By Jorge Casuso

January 9, 2025 -- Are there too many laws in California? Should the Council have made it easier for large projects to be approved? Does the bird flu pose a serious health threat?

Those questions were asked in a monthly Santa Monica Pulse poll of "civically engaged" Santa Monicans, who overwhelmingly agreed on their answers.

The text poll of some 90 residents taken between December 23 and January 3 found that 80 percent of respondents agreed with former Governor Jerry Brown that the State had too many laws.

Fifteen percent said California has the right number of laws, while 5 percent said it didn't have enough.

The question noted that Brown complained "there are 'too many laws' and regulations in California, noting that both lawmakers and citizens can’t possibly stay informed and up to date on the state’s high volume of laws."

"We are moving every year to add more and more legal prescription to our lives, to our organizations, to our businesses and how we all function," Brown said in a speech to the 7th Annual General Counsel West Coast Convention in November.

The former governor estimated California has some 30,000 more laws today than it did when he served as Governor from 1975 to 1983.

"We're overlaid too much with too many rules," Brown said. "The real challenge for lawyers and legislators and chief executives is to do no harm and to add to the system ways that give more elbow room, more flexibility, more discretion, more judgment."

A study by two Cal State University professors found small businesses in California are "harmstrung by far-reaching state regulations," according to Legal Newsline, which interview Brown.

According to the study, State regulations cost small businesses nearly $500 billion a year and costs the state 3.8 million jobs.

"The capacity to manage people in society by unending escalation of pervasive legal prescription is questionable," Brown said.

The monthly Pulse survey also asked respondents to weigh in on the Council's recent decision to speed up the approval process for housing projects in non-residential neighborhoods that meet zoning standards ("New Council Moves to Streamline Housing Process," December 16, 2024).

The poll noted that "critics say this proposal would strip the public of the right to weigh in on new developments, whereas proponents say it will encourage investors."

Eighty-two percent disagreed with the Council's decision to do away with lengthy public hearings and a costly environmental review for projects on sites of more than an acre.

Fourteen percent agreed with speeding up development, while 4 percent weren't sure.

The poll also asked respondents about Governor Gavin Newsom's decision to issue an emergency proclamation in response to concerns over bird flu cases.

On a scale of 1 to 5, about half of the respondents (51 percent) said they were not worried, while 2 percent said they were extremely worried. The rest fell in between on a scale of 1 to 5.

Newsom declared the state of emergency on December 18 after additional bird flu cases were detected in Southern California dairy cows and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported the first severe illness in Louisiana.

Since April, the CDC has reported a total of 61 human cases of avian flu nationwide, according to a report by the Orange County Register a week ago.

According to the California Department of Public Health, there have been 36 confirmed cases of the illness since December 20, the Register reported.

"The outbreak poses little risk to the general public, according to the CDC," the Register wrote. "Those most likely to get infected are people working directly with infected birds and animals without personal protective equipment."

Those who have contracted the bird flu experienced symptoms similar to mild cases of the flu -- cough, sore throat, fever and, in some cases, pink eye.

No human-to-human spread of bird flu has been reported in the United States, according to the Register.

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.

The poll is conducted by Eyes on 11, a hotel union watchdog. Those who wish to be included in the next poll should email their name and cell phone number to SaMoPulse@gmail.com