ERICKA LESLEY
CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES
The top priorities of our campaign are affordability, homelessness, and public safety—three deeply interconnected issues that directly shape the quality of life for everyone in Santa Monica.
On affordability, Ericka is committed to protecting rent-controlled housing, expanding deed-restricted affordable housing—particularly on publicly owned land—and preserving Santa Monica as a city where working families, seniors, and long-term residents can afford to live and thrive. A strong community depends on retaining the people who teach our children, care for our families, serve our businesses, and keep our city running.
On homelessness, Ericka supports a coordinated regional strategy that balances compassion with accountability. That means expanding access to permanent supportive housing, mental health care, and substance use treatment while ensuring our parks, sidewalks, and public spaces remain safe, clean, and welcoming for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.
On public safety, Ericka believes in a community-centered approach that strengthens traditional public safety resources while making smart investments in prevention. Research consistently shows that addressing the root causes of crime—such as economic instability, lack of opportunity, untreated mental illness, and substance use disorders—creates safer neighborhoods and delivers more sustainable public safety outcomes for everyone.