We hope you’ll join us for our June 25 Membership Meeting, which is free and open to the public, as we vote on one of the most significant land use issues in Santa Monica’s history.

Earlier this year, we formed an Ad Hoc Airport Committee to study the possible future uses of the land currently occupied by the Santa Monica Airport (SMO), which is set to close at the end of 2028. The Committee brought together members with a wide range of perspectives and heard from experts across the spectrum. After months of research, discussion, and debate, the Committee has voted to recommend the following:

• “The Santa Monica Democratic Club recommends to Santa Monica City Council, for the benefit of all, the creation of an inspirational LC-Compliant Great Park, that would not trigger a ballot measure before airport closure, with financing that prioritizes existing on-site revenue sources, and with no sale or other privatization of the land.”

Agree? Disagree? Want to learn more? This is your chance to make your voice heard before the Club takes a formal position.

 Date: June 25, 2025
 Time: Doors Open 6:30pm, Program Start 7:00pm
 Location: Church In Ocean Park (235 Hill Street) OR via Zoom (all meetings are hybrid)
 RSVP Now: https://forms.gle/bHmbANpk9AGYvZjU8

As the City Council prepares to make major decisions about converting the airport into a public park, SMDC will weigh in — and your voice will help shape our advocacy.

We’ll also hear from State Senate (SD24) candidate Brittany McKinley, president of the Human Relations Commission for the City of Los Angeles, who is one of the candidates running to succeed our own Senator Ben Allen. 

And we will vote on a bylaws revision establishing how the Club allocates and selects its representatives to the California Democratic Party’s pre-endorsement conferences. Here is the proposed language:

Article VI, Section 3: Selection of Representatives to California Democratic Party (CDP) Pre-Endorsing Conferences

Club representatives shall be allocated as follows: one representative, resident in the pertinent district and duly registered as a member of the Democratic Party of California, for each full (not a fraction thereof) 20 members in good standing registered to vote in the district. The count shall be based on the roster submitted to the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, the appropriate Regional Director, and the CADEM Secretary no later than the date announced by the CDP, in accordance with CDP bylaws.

For purposes of this Section, a. only members in good standing as of the CDP-specified eligibility date shall be included on the roster; b. “Member in Good Standing” shall mean a member whose dues are current, or whose dues have been waived in accordance with the Club’s bylaws; c. the status of such members shall be certified by any one of the following Club officers: President, VP-Membership, Secretary, or Treasurer; and d. representatives to any particular pre-endorsing conference must be selected from the certified roster. The overall list of representatives to all conferences shall, to the extent possible, adhere to the CDP’s Equal Division Rule.

These representatives shall be selected by the Executive Board. If and only if the Club has previously endorsed in the race, its representatives to the relevant pre-endorsement conference shall be bound to vote for the Club’s endorsed candidate.

 Want to vote on June 25? Here’s how to make sure you get your ballot:

1. Be a member in good standing of SMDC.
   • If you’re a new or lapsed member, you must have joined the Club by May 26.
   • If you were a 2024 member and intend to vote, please renew ASAP.
   • Check your membership status by emailing our Membership VP, Mike Soloff: [email protected]
2. RSVP for the meeting here: https://forms.gle/bHmbANpk9AGYvZjU8
3. Use the correct email address.
   • Be absolutely certain the email you enter on the RSVP form is the same address where you want to receive your ballot.
4. Watch for the meeting link email.
   • You’ll receive the physical address and Zoom link from SMDC by noon on June 25. If you’re a member, your ballot will arrive later that evening.
5. Look for your ballot from “Santa Monica Democratic Club” via ElectionBuddy.
   • It will include a private, secure link to your unique ballot.
6. Live help will be available.
   • We’ll have a team available during the meeting to troubleshoot any ballot issues.
7. Check your spam folder!
   • This is the #1 issue people have. If you don’t see your ballot, check spam first!