City of Santa Monica issued the following announcement on Nov. 25
At its meeting, last night and following the November 3 election, the Santa Monica City Council honored the public service of its three outgoing councilmembers: Councilmember Ana Maria Jara, Mayor Pro Tempore Terry O’Day, and Councilmember Ted Winterer.
Here are some of the highlights and accomplishments of the City during the Councilmembers’ tenures that reflect the work they are particularly proud of and shared in their remarks available on YouTube.
Councilmember Ana Maria Jara (2019 – 2020)
- Advanced the perspective of renters as a longtime renter herself and amplified the voices of the Pico neighborhood and Virginia Avenue Park communities, and the parent organizations she has been deeply involved in for decades.
- Brought an equity and inclusion lens to policy and advocated for language justice, including providing daily video updates in Spanish to the community during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- During her tenure, City Council passed a Hotel Worker Protection Ordinance to strengthen workplace safety and compensation protections for Santa Monica’s hotel housekeepers.
- During her tenure, Equity and Inclusion Officers in each City department were selected and the City Council moved forward a Black Agenda for Santa Monica to address issues of systemic racism and called for the effort to be led by Santa Monica’s Black community.
- During his tenure, the City reached an agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration to close Santa Monica Airport in 2028.
- During his tenure, the City made significant progress towards water self-sufficiency by 2023, eliminating Santa Monica’s reliance on imported water.
- Served as Mayor during the groundbreaking of Fire Station 1, grand opening of the Clean Beaches Initiative improving ocean water quality, and when electric scooters landed in Santa Monica.
- Created the Bike With the Mayor monthly event series where residents joined then Mayor Winterer for bike rides highlighting community amenities and neighborhoods while discussing issues.
- Personal favorite moments were opening the Ishihara Park Learning Garden with local students (pictured above), facilitating last year’s inaugural Memorial Day ceremony at the recommendation of local Boy Scouts, and retiring police dog Rambo that, when asked to say a few words, gave a perfectly-time “woof”!
- During his tenure, the City made significant progress towards water self-sufficiency by 2023 eliminating Santa Monica’s reliance on imported water.
- Long championed a plan to transition the Big Blue Bus fleet to zero-emission and zero-carbon battery-electric buses now underway for completion by 2030 with the first hitting the street last August.
- Was part of the 2010 Council that adopted the Bike Action Plan adding 100 miles of bike lanes, one of the most visible representations of our sustainable city. This was bookended with this month’s addition of a protected bike lane on Ocean Avenue now ready to ride.
- Mayor Pro Tem O’Day shared personal reflections on being a father to his daughters, Teagan and Taryn, who grew up with their dad as a member of Council. Many in the community have met the girls at community events and Council meetings.
The next meeting of the Santa Monica City Council will take place on Tuesday, December 8 and will include the installation of Councilmembers Phil Brock, Gleam Davis, Oscar de la Torre, Kristin McCowan, and Christine Parra.
Original source can be found here.
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