News
Latest updates from the campaign:
Residents Win in 2020, Not Big Money!
Phil Brock, native son and popular local reporter about town, used his name recognition and hometown knowledge to get the most votes. Christine Parra, head of emergency services in Culver City, won with the support of the Santa Monica Firefighters. Oscar de la Torre, a school board member, won with support of parents and former Santa Monica Mayor Bobby Shriver.
Santa Monica Voters Usher in New Era
Santa Monica residents who care about our residents will now be seated at the table of power! Congratulations to my running mates, Oscar de la Torre and Christine Parra.
Change Slate is Elected!
Phil Brock continues to lead all challengers as vote totals trickle in. He is elected!
Brock stays ahead in count!
Ahead after Thursday vote tally, Brock says "Residents now have a seat at the table."
Challengers poised to upend political establishment
Challengers continue to lead incumbents!
Still Breathing (election results update)
I have been fielding everyone's well wishes and congratulations all day. I am humbled that so many have shown your confidence in my campaign for change by casting your ballot to return control of our city council to our residents, rather than developers. As of 4:45 PM November 4th, I maintain a narrow lead over the other candidates. I want to caution everyone that there are more ballots to be counted and the results may change. It has been indicated by the City Clerk that we may have a final vote count by Friday afternoon.
The Santa Monica City Clerk has issued the following update.
"I am providing you the current information I have received from the County after this afternoon’s canvass. The most recent results can be viewed at www.smvote.org as well.
City Council (both 4 and 2 year terms) 2,393
Here is Statement of Votes Cast is now posted on lavote.net website. Here is the direct link: https://lavote.net/docs/rrcc/
- All precincts are reporting.
- Current voter registration 71,970 citywide, 83,873 vote registration for SMMUSD, and 83,804 for SMCC
- LARR/CC will send us the list remaining vote by mail provisionals tomorrow. Canvas still set for Friday."
Council Field Holds Steady
Council field holds steady. Brock continues to lead!
Santa Monica Mirror City Council Endorsements. Itβs Time for a Change!
The Santa Monica Mirror issued a strong endorsement this morning for this team of four eminently qualified candidates for Santa Monica City Council. The Mirror endorses π·πππ π©ππππ, πͺππππππππ π·ππππ, πΆππππ π π ππ π»ππππ, πππ π΄ππππ ππππ π-π©πππππ π for the four open four-year seats on our City Council.
As a lifelong Santa Monica resident and editor of the Mirror, I am endorsing Phil Brock for Santa Monica City Council because the city needs new local perspectives and deeply invested members of the community willing to deviate from city staff policy recommendations. Groupthink–making decisions in a way that discourages difference–is not how government should be run and generally does not lead to the best decisions. This is why I am voting for Phil Brock. He is a lifelong Santa Monica resident who will be willing to vote against the status quo if the matter before them is not in the best interest of their constituents.
The Internet Must Become a Public Utility
After months of being stuck at home, many Americans know full well that there are three things they can’t live without. Two of them are power and water. The third, I’m sure, will be obvious to all. Internet access.
Santa Monica Observer Endorsement
The Santa Monica Observer wrote a strong endorsement of my campaign for Santa Monica City Council this week. Read it here:
Spurious Charges Against Santa Monica City Council Candidate Phil Brock
Once again, Joel Koury has filed a baseless complaint against me. Mr. Koury falsely alleges that I have failed to properly register my business with the City and that I am illegally utilizing a rent-controlled apartment. There is no basis for these complaints.
My 92-year-old mother owns the apartment building on 12th Street. She inherited this building from her mother, my grandmother. My mother has lived at this location for almost 75 years. I am at my apartment at the building daily – in part to care for my mother and in part to attend to my business which I conduct there. I pay rent to my mother for the apartment and have always done so.
Mr. Koury also appears suspicious of the number of Phil Brock for Council signs at this location. Mr. Koury will have to take this issue up with my mother, who has them posted in her window.
Loa Angeles Architects Imagine Homeless Housing Solutions
Los Angeles Magazine asked top local architects for bold solutions to L.A.’s homeless crisis. Here’s what they came up with.
Let's Fight This Battle Together!
This is my contract with each of you as I seek to become your Santa Monica City Council Person. Take a few minutes, read my pledge, and then volunteer, contribute, display a lawn sign, and above all VOTE!
The Santa Monica Conservancy Candidate Questions and Answers
The Santa Monica Conservancy posed three questions to City Council candidates. Here are the answers.
Anti-Semitic Caricature Used by Opponents of Michael Dell
There was an “attack” ad featuring a caricature of Michael Dell, owner of the Fairmont Miramar Hotel, in the Santa Monica Daily Press on Saturday, September 26th. It was placed by an anti Miramar Hotel group. I have seen the disgusting and reprehensible antisemitic image used in the hit piece and am utterly repelled by the tactics being used here. I oppose the Miramar Hotel project as currently configured (but am not opposed to a sensible remodel) but no matter one’s position on the project, Santa Monica cannot be the venue for such public bigotry, and this has no place in our public (or private) discussions.
I join California State Assembly Member Richard Bloom’s call for the backers of this ad to disavow it.
City Council Incumbents Lead Campaign Contributions
Phil Brock has raised the most money out of any challenger with $14,425 in campaign donations. He is running on an anti-incumbent “change” slate for City Council.
League of Women Voters Candidate Forum
The League of Women Voters of Santa Monica held a candidate forum on Wednesday, September 23rd via Zoom. Here's the video.
America Needs Faster Internet and Santa Monica Needs Its Own Broadband Utility
Santa Monica is not rural but many students and seniors do not have affordable access to Broadband service in our town.
The pandemic is transforming how Americans use public libraries, parks, and streets β and it's depriving vulnerable people of space when they need it
Pandemics and concerns about health have a long history of shaping cities, particularly outdoor spaces like parks
Daylight Saving Time Should Be Permanent. The Pandemic Shows Us Why
COVID-19 maintains a stranglehold on American life, ensuring that fall 2020 will be anything but normal. Pandemic restrictions have left our nation grappling with a severe economic recession alongside a growing mental health crisis. While there’s no panacea for these problems, one simple step by Congress could help alleviate the pain: Passing federal legislation to make daylight saving time (DST) permanent.
New Climate Change Maps Show a Transformed United States
Climate change is real and the effects on on our descendants profound. Take a look at how heat, fires, and humidity will effect part of our country within fifty years.
Give Everybody the Internet
I’ve called for free basic internet for all Santa Monicans and a municipal broadband utility. Here is an outstanding article on creating municipal broadband in our town and the reasons why we should take the plunge
A Clean Slate (SMart endorses Brock and Team!)
The SMart Group's Santa Monica City Council Endorsements. We enthusiastically endorse Phil Brock, Christine Parra, Oscar de la Torre, and Mario Fonda-Bonardi. These four deserve your support!
Public Safety is Suspect in Santa Monica!
In the Santa Monica Democratic Club debate on Wednesday, September 9, 2020, the five incumbents insisted there is very little crime in Santa Monica. Our city is the safest it has ever been, the five incumbents stated as a question about public safety was broached. We are much safer than we were twenty years ago, stated one councilperson. Another said that she felt safe walking around our parks at night. We are as safe as can be was the conclusion of the incumbents.
Listening to them on the virtual stage, you would feel that we are "lollipops and sunshine safe." However, I see things differently. Random assaults, robberies, burglaries, automobile parts thefts, bicycle thefts, and more are endemic in Santa Monica. Battery happens at regular intervals on our streets, and as you look at the crime statistics in our town, crime has skyrocketed over the past four years. Councilmember Davis accused me of "cherrypicking statistics" when I said that crime had risen.
All in all, the incumbents "pooh-poohed" the black and white statistics of high crime. Safewise published its latest statistical analysis of crime in our seaside city and noted that Santa Monica is the 227th safest city in California. We're just below San Francisco and slightly above Stockton and Oakland. Wouldn't we all prefer to be in the top 50 safest cities? Instead, Santa Monica is at the bottom! Here is the link to the results they published. https://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-california/?fbclid=IwAR29dQ5N42nNJm84Za-K7oT78KMd1tmQl4tZEEK_fVmm3upOAF-Ryxlo8zo
It's hard to fight crime if you pretend there isn't any. Had enough? It's time for a change. BrockTheVote.org
Slow Growth Backs Brock and Two Change Candidates for City Council
Blasting incumbents for ushering in "unsustainable growth" and pushing the City into "financial chaos," a prominent slow-growth group on Tuesday announced it will back three challengers in the race for four full-term Council seats.
SMCLC Endorses Santa Monica City Council Candidate Phil Brock
We need competent leadership who will work for Santa Monica’s residents and small businesses, not for the special interests who contribute to Councilmembers’ campaigns. We wholeheartedly ENDORSE Phil Brock for City Council who will go to work immediately for ALL Santa Monicans.
Where are the Investigations?
Pandemic Mask Enforcement
Budget Reform and the New Normal
Now is the time to Launch Real Reform of Our City’s Financial Management!
Let Market Forces Conquer the Housing Battle
SM Mirror columnist Tom Elias weighs in on California’s “housing” crisis. Market forces should be allowed to work out our housing imbalance without government intervention for the next few years.
Brock on Your Block (Neighborhood Jazz)
Phil stops by a Saturday morning neighborhood jazz concert in the north of montana area of Santa Monica on this episode of Brock on Your Block
Two candidates withdraw from City Council race, will support Phil Brock
Two Santa Monica City Council candidates withdraw from race, throw support to Phil Brock
Shopping Malls Can Become Low-Cost Housing
As area shopping malls fail could they be turned into low-coat housing? After all, adaptively reusing existing buildings is the best way to be sustainable.
Two Candidates Withdraw, Throw support to Brock and ticket
Candidates Gomez and Browning withdraw from campaign, throw support to Phil Brock and election ticket
Losing Our City
Our City’s Future Is Slipping Out of Our Hands… Unless We Pay Attention
Op-Ed: Mentally ill people in desperate need of treatment often donβt get it because of an antiquated law
You can’t spend time on the streets of any large city in California and not ask this question: Why do so many of our most vulnerable, severely mentally ill Californians not get the care they so urgently need? Read this op-ed.
Brock Heads Community Slate to Challenge Incumbents
Brock, de la Torre, Parra, and Fonda-Bonardi team up to challenge incumbents
Brock on Your Block: Itβs a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
On his daily long walks during the pandemic, Phil Brock finds wonderful settings his neighbors have created to delight all who pass by in the latest Brock on Your Block.
Room To Breathe! (Phil Brock for SMart)
A longtime resident, “We no longer have any sense of community, and we have lost our sense of being a seaside town.” Read Phil Brock’s op-Ed for SMart in the SM Mirror.
YOU Are the Heart of the City! (Phil Brock for SMart)
As our town became even denser, City Hall advocated for more. Keep piling people into our town. Who cares about quality of life? Small apartment units with huge rents led to increased gentrification and a less diverse population. Your town’s wise owls fist-bumped as each new building choked our formerly sunny streets.
A Worried People in a Distressed City! (Phil Brock for SMart)
It was Santa Monica’s 145th birthday on July 15th. Our city’s traditional motto is “Fortunate People in a Fortunate Land.” Yet it no longer feels that way. It is not even the pandemic’s fault.
Brushfires of Freedom! (Phil Brock for SMart)
Black Lives Matter can’t be a catchword that fades as the news cycle moves on. It must stay front and center in every city, town, and village in America. I observed some lip service on the city council dais about change and our standard civic response, let’s “study” the problem.
If Itβs Not Okayβ¦(Phil Brock for SMart)
Fight or flight. Those of you who are acquainted with me know which choice I have always made. However, It seems that many longtime residents are choosing flight. They have decided that the scourges of crime, overdevelopment, traffic, and a deteriorating lifestyle make it no longer worth the hassle of living in Santa Monica.
The Great Santa Monica Loot-Out
The angst and anger of our community are still reverberating throughout Santa Monica. Everyone I have communicated with has a strong opinion about the events of Sunday, May 31st. The afternoon of looting was an “all-time low” for our city. The owners of Santa Monica Music Center called 911 seventeen times. The response, “You’re on your own. If you own a registered firearm, you’re welcome to guard your own business.”
Santa Monica Overwhelmed (Phil Brock for SMart)
Chaos, anguish, despair, and lawlessness gripped our city on Sunday. By Monday, anger, disbelief, and heartbreak were the words of choice. One Hundred Fifty-Five businesses had “significant” damage. Over Three Hundred Fifty reported some loss. Nine fires set. Citations issued to Four Hundred Thirty-Eight people. None spent a night in jail.here.
Out of Chaos, Rebirth! (Phil Brock for SMart)
We’re still out here, kicking and screaming,” a resident wrote to me, repeating her email to the Planning Commission about proposed changes to the city’s zoning codes. The Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City called the proposed changes “Ill-Conceived and Misguided.” The leader of Northeast Neighbors stated, “We are offended by the use of the euphemism “streamlining” to silence the community about the future of downtown Santa Monica.” here.
