover Field, the U.S. Army Air Service’s Douglas World Cruisers—Seattle, Chicago, Boston, and New Orleans—completed a journey of over 27,553 miles, traversing oceans, continents, and difficult terrains. This remarkable feat showcased their courage and pioneering spirit, culminating in a grand return to Santa Monica in September 1924, where 250,000 people greeted them. The success of this mission cemented Donald Douglas and his company’s place in global innovation history.
05/02/2025 Future of Santa Monica Airport sparks debate over parks and affordable housing - From Santa Monica Daily Press - "Santa Monica is approaching a historic turning point as community leaders, activists and elected officials begin weighing the future of the Santa Monica Airport, a 192-acre site slated for aviation closure in 2028. - At a meeting of the Santa Monica Democratic Club held last Wednesday, the group launched an ad hoc committee dedicated to studying potential uses for the land and drafting a formal position ahead of critical decisions by the City Council. After decades of political battles over the airport, the new debate hinges on a difficult question: Should the site become a massive urban park or help ease the city’s affordable housing crisis o/r attempt to do both?" Read More Here.
04/09/2025 SLING ACADEMY Coming to Santa Monica! - Sling Pilot Academy Santa Monica Grand Opening - End of April 2025 will usher in the Grand Opening of their new location in Santa Monica. Sling Pilot Academy is excited to participate in the next generation of aerospace innovation enabling the next-generation in modern, community-compatible flight training. - QUIETER, LESS LEAD, LOWER CO2 EMISSIONS: - With quieter, unleaded Whisper Slings we avoid around 100lbs of CO2 emissions with each hour of flight, compared to legacy flight training airplanes. Location: 3159 Donald Douglas Loop S, Santa Monica, CA 90405 - Call 424-250-0648 for Information about Sling Academy locations and details.
03/24/2025 Santa Monica Airport Landing Fees - From the Ci t Website - "The Santa Monica Airport has a Landing Fee Program applicable to all aircraft operating at Santa Monica Airport. Currently, the fee is $2.56 per thousand pounds of maximum certificated gross landing weight. This fee is separate from other fees assessed for overnight transient or FBO services.
Vector Airport Systems handles the billing and payments for the Landing Fee Program on behalf of the Airport. The Landing Fee is assessed upon an aircraft’s departure. For payment inquiries, Vector can be reached at 888-588-0028 X700 or billing@vector-us.com. Payments and account management can be accessed online through Vector's self-service web portal: payment.planepass.com."
03/08/2025 Commitment to Being a Good Neighbor - From Sling's Website - "Sling, among other general aviation aircraft operators at both Long Beach and other airports across the region, have faced mounting public pressure from adjacent communities over noise pollution. Sling’s Torrance flight school, for example, was put in jeopardy after the town declined to renew the company’s business license for 2024. The City Council did so — citing a 1977 local ordinance that, while it had never been enforced, limited the number of flight schools that could operate at its municipal airport — because of residential complaints about noise.
The controversy played out for months — and eventually led to a lawsuit. Sling and the city, however, settled the issue out of court in April after some legal back-and-forth. The settlement resulted in Sling’s lawsuit and a Federal Aviation Administration complaint being dismissed.
“We don’t have any outstanding issues with the city,” Liknaitzky said about Torrance. “It’s our biggest location, and we don’t have any plans to leave.” For More Info about Sling and their flight school locations visit their Website: For an AVweb article published 3/07/2025 revealing Sling's new "Whisper Sling" aircraft, Click Here.
2/19/2025 From the Santa Monica Daily News - Courtesy of Eve Lopez - The role Santa Monica Airport played during the wildfire and why that’s so important - Scott Snowden
"During the last City Council Meeting, Rachel Kwok, Environmental Planner with the City Planning Division and Lindsay Call, Chief Resilience Officer, gave a chilling account of the potential disasters the City of Santa Monica must be mindful of. In addition to the longstanding threat of earthquakes, climate change has given us all a great deal to think about and prepare for, including sea level rise, flooding, landslides, extreme heat and of course, wildfires.
Santa Monica Airport (SMO) is set to close on December 31, 2028, as outlined in a 2017 federal consent decree and an ongoing campaign exists to convince elected officials to turn the space into a “great park.” The City has gone to great lengths in numerous community outreach events to research what sort of uses the residents of Sunset Park and the Pico neighborhood want to see the land put to. However, very few – if any – of the options included an opportunity for the group of people who still maintain that the airport is a valuable resource, to offer their opinion.
Moreover, the somewhat predictable spectre of residential development has hinted at its presence twice in the last two City Council meetings. During the January 28 meeting, there was a Study Session Item that specifically looked at different land use scenarios and their potential impact.
Housing was raised a number of times through the course of the discussion by numerous members of council including Councilmember Jess Zwick who said it should be an option and Councilwoman Natalya Zernitskaya who agreed, saying, “I think housing should be considered for at least one of the other scenarios.”
Then, during the aforementioned introduction and first reading of the amended Safety Element of City’s General Plan in the February 11 meeting, Kwok spoke of recent revisions made to the December draft of this plan in response to feedback from Council.
“I want to emphasize that the revised language neither precludes nor commits the City to a ‘great park’ or any other particular land uses, those changes were done to make sure we are legally compliant with CEQA, that we are not presupposing any specific project,” Kwok said, adding, “We are not saying that we are developing – or not developing – any particular uses, including a ‘great park.’ So I just want to assure the community we are still moving on with the process of community engagement.”
These are small, but extremely significant tweaks in the language being used in conversation surrounding the future of Santa Monica Airport.
During the recent North of Montana Association meeting on Fire and Emergency Preparedness, which featured guest speakers including Mayor Lana Negrete, Fire Chief Matthew Hallock and Lindsey Call among others, CalFire Unit Chief Shane Littlefield, spoke of how SMO was utilized during the Palisades wildfire when wind conditions affected Camarillo airport to such an extent that firefighting and emergency aircraft were moved to Santa Monica so they could operate from there."
Please Finish this important account by DOWNLOADING the FULL TEXT HERE.
Shortly after the designation, an appeal was filed to overturn the decision. On November 11th this year, the Santa Monica City Council heard from many supporters of the LA 99’s Compass Rose historical landmark designation. The council voted unanimously to retain the KSMO Compass Rose historical landmark
status as a tribute to women in aviation. Congratulations LA99’s!
11/25/2024 " December 1, 2024 - Come celebrate the season with us at the SMAA Holiday Social Mixer on December 1st from 5:30pm to 8pm at The Cloverfield! We’ll also toast to our successful Douglas Day event in September this year, commemorating 100 years since the Douglas World Cruiser’s historic flight around the world! - We’re thrilled to welcome guest speakers Scott Burgess and Kuangwei Hwang, who will share the excitement of adding the two Pipistrel Velis Electro all-electric airplanes to the Santa Monica Airport flight school fleet this year. -
Registration is FREE, but we kindly ask that you RSVP for yourself and your family to help us plan accordingly and ensure we order enough delicious hors d'oeuvres for everyone. - We can’t wait to see you there and share the holiday cheer!
Warm regards,
The SMAA Team"
11/12/2024 "...some fantastic news! Thanks to the collective efforts of the Los Angeles Chapter of The Ninety-Nines based at Santa Monica Airport and the unwavering support from our community, we prevailed at last night's appeal hearing to keep the Compass Rose at Santa Monica Airport designated as a historical landmark.
Santa Monica City Council voted unanimously to uphold the landmark status of the Compass Rose, recognizing its importance as a tribute to women in aviation and a symbol of our important heritage. This victory reflects a rare but welcomed positive action by the City in support of preserving Santa Monica's rich aviation history, honoring the achievements of pioneering women pilots like Amelia Earhart, and for their support - and yours - we are humbled beyond words.
This landmark decision is a testament to what our aviation community can achieve when we come together. We’re incredibly grateful for the ongoing support and advocacy..." - EL
11/12/2024 NBAA awaits results from a motion filed regarding the use of revenue derived from Santa Monica Airport.
11/12/2024 Swift Unleaded Fuel, a replacement for 100LL, is now at KSMO.
11/08/2024 City Council election - From Santa Monica Daily News - "The Unity Slate of Dan Hall, Ellis Raskin, Barry Snell and Natalya Zernitskaya remained on the top spots Thursday for City Council. While it is still mathematically possible for current Mayor Phil Brock to pick up enough votes to retain his seat, it is highly unlikely he would do so."
Recent Challenge:
Find a City Councilmembers that Might Support the Airport!
Opportunity: Upcoming November 5th Election - Change the Councilmembers and Potentially Change the FUTURE for SANTA MONICA.
Santa Monica City Council Election 2024: 10 Candidates Run For 4 Seats
From PATCH -
SANTA MONICA, CA — At least two newcomers are set to be elected to the City Council in the Nov. 5 election as part of a 10-way race for four seats.
In the running are incumbents Phil Brock and Oscar de la Torre and challengers Ericka Lesley, Dan Hall, Ellis Raskin, Vivian A. Roknian, John Putnam, Wade Kelley, Barry A. Snell and Natalya Zernitskaya.
Incumbents Gleam Davis and Christine Parra are not seeking reelection.
Below find a snapshot of each candidate, along with links to their candidate statements and campaign websites, where they make their pitches for why they should be elected to the council.
Phil Brock
"Brock is seeking a second term on the council. He previously served on various city bodies for nearly two decades, including the Recreation & Parks Commission and Arts Commission, according to his city biography.
"Our citizens have wisdom; they know why they moved to this place and what they want the future of Santa Monica to be. I do not believe that high rises, massive developments, streets that become canyons of buildings, or roads that our families can't navigate..."
Finish Reading a LIST of published bios OF EVERY CANDIDATE HERE.
Historical Challenges:
January 2023: From: City of Santa Monica Website:
The Future of the Santa Monica Airport
As the Santa Monica Airport celebrates its 100th year of existence in the community, City Council approved a public process to determine the future of the Santa Monica Airport on January 24, 2023. The Airport, which lies on 192 acres, represents nearly 3.5% of the City's land area. It was purchased in 1926 using a Parks bond, and was later developed into the SMO Municipal Airport.
The public process is consistent with past Council direction to establish a plan for future use of the land, and to address the community's interest in the creation of parks and recreational amenities, and to contend with community goals and priorities as they relate to current and future generations. Click here to read the full Staff Report: Public Process to Determine the Future of the Santa Monica Airport.
To participate in the Engagement process, please click here to sign up for project updates and additional information on how you can get involved.
Jump to Section:
01/02/2024
Sasaki will oversee redevelopment of Santa Monica Airport into park space for LA County
"Plans for the redevelopment of the soon-to-close Santa Monica Airport have become clearer after the City Council approved an agreement with Sasaki Associates in December that would deliver a “Great Park” concept to the 227-acre site after 2028.
The new *Airport Conversion Planning Project agreement calls for a five-phase public consultation and research effort to be conducted by the firm before the end of 2025. A framework will come first in Phase One and precedes a draft of the project’s guiding principles in Phase Two, with the eventual naming of a study-informed ‘preferred scenario’ and alternative suggestions being produced by the end of Phase Three. - Phases Four and Five will round out the plan with..." Read the Full Article Here.
10/30/2019 FAA Says Santa Monica Can Use Airport Revenue for Runway Demolition - From NBAA - "
Aviation users of California’s Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) must pay for multi-million-dollar airport projects at SMO that do not actually benefit them or the airport, according to a recent informal determination by the FAA.
In an Oct. 21 letter in response to an informal Part 13 complaint – initiated by the FAA as the result of an inquiry by NBAA, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association – the agency concluded that the city of Santa Monica is able to use airport revenue for projects associated with its runway shortening project, including pavement removal, pavement pulverization, soil stabilization and hydroseeding. - The project to demolish pavement that was removed from operation in 2017 started in June and is scheduled to conclude in November. - The FAA decision is premised on..." Continue Here.
Support:
October 26, 2024
Dear Friend of CalPilots /ACA Political Action Committee:
California Pilots Association has worked tirelessly to protect airports throughout the state. Although not an exhaustive list, during 2024, CalPilots have worked with pilots located at Reid Hillview, San Jose, San Carlos, Gnoss Field, Redlands, Torrance, Whiteman, Santa Monica, Banning and South Lake Tahoe (where we filed a Part 16 to the FAA) to address various land use issues and potential runway closures. We stopped the large Fountain Wind Project in Shasta County. We present at the FAA conferences regarding the numerous airports subjected to new NOAA regulations controlling airspace, control that should be exclusive to the FAA.
Sometimes when we see the big news, like Santa Monica not only reducing the runway length, but removing pavement that could be used in an emergency, we think, well, that’s their problem in Santa Monica. But the result of Santa Monica’s actions are being felt in Van Nuys, Burbank, LAX, and Hawthorne, which are receiving the traffic that used to go to Santa Monica and their neighbors aren’t happy about it. With the advent of GPS AWAS approaches, aircraft are all appearing exactly over single points… bringing noise and the potential for an airport shut down.
How do you protect your airport and airports you fly to consistently? Airports are rarely closed by members of Congress (Banning is not settled.) or Senators; they are closed by local county supervisors and city councilmembers. These are the people who need to understand the value of their airports. CalPilots has teamed with the Association of California Airports [ACA] to form a Political Action Committee (PAC) through which we can educate elected officials to ensure they understand the value of their local airport. We ask that you make a non-tax deductible contribution to our political action committee to help support our efforts to educate elected officials.
Many of you may have noticed as you did your 2023 taxes, the standard deduction is much higher, making it much less likely a tax-deductible donation would affect your taxes this year. If you are in that situation, as many Californians are, please seriously consider a PAC donation so we can make your voice heard.
Here is the link to our Donation page for your convenience. https://calpilots.org/donations/#!form/Donation
Or, of course, you could send a check to the CalPilots PAC at the address on the bottom of this letter. calpilots.org for more information about CalPilots. - Thank you!