By Jorge Casuso

December 10, 2024 -- Santa Monica entered a new era Tuesday night as four newly elected City Council members were sworn in as part of a 6 to 1 super-majority.

After sweeping into office last month, Dan Hall, Ellis Raskin, Barry Snell and Natalya Zernitskaya gave the city's liberal establishment the commanding control it had lost nearly four years earlier.

Shortly after taking the dais, the new Council swiftly elected Lana Negrete, the lone opponent left on what had been a deeply divided Council, as mayor under a new rotating system based on seniority.

Top vote getter Dan Hall, one of five Council members who are under 40 years of age, said the November 5 election "presented a stark choice between two visions for Santa Monica."

"Voters told us they are not afraid to build more homes, support renters and uplift workers while we build our economy," Hall said.

"We won on a campaign based on values and a vision for the future not the past, hope and not fear, optimism and not pessimism."

The four new members replace Mayor Phil Brock and Councilmember Oscar de la Torre, who lost their reelection bids, and Gleam Davis and Christine Parra, who chose not to run for reelection.

Brock, de la Torre and Parra, along with Negrete comprised a 4 to 3 pro-law enforcement majority that for 3 1/2 years opposed the liberal establishment's agenda to build more housing, while taking a more lenient approach to homelessness and crime.

The newly elected Councilmembers held out an olive branch Tuesday night to voters who opposed them.

"For those who didn't support us, we are your Councilmembers also," said Snell.

"Democracy works best when we all participate," said Zernitskaya.

"This is a young Council with relatively little experience," said Raskin. "I know we will work together on behalf of our city."

While the new councilmembers moved to the city over the past decade, Brock and de la Torre are natives, a point the Mayor drove home with a slide presentation focused on his Santa Monica roots and history of volunteering.

"Being mayor of the city of my birth is the honor of my life," Brock said. "You have to represent all city residents. The little things you do each day will make a difference."

"The city of Santa Monica is a gem, one of the best on the planet," Brock said. "I love Santa Monica. I will always be here. Join me in trying to help others in the city."

De la Torre, who served 18 years on the School Board and four on the Council, welcomed the new Councilmembers whose backers mounted a hard-hitting campaign against him.

"It's been quite a journey. We've accomplished a lot," said de la Torre, who was elected as part of a "Change" slate shortly after the coronavirus shutdown and widespread protests and looting.

"When we were elected in 2020, it was utter chaos," de la Torre said. "We didn't even come into City Hall. I just want to congratulate all of us," he said addressing the Council he served on.

"There's a lot of promise in our future," de la Torre said. "This is a very difficult job, but I want to support our new City Council and staff. This is a great city. This is a city that cares."