Wildfire Town Hall next week + NOMA opposes AB 1740 unless amended

Dear NOMA Members and friends,

Two important updates:

1) WILDFIRE TOWN HALL — THURSDAY, MAY 7TH AT 7PM

Please join us this Thursday, May 7th at 7:00 PM on Zoom for a community town hall on wildfire preparedness and recovery. This is an important opportunity for our neighborhood to come together, ask questions, and get the latest information on how we can protect our homes and community. Meet with Cal Fire, SMFD, Senator Ben Allen and others to discuss wildfire preparations and response. 

2) NOMA OPPOSES AB 1740 UNLESS AMENDED

The NOMA Board formally wrote to Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur opposing Assembly Bill 1740 unless it is amended to remove its residential development exemptions.

AB 1740 was described to our community—including at our April 2nd NOMA meeting where Assemblymember Zbur and Mayor Torosis presented the bill—as a measure to streamline Coastal Commission approvals for bike lanes, outdoor dining, parking adjustments, and temporary events. NOMA supports those provisions.

What was not discussed at that meeting, and has not been part of the bill's public description, is that AB 1740 also exempts residential development in Santa Monica's coastal zone from Coastal Commission review entirely—with no requirement for any deed-restricted affordable housing. As written, a 100% luxury market-rate development on Ocean Avenue would qualify for a full Coastal Commission exemption under this bill.

NOMA has asked Assemblymember Zbur to remove the residential development exemptions from the bill, remove the building footprint expansion and changes-of-use exemptions, and require a formal public process before the bill advances. Our full letter is attached for your reference.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

We encourage every NOMA member to take one or both of the following actions:

1. Write directly to Assemblymember Zbur at  assemblymember.zbur@assembly.ca.gov. You do not need to write a long letter—a brief, personal note explaining why you care about independent coastal oversight in our neighborhood makes a real difference.

2. Sign the petition opposing AB 1740 at:
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/oppose-ab-1740-keep-independent-oversight-of-santa-monicas-coast/

Legislators pay attention to the volume of constituent voices. Every message and every signature counts.

Thank you for your continued engagement in our community. We hope to see you at our meeting next week! 

When:  Thursday, May 7 from 7pm to 8:30pm PST via Zoom 

Where:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81526517066