By Jorge Casuso

February 23, 2026 -- Santa Monica residents overwhelmingly oppose a potential ballot measure to include housing on airport land slated for a Great Park, according to a monthly poll.

The poll of "civically minded" residents conducted on February 17 also found stiff opposition to a potential statewide “billionaire tax” and to relocating homeless facilities to the Pico and Sunset Park neighborhoods.

Asked to weigh in on a potential ballot initiative to "build several thousand low-income housing units" on Airport land, 73 percent of respondents said they strongly oppose the measure and 8 percent "somewhat" oppose it.

Of the remaining 19 percent, 10 percent strongly support it, 8 percent somewhat support it and 1 percent had no opinion on the measure, which requires the valid signatures of 10 percent of local registered voters to qualify for the November 3 ballot.

The measure would allow developers to build 3,000 "permanently affordable" housing units on 25 percent of the nearly 200-acre site available after the Airport closes at the the end of 2028 ("What Is in the Airport Housing Initiative," January 26, 2026).

Backed by the hotel workers union and Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights (SMRR), the initiative would require a simple majority to override Measure LC, which was approved by 60 percent of voters in 2014 and reserves the land for a Great Park.

The poll also asked respondents to weigh in on a potential “billionaire tax” ballot initiative, which would "seize 5 percent of the assets of California residents with over $1 billion in assets."

The poll noted that "proponents argue that this money will be used to pay for state-funded healthcare initiatives," while "opponents argue that the tax could cause capital flight from the state."

Seventy-one percent of respondents said they oppose this measure, while 24 percent support it. The remaining 5 percent said they had no opinion on the measure filed by labor union SEIU-UHW earlier this year.

The poll also asked if respondents support or oppose a plan by the City Council to "shift homeless facilities away from downtown" and place them in the Pico and Sunset Park neighborhoods ("Plan to Lease Homeless Facilities Gets Pushback," February 13, 2026).

Seventy-nine percent said they oppose the idea, some 20 percent support it, while 1 percent said they have no opinion.

As with previous surveys, the latest Santa Monica Pulse poll was sent via text to more than 1,000 residents. The poll, conducted by the union watchdog group Eyes on 11, had a 15 percent response rate.

Those who wish to be included in the next poll should email their name and cell phone number to SaMoPulse@gmail.com