SR 02-13-2024 1A
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: February 13, 2024
Agenda Item: 1.A
1 of 1
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Nikima Newsome, Interim City Clerk, Records and Election Services
Department
Subject: Written Comments
Prepared By: Esterlina Lugo, Deputy City Clerk
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Written Comments
1.A
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David Yakobson
From:Stephanie Gebhardt <sgebhardtrath@healthebay.org>
Sent:Tuesday, February 13, 2024 4:29 PM
To:councilmtgitems
Cc:Meredith McCarthy; Katherine Pease
Subject:Heal the Bay's Public Comment for 2/13 Council Meeting.
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Flagged
EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council,
On behalf of Heal the Bay, I would like to thank you for your continued support of our life-saving work over the last 39
years. During this time, Heal the Bay has hosted 35 annual Coastal Cleanup Day events and thousands of other cleanup
events with community members, visitors, youth, and city officials. In 2023 alone, we conducted 316 cleanups along
Santa Monica State Beaches from Annenberg Beach House to Ocean Park Blvd, removing over 2,500 pounds of trash
during roughly 6,000 volunteer hours.
Heal the Bay would like to thank the City of Santa Monica for your previous support of our beach cleanup efforts by
sponsoring and providing free parking for our staff and volunteers for Coastal Cleanup Day and Coastal Cleanup
Education Day every September. Heal the Bay asks the Santa Monica City Council to please expand your support to
include the cost of the three community event permits for our annual Coastal Cleanup Day, Coastal Cleanup Education
Day, and the Earth Day Cleanup and expand free parking for our Earth Day volunteers for the years of 2024-2030.
Heal the Bay is very proud to be an active member of the Santa Monica community. We will happily continue being
stewards of our coastal resources and public natural spaces and will continue to bring thousands of volunteer visitors to
Santa Monica every year. We hope to continue expanding our community action and continue protecting all of Los
Angeles County’s beautiful coast and inland waters from our flagship location in Santa Monica for years to come.
We look forward to bringing this to your attention during today’s City Council meeting. Thank you for your
consideration.
Thank you,
Stephanie Gebhardt Rath
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She/Her/Hers (What does this mean?)
Heal the Bay
1444 9th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
T: 310.451.1500 x 148 | F: 310.496.1902 | M: 909.896.1045
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David Yakobson
From:Hajar Muqtasid St. Claire <mrshstclaire@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, February 13, 2024 12:12 PM
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:Fwd: ADD EBONY BEACH CLUB TO YOUR 2.13.24 AGENDA
EXTERNAL
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Hajar Muqtasid St. Claire <mrshstclaire@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Feb 13, 2024, 8:45 AM
Subject: ADD EBONY BEACH CLUB TO YOUR 2.13.24 AGENDA
To: <gleam.davis@santamonica.gov>, <Jesse.Zwick@santamonica.gov>, <Christine.Parra@santamonica.gov>, Oscar de
la Torre <Oscar.delaTorre@santamonica.gov>, <phil.brock@santamonica.gov>, <lana.negrete@santamonica.gov>
Dear Santa Monica City Council,
I write to you as a Santa Monica resident urging you to include the Ebony Beach Club and Silas White
on the agenda for your meeting today February 13th, 2024. The injustice Silas White endured over 60
years ago due to your City Council counterparts must be repaired now.
It is unacceptable for 6 council members to repeatedly ignore Black residents by not attending The
State of Black LA address at Santa Monica Main Library nor the meeting with Where Is My Land. Only
one council member was in attendance at both meetings. This lack of interest by so many of you
appears that you are ignoring the plight for equality from Black America. It is crucial that the entirety of
the City Council bear witness to the White family cause and take action. Particularly in an election year,
it is interesting to see how elected officials engage with the issues their constituents truly care about.
Does your Black constituency and constituency that cares about anti racism matter?
Doing something equally for everyone still leaves those at the bottom at the bottom! You must give
more to those who have been given less and have had the most taken from them. This is fact is true
equity. Once equity had been reached maybe we can finally be looked at as equals.
In the past few years, Santa Monica has pretended to care about the devastating harm it wrought on its
Black community. However, its no secret that its attempts to repair are incongruous with the magnitude
of devastation it intentionally inflicted.
Your Employee Affinity Groups declared Black History Month 2024 as Black Media and the Arts, and
isn't it ironic that the Ebony Beach Club would have surely become a mecca of Black arts had it not
been razed two months before its opening?
In 2022, you apologized for ‘targeting communities of color for condemnation’ and vowed to ‘rectify the
lingering consequences of discriminatory city policies’. What specific, measurable, and relevant actions
will you take to support these words? The lingering consequences are material, so plaques and art
exhibits will not suffice.
Doing something equally for everyone still leaves those at the bottom at the bottom! You must give
more to those who have been given less and have had the most taken from them. This is fact is true
equity. Once equity had been reached maybe we can finally be looked at as equals.
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I implore you to add the issue of ‘Ebony Beach Club Restitution’ to your upcoming meeting agenda.
Silas White’s daughter, Connie, deserves to see repair in her lifetime.
In gratitude,
Hajar Muqtasid
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David Yakobson
From:Joanne Berlin <res1810j@verizon.net>
Sent:Tuesday, February 13, 2024 12:02 PM
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:An issue the SM City Council should take up -The Ebony Beach Club
EXTERNAL
Dear City Council members,
I am urging you to be willing to learn about the history of the Ebony Beach Club in Santa Monica, the vision of
a black man for a community gathering place, a dream that was destroyed by the power of the Santa Monica
city council only decades ago. If the Black Apology the current city council voted on not so long ago is to have
some real-world consequences, the council needs to be willing to look at how to make amends for this
parƟcular exercise of racist power by our past elected officials.
This is the story of Silas White, the owner of the Ebony Beach Club property (purchased in 1957), which was
taken by the city of Santa Monica by a claim of eminent domain in 1958 – ostensibly due to the need for “civic
parking” (not ever built by the city on that land). If you look into this story, you will see an obvious example of
racial animus leading to insƟtuƟonal racism on the part of the Santa Monica city council in the late 1950’s.
Silas’s daughter, Connie, and other members of the family are currently seeking some restoraƟve jusƟce for
this not so distant past travesty.
CRJ featured this story at our recent monthly workshop on 2/1024, with the help of Kavon Ward, founder of
“Where’s My Land”.
The city of Santa Monica sƟll owns this land (now the site of the Viceroy hotel and parking lot) and profits
from income from it.
I urge you to be willing to put this issue on the agenda of one of your upcoming meeƟngs.
If you want to know more about it, a video of our informaƟve workshop will be publicly available on the CRJ
YouTube channel by the end of today (YouTube - CommiƩee for Racial JusƟce).
You’ll be hearing from others about the Ebony Beach Club. This is an issue that won’t be ignored and warrants
your aƩenƟon.
Thank you for reading this email,
Joanne
Joanne Berlin, Coordinator for the CommiƩee For Racial JusƟce
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David Yakobson
From:Francisco Juarez <westsideservice@yahoo.com>
Sent:Tuesday, February 13, 2024 11:19 AM
To:councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox
Subject:SAVE THE VETERANS HOME SUPPORT WIML
EXTERNAL
Council Members,
Please see the merit in WIML claim.
NEXT, see how it relates to your lack of action, needed to engage the truth regarding the deed-restricted, "permanent,"
beachfront property adjacent to the Jonathan Club.
This has been an ongoing effort for Veteran advocates that will not stop until resolved.
Respectfully,
Francisco Juarez
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Where Is My Land" <communications=whereismyland.org@hubspotstarter.hs-send.com>
To: "westsideservice@yahoo.com" <westsideservice@yahoo.com>
Sent: Tue, Feb 13, 2024 at 7:13 AM
Subject: How Will YOU Make Black History This Month?
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February Newsletter Header
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On January 24th, 2024, Where Is My Land and the White family met with Santa Monica city
officials to discuss restitution. The meeting was hopeful but as we enter negotiations, the time
to apply pressure is now. We need YOU to help us make history again in California. Follow the
three easy steps below to ensure Connie, Silas White's daughter who just celebrated her 90th
birthday, sees restitution within her lifetime.
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STEP ONE: Go to change.org/ebonybeachclub and demand restitution for the White
family. Share with at least 3 friends and tell us why you’re signing! Every signature
matters.
STEP TWO: Take two minutes out of your day to email Santa Monica City Council
members imploring them to add the Ebony Beach Club claim to today's meeting agenda.
You don‘t have to be local.
Find our template here: bit.ly/ebonybeachclub
STEP THREE: Make an oral public argument to the Santa Monica City council and tell them
why you are fighting on behalf of Silas White and the Ebony Beach Club. Find language in our
toolkit here: bit.ly/ebonybeachclub
Everyone has their role in the revolution. What will yours be? Don't be a passive
bystander.
Sign the Petition
Send an Email to Santa Monica City Council
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We are excited to share that we’re one of California Black Freedom Fund's newest grantee
partners!
California’s Black communities are stronger when Black power-building organizations are well
resourced. This funding will support our work to create and protect a liberated future for Black
Californians.
Learn more about CBFF and our fellow grantees below.
Read more about CBFF grantee partners
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This community is designed for active Where Is My Land (WIML) families who are seeking
support and guidance in their fight for restitution. As the demand for our organizational
assistance continues to grow, we have created this dedicated space to cater specifically to the
needs of families in the WIML pipeline. Sign up today and get three months FOR FREE.
For only $9.99 a month, your entire family will gain access to a platform where WIML families
can come together, share their stories, and access a supportive network of individuals who
understand the challenges they face. Whether you are currently navigating legal battles,
dealing with land disputes, or seeking advice on how to reclaim what is rightfully yours, this
community is here to serve as your sounding board and support system. This community will be
available to you via app and web!
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In order to gain access, click the PayPal link below to activate your subscription.
Once payment is confirmed, forward to communications@whereismyland.org and a
personalized invite will be generated and sent to you within 24-48 business hours.
Join Now!
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Top Reparative Justice Headlines from January 2024
Arkansas: One of the most pervasive methods of land theft is through heirs' property.
Just ask Kimberly Ann, a Darden Descendant and WIML client, who chronicles her story
in this article
California: California legislators introduce over a dozen reparations bills. One of the
most notable? A bill that would restore property taken during race-based eminent
domain! An undeniable product of WIML's advocacy and YOUR support!
Boston, MA: Boston's Reparations Taskforce officially selected researchers to study
slavery's impact
Washington D.C.: How much is enough? 'Squad' members think that descendants of
enslaved people should receive $333K each.
Do you think reparations should only be available to Black Americans descended from
enslaved people? Liberations Ventures, one of our funders, doesn't believe so which
outraged a lot of folks! What do you think?
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Last month, a previous Where is My Land client raised nearly $5k to put on an activation only to
have it nearly fall apart, 2 hours prior to it beginning. I cannot put enough emphasis on
community support in these campaigns for restitution. While Where is My Land is undoubtedly
an institution that is a force to be reckoned with, local support is still of paramount importance.
Before your campaign with us even begins, we suggest you begin building organic relationships
with local organizations that stand for repair work that will be your boots on the ground during
your activations.
WIML's team is small (and mighty!) but with our staff scattered across the 50 states, we lean
on local organizers to help us implement activations seamlessly. It doesn't just take a village to
raise a child, it also takes a village to push these initiatives forward and ensure sustainability.
It is imperative that families and communities are united in the planning and implementation of
activations. There is no room for ego in this work, we need to truly be in community. In an MLK
Day sermon, scholar Marc Lamont Hill said aptly, "Everybody wants to lead an organization, but
no one wants to join an organization." Get involved. Build community outside of your family
network. Land theft can be an extremely isolating experience but remember to look outside
yourself for folks who will mobilize on your behalf.
In Community,
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Kavon Ward
We are so grateful to all our supporters.
A special thanks to our contributors.
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Contribute Here
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Where Is My Land, 3701 W. Santa Rosalia Drive, Suite 1051, Los Angeles, CA 90008
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David Yakobson
From:Natalya Zernitskaya <nzernitskaya@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, February 8, 2024 10:07 AM
To:Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Oscar de la Torre; Gleam Davis;
Christine Parra
Cc:councilmtgitems; David White; doug.sloan@santamonica.gov
Subject:ADD EBONY BEACH CLUB TO City Council 2.13.24 AGENDA
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Flagged
EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Brock, Vice Mayor Negrete, and City Councilmembers,
I write to you as a Santa Monica resident to urge you to include the Ebony Beach Club and Silas White on the agenda for
your upcoming meeting on February 13th, 2024. The injustice Silas White endured over 60 years ago must be repaired
sooner rather than later.
The meeting held with Where Is My Land on January 24th had one council member in attendance and it is crucial that
the entirety of the City Council bear witness to the White family cause and take action. I understand that due to the
Brown Act, it would not have been possible to have more than three councilmembers in attendance at that meeting so it
is essential to place this item on the agenda in order to have an open discussion regarding the next steps to make good
on the promises set forth in The Black Apology. If we as a City don't take action, those words are meaningless.
In the past few years, Santa Monica has attempted to rectify the devastating harm it wrought on its Black community.
However, its no secret that its attempts to repair are incongruous with the magnitude of devastation it intentionally
inflicted.
Your governing body declared that the theme of Black History Month 2024 is Black Media and the Arts, which is ironic
because the Ebony Beach Club would have surely become a mecca of Black arts had it not been razed two months
before its opening.
In 2022, you apologized for ‘targeting communities of color for condemnation’ and vowed to ‘rectify the lingering
consequences of discriminatory city policies’. What specific, measurable, and relevant actions will you take to support
these words? The lingering consequences are material, so plaques and art exhibits will not suffice.
I implore you to add the issue of ‘Ebony Beach Club Restitution’ to your upcoming meeting agenda. Silas White’s
daughter, Connie, deserves to see repair in her lifetime.
Let's make a real committment to correcting past wrongs and show that Santa Monica's values are something that we
live by and not just words on a page.
Sincerely,
Natalya Zernitskaya
Santa Monica Resident, Pico Neighborhood
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