November 3, 2024 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Nat Trives: Why I Support The Bergamot Transit Village Project In Santa Monica:

Editor’s Note: This is an Op-Ed submission from former Santa Monica Mayor Nat Trives.

For those of you who I haven’t had the pleasure of knowing, I am a very long time resident of our city by the sea – some even call me “Mr. Santa Monica.”

I’ve worn a wide variety of hats in this city. I’ve walked our community on the police force, directed policy as a City Councilmember, and served our city as Mayor. I’ve been a Personnel Commissioner for the Santa Monica – Malibu Unified School District and a Senior Staff Member at Santa Monica College.

I have also been active in the Santa Monica Rotary Club, YMCA, and Chamber of Commerce along with a number of other organizations that strive to improve our community. Each hat I have worn has given me a unique perspective and helped me to better understand the city that I aim to serve.

I’ve monitored the discussion surrounding the approval of the Bergamot Transit Village closely and would like to weigh in with my perspective as a long-time resident and community member. I support the Bergamot Transit Village approved by City Council because I believe it will improve the lives of Santa Monicans. The benefits provided by this project will strengthen the spirit of community in Santa Monica and improve our standing in the region.

As an education advocate I support this project’s contribution to early childhood education. I am a proud father of an SMC department chair and I look forward to local students gaining job training through internship programs. I also believe in providing them with priority access to full-time jobs upon graduation which this project does through a local hiring program.

As Mayor, I was part of the Council that adopted Landmark and Historic District Ordinance. I support the contribution to historic education programming this project will provide which will allow youth to learn about the history of their community.

During my time on Council we were able to add Virginia Avenue Park and Clover Park as places of recreation in our city. Providing new park space in a built out environment is a challenge. This is why I support the over two acres of new open space Bergamot Transit Village will create. This project will provide community gathering spaces which allow families to enjoy watching the ball-game and new neighborhood parks where children can toss a ball. A park the size of Euclid Park will be added in a part of our city that is desperate for more green space.

While I was on City Council we provided seed funding to the Center for Healthy Aging. I am happy the project will provide elderly and disabled residents with ADA accessible units that will allow them to age in place.

I also support the fiscal benefits this project will bring to our city as I understand the city could face a budget deficit within a few years. As a former police sergeant I support the fiscal benefits of this new development because I know it means more funding for public safety. As a member of the Chamber of Commerce I hope we can retain quality employers within our borders by building the facilities start-ups and growing companies need to thrive.

I have worn a number of hats in my years in Santa Monica which gives me the perspective to know that this is a well thought out development proposal. I’ve watched Santa Monica evolve and get better each year. I look forward to seeing continued progress in our city and hope that Bergamot Transit Village will be a part of our continued path to improving the lives of Santa Monicans.

Nat Trives, Former Mayor

in Opinion
<>Related Posts

Opinion: Fact Check: Why Vote Yes on Measure QS

November 1, 2024

November 1, 2024

Despite living in a famously progressive region, Santa Monicans are not immune from the same political misinformation and disinformation that...

SM.a.r.t Column: Lack of Oversight and No Accountability

October 31, 2024

October 31, 2024

S.M.a.r.t. periodically invites guest columnists to write opinion articles on topics of particular interests to our readers. Below is an...

SM.a.r.t Column: “Help! I’ve Fallen, and I …!!”, Cries Santa Monica!

October 25, 2024

October 25, 2024

Maybe fallen, but slipping for sure from being a desirable beachfront community that served all equally, the local residents who...

SM.a.r.t. Column: Vote

October 13, 2024

October 13, 2024

In a polarized country or City every vote counts. Regardless of which side of any issue or candidate you support,...

SM.a.r.t Column: Fact-Checking Election-Season Windbaggery

October 6, 2024

October 6, 2024

Claim: The state is requiring Santa Monica to build 9,000 apartments.Answer: Partially true, partially false. Santa Monica has a pretty...

SM.a.r.t. Column: Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Can Help Save Lives and Revitalize Santa Monica’s Economy

September 29, 2024

September 29, 2024

We wholeheartedly endorse the candidates below for Santa Monica City Council. Their leading campaign platform is for increased safety in...

SM.a.r.t Column: Crime in Santa Monica: A Growing Concern and the Need for Prioritizing Public Safety

September 22, 2024

September 22, 2024

By Michael Jolly Over the past six months, Santa Monica has experienced a concerning rise in crime, sparking heated discussions...

SM.a.r.t Column: Ten New Commandments

September 15, 2024

September 15, 2024

Starting last week,  the elementary school students of Louisiana will all face mandatory postings of the biblical Ten Commandments in...

SM.a.r.t Column: Santa Monica’s Next City Council

September 8, 2024

September 8, 2024

In the next general election, this November 5th, Santa Monica residents will be asked to vote their choices among an...

SM.a.r.t Column: Part II: The Affordability Crisis: Unmasking California’s RHNA Process and Its Role in Gentrification

September 2, 2024

September 2, 2024

Affordability: An Income and Available Asset Gap Issue, Not a Supply Issue (Last week’s article revealed how state mandates became...

SM.a.r.t Column: Part 1: The Affordability Crisis: Unmasking California’s RHNA Process and Its Role in Gentrification

August 26, 2024

August 26, 2024

In the world of economic policy, good intentions often pave the way to unintended consequences. Nowhere is this more evident...

SM.a.r.t Column: They Want to Build a Wall

August 18, 2024

August 18, 2024

Every once in a while, a topic arises that we had previously written about but doesn’t seem to go away....

SM.a.r.t Column: Sharks vs. Batteries – Part 5 of 5

August 11, 2024

August 11, 2024

This is the last SMart article in an expanding  5 part series about our City’s power, water, and food prospects....

SM.a.r.t Column: Your Home’s First Battery Is in Your Car

August 4, 2024

August 4, 2024

This is the fourth in a series of SM.a.r.t articles about food, water, and energy issues in Santa Monica. You...

SM.a.r.t Column: Food Water and Energy Part 3 of 4

July 28, 2024

July 28, 2024

Our previous two S.M.a,r,t, articles talked about the seismic risks to the City from getting its three survival essentials: food,...