See Video at: http://www.smdp.com/council-candidates-solutions-for-climate-change/170384

As election day approaches, one topic will be beneath a magnifying glass — the city’s ongoing homeless epidemic. While some candidates have radically different views on how to solve the crises, one advocacy organization seeks to discuss their approach to the problem.

The Santa Monica Homelessness Steering Committee will hold its first “Coffee, Conversation and Change” event this Friday, an initiative meant to spark conversation to demystify homelessness and its accompanying challenges and stereotypes.

“This is the first of a series of coffee chats where during brief meetings we cover different topics associated with homelessness,” Tara Barauskas, Executive Director of the Community Corporation of Santa Monica said. “The idea is community members can come together, learn and voice their concerns and opinions.”

Read More: http://www.smdp.com/homelessness-advocacy-group-seeks-to-educate-the-community-detractors-and-all/170438

The County’s Board of Supervisors voted Oct. 30 to declare a state of shelter emergency in unincorporated areas of the County so homeless services providers in those localities can apply for $81 million in state Homelessness Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) funding.

Read More: http://www.smdp.com/new-program-provides-county-wide-funding-to-fight-homelessness/170436

October 31, 2018 -- The campaign for a local school bond has raised nearly $250,000, thanks to major contributions from companies outside Santa Monica and local PTAs, according to the latest campaign finance disclosure statements.

To date, $169,550 in cash contributions has come from 44 entities from outside Santa Monica, while the remaining $66,585 has come from 22 local contributors.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2018/October%20-%202018/10_31_2018_School_Bond_Campaign_Contributions_Near_250000.html

Mary Marlow

If you believe that we the people should be empowered to choose a new generation of leaders, vote Yes on Measure TL.

Read More: http://www.smdp.com/tl-response/170407

See Video at: http://www.smdp.com/city-council-candidates-discuss-pension-liabilities/170380

Santa Monica City Council Candidates share their vision of how to address the increasing rates of crime and homelessness. The Squirm Night Candidate forum was held on Tuesday, October 16 at the MLK Auditorium.

See video: https://www.smdp.com/council-candidates-share-their-solutions-for-crime-and-homelessness/170354

In the past two years, the City of Santa Monica launched two new teams with local nonprofit The People Concern and L.A. County Department of Health Services. The Homeless Multidisciplinary Street Team (HMST) takes traditional medical and behavioral health services out of the office and to the streets, serving a group of individuals identified by City officials as the highest utilizers of local emergency services. The C3 Team (City + County + Community) outreaches to homeless individuals in the Downtown Santa Monica area and adjacent parks. Recognizing that every person experiencing homelessness has a unique story, outreach teams specialize care plans for each individual and coordinate with regional partners to get people into housing.

Read More: https://www.santamonica.gov/blog/reaching-out-to-help-the-homeless

Starting in 2019, 100 percent renewable energy will be the default product for all residential electricity customers in Santa Monica. The 100 percent renewable energy tier is one of several options for residents and businesses that will be served electricity by the Clean Power Alliance (CPA) of Southern California, a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program.

The new rates, which are expected to be on average between $56 and $72 more annually, will start to appear on residents’ March electric utility bills. Low-income qualified customers will receive the same discount on their rates and experience no net increase in cost compared to Southern California Edison (SCE) rates. Services for commercial properties in summer 2019.

“The average residential monthly bill ranges from $55-81 per month (2016 data). Based on this average, a 7 – 9 percent rate increase translates into an approximate $4-8 increase on monthly utility bills, and $56-72 increase in annual utility bills,” wrote City Staff in a report. “It is important to note that all customers, residential and commercial, that believe the price premium of the 100 percent renewable power option is an economic burden will have new choices that roughly equal or actually reduce their current electricity costs.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2018/10/100-renewable-energy-to-be-default-option-for-sm-residents/

From ACT-PAC

See the Guide at: ACT-PAC voter guide v2.pdf