Wade Kelley represents a homeless community activist perspective, running on a platform of human rights and anti-capitalist critique. He seeks to provide a voice for the most marginalized residents of Santa Monica.
Position summaries
Homelessness: Kelley advocates for the creation of "tiny home villages" and the immediate rejection of "no sitting" and "no lying" laws. He believes that the city’s current approach criminalizes poverty rather than addressing the lack of affordable housing.
Crime & Public Safety: He focuses on ending what he describes as police "harassment" of the poor and redirecting safety funds toward social services. Kelley argues that the current public safety model prioritizes property over people.
Housing Construction: His platform calls for the development of social housing in single-family neighborhoods and on the Santa Monica Airport land. He believes that every neighborhood should share the responsibility for housing the city's unhoused population.
Economic Recovery: Kelley proposes a new tax on vacant commercial buildings and speculative real estate to fund social programs. He seeks to penalize landlords who keep storefronts empty while people are living on the streets.
Governmental Philosophy: His philosophy is rooted in a civil rights-based approach to governance and an anti-capitalist critique of the city's economic system. He believes that the city should prioritize human needs over profit.
Qualifications & Narrative
Kelley has a ten-year history as a street performer on the Third Street Promenade and identifies as a community activist with lived experience. He views his candidacy as a way to challenge the "status quo" and bring a human rights perspective to the council dais. Kelley is a vocal critic of the city’s current approach to homelessness, arguing that it is both inhumane and ineffective. He positions himself as a champion for the marginalized, advocating for policies that prioritize social equity and the protection of civil rights. His platform is a direct challenge to the city’s traditional economic models, and he is committed to finding innovative ways to fund social programs. Kelley’s background as a street performer has given him a unique insight into the daily lives of Santa Monica’s most vulnerable residents, and he aims to use that knowledge to drive meaningful change in the city’s governance.