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Santa Monica Forward Endorses
Yes on Measure K
Endorsed by a broad coalition including public safety and local democratic and progressive groups, Measure K will bring more resources for safe streets and public safety.
Candidates
Dan Hall
Veteran. Pier Board Member.
Santa Monica Forward is proud to support Dan Hall for City Council! Hall is committed to progressive values and vision for a better Santa Monica. Hall chose to make Santa Monica his home for its beach, walkability, urban forest, and community that reflects his progressive values of preserving affordability and promoting inclusivity. He is deeply engaged with local politics, having "watched every council meeting start to finish since 2020." Hall believes Santa Monica has a housing shortage and advocates for a comprehensive approach he calls the "3 Ss of housing: Supply, Stability, and Subsidy." He supports pro-housing policies, such as gently increasing densities especially near transit and in downtown areas, to create more housing opportunities. Hall is committed to stability measures like a city-wide rental registry and strong enforcement of short-term rental regulations. He also supports subsidizing affordable housing through various means, including exploring social housing options. On transportation and climate issues, Hall prioritizes active mobility and reducing car dependence. He advocates for investing in "capital improvements such as built infrastructure to protect bicyclists, scooter riders, and pedestrians from traffic violence." He believes in creating a walkable, bikeable, public transit-oriented community. Hall's approach to homelessness involves partnering with non-profit developers and service providers to create holistic housing and services, including exploring transitional tiny housing options. He also emphasizes the importance of supporting local businesses and promoting economic vitality, particularly in the downtown area. Santa Monica Forward is excited to support a local leader so aligned with our vision and values!
Barry Snell
Education Advocate. Accountant.
Santa Monica Forward is proud to support Barry A. Snell for City Council due to his deep roots in the community and his commitment to progressive values. As a 20-year resident, renter, small business owner, and parent of children who have gone through the Santa Monica School System, Snell brings a deeply rooted perspective to the council. Snell recognizes Santa Monica's housing shortage and supports "increasing the production of affordable housing." He supports a multi-pronged approach, including the use of public funds to build affordable housing. On transportation, Snell, as an active bike rider, believes "that our city should do everything possible to reduce car trips." He has always advocated for more car independence, and expanding the use of alternative modes of transportation. Regarding homelessness, Snell supports expanding the availability of rental subsidies, such as housing choice vouchers, and supporting their use on the rental market. He also advocates for supporting the production of housing by giving housing tax credits. For economic development, Snell proposes policies that encourage business retention, such as low-cost outdoor dining downtown. He believes in the importance of working closely with Santa Monica College and SMMUSD to strengthen pipelines for work and training opportunities for our students. On climate goals, Snell has a vision for the City in providing support to residents and businesses in need of funding to decarbonize their buildings, vehicles, and lifestyles. He also supports efforts "to discourage carbon-emitting activities through fee-based systems or carbon taxes." Snell's extensive experience in community service, including his roles on the Santa Monica Community College Trustee Board, the California Community College Board of Trustees, and the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education, demonstrates his deep commitment to the city. His background as a certified public accountant and his involvement with Downtown Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Pier Board give Snell deep experience in understanding our City. Snell was one of the founding members of Santa Monica Forward, and we are excited to support him for City Council!
Natalya Zernitskaya
Good Governance Advocate. Financial Analyst.
Santa Monica Forward is excited to support Natalya Zernitskaya for City Council! Zernitskaya is leading a vision to "create a Santa Monica that is a model for social and economic justice." As a 10-year resident and activist, Zernitskaya aims to "give back to the community that has given [her] so much" and believes her skills as a coalition builder can help put the city "back on the progressive track it was known for." Zernitskaya recognizes Santa Monica's housing shortage, stating, "we are way behind meeting our RHNA numbers." She advocates for a "yes, and" approach, supporting a combination of deed-restricted affordable housing, middle income housing, supportive housing, and also making it more feasible and less bureaucratic to build housing. On transportation, Zernitskaya supports making it easier and safer to get around without a car by expanding bike lanes, improving public transit, and working towards making Santa Monica a more bike-able and walkable city. She emphasizes the importance of transit oriented development that includes housing of all types and at all affordability levels. Zernitskaya advocates for a "housing first" approach to homelessness, supporting the city's Four Pillar Strategy while proposing additional measures like a safe parking program for unhoused people living in their cars and expanding eligibility and funding for the Preserving Our Diversity Program. For economic development, Zernitskaya supports continued post-pandemic recovery efforts and proposes reducing the costs associated with starting, maintaining, and running a business in Santa Monica to attract diverse businesses beyond tourism. Zernitskaya's commitment to addressing climate change is evident in her statement that "Transportation is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gasses." She supports building "more transit-oriented housing" and expanding mobility options to reduce car dependency. We believe that Natalya Zernitskaya has what it takes to transform our city into a model on housing, transportation, and environmental sustainability. Natalya for City Council!
Ellis Raskin
Environmental Attorney
Santa Monica Forward supports Ellis Raskin for City Council, a candidate with a commitment to addressing the city's pressing issues with bold leadership while "restoring decorum to the City Council." As a city commissioner and environmental attorney, he has been "a leading advocate in Santa Monica for developing progressive and inclusive strategies" to tackle key challenges. Raskin recognizes Santa Monica's housing shortage, stating, "The simple fact of the matter is that we won't solve our local housing crisis if we don't build more housing at all affordability levels." He acknowledges that current housing programs alone are insufficient and advocates for "new and creative methods for leveraging public land and public funding" to finance affordable housing. On transportation and safety, Raskin recognizes that we live in a county where more people die from traffic violence than gun violence. He supports implementing simple, cost-effective (and data-driven) strategies such as bike lanes and pedestrian protections, while also stressing the need to "build more homes in Santa Monica so that folks don't need to commute from far away communities." Regarding homelessness, Raskin reiterates, "We aren't going to solve homelessness and housing insecurity if we don't build more housing." He supports directing resources toward shelters, transitional housing, deed-restricted affordable housing with complimentary social services, and proposes to explore entering into reciprocal relationships with public health agencies to ensure individuals receive necessary assistance. For economic development, he sees the need to restore trust in public government and ensure Santa Monica remains an attractive destination. He supports "labor peace at our hotels" and calls for addressing "false narratives about crime in Santa Monica." On climate goals, Raskin prioritizes getting "people out of cars by building more housing in Santa Monica so that people can live in walkable neighborhoods near where they work." He also believes in the importance of ongoing public education and strong leadership from our councilmembers to achieve cultural changes in commuting and consumption habits. Santa Monica Forward is proud to support Ellis Raskin for City Council!
Ballot Measures
✅ Santa Monica City Parking Facilities Tax for Public Safety and Safe Streets
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​✅ Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District SFID 1 School Bond Measure
Paid for by Santa Monica Forward PAC.
Not authorized by a candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate.