At next Tuesday’s meeting of the Santa Monica City Council (agenda), the city council will vote on a pair of motions regarding Los Angeles County’s harm reduction program. Every week for one hour, the country distributes and exchanges needles, glass pipes and narcan (a drug used to reduce the impact of an overdose) in an attempt to reduce the mortality and hospitalization rates among drug addicts.
The program has been a contentious issue in Santa Monica politics in recent years, with several groups demanding the city end the program. The Council has twice voted to ask the county to end or amend the program, but claims it doesn’t have the power to do so. The most recent vote to demand the county end the program passed by a 4-3 vote with Mayor Phil Brock, Vice Mayor Lana Negrete and Councilmembers Oscar de la Torre and Christine Parra voting for the measure. Councilmembers Gleam Davis, Caroline Torosis and Jesse Zwick voted against.
Apparently the word of the Santa Monica City Attorney and LA County Attorney that the county has the right to administer the program with or without the city’s consent is not good enough for Councilmember Oscar de la Torre. De la Torre has submitted a motion directing the city manager and city attorney to “eliminate the distribution by the County or any County-affiliated, non County-affiliated, third party, and/or independent private entity, of all drug paraphernalia and equipment…”
De la Torre’s motion is a “discussion item” so it could be pulled before it receives a vote. The idea that the city has the right to end a county program that takes place on city-owned public property has been trumpeted regularly by the Santa Monica Coalition, famous for their “Santa Methica” and “Mount Drugsmore” banners. The Coalition has also become famous for broadcasting misinformation.
On the agenda immediately before de la Torre’s motion, is another one by de la Torre, Mayor Phil Brock and Vice-Mayor Lana Negrete. This motion seems to recognize that the city doesn’t have the power to end the county program as it directs city staff to craft a motion in support of the California League of City’s efforts to give power over harm reduction programs to cities that currently reside in the county. The motion reads (emphasis ours):
“…direct the City Attorney and City Manager to draft language of proposed resolutions for consideration by the League of California Cities (CalCities), Independent Cities Association (ICA), and Westside Cities Council of Governments (WSCCOG) asking the State Legislature and Governor to change laws to provide for local control over the dissemination of syringes and other drug paraphernalia in local communities…”
The Council will also vote on whether or not it should amend the outdoor camping ordinance that defines where and how people experiencing homelessness can sleep in Santa Monica. Following a 2019 supreme court ruling that outlined what cities need to do before banning sleeping on public property; the city amended its code. A recent supreme court ruling overturned its previous ruling and as a result the city council will consider reinstating an old rule banning sleeping bags and blankets when people sleep outside in the city.
Torosis has been outspoken that the new supreme court ruling should not impact how Santa Monica attempts to handle the local homeless crisis. On Instagram, she said, “Here are my thoughts on Santa Monica’s response to the Supreme Court’s decision to further criminalize homelessness via Grants Pass v. Johnson,..We cannot criminalize our way out of homelessness.”
Instructions on how to attend or provide written public comment for the City Council can be found at the city’s website.
