July 24, 2024

Dear Editor,

In response to Monday's letter to the editor “Council Candidates Stubbornly Support Gascon," which suggested the United Democrats Slate (myself – Dan Hall – Ellis Raskin, Barry Snell, and Natalya Zernitskaya) would undermine public safety, I would recommend the author stick to the facts:

Fact #1. Let me start by stating this unequivocally: I do not support, and have never supported, “defunding” the police.

Fact #2. The first vote I took as a Board Member at the Santa Monica Pier was to support the Direct-Action Response Task Force (DART), a collaboration between Police, Public Health, and Code Enforcement, which has measurably reduced violent crime at the Pier. I told Councilmembers and business owners ahead of my appointment I would support it, and I delivered on my promise for the community.

Fact #3. As an Army veteran, I respect our sworn officers. The first plank of my policy platform is “Clean Streets and Safe Neighborhoods,” which includes my support of fully staffed public safety departments, alongside other policies shown to increase street and neighborhood safety.

Fact #4. With our budget crunch, I favor smarter spending. During the Santa Monica Democratic Club’s endorsement process, I stated my support for what leaders in our Police Department have asked for: expansion of the drone program, lobbying for speed camera bills in Sacramento, and establishment of the real time crime center. By spending our dollars on modern technology, we can scale the responsiveness and impact of our Police Department. During their endorsement, I also stated my support for Assemblymember Zbur’s bill targeting serial retail theft reform to halt smash and grabs. Given I was the top vote-getter in the Santa Monica Democratic Club’s endorsement, I think it’s fair to say the Club’s current membership and leaders aren’t “crime-friendly” either.

Fact #5. I am proud -– and our community should be too -– that our sworn police officers are some of the best paid in the county. This means we recruit top talent and reduce negative and dangerous interactions with civilians (and criminals), limiting our exposure to expensive litigation, and ensuring we’re following the law and due process.

Fact #6. I support civilian oversight, period. Though we attract top talent, our departments are not perfect. Oversight is important to improve organizations. As an Army commander, my troops and I were subject to civilian oversight on our deployment to Iraq. If it worked for me in Baghdad, I promise it will work in Santa Monica.

Fact #7. The primary for District Attorney is over. Nathan Hochman -- Gascon’s only remaining opponent -- was the Republican candidate for California Attorney General in 2022, was a registered Republican until 2023, and supports use of the death penalty. So yes, as Democrats, we do support the candidate who is endorsed by the Democratic Party, 32 local Democratic Clubs, the LA County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO, 12 additional labor unions, and the Los Angeles Times.

Every Santa Monican deserves the right to feel safe in their home, neighborhood, downtown, and parks. Public safety, however, is more than which DA you support.

The United Democrats Slate believe that the Police Department, Fire Department, Code Enforcement, the City Attorney’s Office, mental health, homeless, and drug addiction programs, permanent supportive housing, public education and after school programs, libraries, climate resiliency, storefront activations, and repaired streets, alleys, and sidewalks all contribute to the safety and wellbeing of our seniors, families, children, residents, and visitors.

Every time I buckled into the cockpit, I placed my own life on the line to protect the safety of Americans. So, if you think public safety has gotten worse in the last four years -– or that the measures taken haven’t produced the results you want -– I suggest new elected leadership is required.

Let’s elect a candidate who understands the tactics, technology, operations, and workforce planning real change entails and has the broad coalition of support to get it done. If you want realistic approaches that are data backed, produce results, and won't waste your tax dollars, vote for the United Democrats Slate this fall.

Dan Hall
Santa Monica