SR 07-25-2023 1A
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: July 25, 2023
Agenda Item: 1.A
1 of 1
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Denise Anderson Warren, 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
From:Francisco Juarez
To:councilmtgitems; Oscar de la Torre
Cc:alfredo.lugo@verizon.net; Sennett Devermont; Ryan Thompson; Alfred Areyan; Shirrell McCarey; Gregory
Santana; Agifstcmdrluis; Leona Flores; Yolanda Aguerrebere
Subject:PUBLIC INPUT JULY 18TH - BEACHFRONT PROPERTY
Date:Thursday, July 20, 2023 9:34:06 PM
EXTERNAL
Councilmembers,
Last Tuesday, July 18, 2023, American GI Forum of the U.S. member, and Veteran, Alfredo
Lugo and I provided Public Input as a follow-up to, as I mentioned, the beachfront property,
Parking Lot No. 8.
That property, from the "mean-high-tide" to the intersection of Montana and Ocean, is deeded
in perpetuity to the "residents of the home" for a "beach-house and a pavilion".
Council directed the City Manager to get correct information or to confirm our Veteran claim.
He and a City Attorney contracted an unknown source and, afterwards, met with Sennett
Devermont, Ryan Thompson, and me.
These are facts, they have been presented, the City Manager knows this, and they require the
same caliber of evidence to dispute the evidence we have in hand.
In that meeting, City produced documents and a summary, not a professional Title Search. The
City showed us pictures of the wrong cliff area and their report is not backed up by a real title
transfer.
The Chicago title search includes a deed from the benefactors, Senator Jones and Arcadia
Bandini.
There are more unhoused Veterans in Los Angeles area than anywhere else in the country.
There is deed-restricted homeland that is part of a great vision to help Veterans.
Today, there is a real and immediate need for this land to be reunited with the inland Pacific
Branch Homeland.
Please, there are lives, sanity, and Veteran families who need your help. Tell us what the City
expects to do about this.
Respectfully,
Francisco Juarez
Commander,
El Camino Real Chapter,
American GI Forum of the U.S.,
Whittier, CA
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From:Non
Subject:complaint
Date:Friday, July 21, 2023 10:32:34 AM
EXTERNAL
unfortunately i live in sm
1. why did you hire an an asshole for a security guard at your downtown santa
monica big blue bus center
2. why do you even need a security guard there? your buses are empty. who would
your ride buses due to the shitty infrequency schedule
3. samo turned to garbage when you let the expo line train into it. the train has turned
samo into long beach. as you know long beach is a piece of shit. and now they
extended the train, so now its going to get worse. what did you think was going to
happen when you opened the train? that white privilege was going to take the train
from westwood to samo to shop? lol. white privilege doesn't take the train
4. stay stupid samo govt. keep wasting taxpayer dollars. you're the best at it
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From:Gary Davidson
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:Armed Security For Santa Monica
Date:Monday, July 24, 2023 6:39:18 PM
EXTERNAL
Dear City Council:
I am a 44 year resident of Santa Monica and support ARMED Security for The Promenade and
Downtown area. The difference between unarmed and armed security is the difference between
discouraging crime and stopping it. Lawless activity in Santa Monica with the increase of drug activity,
and in-turn the attraction of hard-core drug dealers decries the need to step-up law enforcement as well.
Best,
Gary Davidson
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From:Max Philips
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:Armed Guards on the Promenade
Date:Monday, July 24, 2023 6:55:46 PM
EXTERNAL
To all you “soft on crime” morons in Santa Monica city government that this concerns,
YOU ARE THE REASON CRIME PLAGUES SANTA MONICA.
You fucking losers care more about your “woke image” than actually protecting the city.
I lived in Santa Monica for 5 years and left my job and life there because I was tired of my girlfriend and I regularly
being assaulted and my personal belongings being stolen.
IF YOU THINK COTTON CANDY AND BUTTERFLIES IS GOING TO STOP THIS SHIT FROM
HAPPENING, YOU ARE A FUCKING MORON.
I don’t know how any of you got elected into your positions and let one of the most beautiful cities in the world die.
So, as a former resident of Santa Monica, I SUPPORT ARMED GUARDS AT THE VERY LEAST!
That’s the LEAST you can do. Wake the fuck up.
I’d drive up their from my beautiful city down south and call all you pussies out to your faces, but I’m afraid I’ll get
my tires slashed and a hypodermic needle in my foot and get hepatitis.
Do your fucking jobs you WORTHLESS idiots.
GO HARD ON CRIME.
Sent from my iPhone
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From:Ansh Nanda
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:Armed guards
Date:Monday, July 24, 2023 7:01:43 PM
EXTERNAL
I write to you as a resident of 2nd street near downtown santa monica to ARM the guards in
the promenade.
You, our public leaders, have let us down by letting Santa Monica become a waste land.
Please give the guards some real guns and get rid of the crime in the promenade.
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From:Victoria Riego
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:City council meeting - July 25th - support of armed security at Promenade and Downtown Santa Monica
Date:Monday, July 24, 2023 7:09:51 PM
EXTERNAL
Dear City Council,
I will not be able to attend tomorrow’s meeting but I would like to express my support to armed security at the
promenade and downtown Santa Monica.
Thank you for taking the Santa Monica residents opinions into account.
Sincerely,
Victoria Riego
911 5th St, unit 102,
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Sent from my iPad
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From:Mir Vahid Zibae
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:ARMED GUARDS FOR THE PROMENADE
Date:Monday, July 24, 2023 7:15:49 PM
EXTERNAL
Please kindly provide armed guards for the safety and security of
our children and women in the promenade area. DOing so will
increase our confidence in shopping in Santa Monica and
encourage others to do the same.
Best regards,
Mir Vahid Zibae, Ph.D.
Co-founder of Global Vision 2030
Former Member Of Caltech Associates
Member Of the Association For Psychological Science
TEL: 1 323 596 7419
DIR: 1 310 779 7419
www.GlobalVision2030.com
www.MedicalAcoustics.com
This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the entity or
individual named. If you are not the named addressee please delete from your
system immediately if you have received it by mistake
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From:Kara Boccella
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:Armed Patrol at the Promenade
Date:Monday, July 24, 2023 7:56:44 PM
EXTERNAL
To whom it may concern,
I would like to express my support for armed patrol members at the Promenade and
surrounding areas. Please vote to make this happen!
Best,
Kara
Kara Boccella
917-539-2411
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From:Eddie M Turner
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:Security at CENTRAL TOWER BUILDING
Date:Monday, July 24, 2023 8:16:04 PM
EXTERNAL
I AM A BUSINESS OWNER AT THE CENTRAL TOWER BUILDING SINCE 1990.
As a woman, I have never felt so violated and afraid to even go out of the building
now, just for a walk on the promenade. I was confronted by a person (think he was
homeless, hard to say anymore!!!) tossing a blanket at passerby's and luckily a
"guardian Angel" yelled at the man and said, we don't bother you, so please stop
threatening to hit this lady with your blanket!!!" I turned around to thank him (my
"Guardian Angel" for allowing me to get pass the man, but he was no where to be
seen!!! On another occasion, as I was leaving the parking structure, Structure #5) to
go to my office, pushed the elevator button to go to the ground level, another person
was standing "NAKED" in the elevator. As a woman, what could I have done, if he
had attempted to rape/attack me? Personally, I think after this year, I will bid my
farewell to Santa Monica.!! And the increase in my business license, "TO DO
BUSINESS IN A CITY YOU ARE AFRAID OF!!. GO FIGURE!!!!
Ms. Eddie M. Turner
((310) 458-9446
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From:Kathleen Collins
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:Unarmed guards
Date:Monday, July 24, 2023 8:16:50 PM
EXTERNAL
Unarmed guards are as useless as a civilian walking down a block ……
Sent from my iPhone
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From:Desi Bain
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:Armed security
Date:Monday, July 24, 2023 9:24:54 PM
EXTERNAL
We the people of Santa Monica DEMAND we get armed security protecting us at the
promenade. We are tire of being harassed by homeless men who are dangerous and
aggressive. Stop protecting criminals and start protecting citizens.
Thank you
Desi Bain
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
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From:Eleanor Sanchez
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:Armed guards
Date:Monday, July 24, 2023 10:29:30 PM
EXTERNAL
I am in total support of armed guards downtown and in the promenade. It is dangerous and I don’t feel safe parking
and going to shop.
Sent from my iPhone
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From:Shala O
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:We Need Armed Guards on Promenade
Date:Tuesday, July 25, 2023 7:45:13 AM
EXTERNAL
We Need Armed Guards on Promenade,
Let’s keep SM Promenade SAFE by protecting it with “Armed Guards”
Thx,
Shala O’Neil
302 23rd St,
SM, 90402
310-699-9972
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From:Sheri Swist
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:Safety in SM
Date:Tuesday, July 25, 2023 8:07:34 AM
EXTERNAL
Dear City of SM Council Members,
Please do everything in your power to restore safety and security to SM. The policies this government has
implemented have destroyed the city and it’s shameful. Hire ARMED guards for the promenade so criminals are
stopped immediately and regular people can feel safe again.
Cordially,
Sheri Swist
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From:sebastien
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:Please allow for an armed guard patrol and presence on the promenade in Downtown
Date:Tuesday, July 25, 2023 8:13:35 AM
EXTERNAL
Hello,
We need more law enforcement presence (end enforcement!) throughout the City, and especially
at the crime-ridden Promenade and surrounding Downtown (including the palisades park). Fact:
Physical assaults and an average of 35 retail thefts occur each week during business hours on
The Promenade.
Please allow for an armed guard patrol and presence on the promenade in Downtown.
Otherwise we need more trees too (I keep noticing more and more removed trees without
replacements) and I am hoping that this will be on the council agenda very soon.
Thank you,
Sebastien Ballesteros
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From:Michael Lushing
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:Armed security on Third Street Promenade
Date:Tuesday, July 25, 2023 9:15:16 AM
EXTERNAL
Having spent the past several years doing leasing on Third Street Promenade I can tell you that the
situation with the homeless and vagrants has gotten so bad that the former Barnes & Noble still sits
vacant….five years after Barnes left….in large part because the prospective tenants that I reach out
to have been told, or know first hand, that opening a new business on the Promenade isn’t the most
prudent thing to do seeing that the crowd of people who hang out on the Promenade scare away
customers and they have to deal with lots of stealing too. Having armed security on the Promenade
will be a strong deterrent to the problems the street is currently facing. I’ve even had to deal with a
homeless person sleeping INSIDE the building….and that scared away the prospective tenant I was
showing space to….that had flown out from New York to see. You can’t make this stuff up. Change
is needed….and now!
Michael G. Lushing
Lushing Realty Advisors
269 S. Beverly Dr. Suite 138
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(310) 505-0565
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From:lauren.e.kolodny@gmail.com
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:Comments for city council
Date:Tuesday, July 25, 2023 11:28:33 AM
EXTERNAL
I am a new Santa Monica resident that just moved from New York City ~4 months ago. In that short time, there
have been multiple incidents where I’ve felt unsafe and uncomfortable, to name a few: 1. An aggressive homeless
man trying to sleep by my front door 2. Multiple times that I have been awoken in the middle of the night by
screaming and angry rants 3. The standoff at the motel on Lincoln. I’ve called the police 6 times since moving here.
As a 30 year old woman, I feel extremely uneasy by these incidents which continue to occur. I have developed a
fear of being home alone without my partner and am now unable to walk early in the morning or late at night as
there are people shooting heroin at all hours of the day and their behavior is unpredictable.
I am shocked by the lawlessness of this city and the inability for a police force to ensure that residents feel safe at all
times. We need to end the needle program and get police on the streets to take care of us who pay the taxes for the
city and want to make it a better place.
Sent from my iPhone
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From:CHAIM AARON LEVIN
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:Guards; armed or unarmed
Date:Tuesday, July 25, 2023 11:51:47 AM
EXTERNAL
Hello;
I am a 45-year resident of this city. I am strongly in favor of increasing
the present of public safety officers throughout the city as well as the
outdoor mall. As a victim of a crime in front of an unarmed
officer I have personally seen and experienced how an
unarmed officer is helpless in the face of criminals.
The face of this city is becoming scarier and scarier every month. It is
my prayer that G-d protect us all from harm.
C Levin
703 18th Street, S Monica, CA 90402
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From:Sara Marino
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:Santa Monica City Council Meeting
Date:Tuesday, July 25, 2023 12:42:33 PM
EXTERNAL
Hello,
I am writing in regards to the Santa Monica City Council meeting. I live in Santa Monica and
would like to support armed security guards because the promenade and downtown area does
not seem to be safe. I personally have been chased by vagrants and feel unsafe shopping or
even being anywhere near the downtown Santa Monica areas. I will only go if I am
accompanied by multiple people and feel protected, even then I think it's still a constant
concern of keeping eyes on all homeless people because you never know what type of harm or
behavior they are capable of.
--
Sara Marino
PMI Properties
1000 Roscomare Road
Los Angeles, CA 90077
P: (310) 476-1703
F: (310) 471-4885
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From:Michelle Schurgin
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:RE: Armed Guards on 3rd Street and DTSM
Date:Tuesday, July 25, 2023 1:48:41 PM
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EXTERNAL
Please vote yes for “ARMED GUARDS” for 3rd Street and DTSM.
Clean up Santa Monica – as the first City to become safe.
Mark Schurgin
Michelle S. Schurgin (O): 310.665.9603
Executive Vice President michelle.schurgin@festivalcos.com
www.festivalcos.com
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From:Loni Rush
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:Safety
Date:Tuesday, July 25, 2023 4:29:56 PM
EXTERNAL
Santa Monica is in a sad and desperate state. I am here only 15 years and it has changed from safe to dangerous.
Not just in one’s home but walking in the streets and dining at restaurants. I am an 82 year old who grew up in
NYC and never have I been more afraid going about my daily chores, errands and appointments than I am now.
My alarm is now kept on in my home not just at night but during the day when I am alone.
This is unacceptable for a city with the funds like ours available to it. I can only blame leadership as this is their
business.. If my business were run in this manner I would be shut down for lack of performance.
You have the message.
What are you going to do?
Not what are you going to promise and not do!!!
Thank you for your attention.
Loni Rush
Mother of Jennifer Rush who is suffering with 2 restaurants here in SM. I truthfully am nervous for her safety
when she is at work.
Loni Rush - Director of Design
PMB LLC
3394 Carmel Mountain Rd. Ste. 200
San Diego, CA 92121
619.417.7874 (cell)
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From:Elaine Briskey
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:Crime in Santa Monica
Date:Tuesday, July 25, 2023 6:31:15 PM
EXTERNAL
To City Council members:
The city's primary responsibility is to protect life and property. We need law
enforcement presence throughout the city and especially at the crime ridden
promenade and surrounding downtown.
Unarmed guards do not work and have allowed for the massive increase in crime.
SMPD Chief Batista needs more sworn officers to protect our residents and
businesses.
Elaine Briskey
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