With a matter of days remaining before early voters can send in their ballots, endorsements and cash continue to flow into campaigns both local and regional including a new player in the City Council election with a massive warchest.
A new and well funded Political Action Committee emerged last week. The long-titled group, Santa Monicans for a Real Positive Future Supporting Brock, de la Torre, Roknian and Putnam for Council 2024, is funded by a pair of mega donations.
Douglas Emmett Properties donated $100,000 as did Jerry A. Greenberg. A third donor, Ben Marcus, put in $4,900. Initial financial documents show the PAC has spent just over $12,000 on mailers so far.
The slate also received a new endorsement from The Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City (SMCLC).
In their endorsement email, SMCLC said there is a stark contrast between two slates competing for votes this year.
"One slate – Vivian Roknian, John Putnam, Phil Brock, and Oscar de la Torre are home-grown: their philosophies and actions are in sync with SMCLC – to advocate for residents, not developers, and fight for the scale, character, and livability of Santa Monica," they said.
"The other slate, fueled by big money and entrenched political interests, strongly supports high-density overdevelopment throughout our city, including letting developers build apartment buildings in single-family neighborhoods, and the removal of parking requirements for new projects. They will not push back against new state mandates overriding local zoning because they agree with those mandates."
There are a total of 10 candidates vying for the four seats available on Council this year. A competing four-person slate features Dan Hall, Ellis Raskin, Natalya Zernitskaya and Barry Snell. Last week the group picked up new endorsements from labor organizations and the County Democratic organization.
In countywide elections, the Santa Monica Police Officer’s Union endorsed Nathan Hochman for District Attorney. Hochman is running against incumbent George Gascon and the POA said the incumbent has failed at his job.
"We cannot afford another four years of Gascon’s failed social experiment, in which he places criminals above law-abiding residents. We need an independent District Attorney who will work with police to reduce residential burglaries, retail theft and other crimes that adversely affect the people of Santa Monica. Enough is enough. That’s why we support Nathan Hochman for Los Angeles County District Attorney," said Cody Green, president of the Santa Monica Police Officers Association in a statement.
In the same press release, Hochman said he is grateful for the support.
"I will fairly enforce the laws, hold criminals accountable and implement effective criminal justice reform. As a life-long Angeleno, I want to rebuild trust with our community as we work together to address urgent issues, such as homelessness and reducing fentanyl deaths," he said.
Also at the county-level, Measure G picked up additional endorsements last week.
Measure G would expand the Board of Supervisors from five to nine members, establishes an independent Ethics Commission to oversee County government, and introduces an elected County Executive, providing a clear separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches of County government.
SEIU 121RN, representing nurses and healthcare professionals across Los Angeles County and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce announced their endorsement of the measure last week.
"As the voice of healthcare professionals and strong advocates for workers’ rights, SEIU 121RN is proud to endorse Measure G on the November 2024 ballot. This critical measure represents a significant step forward for the residents of Los Angeles County, as it seeks to enhance public health, safety, and essential services that directly impact our communities." said Leo Perez-Ferrer, RN, President of SEIU 121RN in their announcement.
"Measure G will help ensure that LA County’s leadership is more responsive and reflective of the communities it serves," said Maria S. Salinas, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce in their endorsement. "By creating an elected County executive branch, and establishing an independent Ethics Commission, Measure G will create a more effective government to provide the tools and resources needed for our local business community to thrive."
Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, who represents Santa Monica, first proposed Measure G.
"Measure G is a major step toward creating a government that truly serves its people. It’s about ensuring that our leaders are held accountable, our communities have a stronger voice, and our County operates with the transparency and integrity that our working families deserve," she said.
While Election Day isn’t until Tuesday, Nov. 5, some voting centers will open on Oct. 26. Mail voters can start to cast ballots starting next week as Vote by Mail ballots can be returned to the County as early as Oct. 3.
matt@smdp.com
