By Jonathan Friedman
Associate Editor

March 26, 2015 -- Santa Monica residents who call themselves slow-growth activists celebrated in November after an election that they said gave them control of the City Council (See “Slow Growth Advocates Gain Control of Santa Monica City Council,” November 6, 2014). But this victory did not help in getting someone from their ranks to fill the highly sought seat on the Planning Commission.

The council voted 6 to 1 Tuesday early Wednesday morning to appoint 28-year-old Sunset Park resident Carter Rubin onto what is arguably the second-most-powerful panel in the City government. His appointment returns the commission to a full seven members.

Rubin has lived in Santa Monica since 2010 and sits on the Housing Commission. His day job is in Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office as program manager for the Great Streets initiative.

The deciding vote to place Rubin on the Planning Commission came from Mayor Pro Tem Tony Vazquez. Although the slow-growth activists had counted Vazquez among the candidates who gave them a council majority, he sided with the opposition to give Rubin the needed four votes for confirmation.

Others voting for Rubin were Pam O’Connor, Terry O’Day and Gleam Davis. Mayor Kevin McKeown, Sue Himmelrich and Ted Winterer voted for former Landmarks Commissioner Nina Fresco.

Following the decision, Himmerlich and Winterer switched their official votes to Rubin, with Winterer saying, “I hope we all do so it’s unanimous.” His hope was not fulfilled, as McKeown did not comply.

“I thought Nina Fresco was the best choice, and wanted that to remain on the record,” McKeown told the Lookout in an email.

Rubin’s selection came in the second round of voting. In the first round, he was supported by O’Connor, O’Day and Davis. Vazquez voted for Laurence Edward Eubank, chair of the Wilshire-Montana Neighborhood Coalition (Wilmont), and Himmelrich supported architect Mario Fonda-Bonardi. McKeown and Winterer voted for Fresco.
The Lookout emailed questions to Rubin, and he responded that he would “decline to offer a quote for the time being.” 

In another email that was sent to the Lookout and other Santa Monica media outlets, Rubin wrote that he would try to respond to media requests, “but I have a full-time day job and a part-time job planning [my wedding] in April.”

Rubin has written for various websites in the region, including Streetsblog Los Angeles.

In his application for the commission seat, Rubin wrote, “My activism and professional experience as an urban planner and journalist form the foundation of my experience in understanding Santa Monica's unique planning environment, in policy development and community outreach.”

No official statement about the appointment has been released by any of the slow-growth activist groups, but several negative comments were posted on Residocracy’s Facebook page.

“Once again City Council screws over residents,” wrote activist Laura Wilson-Hausle. “Ignores their pleas for a resident friendly slow-growth Planning Commission. Meet your new planning commissioner -- a developers dream!”

Residocracy founder Armen Melkonians did not respond to an email from the Lookout asking if the organization or he had an official comment about the appointment.
 
Rubin is filling the seat vacated in December by Himmelrich, who was elected to the council one month earlier. She was appointed to the seat after Winterer vacated it following his election to the council in 2012.

The seat expires in June of this year. Rubin would have to be reappointed to continue on the commission after that month. The Planning Commission terms for Chair Jason Parry and Jim Ries also expire in June.