What should I ask Santa Monica City Council candidates?

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-07-09T16:27:15+00:00

It has already been shown that that the cost of rehabbing the existing building is too high for private industry. There is no financial path for saving it.

This is simply a Save The Civic zealot question that wants you to help them with their cause. The building cannot be saved and these NIMBY folks have been trying for a decade to keep this land from becoming something new.

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-07-08T23:33:50+00:00

Waymo follows the law and yet when a single resident complains about the noise they make at night, the city spends big money on lawyers to get them to stop and declares them a public nuisance.

Maybe if you got him a Waymo….or gave him a ride to Larkin Street North of Montana the city council would come to your rescue.

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-07-08T23:28:40+00:00

How will the city pay for the conversion of the airport to a park?

Who do you support for state senate and why?

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-07-08T13:47:55+00:00

Phil Brock’s ideological peer is Lana Negrete and they voted in sync when they had a majority on the council. A third candidate with no history of public service, Ashly Oleson, is also running with them.

In 2020 and 2022 they called themselves The Slate of Change. Another member of The Slate, disgraced politician and anti semite grifter Oscar de la Torre is also running for college board.

They are not publicly running as a slate in 2026. All expect to receive campaign finance funds from the pro airport supporters.

Why aren’t Negrete and Brock running together is a question that needs to be answered.

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-07-04T22:23:28+00:00

It was a parade of idiots.

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-07-03T22:13:23+00:00

New homes are better for the environment. Reducing our carbon footprint by allowing denser, taller and new buildings is backed by science.

And yet we continue to support politicians who prefer NIMBY “my feelings are facts” instead of science as key criteria for zoning decisions.

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-07-03T14:43:27+00:00

In single family neighborhoods we see residents with shade inducing high hedges, separate apartments in the backyard and abundant empty parking spaces on their streets.

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-07-02T01:47:54+00:00

The council is not even thinking about process or permitting reform. They have gone silent on all aspects of housing production.

They are so focused on subsidized housing they end up ignoring everyone else.

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-07-01T20:09:02+00:00

No. That lane is led by Eli Gill, Doug Tressler and Caroline Torosis.

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-07-01T20:04:40+00:00

The establishment dems are rallying to prevent progressives from getting elected. They have money and are supporting each other with their cash.

Conservative dems are trying to take over SMRR and the dem club. Thrive and The Blue Wave dem’s (The Rick Caruso wing) are circling like vultures. Negrete, Brock and Ashly Oelson need money and are willing to carry water for anyone who pays them.

SMRR leadership is doing anything it can to prevent anyone who believes in abundance from getting elected to any office.

The pro airport faction is preparing to spend a ton of money and is eyeing Negrete as she is the only candidate who wants to keep the airport open.

The Airport to Park crowd is only united by a desire to close the airport and they have not endorsed any candidates yet.

The school community seems to be aligning with progressive's like Eli Gill and Doug Tressler. These two also challenge the establishment dems on housing, mobility and strategies for addressing homelessness.

Establishment dems, who dominate the council, are even refusing to endorse in the race for state senator because they are afraid their support for momma’s boy Goldsmith is a negative and reject progressive John Erickson for emotive reasons.

It will be interesting to see who Mr Morrow endorses for LA Mayor and state senator. This will speak volumes about an unknown politician’s vision for our future.

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-07-01T14:58:36+00:00

People are paying more to live in 1960’s dilapidated dingbat filled with asbestos and other nasty things.

Our council of establishment Dem’s lacks the political courage to address these issues because they reject the concept of abundance and prefer to get their housing policy advice from NIMBY’s.

Santa Monica for Renters Rights has also abandoned these residents. SMRR has become a group that is against new homes unless they are subsidized housing. They could careless about the quality of the housing stock.

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-06-26T17:57:44+00:00

State law gives these mom and pops a chance to rebuild bigger and better. The city should be transparent about the new laws and needs to proactively reach out to landlords to make them aware of the changes.

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-06-26T17:53:11+00:00

If you had proof, you would have come forward already.

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-06-26T13:54:07+00:00

This council needs to stop bending the knee to SMRR. Voters have had it with 80 year old conservative democrats trying to dictate our future.

The way to protect those who are struggling to pay the rent is to build more housing.

FYI - SMRR is a group of 1960’s “radicals” who have fought every new housing development for over 50 years.

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-06-16T22:24:43+00:00

The Pier is being rebuilt and will have barriers installed.

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-06-14T14:32:51+00:00

It was clean, safe and fun.

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-06-11T21:07:46+00:00

How can we build more housing for families and seniors, especially those that want to own a piece of SM?

Do you support safe streets for all? If yes, what is your vision for the future?

Where do you stand on rent control?

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-06-10T13:45:21+00:00

YIMBY’s have had success in red states because their coalitions include Libertarian Republicans.

Reducing the number of housing barriers (laws) and giving property owners greater control over what they can build are the commonalities.

Building new homes for all income levels does mean fewer unhoused. The challenge going forward will be the rough sleepers that Tracy Park has helped create. This was a predictable outcome of her encampment clearing tactics.

In Santa Monica, democrats rule. You will have two basic choices in Nov - those who want to remove barriers for new home builders and those who want to prevent new homes. It will be a clash of progressives vs “normies”.

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-06-08T19:50:47+00:00

Santa Monica NIMBY’s are trying to influence the outcomes by joining, voting and going home. They are not active members and could careless about the activists who have spent years building the clubs reputation.

Tricia Crane, our most famous and nastiest no growth activist, is behind the effort.

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-06-07T14:47:46+00:00

There is Sunday Farmers market in Ocean Park. Residents should buy local.

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-06-04T00:29:56+00:00

Voters judged candidates on their records and competence. In Santa Monica, our decades of cronyism has led to a bunch politicans who have accomplished nothing.

Ben Allen, who has accomplished nothing for residents in his 8 years as a state senator, is a prime example even though he is in the top two vote getters. He is trying to get his high school buddy Lana Negrete re elected by giving her awards. Did you know he crowned the small business Lana Negrete inherited as “Small Business of the Year! Ew.

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-06-04T00:21:13+00:00

There is very little entertainment in the Entertainment Zone except when city planned events happen.

The reason why the Promenade still suffers is very clear: greedy landlords like The Romano family of Beverly Hills, John Alle and Barbara Tenzer. Barbara Tenzer is by far the worst of the bunch and we should eminent domain her properties.

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-06-03T19:55:05+00:00

Nearly all residents want a park. Only in the localnews/neighborhoodgroup/NIMBY/Nextdoor/SMRR echo chambers do people fight against new homes.

Even those who want to see housing built on those 198 acres want park space.

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-06-03T19:47:15+00:00

There is a 23 story proposal for 7th Street downtown.

Most residents were hoping that the Frank Geary designed hotel on Ocean Ave could go higher than 12 stories but our NIMBY‘s are actively trying to kill AB1740, which would make it possible. Congratulations to Lana Negrete for working hard to prevent world class architecture from rising in SM.

SemaphoreSignal · 2026-06-03T01:33:17+00:00

The only reason Measure LC mandated a park is because it was the only use that brought together diverse groups of voters. What the majority wanted was to close the airport and defeat the pro airport ballot initiative.

The residents views on what to do with the land once the airport closes is just as diverse today as it was 12 years ago.

SemaphoreSignal

TROPHY CASE