A Q & A With Doug Suisman About the New Canyon Recovery and Emergency Fund
Below is a Q&A with Doug Suisman, director of The Canyon Alliance, about the purpose, goals, and anticipated uses of the new Canyon Recovery and Emergency Fund (CREF), which has already received $80,000 in pledges toward a $150,000 goal. (See announcement article at this link or visit the donation page (the-canyon.org/donate) to contribute.)
How did the CREF come about?
When I started as president of Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association on Feb. 15, I saw along with many others that there was a need to bring Canyon residents together both to face the aftermath of the fires and floods and prepare for future natural disasters. We live in one of the most beautiful communities in California, but on Jan. 7 we were all reminded of our vulnerability. So with the board’s support I launched The Canyon Alliance, an initiative to strengthen our five neighborhoods and coordinate them for Canyon-wide action. In short, the CREF will help the Canyon both recover and prepare.
What are the main goals of the Fund?
Recovery, Relief, and Resilience.
Recovery means repopulating our homes, supporting the return of businesses, and coordinating a range of initiatives to ensure safety, security, and the restoration of our vibrant community.
Relief means reaching out and providing support to the broader Palisades community, especially workers who lost their livelihoods during the fire.
Resilience for the future of the Canyon includes deploying our community talents and experience to build a more resilient and sustainable Canyon for coming generations through fire prevention, flood control, and earthquake preparedness, while coordinating with area organizations and elected officials to achieve these goals.
What will the CREF be used for?
About 20% of the funds raised would be set aside as a reserve fund for unanticipated emergency needs, such as a sand truck ahead of a flood or a water truck during a fire, to avoid having to raise funds in the middle of a crisis.
Around 10% would support an emergency communication system that Canyonites have said is desperately needed. This system will include the creation, now underway,of an all-neighborhood database with the technology to alert the estimated 2,500 residents of our Canyon during an emergency, through a combination of e-mails, texts, chat platforms, phone calls, and old-fashioned door-knocking. The system will also incorporate our new website and Canyon News at the-canyon.org as a central location for reliable information during and after a crisis.
Most of the remaining funds would go towards grants for specific Recovery, Relief, or Resilience projects, either in our individual neighborhoods or across the Canyon. Some examples might include brush clearance along the creeks, the support of a fire brigade, employment of workers who lost their livelihoods in the fire, repairs to public spaces, and the provision of public building and plant materials with fire-resistant alternatives.
A percentage will also go to essential support services. We are an all-volunteer membership organization, but that doesn’t mean we are cost-free! The fund will help pay for our webmaster, news editor, accountant, and insurer.
What kind of projects would be eligible?
As a tax-exempt 501(c)3 charitable organization, our activities must benefit the general public, not just members or a private group. Thus, the CREF could be used to preserve historic or environmental resources, including landmark public park buildings. The fund could also provide educational programs open to the public, such as the recent exhibition of Canyon maps, or address neighborhood problems such as brush clearance in fire-prone public spaces.
What kind of projects would not be eligible?
As examples, our legal advisors tell us we could not fund the clean-up of a burned private property, even if doing so would benefit the neighborhood or even a nearby school or park. Nor could we fund any security program or equipment intended to protect the property of our members. In both cases, since significant benefit would accrue to a private entity, we would risk losing our tax-exempt status.
How much money are we talking about?
We have set our target at $150,000. We have already raised $80,000. We hope to raise the rest by mid-April. Speed is important because there are new challenges every day in the aftermath of the fire and flood and in the startup of the massive reconstruction of the Palisades.
How can people contribute?
The donation page is easy to find: the-canyon.org/donate. Donations are by credit card.
What are the donation levels?
Donations start at $100 and go up from there. We have had many gifts at the $1,000 and $5,000 level, but any amount is welcome. Broad community participation gives everyone a stake, and gives us a stronger voice when we advocate with our elected officials.
Are gifts tax-deductible?
Yes. Donations to the CREF go through the Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association, which is a registered 501(c)3 charitable organization. SMCCA’s tax-exempt status is that of a membership organization, so the first $50 of every donation goes to membership dues in SMCCA, which are also tax-deductible.
Who can apply for the grants?
Each of the five neighborhood associations can apply for individual grants for specific projects, typically in the $1-5k range. The Canyon Alliance will also use some funds for projects that benefit everyone across the Canyon. For example an integrated system of private video-cams could help us monitor construction traffic and convey that information to online platforms and city departments.
How will grants be awarded?
Requests for grants will come from neighborhood associations to the Canyon Alliance Working Group, which is comprised of two representatives from each of the five neighborhoods plus several SMCCA officers. That group will review and recommend funding. If there is no consensus, the final decision will be made by the SMCCA president, treasurer, and one other board member. The process is intended to be nimble and rapid so that we can respond to needs as they arise. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis and reported in the Canyon News.
What is the timing of the CREF fundraising effort?
While we are aiming to meet our $150,000 goal by mid-April, we intend to begin disbursements for neighborhood grants immediately and to fund the Canyon News at least through July.
If I give to the CREF, am I automatically a member of the Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association?
Yes. All donations go through SMCCA, and the first $50 serves as SMCCA annual membership dues. Everyone who lives or works in the Canyon is considered an SMCCA member, but paying dues entitles you to vote in elections and serve on the board or committees. The dues help pay for ongoing SMCCA services, such as cleaning the Canyon’s pedestrian tunnels to the beach (with Boca) and supporting the Palisades homelessness task force.
If I donate to the CREF and join SMCCA, should I also join my neighborhood association?
Absolutely! The Canyon Alliance is predicated on five strong neighborhood associations working together through the Alliance. Each one has a slightly different flavor in terms of activities, bylaws, dues, and projects. Some of those projects are really local in nature. For example, Boca just funded the lighting of one of its public staircases from the financial support of Boca residents. The neighborhood associations are a key part of what makes the Canyon strong as a community, and they are especially important now as the compilers and keepers of neighborhood contact lists for use during emergencies.
