Santa Monica City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to issue a 28-day study into the Land Use Voter Empowerment (LUVE) initiative that is set to be on the November 8 ballot.
The initiative would effectively bypass City Council on major development decisions, and has divided commentators in Santa Monica. The Election Code provides for the ability for City Council to, “order a report on the effects of the proposed measure.”
“I hope the staff analysis is fair and honest despite the fact that the City Council seems to be against LUVE for political reasons,” co-filer of the initiative, Tricia Crane, told The Mirror.
The study is due back to City Council July 12, where Council must do one of the following: adopt the ordinance, without alteration; or submit the ordinance, without alteration, to the voters.
