Evan Meyer welcomes Debbie Lee to this edition of Meyerside Chats. Interested in any of the civic topics below? Please tune in to Meyerside Chats on the Santa Monica Daily Press.

Debbie has been the Chief Communications Officer for the City of Santa Monica for the past 8 years. Previously working for SM Travel & Tourism, and Downtown SM, Debbie has dedicated her professional career to our city for more than 23 years. She has helped shape the Santa Monica we live in today.

Meyerside Chats seeks to eliminate the “us and them” narrative and toxic polarization by praising those who lead by example, virtuous community leadership, and authentic conversation. The intent is to showcase the humanity in those that take on the often thankless jobs of public service through civil discourse, and honoring differing points of view.

Recorded by santamonicamusic.com

Summary:

– “Without building relationships, you can’t build trust”

– “How to reach as many people as possible | 3:30

– Access to information IS equity | 6:30

– What are the factors that determine what “misinformation” is?

– How the city differentiates fact vs opinion | 10:00

– Debbie’s background in Santa Monica | 15:00

– How the city can improve | 17:50

– How access to information can change how we experience and build trust for government | 21:00

– Anger as a legitimate emotion around policy impacts, and how to it convert into constructive kindness to help drive your point clearer and faster | 24:30

– What advice would you give to other cities? | 33:10

– Bureaucracy, and balancing cost, efficiency and equity | 36:00

– Santa’s Monica’s strategy and metrics around multi-channel, targeted communications |

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About Evan Meyer

Evan is the Founder of BeautifyEarth.com, a tech platform and marketplace that speed tracks the urban beautification process through art, as well as the original 501(c)3 sister organization and public charity that beautifies schools in the communities that need it most. Beautify has now facilitated thousands of murals around the planet, working with hundreds of communities, community organizations, cities and national brands.

He is also the Founder of RideAmigos.com, a tech platform that optimizes commuter travel and behavior through intelligent programs and analytics for governments, large enterprises, and universities, serving many regions across the US.

As a civic leader in the City of Santa Monica, he is the past Chairman of his neighborhood (Ocean Park), giving residents a voice in the public process, as well as helping the City of Santa Monica with innovative, actionable ways of civic engagement. He gives seminars on building corporate cultures and the importance of community and civic engagement.

He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.