re: Assistance for Those Most in NeedAssistance for Those Most in Need

Lane Dilg, Interim City Manager

City of Santa Monica

May 21, 2020

Dear Lane,

Thank you for your thoughtful leadership during these difficult times. Santa Monica Forward is committed to meeting the needs of all Santa Monica residents with the value of equity in the forefront. We write regarding urgent efforts to support laid-off and furloughed residents who have little access to aid.

We appreciate that you have recognized that some members of the Santa Monica community are not eligible for federal stimulus payments or state unemployment benefits even as they, too, may have lost work or have faced small business disruption. As recently announced in SaMoNews, the State of California, in partnership with a number of philanthropies, has made emergency funding available to these individuals and families through Los Angeles County-area nonprofit organizations.

As you ramp up the Santa Monica Cares initiative, we stand ready to help amplify City outreach communications, including what we hope will be daily video, flyers, text messages, social media, and direct communications with people who may be eligible about how to access these opportunities. We would welcome the identification of a local channel to apply for these funds that we can share with community members.

We also hope that staff is in contact with operators of philanthropic funds that are going to communities that may not be reached through the organizations listed above, including Black immigrants, LGBTQ immigrants, car wash workers, Pilipino, Korean, Thai, South Asian, and Indigenous undocumented residents. A list of those organizations may be found at https://www.immigrantfundca.org/los-angeles.

Thank you for ensuring that the City of Santa Monica communicates proactively and frequently with all its residents during this time of physical and economic danger. Please call on Santa Monica Forward to assist you if we can be helpful.

Very truly yours,

Abby Arnold Carl Hansen abby@abbyarnold.com cjh268@cornell.edu

Co-chair, Santa Monica Forward Co-chair, Santa Monica Forward