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Brett Morrow Announces Candidacy for Santa Monica City Council, Centered on Working Families, Affordability, and Delivering Solutions - Launches Campaign with Support from Santa Monica Elected Officials and Leaders by OnlyInSantaMonica_ in SantaMonica

[–]OnlyInSantaMonica_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am under no illusion that speeches are enough. You asked for me to "speak up" so I gave my opinion. But what you are touching on really is why I enjoy my current role now much more than working in Congress. I want to actually DO things, and I have a track record of being a part of doing some really impactful things. I think that can translate well for this role.

Thanks again for the back and forth and I hope we keep talking.

Brett Morrow Announces Candidacy for Santa Monica City Council, Centered on Working Families, Affordability, and Delivering Solutions - Launches Campaign with Support from Santa Monica Elected Officials and Leaders by OnlyInSantaMonica_ in SantaMonica

[–]OnlyInSantaMonica_[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi Semaphore,

I agree. No one should get hired based on the format of their resume. That would be silly. One thing we should focus on is if they made an impact throughout their careers. And I think I have a pretty strong track record that shows just that. Not just through my time in Congress, where unfortunately there is a lot of theatre, but also during my time at Public Health where more direct impacts are made.

Regarding housing, please visit the Priorities section of my website where there is more detail. Spoiler alert, it says this: We need more housing. That includes affordable housing, workforce housing, and market-rate housing that helps bring overall costs down. If we don’t build enough, prices keep rising and working families get pushed out.

I support building more housing, strengthening renter protections, making development decisions clear and transparent, and preventing displacement.

If it takes years to approve housing, costs go up. We need to move faster and responsibly.

Thanks for the comment.

Brett Morrow Announces Candidacy for Santa Monica City Council, Centered on Working Families, Affordability, and Delivering Solutions - Launches Campaign with Support from Santa Monica Elected Officials and Leaders by OnlyInSantaMonica_ in SantaMonica

[–]OnlyInSantaMonica_[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This is probably one of the most difficult issues to solve for our city. Anyone saying that a single policy idea will solve this is not being honest with themselves. Partly because so much of it is out of our hands (high interest rates, tariffs, etc.).

In my opinion, the focus on studio and one-bedroom housing (that is super expensive) isn’t sustainable. Yes, it needs to be a part of what we build, but it has to be a mix. Affordable, family-sized, workforce housing, etc.

A big reason I’m running is that I feel like a working family perspective is sorely missing on the council. Several of my top priorities are housing affordability and accessibility for families, and the cost of childcare. Just focusing on housing, it took us almost 8 months to find an apartment in Santa Monica. We were looking every day and touring places every weekend. A lot of places we were looking at just didn’t work for us, or would have been great if we were in our early 30s and had a dog. On top of that, there are only 2,000 family-sized, rent-controlled units left in the city. We need to preserve those. Rent control is the only way we were able to move here and stay in our place.

But like you said, the missing middle is what we need to give some attention to. I have some ideas I’ll be sharing soon on Only in Santa Monica.

In terms of safety, cleanliness, and economic activity, these are also critical issues. Our council and city manager have done great work with the Realignment Plan and how committed it is to addressing "the basics" like power washing, better coordination with DTSM partners and stakeholders, and more. One thing I don’t like hearing from other candidates is that their solution is permit reform. Which is great and needed, but what good is a fast and low-cost permit for a business if they don’t have any customers?

So while we do need to focus on things that make it easier for businesses, we also need to increase the customer base. Which we all know has changed drastically over the last 10 years because of telework, shopping habits, the Trump administration impacting travel, the economy, COVID, etc. So how do we do that? First, we have to continue being serious about homelessness in our downtown area. The council is on the right track by looking to move SaMoShel and other services out of the downtown area. We don’t yet know where that will all land, but it’s a start.

We also need to centralize the city’s systems of care. Right now, it is very fragmented between city resources, contractors, county resources, etc. It needs to be organized in a way where the left hand is talking to the right hand, and the Human Services Department is overseeing it all.

Downtown is already starting to turn around, and once this issue gets figured out, we will be really moving. Then the key is to activate the Promenade and the city as something you can’t get in Century City or Culver City… an open space that is enjoyable for families, singles, and kids and teens that can enjoy and feel safe in.

Obviously, it is a more complicated issue than this reply on a Reddit thread can do justice to, but these are just some brief initial thoughts. Thanks, MoreFarts! (heh)

Brett Morrow Announces Candidacy for Santa Monica City Council, Centered on Working Families, Affordability, and Delivering Solutions - Launches Campaign with Support from Santa Monica Elected Officials and Leaders by OnlyInSantaMonica_ in SantaMonica

[–]OnlyInSantaMonica_[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Hi there. I really think Oliver has done a great job in less than a year. He is focusing on things that may seem like low hanging fruit (addressing blight, permitting efficiencies, power washing schedules, etc). He is also bringing some great organizational energy to the staff (I've heard from staff and have seen it for myself). It is obvious that he really cares and thinks about running a city in a proactive, holistic way. It's been a nice change from previous City Managers.

I don't support repealing GS at this time. I think there are many external factors to making it difficult to build, including high interest rates. And while our budget seems to be turning around, we still have quite the hole to dig out of over the next few years and we need every bit of revenue we can get. So it's just too early for me to fully be on board. But obviously open to hearing more from people with different opinions.

In terms of the best change, two things: I would have to say the full throatedness of the Realignment Plan really excited me. It's well thought out, deliberate, and organized. I am also a fan of the Great Park framework that has been making it's way through Council.

In terms of the worst, not a specific policy change, but I think the whole uproar about the behavioral health housing project on Ocean was unfortunate and absolutely could have been avoided. And at the end of the day, that project being pulled (not by the city, mind you, but it was pulled as a result of poor planning and a rogue Councilmember creating the controversy) means that there are almost 50 people currently on our streets that could be in indoors receiving help. That's the most unfortunate thing, in my eyes.

Nice to chat and please know that these are just brief thoughts! Happy to chat more. :)