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# Businesses express their opinions on new Web site
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/businesses-express-their-opinions-on-new-web-site/
- Published: 2008-05-02T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T23:57:58.000Z
- Author: Melody Hanatani
- Tags: Business, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Web site created buzz during recent smoking ban expansion*

Whether it’s expansion on anti-smoking regulations or potential restrictions on commercial development, Santa Monica businesses now have a direct avenue through which they can voice their opinions.

The Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce earlier last month launched a new advocacy Web site — Santa Monica Votes — where businesses can do one-stop shopping on local and state issues that might have an effect on the city’s commercial community.

The site recently generated buzz when City Council mulled expanding the smoking ban ordinance in Santa Monica last month, ultimately instituting changes that will now hold restaurant owners and their managers liable if they knowingly or intentionally allow customers to light up cigarettes outside of their establishments.

About a dozen business owners submitted e-mail letters to the council directly through the site, expressing concerns related to the ordinance, including the definition of “intentionally” and “knowingly” and the timeline in which the changes would be in effect.

2A9,“It’s designed to give residents and businesses a voice in local government,” Samantha O’Neil, the director of government affairs for the Chamber of Commerce, said.

Such advocacy sites are used by other business organizations, including the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and the United States Chamber of Commerce, which provided the site template for Santa Monica.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to give businesses a voice in local and state issues,” O’Neil said.

Nat Trives, a former mayor of Santa Monica, said the site will allow businesses as a collective to channel their opinions to city officials without cramming into the City Council Chambers during meetings.

71A,“I think it’s critically important since we have some wonderful initiatives coming forward for the continued improvement of Santa Monica... and businesses should know what’s going on,” Trives, the chair of the chamber’s Government Affairs Committee, said.

The site includes a voter resources page that allows people to register to vote and find information about both elected officials and candidates. Santa Monica Votes also includes information on state and local issues and legislation on matters such as health care and workforce development. The chamber’s position on these issues are also included.

The launch of the site coincided with discussions about long-range funding for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in early April, the issue generating several dozen letters from business owners speaking in favor of funding for both the “Subway to the Sea” and Exposition Light Rail projects.

The Residents’ Initiative to Fight Traffic, a possible ballot measure that aims to limit commercial development in the city, has also generated a few dozen letters and is currently featured in the site’s main page. The chamber, which takes positions on issues but no longer endorses candidates, recently came out against the proposed ballot measure.

Santa Monica Votes also includes letter templates that can be easily personalized by the business owner and sent through the site to City Hall.

“It’s a quick easy way to get information and if you’re interested, you can voice your opinion on an issue,” O’Neil said.

Jump hedline: Site drew buzz during smoking ban expansion

Suggested pullquote: “It’s a quick easy way to get information and if you’re interested, you can voice your opinion on an issue.”

Samantha O’Neil

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 2, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/050208.pdf?ref=smdp.com)