As a public service, we offer this list of important facts that should be considered by all Santa Monica residents as they decide whether or not to support Proposition T.

Fact: The top 7 contributors to the No on T campaign are developers not based in Santa Monica, and the top 6 are not even from California. Those top seven have given a total of $533,622.
Source: City Clerk Campaign Disclosure Filings. Contributions thru 23 October 2008.

Fact: Proposition T has no impact on how the City prioritizes its budget expenditures, whether for police, fire, schools, or other services. The City Council sets those priorities.
Source: The Charter of the City of Santa Monica, Article XV, 1505 Budget, Further consideration and adoption.

Fact: Proposition T will not harm renters or affordable housing. “As a 32 year pro-tenant SMRR activist and leader, I can assure everyone that Prop T does no harm. In fact, SMRR is neutral on Prop T because it has no impact on renters or in the construction of new affordable housing. On the contrary, Prop T’s passage will enhance the quality of our daily lives.”
Source: Dolores Press, former chair, Santa Monica Rent Control Board and former member, steering committee, Santa Monica Renters’ Rights.

Fact: Proposition T specifically exempts residential, parking, schools, child and senior day care facilities, hospitals and other specified care facilities, places of worship, and government facilities.
Source: Proposition T text.

Fact: “By reducing rate of commercial development in Santa Monica, [Proposition T] generates ~4% fewer vehicle trips in 2023 than the baseline scenario…”
Source: Nelson/Nygaard Consultants, “RIFT Traffic Analysis”, 24 June 2008, page 23, http://www01.smgov.net/cityclerk/council/agendas/2008/20080624/s2008062403-A-2.pdf

Fact: The impartial analysis of the Santa Monica City Attorney indicates no fiscal impact of Proposition T
Source: http://www01.smgov.net/cityclerk/Election2008/Measures/Land%20Use%20-%20Measure%20T/Measure%20T-%20Impartial%20Analysis.pdf

Fact: There is no current limit to the amount of commercial development allowed in the Santa Monica.
Source: The Charter of the City of Santa Monica.

Fact: Commercial development generates ~4 times the traffic of an equivalent-sized residential development.
Source: Dennis Zane, former Santa Monica Mayor and member, steering committee, Santa Monica Renters’ Rights, speaking before the Santa Monica City Council re: LUCE in April 2007.

Fact: PTA did not take any position on Measure T.
Source: “PTA analyzed this measure for any impact – positive or negative – on education funding. Other impartial studies were conducted by the League of Women Voters and by the Santa Monica City Attorney (for the ballot pamphlet). None of these analyses found there to be a reduction in current education funding or any definitive impact on future education funding. Given that this issue is a development and land-use issue, unrelated to education, the PTA has no basis on which to either support or oppose it.” http://www.smmpta.org/pdf/PTAPosition1104.pdf

Fact: From 1980 to 2004 Santa Monica’s population was largely stable while the City’s commercial/retail, office, and industrial floor area grew 70%.
Source: League of Women Voters, http://www.lwvsantamonica.org/files/propositiont_lwvsm.pdf

Fact: Proposition T will have no negative impact on global warming as some leaders of the No on T group claim that it will.
Source: Prima facie absurdity.

Ocean Park Association

http://opa-sm.org