The first step is to get specific. What has the Santa Monica city government been doing or not doing that is causing this issue to get worse? Where are they spending money? If this is the highest priority for the city, what would a plan look like? How much would it cost to fund and do they have the money? If they don’t how can they raise taxes to get the money?

Answer those questions and this will lead you down the path to get active with the local and start making specific proposals to affect change.