Got knocked down… got back up!
Hi friends —
I hope you had a fantastic weekend.
Mine could have been better-- I took a gnarly spill on my scooter on Friday night and was just discharged from the hospital yesterday morning.
As I was riding, I reached forward to adjust my front light so I could better see the bumps in the pavement. That one-second move caused me to lose my balance.
Two neighbors walking their dog heard me fall and stayed with me while we waited for the ambulance to arrive. Culver City Fire came to my rescue and took me to UCLA Trauma Center where I was treated for breaks in my collar bone and 6 of my ribs (ouch!).
I am so grateful to the neighbors who found me, the swift response of Culver City Fire Department, and the many trauma doctors, orthopedists, nurses, staff, and family who cared for me all weekend and got me back on my feet.
I’m incredibly lucky that I managed to walk away with a few broken bones and that I’m expected to make a full recovery.
Feel free to use my bad split-second decision as a reminder of what can happen when we don’t stop to do just one thing at a time … or think we can do something dangerous just this once and get away with it.
Stay safe out there!
Council Meeting Tonight at 7 PM!
There are many big items on tonight’s agenda.
PH-1: Whether to allow single-stair residential buildings up to 6 stories in height similar to Seattle, New York City, Honolulu and many other cities around the world. This would be a huge win for affordability in Culver City if it passes, but it needs four votes. Please show up and support single stair reform to create more naturally affordable housing in Culver City!
A-1: Whether to approve the agreement with the New Zealand Olympic Committee to use Town Plaza for a New Zealand Hospitality House during the 2028 Olympic Games.
A-2: Whether to enact an eviction moratorium, a rent increase pause, or a rental assistance program in support of community members who are directly affected by the ICE raids.
A-3: Discussion of the Fox Hills Specific Plan
A-4: Whether to create a lobbyist registration program similar to City of Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood
As always, you can watch in person at Council Chambers (9770 Culver Blvd) or remotely on Zoom or Youtube.
You can sign up to speak at the button below or send in your comment by emailing city.council@culvercity.org.
Big news from the last Council meeting!
🪜 SINGLE STAIR MOVES FORWARD - FINAL VOTE TONIGHT!
Council unanimously directed staff to draft an ordinance allowing residential buildings up to 6 stories with access to one staircase, as they already do in Seattle, New York, Honolulu and cities across the world. This is a major way we can combat our affordability crisis and I hope our Council finalizes the ordinance tonight.
Please sign up to speak at the button above!
🏫 SCHOOLS FUNDED
Council unanimously granted our school district $2.5M to keep them financially afloat while they find other revenue sources. By a vote of 3-2, we adopted the recommended partnership language from the Superintendent and requested a conversation about possibly generating revenue from CCUSD land (a 2022 study showed possible revenues of $5-10M per year).
🥇 OLYMPICS HOSPITALITY HOUSE MOVES FORWARD
Despite misinformation spread by a Councilmember, Council unanimously approved the terms of the hospitality house with Team New Zealand and directed staff to come back with cost cutting and revenue generating strategies. The existing plan was estimated to cost the city between $500K and $1.2M, depending on security needs and whether we pursue open streets during the Games.
🏡 AFFORDABLE HOUSING LOAN APPROVED!
By a 3-1 vote, Council approved the terms of a loan that will bring 93 affordable homes for low and very low income families, prioritizing Culver City residents, workers, students, and their families.
That’s the big news from Culver City Council! See yall tonight for our next meeting!
Around Town!
SoCal Transit Month — There’s a seat waiting for you!
For SoCal Transit Month, I took the bus with Councilmember McMorrin, MoveLA Executive Director Eli Lipmen, and Eli’s fabulous transit-loving kids!
I told Eli about the opening of Culver CityBus’ new Line 99 Sofi Express, which takes you to Sofi Stadium on Chargers and Rams game days! Councilmember McMorrin talked about her work on Move Culver City, our city’s very first complete street.
It was bussin’ as the kids say.
California Coastal Cleanup Day
I was happy to join more than 8,000 volunteers across California in hauling more than 17,000 pounds of trash off the coast for California Coastal Cleanup Day!
CCCD is the country’s largest annual volunteer event, which has been going on for more than 45 years.
Our crew of 3 started at Syd Kronenthal Park and made our way West, collecting 12 pounds of trash, bringing the total at Syd Kronenthal to over 100 lbs.
Big thanks to Heal The Bay and sponsors Ballona Creek Renaissance, Bike Culver City, and others for making sure we take care of Ballona Creek, one of our city’s most vital natural resources, for generations to come.
YIMBYs Take New Haven
I got to spend three days in New Haven, CT with elected leaders and advocates from across the country, all tackling the most urgent question facing local governments today:
How do we make sure people of all incomes and backgrounds can afford to live in our cities?
The rent is too damn high, and for so many, buying a home feels totally out of reach.
Our housing shortage affects us all — it’s pushing out our diversity, our workers, and our young people, while making it harder for our seniors to retire with comfort and dignity.
“YIMBYtown” might be a goofy name, but the takeaways were anything but. This was their sixth and biggest year yet, and my first… and I am already looking forward to coming back.
(Also, New Haven pizza does live up to the hype 🍕)
Join me in supporting our Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas for reelection!
Please join me for an afternoon fundraiser to help reelect our fierce fighter of a California Senator, Lola Smallwood-Cuevas.
Lola Smallwood-Cuevas Fundraiser
Saturday October 11 | 1-3 PM
home of former Culver City Mayor, Meghan Sahli-Wells
To RSVP, just email jelena@marvadiazstrategies.com.
Thanks for catching up with me.
Please do join us for tonight’s meeting either in person or on zoom if you are able.
And have a great start to the week!
- Bubba