The Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City, one of the city’s longest-running organized opponents of large-scale development, has endorsed Councilmember Lana Negrete and Planning Commissioner Ashley Oelsen for Santa Monica City Council.
The endorsements also mark a notable break with the organization’s recent political history: Councilmember Phil Brock, whom SMCLC endorsed in 2020 and 2024, did not make the cut this year…at least so far. In 2020, SMCLC eventually endorsed Oscar de la Torre, one month after the initial endorsement.
SMCLC was formed in 2005 amid battles over large development projects in Santa Monica. Since then, the organization has made opposition to what it considers excessive development, a central part of its political identity.
Despite similar politics, SMCLC did not endorse Brock in his 2014 or 2016 runs. However, when he made his successful run for Council in 2020, the organization endorsed him along with Mario Fonda-Bonardi and Christina Parra. It continued to support Brock in 2024, when it endorsed him along with Oscar de la Torre, Vivian Roknian and John Putnam.
Housing and Local Control
SMCLC’s endorsements have long centered on development policy and the question of who should control land-use decisions in Santa Monica.
In recent years, SMCLC has become one of the most vocal local opponents of Sacramento’s efforts to override Santa Monica’s traditional control over land-use decisions. Its campaigns have focused on state housing mandates and local upzoning, including opposition to SB 79.
In its endorsement, the organization praised Negrete for opposing SB 79, the state law that requires cities to allow greater housing density near transit, and for opposing what SMCLC characterizes as Sacramento’s effort to take control of local land-use decisions.
“Every councilmember except Lana voted to support SB 79,” SMCLC said in its endorsement, adding that Negrete has opposed efforts to allow private equity firms to buy and replace homes with high-density apartment buildings.
The group also praised Negrete for her work on behalf of residents and her focus on “safety, transparency, and advocating for residents.”
SMCLC’s endorsement of Oelsen follows a somewhat different path. The organization highlighted Oelsen’s role in opposing AB 1740, legislation that would have changed the way the California Coastal Commission exercises authority in Santa Monica.
SMCLC argues that original versions of the proposal could have opened the door to luxury development along the city’s coastline without affordable-housing requirements. Oelsen, a member of the city’s Commission on Sustainability, Environmental Justice, and the Environment, was “instrumental” in opposing the legislation, according to the organization.
What Happened to Phil Brock?
The organization’s decision not to endorse Brock is particularly notable given how closely his political identity has overlapped with SMCLC’s development concerns.
Brock has long presented himself as an opponent of what he describes as excessive development. His 2014 campaign was described at the time as that of an “anti-development favorite,” and his 2016 write-in campaign came amid widespread political concern about the pace and impacts of development in Santa Monica.
By 2020, SMCLC had moved from being an organization whose endorsement Brock sought to one that was actively supporting his campaign. Brock won a seat on the Council that year..
The organization’s stated process is focused on finding candidates whose positions and records align with its priorities. Its endorsement decisions have historically been capable of shaping the field of candidates considered acceptable to Santa Monica’s slow-growth constituency.
SMCLC did not explain in its endorsement announcement why Brock was not selected this year.
Author
About The Author
