By Jorge Casuso

February 13, 2025 -- A recent poll of "civically engaged" Santa Monica residents found overwhelming agreement on three hot-button issues -- crime, homelessness and housing at the airport site.

The monthly Santa Monica Pulse poll taken from February 10 to 12 received nearly 150 responses, with more than three-quarters agreeing on each of the three issues.

When asked if they support building affordable housing alongside the "Great Park" after the Santa Monica Airport closes at the end of 2028, 78 percent said they do not.

Ten percent of respondents support it, while 11 percent were not sure housing should be built on the 220 acres of land.

Including affordable housing at the Airport site took center stage at the January 28 City Council meeting ("Housing at Airport Site Picks Up Steam," January 29, 2025).

Dozens of housing advocates, including the leaders of Santa Monicans for Renters Rights (SMRR), lobbied to build 3,000 below-market-rate housing units in two of the three scenarios the City is exploring for the site.

The poll also asked if the Council "is doing enough to reduce crime" after a recent report found Santa Monica had one of the highest property crime rates in the country.

Only 1 percent said the Council is doing enough, while 93 percent said it wasn't and 6 percent said they weren't sure.

The report based on FBI crime data ranked Santa Monica 419 out of the 425 cities with populations of between 50,000 and 100,000 residents ("Local Property Crime Rate Among Nation's Highest, Report Finds," January 30, 2025).

Police Department officials have noted that Santa Monica's population swells far beyond its 93,000 residents as workers and visitors flock daily to the popular beach city surrounded by Los Angeles.

The poll also asked about the new Council's decision to "undo" a recent ban on the use of sleeping bags and bedrolls, "alleging it is 'inhospitable' to the homeless."

Asked if they support the council’s move to "weaken Santa Monica’s anti-camping ordinance," 87 percent said no, 10 percent said yes and 3 percent weren't sure.

As with previous polls, the latest Santa Monica Pulse poll was sent via text to some 1,000 residents who "previously opted in to receive more information on education efforts surrounding crime and safety in their city." It had a 14.5 percent response rate.

The poll is conducted by Eyes on 11, a hotel union watchdog. Those who wish to be included in the next poll should email their name and cell phone number to SaMoPulse@gmail.com