HOUSING
Let your house not be closed and sealed only for yourself and your household, to be a place of rest and peace only for yourselves. Rather let it be open for the benefit of the desolate poor people, for the hungry, the thirsty and for all who seek shelter and refuge for themselves. You should happily and lovingly bring in any guest who has no other letter of introduction that would recommend him except for that which comes from his being a creation of the Omnipotent, a son of our Father in Heaven… Horeb 579:2
CLOVERFIELD COMMONS
Cloverfield Commons is a proposed housing development and park serving Santa Monicans who cannot compete in today’s real estate market. It is envisioned as a modestly scaled community that would occupy a portion of decommissioned Santa Monica airport land.
In 2014, Santa Monica voters passed Measure LC to close the airport in 2028. This measure allows only open space on the location, unless voters decide otherwise. It will take an incredible effort to overcome opposition to local development, but we believe that acting in sacred solidarity, we will find a path to Cloverfield Commons.
Ready to support?
ENDORSEMENTS
“I was born and raised in Santa Monica. My family came in the 1960s. Santa Monica is my home. But I cannot afford to live here.I know people who work in hospitals, schools, after-school programs, grocery stores, and hotels – all in Santa Monica – who can’t afford to live here. I drive nearly an hour each way and know others who take up to 3 hours to get to work. We are essential workers who build the community. And yet we can’t afford to live here.
—Valerie Martin, Santa Monica Courtyard by Marriott employee
“Home is where we lay our heads, have our dreams, raise our kids, and hopefully find our peace. This campaign is for people who are shut out of the Santa Monica housing market: teachers, nurses, hotel workers, first responders, elders like me, young people raised here and starting out life, and those who have been displaced from their housing by “progress,” like the construction of the 10 Freeway. By joining together as Santa Monica residents and stakeholders we can take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
—Vivian Rothstein, CLUE co-founder, Santa Monica resident, and Cloverfield Commons co-convener
“We can judge a society by the ability it has to promote justice. There are far too many people in our community who cannot afford to live where they work. So they have to spend a huge portion of their day, just to get to work and get back home. Imagine what that does to their families. Imagine spending your precious time just sitting on the freeway. We have 200 acres of land right over there. There is space. There is an opportunity. And the reality is that we can and must build homes for folks in that space.”
—Rev. Nathan Rugh, St. Augustine by-the-Sea
ENDORSEMENTS
“I was born and raised in Santa Monica. My family came in the 1960s.
Santa Monica is my home. But I cannot afford to live here.
I know people who work in hospitals, schools, after-school programs, grocery stores,
and hotels – all in Santa Monica – who can’t afford to live here.
I drive nearly an hour each way and know others who take up to 3 hours to get to work.
We are essential workers who build the community. And yet we can’t afford to live here.”
— Valerie Martin, Santa Monica Courtyard by Marriott employee
“Home is where we lay our heads, have our dreams, raise our kids, and hopefully find our peace.
This campaign is for people who are shut out of the Santa Monica housing market: teachers, nurses,
hotel workers, first responders, elders like me, young people raised here and starting out life,
and those who have been displaced from their housing by “progress,” like the construction of the 10 Freeway.
By joining together as Santa Monica residents and stakeholders we can take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
—Vivian Rothstein, CLUE co-founder, Santa Monica resident, and Cloverfield Commons co-convener
“We can judge a society by the ability it has to promote justice.
There are far too many people in our community who cannot afford to live where they work.
So they have to spend a huge portion of their day, just to get to work and get back home.
Imagine what that does to their families. Imagine spending your precious time just sitting on the freeway.
We have 200 acres of land right over there. There is space. There is an opportunity.
And the reality is that we can and must build homes for folks in that space.”
—Rev. Nathan Rugh, St. Augustine by-the-Sea
Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice educates, organizes, and mobilizes the faith community to accompany workers and their families in their struggle for good jobs, dignity, and justice.