By Jorge Casuso

January 3, 2024 -- An overwhelming majority of "civically engaged" Santa Monica residents supports limiting "disruptive" early morning protests in residential areas and boosting homeless cleanup efforts, according to a monthly poll.

The latest Santa Monica Pulse poll also found strong opposition to raising the parking facility tax to help curb serious crashes involving cyclists, which have seen a dramatic drop.

About 130 residents participated in the text poll, which was sent to nearly 1,000 local residents interested in "education efforts surrounding crime and safety" between December 28 and January 2.

The poll -- taken as early morning protests staged by the hotel workers union have led to increased push-back from nearby residents -- found that 83 percent favored changing the current noise ordinance.

Eleven percent opposed changing the ordinance, which allows the protests to start at 7 a.m., while 6 percent were not sure.

The Council was scheduled to take up the issue on September 12 before Councilmember Phil Brock pulled the item he had co-sponsored from the agenda ("Much Noise, No Action on Union Protests," September 14, 2023).

Brock, who is now mayor, said he wanted to give City officials time to negotiate with the union, before revisiting the item, which called for pushing back the start time for protests from 7 to 8 a.m.

Nearly four months later, some neighbors complain that protesters continue to use drums, bullhorns and whistles during intermittent strikes at five Santa Monica hotels that sometimes begin before 7 a.m.

The poll also gauged support for a proposal the Council is considering that would increase the City’s parking facility tax, which is currently 10 percent, to boost "efforts to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities."

The poll noted that the proposed increase was "prompted by a tragic bicyclist accident" and that "recent data show the number of 'injury-causing crashes' involving cyclists has dropped dramatically" ("Bicyclists Share Fault in Serious Crashes, Data Show," December 14, 2023).

"Knowing this," the poll asked, "do you support or oppose raising the parking facility tax?"

An overwhelming number of respondents -- 84 percent -- said they oppose the proposed tax, 11 percent support it and 5 percent were not sure.

The poll also gauged support for the Homeless Support Team, "a 3-person crew contracted by the City" that has "picked up over 37 tons of trash" since September ("Santa Monica to Boost Homeless Clean-Up Efforts," December 20, 2023).

Asked if the City "should expand the team" and make it "a permanent part" of its efforts, 78 percent said yes, 10 percent said no and 12 percent were not sure.

As with previous polls, the latest Santa Monica Pulse poll was sent via text to residents who "previously opted in to receive more information on education efforts surrounding crime and safety in their city." It had a 13 percent response rate.