February 23, 2026

Dear Editor,

Thank you for your recent coverage of the proposed housing measure at the Santa Monica Airport ("Election Season Kicks Off," February 19, 2026).

I respectfully urge your publication to use the accurate, certified title of the initiative rather than the misleading name originally chosen by its proponents.

The measure was initially filed as the “Great Park and Community Housing Initiative.” That title was not merely imprecise — it was deceptive.

The proposal does not create or implement the Great Park voters approved when they passed Measure LC in 2014. Instead, it would remove and rezone nearly 50 acres -- roughly one-quarter of the airport site -- from park use for housing and commercial development.

For more than two years, Santa Monica residents have participated in an extensive public planning process that culminated in a 6–1 City Council vote to pursue a Measure LC–compliant Great Park. That framework did not include housing or commercial development inconsistent with Measure LC.

By branding a fundamentally different proposal as a “Great Park” initiative, proponents risked confusing voters into believing it aligns with the community-backed Great Park plan when it does not. The measure’s proponents are attempting to pass off their proposal as one endorsed by residents who have long advocated for a true Great Park.

The City Attorney ultimately struck the term “Great Park” from the official title and summary -- a clear acknowledgment that voters deserve a fair and accurate description of what the measure would actually do.

This debate should be grounded in transparency and accuracy. Voters deserve clarity -- not marketing language -- when deciding the future of this once-in-a-generation public asset. A Great Park does not require another vote; the voters already spoke when they passed Measure LC.

Sincerely,

Joseph Pertel
Sunset Park