Supporters of a controversial proposed ballot measure that would allow up to 3,000 units of housing to be built on the current site of Santa Monica Airport — should the airport be closed by the city in 2029 — are moving forward with signature gathering efforts. The city is constrained in what it can build on the airport land by a 2014 ballot measure that limits development to open space and educational uses unless a new ballot measure provides greater flexibility.
For a breakdown of what is included in the proposed measure for this fall’s ballot, read past coverage here.
Over the weekend, Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights (SMRR), a local political organization that has endorsed six of the seven seated councilmembers in their past elections, held two votes on whether to support efforts to place the measure on the ballot through signature gathering. To qualify, the measure would need signatures equal to 10% of the city’s registered voters — about 6,900 signatures. The two SMRR votes illustrate how the proposal is straining traditional political alliances.
A nonbinding vote of the SMRR Membership Advisory Board to support the signature-gathering effort failed, 3–5, with four abstentions. Notably, those voting no included two former mayors, Mike Feinstein and Kevin McKeon; Santa Monica College Board of Trustees member Anastasia Foster; and Joe Pertel, who serves both on the board of the Great Park Coalition and as a commissioner on the Santa Monica Airport Commission.
Three of the four abstentions came from sitting Santa Monica City Council members: Mayor Caroline Torosis and Councilmembers Ellis Raskin and Dan Hall.
However, the decision-making authority to back the signature effort rests with the SMRR Steering Committee, which voted 6–3–1 in favor of supporting it. Voting yes were Denny Zane, Craig Ali, Michael Soloff, Patricia Hoffman, Cristina Navarro, and Michael Cortez. Navarro and Cortez are members of Unite Here! Local 11, which has already voted to support the measure.
Signature gathering is expected to begin on Feb. 28, with Unite Here! and SMRR joining Cloverfield Commons, a nonprofit founded to support housing on the airport property.
And, of course, nothing happens in a vacuum in Santa Monica. Earlier today, the Santa Monica Airport Conversion Project — the city’s team tasked with soliciting feedback on future uses for the airport land and creating a long-term plan — released another survey. Curiously, the survey does not give respondents the opportunity to answer questions about potential housing on the site.
The Next will have more on the survey tomorrow.
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