"Where does race come into a zoning issue?"... "Hiding behind the fig leaf of democracy"... "A tumorous web of gridlock"... and "Hurray for the League"

August 17, 2001

Dear Editor,

In regards to Frank Gruber's recent column ("You Fought the Law, and the Law Won," August 17) on R-1 (single family residential) districts, I really find it ironic where Frank tries to interject his social beliefs into a story about zoning.

In the community, Frank has a reputation of spouting off on issues that he has no clue on. That's why many people questioned him getting his own column in a publication.

Frank missed one major issue here, and we're going to have to make it easier for him to understand 1 and R -- Single Family (1) per lot (R). I know in South Central, which is primarily African American and Latino, that they have a large area of single family homes. Is this a form of discrimination, Frank? Because according to you, they are discriminating against Caucasians.

Every city, state, and nation has a right to set zoning ordinances to accommodate a quality of life that they want. Single family homes should maintain just that... a single family area.

Do you remember the old dream of the white picket fence? They sure didn't mean a white picket fence in front of an apartment complex, Frank. But since you are so unhappy with all the discrimination in Santa Monica, maybe you should sell your home in the Ocean Park area (which is predominantly Anglo) that you chose to move into, and head up the road to the R2 area of the Pico Neighborhood. And thus, you will have your second unit to give to whatever financial bracket or racial ethnicity you want.

Chuck Allord
Santa Monica

August 17, 2001

Dear Editor,

Can you please explain to me why Frank Gruber sees race as an issue when dealing with granny flats? What does one have to do with the other?

Joe Weichman
Santa Monica

August 16, 2001
Dear Editor,

I hope your "server" gives you a breakdown of "hits-per-article." I have found a reasonable compromise for my problem of finding Frank Gruber to be such an ass that I had stopped reading the Lookout. I now continue to read the Lookout every day, and greatly appreciate your good work, but; I never read or open Frank's "column."

Keep him though. It keeps him busy and I don't have to worry about being offended by his self involved duplicitous idiocy in the letter sections of our other local publications.

Yours,

Frank Schweitzer
Santa Monica

August 16, 2001

To the Editor:

(Re: "Let Voters Have the Final Say, Living Wage Foes Contend," August 13)

So the businesses opposed to a living wage only managed to get a couple dozen people to their rally.

That doesn't surprise me -- they represent a tiny minority in our community. Most of us believe that workers should get paid enough to support their families.

That's why I'm not signing the petition to repeal the living wage, despite the propaganda about letting the people decide.

I've already decided, and I think most Santa Monicans have too.

Teresa Bonpane
Santa Monica, CA

August 16

Dear Editor:

So the big businesses circulating a petition to kill the living wage are now telling us they simply want people to vote on the issue.

Apparently they forgot that we already voted last year. I guess you can't blame them for wanting to forget that election, though -- four out of five Santa Monicans rejected their attempt to stop the living wage.

Voters should know that the petition is against the living wage. It says so in plain print at the top. Anyone who signed by mistake can revoke their signature by contacting the City Clerk.

Why don't these special interests stop hiding behind the fig leaf of democracy and have the courage of their dubious convictions?

Patti Wagonhurst
Santa Monica

August 15, 2001

(Re: "Parking Task Force Gets Reality Check," August 14)

I do hope "bearing down on those questions" of the cost of the parking doesn't mean that the task force has acceded to the "need" for more parking.

Downtown is beginning to resemble a glioblastoma... perhaps the cancer of the consciousness that has pervaded SMRR's thinking has finally mestastisized into that tumorous web of gridlock that has infected our city, and whose tendrils reach farther everyday.

Pehaps the task force should consult with an oncologist instead of the experts and
consultants that have led us down this sorry road.

Jeers,

Steven G. Keats
Santa Monica, home of Bubba Dumps.
A city of shrimp!

August 10, 2001

Dear Editor,

(Re: League Opposes Veritas," August 10)

Hurray for the League of Women Voters I have supported them for a very long time now I affirm my support on their unanimous decision to NOT support the Veritas initiative.

In the president's statement she put her finger on some very important issues that will affect our city deeply.

Good for us that we have a concerned and educated group of people In the League we can trust to see the light.

Thanks,