Landlords and corporations attempting to buy the Santa Monica election to overturn rent control
Today, Santa Monica City Councilmembers Gleam Davis, Caroline Torosis and Jesse Zwick issued a rare joint warning to voters that landlords and corporations are trying to buy the Santa Monica City Council.
Councilmembers Gleam Davis, Caroline Torosis and Jesse Zwick, “Landlords and corporations have already donated more than $250,000 to defeat the official LA County Democratic Party endorsed slate of Barry Snell, Dan Hall, Ellis Raskin, and Natalya Zernitskaya. When a single landlord, who tried to carry out the largest mass eviction in LA history, writes a $100,000 check to support a slate of right-wing candidates, you have to ask, what is the ultimate goal here?"
"These special interests do not share Santa Monica’s values. This election is a very clear choice for voters; do you support the official Democratic Party endorsed candidates Barry Snell, Dan Hall, Ellis Raskin and Natalya Zernitskaya, who will, 'protect renters, build affordable housing and make our neighborhoods safer.' Or do you support the sellout slate, bankrolled by landlords and corporations, who will end rent control, increase homelessness and waste taxpayer dollars. We know Santa Monica voters will not be fooled and cannot be bought.”
As of Wednesday, September 26, 2024, according to the City of Santa Monica’s Public Portal for Campaign Finance Disclosure, the following massive donations have been reported to Santa Monica for a Real Positive Future, Supporting Brock, De La Torre, Roknian, and Putnam for Council 2024: $100,000 – Douglas Emmett Properties, landlord that attempted to carry out one of the largest mass evictions in Los Angeles history and currently owns the Shores apartments in Santa Monica. $100,000 – Jerry Greenberg, CEO, Hard Scale Eats. $25,000 — Kilroy Realty, landlord that operates commercial and residential properties throughout Santa Monica and Los Angeles.
“Voters, especially renters in Santa Monica, need to understand the stakes of this election; landlords Phil Brock and Oscar de la Torre already supported a plan to gut rent control in July 2022,” stated Councilmember Caroline Torosis. “Rent control is on the ballot this November, why else would landlords be cutting these massive checks?”
“The 'Change Slate' should be called the 'Sellout Slate' because they are selling Santa Monica to the highest bidders,” stated Councilmember Gleam Davis. “Selling out renters, selling out our neighborhoods, and selling out our city’s commitment to transparency and rule of law.”
Councilmember Jess Zwick added, “Voters will not be fooled this election. No amount of money poured into this race by landlords will convince Santa Monica’s renters that they have their best interests at heart.”
Douglas Emmett Inc, the landlord behind the largest attempted mass eviction from rent-controlled housing in Los Angeles in 40 years, poured more than $1.1 million into local elections in 2022 and has spent more than $500,000 in the current election cycle, including $400,000 to an independent expenditure committee against Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman, a vocal advocate for renters.
According to political data, 41,468 registered voters (60.7%) in Santa Monica are renters. The City has 27,600 rent-controlled units, according to Santa Monica Rent Control Board.
Statement issued by Gleam Davis, Caroline Torosis and Jesse Zwick and submitted by Barry Snell's campaign. See coverage here.
