> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Nancy Greenstein: Behind the ruling SM political party - URL: https://www.smdp.com/nancy-greenstein-behind-the-ruling-sm-political-party/ - Published: 2004-01-05T16:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T03:26:38.000Z - Author: John Wood - Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import Community profiles is a weekly series that appears each Monday and delves into the people who live, work and play in Santa Monica. Nancy Greenstein likes going to government meetings. For 14 years, she served as the co-chair of Santa Monicans for Renters Rights, long City Hall’s ruling party. Greenstein, who acts as SMRR’s co-chair emeritus, also sits on the Santa Monica College board of trustees and works with the local American Civil Liberties Union, among other groups. “All nonprofits. I have never worked for a for-profit,” she said in an interview last week at the University of California-Los Angeles police department building where she works. As director of community services for UCLA police, Greenstein oversees grants, community policing programs, public education and a student-led ambulance program. But it’s for her involvement in Santa Monica — not Los Angeles — that Greenstein, 55, is best known. She was the sole SMC board member in March to vote against axing a handful of academic programs, including the college’s popular automotive department. Although other board members said the programs needed to be cut to fill the budget deficit, Greenstein said alternatives should be explored. Long a force behind SMRR, Greenstein also has served on the board of the Santa Monica Visitors and Convention Bureau, the Pier Restoration Committee and the City of Santa Monica Charter Review Commission. And she’s worked with a variety of area nonprofit organizations. As a devoted activist who said the community needs to push social principals over market concerns, Greenstein has earned the respect of many residents. Here, the Daily Press sat down with Greenstein to discuss the city she’s lived in for more than 25 years. You’re involved with a lot of different groups — from SMRR to the ACLU and various other agencies. Which do you enjoy most? “Right now it’s being the Santa Monica board member on (the LA County West Vector District, a county service to protect against bugs and insects that carry dangerous diseases or can cause injury and discomfort). It’s one of the few areas I work in that’s not being severely impacted by the state budget crisis or the political climate. “At the Vector district, a problem is presented, and we’re able to come up with solutions, such as preventing a serious outbreak of West Nile Virus in the area... “I always say my social life revolves around the organizations I work with and the issues they address. People say, ‘What’s your hobby?’ and I say, ‘Going to meetings.’” If you could change three things about Santa Monica, what would they be? “Well, I’d like to see more affordable housing opportunities... I’m one that doesn’t like a lot of layers or rules and everything. Sometimes the council and the city have too many rules. “Another thing is I don’t want to see any neighborhood at a disadvantage. I work with the Pico neighborhood — SMRR and St. Anne’s sponsor a legal clinic for neighbors. The area needs programs for youth and strategies to deal with public safety issues, so I’d like to see them addressed. “What else... Sometimes people in Santa Monica are so intense. I’d like to see them relax and find the joy from our community.” It’s been about 25 years since you first moved to town. What has kept you in Santa Monica? “It’s a wonderful city in terms of location, climate and opportunities. But mostly it’s because when I first moved here, it was just before implementation of the rent-control law. I felt that I benefited from rent control. Therefore, I started volunteering with Santa Monicans for Renters Rights, became active and met like-minded people, so my community service became a component of my social circuit. “We put our communal principals first — before market principles. One could make a difference, and there were a lot of interesting people to do that with... Also, Santa Monica is going to be a nice place to retire.” How has the community changed over the years? “Well, for a lot of the activists, we’re older now. I continue to work with many of the same people I worked with in the ’80s. Obviously, there is a large group of people who are here not just because of a passing fad, but because they are committed to affecting change in all areas and for the long-term. “With the state regulations impacting local rent control, prices for apartments have increased, making it more difficult for lower-and even moderate-income families to live in the city. In response, we’re working on affordable housing opportunities. Unfortunately, the increase in real-estate prices leaves out a large segment of the individuals — the lower-income and middle-class workers — from home ownership.” How about in other areas, besides housing and rent control? “Actually, since the ’80s I’ve seen the reinvigoration of the downtown and business community. SMRR leadership, and particularly (former mayor) Denny Zane, were instrumental in bringing a vision to the redevelopment of the downtown and Promenade. He proposed the movie zone for the Promenade and actively recruited businesses. “It’s important to have a successful economic base in order to provide the social services, environmental, educational and recreational programs that we have.” How do you see the community continuing to evolve, socially and/or politically? “Although the population of Santa Monica has become more affluent, I still see the people that live here as socially progressive and politically liberal. So I think they will continue to care about the things I think are important, such as social services, housing, the environment, education, recreation. “The infrastructure is here. It’s a good infrastructure. I just see a lot of the programs being refined over the years and evolving to meet the local needs.” With Santa Monica now wealthier and apparently more conservative, do you anticipate more resistance to liberal ideals? “I think in Santa Monica, what may be referred to as conservative ideals are probably fairly middle of the road elsewhere... Most segments of the community have overlapping goals, with community members having different approaches to attaining them. By working together, we can usually find the common ground.” Do you think Santa Monica will continue to get more and more conservative? “I don’t think it will ever really be conservative. That’s not our community. I think individuals may have different values that change from issue to issue. Too often we get caught up in labels. I think if we take the labels away, a lot of times we’re not all that different. “If you observe a lot of our city boards and commissions, people from varied interests and perspectives come together and positively collaborate to reach their groups’ particular objectives.” How do you see this fall’s election being different than previous ones, particularly with the Chamber of Commerce setting up its own political-action committee? “I’ve been through many elections with SMRR, and over the years there have been many groups that have formed to endorse candidates. But I have faith in the voters of Santa Monica that they’ll choose the right people. There’s a small group of people that like to attack SMRR, but I don't think that’s really reflective of the majority. “SMRR needs to better educate the community, particularly the non-renter community, about the organization and its goals. We have these 13 principles of unity, and they include education, social services, housing and the environment, among many others, and I think when people read about us and see what has been accomplished in the community, non-aligned residents are attracted to our group.” You were the sole member of the SMC board to vote against eliminating academic programs last year. Have you felt political reverberations from that? “Yes. Some constituents were pleased with my vote, and others were upset with my vote. It was a very difficult decision. “(Meeting the budget) was very difficult. It continues to be an incredible challenge. I think the infrastructure is in place to meet these challenges. This year we’re going to need to work together and, based on the available resources, begin to rebuild.” What are your aspirations? “Personally, one of my sayings is, ‘If we’re not part of the solution, then we’re part of the problem.’ I just sort of like working for the greater good, and there’s so much to do and so much to be done — it can always keep a person busy. I guess my aspirations are to continue being part of the solution.” Might you run for a City Council seat someday? “You know, I’ve been asked to run for the council since the ’80s, and I’ve never really seen myself as an elected official. I’m more comfortable in the background.” If you weren’t working for UCLA, what would you be doing? “I’m not sure. I would be working on some issue. I would probably find another position where I believed that by my working there I would make a difference for society, for the community. “I have never had particular career goals. However, I have been open to opportunities that feel right for my skills and abilities and where I believe I can make a difference.” Nancy Greenstein is the director of community services for the police department at UCLA. She also serves on the SMC board of trustees, is co-chair emeritus of SMRR and is involved with a variety of other nonprofits. Salary: $95,000\. Born: Feb. 8, 1948, in Mineola, New York. Residence: Sunset Park condominium. Education: B.S. from Boston University in Elementary Education, Master’s of Social Welfare and Doctorate of Education from UCLA. Background: Started her career as a schoolteacher in a two-room schoolhouse on a Navajo reservation in New Mexico. Before taking her job at UCLA, Greenstein worked with the city of Hollywood for 11 years. Family: One younger sister. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/010504-03_01-7.jpg) (Photo: Special to the Daily Press) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 5, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/010504.pdf?ref=smdp.com)