March 24, 2023 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Bus Ad Drama Behind City Attorney Accountability Act:

The Big Blue Bus’ (BBB) advertising policy comes before Santa Monica City Council Tuesday, with non-profit organizations calling for a change to regulations. Upset surrounding regulation interpretations in 2011 has, in-part, lead to one non-profit drafting their own initiative, the “City Attorney Accountability Act,” calling for the role to become an elected position.

The issue of bus advertising regulation came to light for AIDS Walk Los Angeles five years ago. As regular advertisers on the BBB, a revision of regulation interpretation by Santa Monica City’s Attorney’s Office saw their ads removed from buses as the organization was not deemed “commercial.”

According to the most recent City staff report, “for at least fifteen years, the City’s bus advertising policy has prohibited non-commercial advertisements on the exterior of City buses.”

AIDS Walk Los Angeles had their ads on the buses up until 2012.

Craig Miller, a 32-year resident of Santa Monica and Founder and Senior Organizer of AIDS Walk Los Angeles claims that the regulations should apply to the advertisement itself and not to the organization – for example, a non-profit could be advertising a commercial sale of a book, a commercial sales event, or a product.

Others hit by the non-profit ban have included merchants and business associations; the Pier Merchants and Third Street Promenade, due to their non-profit structure.

Even more confusing is the current advertisement on a BBB by non-profit, the Humane Farming Association.

Miller explained to The Mirror that he found it “shocking” that the City Attorney had, “misinterpreted her own regulations on so many occasions.”

He is leading the charge to have the Santa Monica City Attorney become an elected position.

“Santa Monica needs a City Attorney elected by the voters, not one that can be appointed behind closed doors,” Miller stated.

“This office should be democratically elected…and held directly accountable to the city’s residents,” he said.

Miller has drafted a ballot initiative, the “City Attorney Accountability Act.” The initiative is currently in the petition stage, and if it receives 13,000 signatures, it will become a measure on the ballot in November’s elections.

“The power of initiative is among the people’s basic rights,” City Attorney Marsh Moutrie said. “I have no criticism of anyone choosing to exercise their rights."

in News
Related Posts

Santa Monica Mountains Largest Ever Restoration Project Nears Completion After 7,000 Hours of Volunteer Work

March 24, 2023

March 24, 2023

Final planting event will be held Saturday, March 25 at 9 a.m. for the park’s largest ever restoration project After...

California Appeals Court Rules Uber and Lyft Can Classify Drivers as Independent Contractors

March 24, 2023

March 24, 2023

Proposition 22 exempted ride-share companies from certain labor laws, court rules in favor of the companies By Sam Catanzaro ​​A...

Film Review – Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre

March 24, 2023

March 24, 2023

FILM REVIEWOPERATION FORTUNE: Ruse de GuerreRated R114 MinutesReleased March 3rd Now that the season of weighty Oscar contender films is...

Santa Monica Uses Innovative Water Recycling Facility to Capture and Store Rainwater

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

City’s Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project reducing reliance on imported water and sets a model for future projects Santa Monica has...

Shuttered Santa Monica Loews Hotel to Rebrand and Reopen as a Regent Hotel

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

Hotel’s new operator announces plans for $4 million renovation, including rebranding and upgrading accessibility for guests with disabilities By Dolores...

Three Arrested for Identity Theft, Possession of Stolen Property, and Grand Theft in Santa Monica

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

Suspects found with over 20 stolen cellphones, credit cards, and identification Three individuals were arrested in Santa Monica for identity...

Proposal for Improved Communication With Street Vendors Sparks Contentious Debate in City Council Meeting

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

Councilmembers divided over proposal calling for City Manager to engage in meaningful consultation with authorized vendors regarding sidewalk vending policies...

Former Bank Building in Santa Monica Becomes a Food Destination with Addition of Katsu Bar

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

Katsu Bar joins Paderia and Oakberry in the transformation of the 3032 Wilshire building By Dolores Quintana Katsu Bar has...

Survey: Should Officials Remove Barriers to Outdoor Dining?

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed the way we live our lives, and one of the most significant impacts has been...

Gasolina Cafe Owner, Sandra Cordero, to Open New Tapas Bar in Santa Monica

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

Tapas bar expected to open late spring in former Heroic Italian space at 516 Santa Monica Boulevard  Sandra Cordero, the...

California’s AB 1217 Could Supersede Costly Outdoor Dining Permits Proposed by Municipalities

March 22, 2023

March 22, 2023

Legislation would preempt local ordinances and preserve regulatory flexibility for struggling neighborhood restaurants By Sam Catanzaro A new bill proposed...

Emerging Artist Jesse Liu Opens First-Ever Exhibition in Venice Gallery

March 22, 2023

March 22, 2023

“Spring Fever” currently on display at Yiwei Gallery By Keemia Zhang Local artist Jesse Liu has opened her first solo...

Santa Monica Place Invites LGBTQIA+ Artisans to Apply for Made With PRIDE Marketplace

March 21, 2023

March 21, 2023

Partnering with Streetlet, the marketplace will take place each weekend in June and showcase local goods made in Southern California....

Santa Monica Councilmember Phil Brock Appointed to National League of Cities Council on Youth, Education, and Families

March 21, 2023

March 21, 2023

Brock to collaborate with group of local leaders to develop and guide programs for communities across the country Santa Monica...

Santa Monica Receives $70,000 Donation From Kiwanis Charities for Scoreboards in Two Parks

March 21, 2023

March 21, 2023

Donation will fund the installation of new scoreboards at Historic Belmar Park and Los Amigos Park The Santa Monica City...