SR 09-13-2022 16E
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: September 13, 2022
Agenda Item: 16.E
1 of 1
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Denise Anderson Warren, City Clerk, Records and Election Services
Department
Subject: Request of Councilmembers Negrete and Brock that the City Council endorse
and authorize the City Manager to transmit the attached letter requesting that
the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors support and assist the City of
Santa Monica in relocating the Harm Reduction Syringe Services Program
from its parks and open spaces to a service rich environment that aligns with
the City’s Four Pillar Strategy to address homelessness. The City Manager is
also being asked to transmit this letter to candidates for the Los Angeles
County Board of Supervisors, Senator Bob Hertzberg and City
Councilmember, Lindsey Horvath.
Prepared By: Nikima Newsome, Assistant City Clerk
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. 20220913Safe Syringe 16 Item Attachment
B. Written Comments
16.E
Packet Pg. 485
September 14, 2022
Sent Via Email
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
Bord Executive Office, Room 383
Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Dear Board Chair Mitchell and Honorable Members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors,
The City of Santa Monica has an established track record of deploying a comprehensive and
collaborative approach to addressing homelessness. More specifically, Santa Monica has implemented a
Four Pillar Strategy to address homelessness and prevent residents from becoming unhoused.
Immediate and consistent engagement combined with services, treatment, and housing is core to our
local strategy. The following outlines our Four Pillar Strategy:
1. Prevent housed Santa Monicans from becoming homeless and increase the supply of affordable
housing;
2. Address the behavioral health needs of vulnerable residents;
3. Maintain equitable access to safe, fun, and healthy open spaces; and
4. Strengthen regional capacity to address homelessness.
Over the years, implementing this strategy has resulted in the production of affordable housing,
deployment of multi-disciplinary outreach teams, and the provision of rental assistance and legal
services to tenants who are at risk of eviction. In addition, new innovations have been implemented or
are forthcoming. Examples include:
• Our Fire Department’s Community Response Unit, which provides an alternative response to 9-1-1
calls for service to better address the needs of vulnerable populations; and
• A partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health to bring forward a
Therapeutic Transport Van staffed with behavioral health professionals and people with lived
experiences who offer supportive resources for non-violent mental health-related calls for service.
The City has committed $400,000 to this initiative.
Clearly, the City of Santa Monica is committed to addressing the issue of homelessness in a wholistic and
compassionate manner.
In alignment with our Four Pillar Strategy outlined above, Pillar 3 reflects the City’s desire to maintain
equitable access to safe, fun, and healthy spaces. Because roughly 70% of Santa Monicans are renters,
our community relies on the City’s parks and open spaces as they do not have access to private open
space. This includes families with young children, as well as seniors. It has come to our attention that
the Venice Family Clinic under the purview of the Los Angeles Department of Public Health, Substance
Abuse and Prevention and Control Division is providing clean needles to individuals in our parks and
16.E.a
Packet Pg. 486 Attachment: 20220913Safe Syringe 16 Item Attachment (5365 : Safe Syringe Program)
open spaces through the Harm Reduction Syringe Services Program. We understand our limited
regulatory authority, however, rather than implement this program in our parks and open spaces, we
seek your assistance in immediately moving this program to a service rich environment (preferably
indoors) where individuals in need of substance abuse, mental health, and other services can coordinate
and work directly with service providers. We have been apprised that our staff has been involved in
constructive conversations with the County and we want to make sure you are aware of this partnership
and collaboration. As a next step, our staff will be asking the County for a formal proposal and it is our
aspiration that, at a minimum, what materializes is a pilot project in which the County places restrictions
on the time, place, and manner in which the Harm Reduction Syringe Services Program is administered
that aligns with the City’s strategy to address homelessness.
Over the years, the City has developed strong partnerships with the County. We desire to build on this
foundation to pursue new approaches to provide the services that are needed for those struggling with
substance abuse. Your support is appreciated as our staff continues to work with the County.
Sincerely,
cc: David White, City Manager
Doug Sloan, City Attorney
Gary Tsai, Division Director, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control
Supervisor Candidate, Senator Bob Hertzberg
Supervisor Candidate, City Councilmember Lindsey Horvath
16.E.a
Packet Pg. 487 Attachment: 20220913Safe Syringe 16 Item Attachment (5365 : Safe Syringe Program)
1
Vernice Hankins
From:Peter DiChellis <pdichellis@yahoo.com>
Sent:Monday, September 12, 2022 3:01 PM
To:councilmtgitems
Cc:Editor@smdp.com; nomaboard@gmail.com; pna90404@gmail.com; contact@opa-sm.org;
wilmontinfo@gmail.com
Subject:Item 16E Surreptitious Drug Needle Exchange in SM Parks
EXTERNAL
News Article: “City Council wants needle programs removed from public parks”
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://smdp.com/2022/09/12/city‐council‐wants‐needle‐programs‐removed‐from‐
public‐parks/__;!!OfuUnHCITYtmmjM!oS6qgwUjllW4oOYW3yGKFEHQuI28IxHh9KQvtUYOoHO8uZuRI1EuajUWLC‐
zHjzdDWA5IWK25eCCQ3oXRv9ENTu50P3nkt4$
First, I guess this discovery puts the lie to any assertion that surrounding jurisdictions don't dump their problems on
Santa Monica.
Second, please strengthen the Council’s draft letter, as presented in Council Agenda Item 16E.
Suggestions: a) include a reminder that public possession and distribution of drug paraphernalia is a crime and violators
in Santa Monica will be prosecuted to the fullest by the City; b) demand that District 3 candidates Horvath and Hertzberg
state their position on using Santa Monica public parks in this manner, so our voters can respond c) insist the BoS
identify all those who made or participated in this surreptitious, unilateral decision so those individuals can be held
accountable for such arrogant negligence.
Finally, please publish the City’s final letter and document all responses and/or non‐responses to it.
Sincerely,
Peter DiChellis
Unaffiliated moderate
Santa Monica 90403
Item 16.E 09/13/22
1 of 2 Item 16.E 09/13/22
16.E.b
Packet Pg. 488 Attachment: Written Comments (5365 : Safe Syringe Program)
1
Vernice Hankins
From:Kent Downing <kentdowning@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, September 13, 2022 8:42 AM
To:councilmtgitems; David White
Subject:County needle distribution agenda item
EXTERNAL
Council and City Manager White,
I read in yesterday’s edition of the daily press that tonight’s agenda includes an item to ask the county to implement
changes to the needle distribution that is currently happening in our parks. The article cites as one reason that a recent
death in palisades park was the result of overdose. I know you’re all getting hammered from residents about
homelessness and the increasingly visible problem of addiction but I implore you not to ask the county to reduce the
number of locations or times needle distribution is available. The evidence is crystal clear on this, it will not reduce IV
drug use, overdose incidents, or deaths. The only thing that making needles less readily available will do is increase the
rates of infectious disease‐specifically HIV and Hepatitis. I applaud your efforts to include additional services for those
who need them, coordination of care and readily available rehab and mental health services will have a positive impact
on use, overdoses, and deaths. I’m sympathetic to the fact that everyone on the council and in the community needs a
win, but speaking as a recovering addict who has first hand experience as well as extensive knowledge of the existing
body of research on this subject, reducing access to clean needles won’t be the win you seek. It will only serve to
increase Hepatitis and HIV transmission which, in addition to the obvious health implications, brings a whole host of
costs and additional problems with it. Please reconsider the unintended consequences that this change will have and
work with the experts in the county health department on finding a solution that doesn’t reduce access.
Thank you for your consideration.
KD
Item 16.E 09/13/22
2 of 2 Item 16.E 09/13/22
16.E.b
Packet Pg. 489 Attachment: Written Comments (5365 : Safe Syringe Program)