MEET ELLIS RASKIN:
Ellis Raskin is a trusted environmental attorney and community advocate. He advises public agencies and other stakeholders throughout California about urban development, housing laws, and environmental policy. He has been a leading proponent of city programs that promote sustainability, address homelessness, and protect renters who are at risk of eviction and displacement.
Following his appointment to the Santa Monica Urban Forest Task Force in 2017, Ellis was elevated to the Santa Monica Planning Commission in 2020. He completed his term on the Planning Commission in 2024 after being elected to serve as its Chair.
Ellis is a graduate of Occidental College and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Outside of work and public service, Ellis often spends his time exploring Santa Monica and enjoying walks beneath the city’s spectacular urban forest.
Ellis’ Legislative Priorities:
Housing —
Implement and enforce land use laws that protect renters and stop the gentrification of city neighborhoods.
Environment —
Adopt and strengthen laws to protect and expand coastal access, public parks, and our urban forest.
Homelessness —
Ensure adequate support for meaningful, evidence-based solutions to our homelessness crisis, including strategies that address our community’s mental health needs.
Economy —
Support local businesses as Santa Monica continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.