April 2, 2026

Dear Editor,

In your March 24 article "Council Calls Special Meeting to 'Clarify' Neighborhood Grant Program Rules" Mayor Caroline Torisis said:

"There will be time for public input, and I welcome your feedback as we move forward. I want to acknowledge the confusion this has caused and thank you for your continued partnership and leadership in our neighborhoods."

Caroline really, there is no confusion. . . at least not for those of us who have watched this Council move to limit and silence our voices in many ways.

Your purpose was quite clearly defined when you came down on us in your authoritarian manner. You just didn't think Santa Monica's Neighborhood Groups were able to make a go of it without the City's grant.

But you somehow can find, at a time when the City is broke, $200,000 -- four times the total given to the groups, to send out a bland newsletter with old information that can all be accessed online in a more timely manner.

Let's not cover up what you are trying to do. It has been obvious since Councilmember Dan Hall's acceptance speech filled with anger, spin and threat of imminent punishment.

This Council has moved to silence our voices in many ways since being seated on the dais. This is just another move to do that and somehow spin it so that you think we will see it differently. We won't. . . we are not stupid.

You have no interest in what residents want or how we feel. This is evident by your support of SB 1123, which allows building up to 10 homes on vacant lots in single-family neighborhoods and the games played around it to look like you are open to discussion.

The same with AB 1740, which does not require a coastal development permit within an urban multimodal community.

Two things occur to me. . . you are all very afraid and very arrogant. . . and whenever ethics are compromised an angel loses his wings.

It's still a wonderful life . . . just not a wonderful time in this town right now.

Danielle Charney
Santa Monica