Public safety is one of my core responsibilities as your Councilmember. I have supported police, fire and emergency-response staffing and technology, advocated for a permanent Downtown police presence, and championed the Downtown police substation inside Santa Monica Place. I also helped create and maintain a multi-departmental Pier task force involving Police, Fire, Code Enforcement and Public Works to address illegal vending, criminal activity and hazardous conditions. As Mayor, I helped lead Santa Monica’s response to the January 2025 Palisades Fire, including evacuation communication, emergency staffing and coordination.
Pier task force
Lana pushed to create and maintain a multi-departmental task force to monitor and prevent crime on the Santa Monica Pier. Specifically, the task force has been tackling flammable material on the pier and beach and criminal activity associated with unlicensed vendors.
Small Business & Community Engagement
Lana has organized regular “Coffee with a Cop” events during which community members can discuss their concerns directly with public safety officers in an intimate environment that promotes trust and safety.
aDVOCATING FOR CHANGES AT Reed Park
As part of her longstanding efforts to make our parks cleaner and safer for families, Lana advocated for the removal or relocation of the County’s needle-exchange program from Reed Park.
Santa Monica’s homelessness challenges require both compassion and accountability. As a Councilmember, I have served on the Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Homelessness, advocated for expanded access to psychiatric beds and mental-health and substance-use treatment, and pushed for measurable outcomes from homelessness programs. I have also advocated for greater responsibility from County and regional agencies, supported stronger management of homelessness and public-safety issues at the Downtown Metro terminus, and supported programs designed to prevent households from entering homelessness.
ADHOC COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS
As a member of the Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Homelessness, Lana has worked with other Councilmembers to evaluate the City’s programs and identify ways to address homelessness in Santa Monica. She pushed for a comprehensive map analyzing where homelessness funds are being spent, where services are being provided, and where gaps remain. She also directed City staff to work with providers outside the City to secure critically needed psychiatric beds.
As a small business owner, I understand firsthand the challenges Santa Monica businesses face. As your Councilmember, I have worked to support local businesses, reduce unnecessary barriers, and strengthen our economic recovery. I have supported small-business grants, outdoor dining, streamlined permitting, and efforts to bring City resources directly to businesses. I have also worked with business owners, landlords, brokers, City staff, and regional partners to address permitting and tenant-improvement barriers and to attract investment and new businesses to Santa Monica.
Real Solutions on Unlicensed Vending
Lana has worked with City departments and community stakeholders to address illegal vending while balancing public safety and the interests of established businesses. She has advocated for stronger enforcement of unlicensed vending and for practical approaches that address the impacts on residents, visitors and local businesses.
Small Business Outreach & Support
Lana has worked with the Chamber of Commerce and the City’s Economic Development Department on business-resource webinars and events designed to connect local businesses with City resources. She has also worked to reduce regulatory barriers, including supporting outdoor dining and efforts to streamline permitting and licensing requirements. As a Councilmember, she has brought together business owners, landlords, brokers and City staff to address permitting and tenant-improvement challenges.
lana negrete FOR SANTA MONICA CITY COUNCIL
HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION & RENTER SUPPORT
Lana has supported programs designed to help Santa Monica renters remain housed and prevent homelessness before it begins. She supported the Santa Monica Renter Aid program and the Predictive Prevention Pilot, which is intended to identify households at risk of homelessness and connect them with assistance before they lose their housing. She has also advocated for stronger regional coordination and greater accountability for the agencies responsible for homelessness services.