March 19, 2024 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

The Power of LUVE: Initiative Garners 10,000 Signatures

A small contingent of grassroots resident activists gathered on the steps of Santa Monica City Hall this morning to submit to the City two stacks of boxes filled with signed Land Use Voter Empowerment (LUVE) initiative petitions.

The LUVE initiative has seen city streets, shopping malls, schools and public events dotted with LUVE volunteer signature gatherers for the past eight weeks, an effort that has collected 10,000 signed supporters, according to proponents.

The LUVE initiative was written by Armen Melkonians and Tricia Crane from Residocracy.org, an online ‘direct democracy advocacy tool’ for residents. Coincidentally, Residocracy was formed to fight the Santa Monica City Council-approved Hines project (which it did successfully, overturning the approval), the date of the approval was two years ago, today.

“LUVE calls for a halt to the over-development of Santa Monica by giving voters the right to decide how much development is right for Santa Monica,” Crane said. “LUVE would require voter approval for Major Development Review Permits and require voter approval for major changes in the City’s Land Use Policy Documents.”

LUVE was tasked with gathering a total of 6,430 signatures to secure a place on the November 8 ballot.

“The committee for the LUVE initiative did its own validity verification and is confident that the 10,000 signatures they are submitting are more than the number needed to qualify the initiative for the ballot,” Crane explained.

Now submitted to Santa Monica’s City Clerk’s office, the signed petitions will be sent to the Los Angeles County Registrar for verification.

While garnering a groundswell of support, LUVE has understandably drawn opposition from sections of the community.

“The Chamber Board unanimously voted to oppose the LUVE Initiative,” said Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce President Laurel Rosen. “The fact is, LUVE would have the opposite effect that its signature gatherers promised. LUVE would make traffic worse, and housing less affordable. It would also place an undue burden on local businesses, non-profits, schools, and places of worship.” An Ad Hoc committee has been established by the Chamber to gather data to back up their statements.

“The Santa Monica Next Steering Committee, all of whom are residents of Santa Monica save our publisher, instructed staff to write an editorial opposing the LUVE initiative because of the concerns they had that the initiative, whether it intends to or not, will cripple Santa Monica’s ability to add housing, and especially affordable housing, during a regional and local housing crisis,” said Santa Monica Next Editor Jason Islas.

LUVE is supported by six neighborhood associations, Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City (SMCLC), the Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow (S.M.art), and many civic leaders, including PTA members and the Chair of the Santa Monica Housing Commission.

“Residents feel disenfranchised by the possibility of more excess commercial development in Santa Monica. The passage of this measure on the November ballot will ensure that large development decisions are made between developers and our residents and not just a developer and the city council, S.M.art’s Phil Brock told The Mirror.

New resident groups Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA), and NOW Santa Monica, were contacted for comment, but did not reply.

in News
Related Posts

Time is Running Out To Give Public Input on Malibu’s Revised Housing Element

March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

City Asks Residents to Comment on Strategies for Addressing Housing Needs The City of Malibu has released an updated Revised...

Fatal Crash Claims Life of Woman on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu

March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

Accident Victim Identified in Thursday Night Accident A woman tragically lost her life in a Thursday evening crash along the...

California Wildlife Center Responds to Distressed Marine Mammal at Little Dume Beach

March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

Third Gray Whale Stranding of 2024 Prompts Concern in Malibu On the morning of Saturday, March 16, the California Wildlife...

Woman Drives Car In Ocean After High Speed Police Chase

March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

Law enforcement officers pursued her along the I-110 and I-405 until she reached the vicinity of Venice Beach A woman...

Santa Monica Authorities Seek Public’s Help After Sexual Assault Incident

March 17, 2024

March 17, 2024

SMPD Urges Anyone With Information to Come Forward Authorities in Santa Monica are seeking information from the public after a...

FBI Seeks Victims of Alleged Online Exploitation Scheme Allegedly Run by Resident of Santa Monica

March 17, 2024

March 17, 2024

Individuals Urged to Come Forward in Investigation of John Douglas Burch The FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office is urging individuals to...

(Video) Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD Responds to News of Nex Benedict’s Cause of Death

March 15, 2024

March 15, 2024

Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD, responds to the release of the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Ruling on Nex...

Venice Family Clinic Announces Inaugural HEART Gala to Celebrate Health and Art

March 15, 2024

March 15, 2024

Event Honors Creative Community and Supporters of Vital Health Care Services Venice Family Clinic, a non-profit community health center dedicated...

“Love Lies Bleeding” is Ripped: Actress Katy O’Brian Talks Love, Sex, and Vulnerability

March 15, 2024

March 15, 2024

Katy O’Brian is a Breakout Star Who Shines in Loving and Hilariously Violent Crime Film English film director Rose Glass’...

Pacific Park on Santa Monica Pier Sold to SC Holdings, $10M Investment Planned

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

The Cultural Institution Set for Exciting Upgrades Santa Monica Amusements LLC (SMA), the operating group of Pacific Park on the...

Woman Returns $1K Worth of Stolen Items After Store Finds Her Social Media Account

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

For the Owner, the Incident Is Perhaps Indicative of an Environment at the Palisades Village Where Smaller Businesses Are More...

LAPD Identify Suspect Who Struck 6-Year-Old Girl Last Weekend

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

An Arrest Was Made Following “Another Incident” in Venice By Zach Armstrong  The Los Angeles Police have identified Ahsante Lamar...

SMC to Host Free Screening of West Coast Hip Hop Documentary

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

Free Presentation Includes Audience Q&A with Hip Hop Icons Santa Monica College (SMC) is set to host a complimentary screening...

IRS Launches Direct File Pilot of Free Filing Tool for Taxpayers in California, 11 Other States

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

Free, Convenient Online Tax Filing Option Now Available for Eligible Individuals The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced the official launch...

SMPD Arrests Man Who Allegedly Attacked Girlfriend, Brandished Replica Firearm at Her Daughter

March 13, 2024

March 13, 2024

The Man Faces Charges of Felony Domestic Violence and Misdemeanor Child Abuse A suspect is in custody after a domestic...