May 25, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Letter To The Editor: League Of Women Voters Of Santa Monica On Ballot Measures:

Dear Editor,

The League of Women Voters of Santa Monica (the League) has taken positions on all five local ballot measures coming up for a vote on November 4.

The League opposes Measure D and supports Measures LC, H, HH and FS.

Although the League is strictly non-partisan and never supports or opposes individual candidates, our organization is political, and does advocate for or against policies based on principles we have arrived at through study and consensus.

In the case of November’s ballot, our organization has a variety of principles that support our decisions, principles the League established years before these measures were envisioned.

Measures D and LC both seek to affect the future of Santa Monica Airport.

The League opposes Measure D: AOPA Airport Measure.

Aviation interests have qualified Measure D, which would serve their purposes by blocking the City from making decisions about the airport, including the decision to close it, convert any of the land to parkland, or even make changes to make it safer. No lease can be changed, leaded fuel cannot be banned, no flight school closed, nothing can change without a costly city-wide election.

Claims by Measure D proponents that power to close the airport is enhanced by giving it to the people are deceptive. In fact, Measure D was designed to maintain the status quo. If it passes, it would require the City to continue operating the airport in a manner that supports aviation purposes, even after the end of the lease in 2015 until a vote of the people says otherwise.

The League believes in representative government as established in the Constitution. In Santa Monica, that form of government is described in the City Charter. Measure D is the antithesis of what the League would call good government; with regard to the airport land, it would eviscerate our local representative form of government and deliberative process, as well as our existing public planning processes that are open to full public engagement and debate.

The League supports Measure LC: It’s Our Land – Local Airport Control.

Measure LC, on the other hand, would retain good government practices with regard to the airport property. Measure LC does not limit the City Council’s ability to address environmental concerns and adverse impacts of airport operations. Under Measure LC, the City Council would have the ability to close the airport in 2015, if federal law allows it to.

Measure LC prevents any commercial development of airport land without a vote of the people while allowing usage for parks, open space and recreational usages if the airport is closed. It allows the City to take action to decrease noise and pollution, increase health and safety measures and increase recreational and park usage as land becomes available.

If Measure LC passes, the voters would approve the parameters that would guide development of a specific plan for the airport land, but the City would retain its governmental power as spelled out in the City Charter.

The League supports Measure H: Real Property Transfer Tax.

Measure H provides locally controlled funding to maintain and protect the quality of life Santa Monica residents deserve and expect. Measure H will enable Santa Monica to continue funding vital programs like affordable housing. Sacramento has recently taken away a dedicated funding steam (redevelopment funds) that this measure would replace. The League supports providing affordable housing throughout the city that address the needs of the elderly, the disabled, families with children, couples without children and singles.

The League supports Measure HH: Advisory Vote.

Measure HH tells the City Council that revenues from Measure HH should be used to repair, renovate and construct affordable housing to preserve Santa Monica’s quality of life. This will protect our neighborhoods and help keep seniors, disabled persons and families in their homes.

The League supports Measure FS: Rent Control Fee Regulation.

Measure FS is a City Charter Amendment to further regulate rent control fees, allowing a 50 percent split between landlord and tenant payments, and capping the total fee at $288. The League supports the principle that landlords and tenants share the cost of administering rent control.

The League of Women Voters of Santa Monica encourages every qualified voter to learn about the issues and candidates on this year’s ballot and to participate in this year’s election. Remember, every vote counts!

Ann K. Williams

President

League of Women Voters of Santa Monica

in News
<>Related Posts

Resilient Palisades Named Nonprofit of the Year by Sen. Ben Allen

May 23, 2025

May 23, 2025

Volunteer-led group honored for climate resilience work and wildfire recovery efforts Resilient Palisades, a grassroots environmental organization based in Pacific...

Governor Announces Early Reopening of Pacific Coast Highway After Wildfire Closures

May 22, 2025

May 22, 2025

Major Stretch of PCH Reopens May 23 After Months of Wildfire-Related Closures Governor Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that State Route...

Film Review: Final Destination: Bloodlines

May 22, 2025

May 22, 2025

FILM REVIEWFINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINESRated R110 MinutesReleased May 16th  This is the sixth entry in the Final Destination movie franchise that...

Bay Cities Deli Temporarily Closed After Health Violations

May 22, 2025

May 22, 2025

Eleven violation points were attributed to the presence of rodents and insects Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery, a popular...

Man Arrested in Stabbing Near Santa Monica Pier

May 22, 2025

May 22, 2025

Victim hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries following altercation A man was arrested after allegedly stabbing another man during an altercation near...

Exclusive Interview with Cardinale du Vin’s New Chef-in-Residence Paul Chuanchaisit

May 22, 2025

May 22, 2025

The Westside Wine Bar Expands Its Culinary Horizons With a Bold New Menu By Dolores Quintana Cardinale du Vin is...

Palisades Bakery Aids Displaced Residents with Deliveries, Cookbook Donations After Fire

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

The bakery’s relief effort is aimed at ensuring that displaced residents continue to have access to familiar foods during recovery...

Memorial Day Weekend in L.A.: Rosé, Beach BBQs, and Brunches Ring in the Summer

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

The Westside Is Packed With Culinary Events, Pop-Ups, and Parties This Weekend Angelenos looking to kick off the summer season...

Summer at Annenberg Beach House to Include Sunset Picnics, Yoga Classes and the Annual Cardboard Yacht Regatta

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

The Beach House, located on the former Marion Davies estate, remains free and open to the public The Annenberg Community...

(Video) Interview with Chef Roy Choi for his new book The Choi of Cooking

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

We speak with the world-famous Socal Chef in Manhattan Beach at the Los Angeles Public Library.

FDA Probes Salmonella Outbreak Tied to Recalled Cucumbers Distributed in California

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

At Least 26 People Sickened and 9 Hospitalized in Multiple States  Federal health officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of...

10th Annual MAINopoly: A Taste of Main Street Comes to Santa Monica This Weekend

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

Annual board game-inspired food event set for Sunday, May 25 The 10th annual MAINopoly: A Taste of Main Street will...

Michelin Three Star Institution Brings 20th Anniversary Culinary Experience to Beverly Hills

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

Grant Achatz’s Alinea Heads to Beverly Hills for Summer Residency Renowned chef Grant Achatz and his team at Alinea, Chicago’s Michelin...

$2.2M Awarded to LA County for Wildfire Prevention Ahead of 2025 Fire Season

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

The grants mark the first disbursement of funds from Proposition 4, a bond measure that provides millions for wildfire resilience...

(Video) Classic Cars and Hot Rods Showcased During Santa Monica Pier’s Locals Night

May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

It Was The Last Locals Night of the Season It Was The Last Locals Night of the Season. pic.twitter.com/mUo6hMJpPZ —...