Billboard Sends Voters Message

By Jorge Casuso

October 6 – Hoping size matters, opponents of a City Council sponsored initiative to override a voter-approved anti-corruption law have taken the unusual step of splashing their message on a billboard on a busy Santa Monica thoroughfare.

The 12-foot by 24-foot billboard -- which competes for attention with movie ads along Olympic Boulevard -- alters the world famous pier sign to read “Santa Monica: For Sale By City Council” and directs voters to the new NoOnPropW.org website.

Supporters of the voter-approved Oaks Initiative that the measure would override said it was a dramatic, but necessary step, to assure Prop W doesn’t get lost among the 14 State and five local initiatives on the November 7 ballot.

“We thought it was necessary to do something like this to make sure Santa Monica voters are aware the City is trying to pull the wool over their eyes,” said Carmen Balber, a spokesperson for Election Watchdog, the group opposing the proposed measure.

“It’s one of the most traveled thoroughfares in the City,” Balber said. “I think people will take notice…. We felt that a billboard was a good way of bringing this to the attention of the voters.”

Opponents of Prop W say the measure on the November ballot would weaken the anti-corruption measure approved by voters six years ago that prohibits City officials from accepting gifts, jobs or campaign contributions from a person or group that benefited from a vote or decision made by that official.

City officials, who argued the law is unconstitutional, unsuccessfully challenged it in court, before placing an overriding measure on the ballot. (see story)

“The City spent over $400,000 to overturn this in the courts,” Balber said. “This is their last-ditch effort to get rid of the voters’ reform. Proposition W will lead to increased political corruption in Santa Monica.”

Before voting 4 to 1 to place Prop W on the ballot, Council members argued that the “Oaks Initiative” is cumbersome and discourages people from running for office. (see story)

“I think it’s really important to take action on this measure because it’s affecting us now,” Council member Richard Bloom said before casting a yes vote August 8. “It’s a very complex and arduous process.

“I think it drive(s) people away from the political process, a process we are going through right now as we head into the elections,” Bloom said.

Supporters and opponents of Prop W argued over the measure during a debate co-sponsored by CityTV, the League of Women Voters of Santa Monica Education Fund and the Center for Governmental Studies. (see story)

CityTV will be making its election programming available with prime time airings on cable channel 16, 24/7 airings on cable channel 75, video-on-demand on Time Warner Cable, and on its election websitewww.smvote.org.