SR 11-14-2023 16B
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: November 14, 2023
Agenda Item: 16.B
1 of 1
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Denise Anderson Warren, City Clerk, Records and Election Services
Department
Subject: Request of Councilmember Torosis, Councilmember Zwick and Mayor Davis
that the City Council support California Proposition 1.
Prepared By: Denise Anderson Warren, City Clerk
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Support Prop 1_20231114
B. Written Comments
16.B
Packet Pg. 288
Request of Councilmember Torosis, Councilmember Zwick and Mayor Davis that the
City Council support California Proposition 1.
The extreme housing shortage coupled with the exorbitant cost of living throughout the
State of California has led to our prevailing crisis of homelessness and housing
insecurity. California State Proposition 1 will transform our state’s mental health system.
This landmark proposition will reallocate billions of dollars to Californians with the most
severe mental health needs, including those living in encampments and those with the
highest problems with addiction and substance use. In fact, this investment would be
the single largest expansion of California’s behavioral health treatment and residential
settings in our state’s history – creating new, dedicated housing for people experiencing
or at risk of homelessness who have behavioral health needs. Through a $6.38 billion
bond, tens of thousands of Californians annually will receive mental health and
addiction services, more than 11,000 housing settings will be created for residents with
the most severe needs, and $1 billion will be allocated to veterans experiencing
homelessness (Treatment not Tents, 2023).
The state funding granted by Proposition 1 will directly support Santa Monica’s work to
solve our homeless and behavioral health crisis. Santa Monica has dedicated
unprecedented City resources to combating homelessness and providing mental health
services. However, Santa Monica must ensure our State likewise provides treatment
and long-term housing for people with acute mental illness and substance use addiction
if we are to reduce homelessness to functional zero.
Therefore, Councilmembers Torosis and Zwick and Mayor Davis request that the City
Council support California Proposition 1 appearing on the March 5, 2024 California
primary election ballot to continue working toward a sustainable solution to the
homelessness crisis across the State of California, and direct the City Manager issue a
press release indicating the City Council’s support for Proposition 1: Treatment not
Tents, and send letters of support from the City to the Governor, Senator Ben Allen,
Assemblymember Rick Zbur, and to the proponents of Proposition 1.
16.B.a
Packet Pg. 289 Attachment: Support Prop 1_20231114 (6139 : Support Proposition 1)
1
Xavier Mota
From:Ellis Raskin <ellis.raskin@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, November 14, 2023 10:56 AM
To:councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; Lana Negrete; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Caroline
Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Cc:Douglas Sloan; David White
Subject:Agenda Items 16-B and 16-C -- Strong Support
EXTERNAL
Dear Hon. Councilmembers:
I urge you to support agenda items 16‐B and 16‐C:
Item 16‐B: As one commenter recently noted: "By ensuring individuals have access to the mental health
services they need, Proposition 1 could substantially mitigate the burden on the incarceration system
as a default mental health provider, marking a significant shift toward a more humane and effective
approach to mental health care in California." For that reason, I strongly urge you to support this agenda
item.
Item 16‐C: It is imperative that we make every effort to support safe and accessible streets. Last year, in Los
Angeles County, more people were killed by cars than by guns (source:
https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2023‐01‐19/essential‐california‐2022‐traffic‐violence‐essential‐
california). We need to do better. We need to promote daylighting, build more protected bike lanes, and install
more stop signs. Please support this agenda item.
Best,
Ellis Raskin
ITEM 16.B.
November 14, 2023
ITEM 16.B.
November 14, 2023
16.B.b
Packet Pg. 290 Attachment: Written Comments (6139 : Support Proposition 1)
1
Xavier Mota
From:Ralph Mechur <ralph@rmechurarchitects.com>
Sent:Tuesday, November 14, 2023 3:53 PM
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:11/14/23 Agenda items
EXTERNAL
Please support item 16 B and C on tonight's agenda.
Supporting16B will provide Council support for Prop 1 on the March 5, 2024 election. Prop 1 will help Santa Monica's
work on the homeless and mental health crisis by providing State funds for homeless housing and mental health services
with a focus on verterans.
Supporting 16C will provide action to make our streets safe for cyclists. There should be zero fatalities in our city. Let's
make it a reality.
‐‐
Ralph Mechur
Ralph Mechur Architects
3400 Airport Avenue, #5
Santa Monica, CA 90405
o: 310‐398‐2940
m: 310‐721‐1254
ITEM 16.B.
November 14, 2023
ITEM 16.B.
November 14, 2023
16.B.b
Packet Pg. 291 Attachment: Written Comments (6139 : Support Proposition 1)