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2018 Santa Monica City Council Election Guide

10/15/2018 8:45 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Where SM City Council candidates stand on all the issues.

The race for Santa Monica City Council is heating up, with seven candidates vying for three seats up for grabs in the November 6 election. Challengers Ashley Powell, Greg Morena, Scott Bellomo and Geoff Neri, hoping to bring a fresh perspective to the Council, are taking on incumbents Kevin McKeown, Sue Himmilrich and Pam O’Connor, who are looking to get elected based off their experience and knowledge in governing.

The School Bond Challenge By SM.a.r.t

10/15/2018 8:42 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In about four weeks we will be voting on a school bond. This $485 million bond will cost over a billion dollars by the time the bond is retired in 30-40 years depending on how it is parceled out. This proposed bond has many deficiencies. Currently there is no master plan how the money is going to be spent at each school. Our school population is shrinking as families find it harder and harder to find affordable housing in Santa Monica and our City’s limited income population continuous to gray. The 15.4% “out of district” permitted students add diversity to our schools but we receive no financial benefit from their home cities, and they represent about 1/7 of our student population.

PART II: Council Candidates Tackle Pension Debt, City Hall Pay

10/15/2018 8:38 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

October 15, 2018 -- The City's pension debt is rapidly reaching half a billion dollars and its workforce is among the highest paid in the state. The Lookout asked the City Council candidates what they plan to do.

Why Rent Control Is a Lightning Rod

10/15/2018 8:36 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Proposition 10 in California has put a new focus on an old question: whether rent control tends to ease or compound a shortage of affordable housing.

Vote “No” On SMS - Our Schools Need Fiscal Responsibility, Not A Blank Check

10/12/2018 9:30 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

SMS is a $485 Million SMMUSD (“District”) facilities bond measure that should be VOTED DOWN in November. SMS will cost almost $1 BILLION with interest, passes through to renters with no senior exemption, and adds to nine existing District and SMC bonds and taxes.

Read More on pg. 5: http://backissues.smdp.com/101218.pdf

City Council Candidates on Crime and Why They Are Running

10/12/2018 9:13 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Part 1

The Lookout asked City Council candidates to answer a series of questions that address the most pressing issues facing Santa Monica -- from crime and development to homelessness and pay at City Hall. Here is the first installment with their answers.

Bellomo, Himmelrich, Neri, O’Connor on Crime, Term-Limits, Homelessness

10/11/2018 9:18 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

City Council Candidates Video Interviews: Day Two

Challengers Scott Bellomo and Geof Neri alongside incumbents Sue Himmelrich and Pam O’Connor wrapped up the second day of the Santa Monica Mirror’s 2018 Election online video forum. Each of these candidates sat down with Mirror Editor Sam Catanzaro for a one-on-one live video interview, covering topics from crime and homelessness to election fairness to term limits.

City Council Approves Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan

10/11/2018 9:17 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Land Use Plan consists of seven policy areas that address State Coastal Act requirements. Two of the most important policy areas address access to the beach and sea-level rise. The access policies ensure beach visitors have many options to access the coast, including management of shared parking resources and a comfortable pedestrian and active transportation environment. The sea level policies will prepare Santa Monica to plan strategically to protect beach infrastructure and coastal assets.

Ask Rent Control Board Candidates a Question

10/10/2018 10:16 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Next week, as part of our 2018 Election coverage, the Santa Monica Mirror will be sitting down with every candidate running for Rent Control Board for a Facebook live video interview and we are calling on Santa Monica residents to submit questions to ask these candidates.

These interviews will take place on October 15, 16 and 17. The candidates for this race are Steve Duron (incumbent), Nicole Phillis (incumbent), Jon Mann, Naomi Sultan and Lori Brown. Questions for Rent Control candidates must be submitted by Saturday, October 13 at 5 p.m.

City Council Candidates Video Interviews: Day One

10/10/2018 10:14 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Challengers Ashley Powell and Greg Morena and incumbent Kevin McKeown rounded out the first day of the Santa Monica Mirror’s 2018 Election online video forum. Each of these candidates sat down with Mirror Editor Sam Catanzaro for a one-on-one live video interview, covering topics from development and homelessness to scooters and political contributions.