Signatures for 2nd Hotel Initiative
More than 8,700 signatures have been submitted to the Santa Monica city clerk for a second initiative that would limit hotel development in the city.
A spokeswoman for Santa Monicans for a Livable Environment (SMiLE) said the signatures were gathered over 31 days. The initiative would compete against a measure sponsored by a group called Save Our Beach, which submitted more than 10,000 signatures nearly a month ago and is awaiting verification from the county registrar-recorder.
The Save Our Beach initiative would ban all new large beachfront hotels, including two being reviewed by the city. One of the two hotels would replace the private Sand and Sea Club on Pacific Coast Highway.
The SMiLE initiative would ban all hotel development for three years, but would exempt the two hotels being reviewed by the city. It would also use 50% of hotel bed taxes to clean up Santa Monica Bay and city parks.
If the Save Our Beach initiative qualifies, the City Council must call a special election within 88 to 103 days.
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