Targeting Land

May 8, 2000

Dear Editor,

Many downtown merchants have expressed support for the proposition of the city buying the empty lot at the corner of 5th and Broadway for a Pershing Sq. type park and underground parking garage.

This would be consistent with the Open Space Element, [ a beautify park downtown] and also provide additional parking downtown for residents, employees and shoppers.

Instead of buying what is now an empty lot, the SMRR controlled council appears to be planning eminent domain action to destroy the businesses located at Lincoln and Colorado and Colorado and 7th St.....to do what? build a parking garage.

Why destroy existing businesses to build a parking garage, if the city could buy an empty lot and do the same thing?

Mat Millen
Santa Monica

Report On Target

May 10, 2000

Dear Editor,

I have been saying for years that the traffic signals, not the traffic, are the main culprits responsible for downtown Santa Monica congestion. (Not to mention parking meters on 4th street!)

I have loved living in Santa Monica for 32 years for its beauty and community. However, I am so tired of being subject to a City Council that believes deep down in their hearts that they know better than I do when it comes to how I live in my own city. (What would I do without them!?....)

Here are the reasons I would LOVE to have Target in my neighborhood:

1) I could walk or bike there (yeah!) instead of driving all the way to Culver City.

2) I could afford to buy things there! (imagine!...)

3) I could shop there on my lunch hour (5th and Santa Monica is close to where I work!)

4) Do we NEED any more reasons?... I don't think so.

Please feel free to share this email with the members of our City Council (and remind them that elections are coming soon.) Thank you for the great article...

Holly Johnson
Santa Monica

May 11, 2000

Dear Editor,

I most definitely agree that Santa Monica needs a Target. Since I work @ RAND, the single largest employer in Santa Monica, it would be most convenient to be able to walk to the location to do shopping during my lunch hour.

The argument that Target would bring more traffic and congestion is a non issue. Third Street Promenade is the reason why out-of-towners come to Santa Monica making parking and driving a problem. The fact that a Target would open up in the heart of downtown seems irrelevant to those that make Santa Monica their destination. Look at Pasadena.

Pasadena has a large Target store and also has "Old Town"-- also a destination spot. People come to "Old Town" for the same reasons people come to Third St. -- lots of shops and restaurants conveniently located on one main strip and surrounding blocks.

I doubt that someone from Long Beach would be clamoring to get into Target anymore than they would be clamoring to get to Sears. The simple fact is that residents in the
area need a Target.

Since UCLA is so close, it would make sense that a Target would be popular with the incoming students who need to "furnish" their dorm rooms. I know that many of my classmates, friends and roommates from UC Irvine utilized the Target in Irvine, so it would make sense to me that the UCLA students would also gladly welcome the store
as well.

Personally, it has been frustrating to drive to Culver City (the closest Target) to do my shopping for items that I need. And as a major city in Los Angeles County, it seems silly not to have one.

If the City of Santa Monica needs help in directing traffic in parking lots and structures, look to Disneyland, those people know what to do. Additionally, cities like Irvine and Walnut Creek, CA have signals that actually MOVE traffic. Perhaps the city planners can coordinate a meeting with those that designed those cities.

There are always solutions to problems, one just has to be willing to look for them.

Sincerely,

Linda Shekerjian

Ilona Tribute

May 9, 2000

Dear Editor:

I just finished reading your wonderful tribute to Ilona Katz. I had the privilege of meeting her just once. What an extraordinary woman!

Just that one brief time I had talking to her let me know that I was in the presence of a very special person. Santa Monica is richer for her life. God bless you, Mrs. Katz.

Sincerely,

Lynda Auer

A Day At Santa Monica Beach.... Life Vest or Bullet-proof Vest?

May 9, 2000

Dear Editor,

Next time you come to the beaches of Santa Monica, along with your bathing suit, don't forget your bullet-proof vest.

Here's why....

First, about a year ago, there was the German tourist -- shot dead on Appian Way at the back door of the Loew's Hotel.

Then, about a month ago, a gang shooting on the Pier...4 youths and an innocent bystander -- wounded.

Now, just last week, another gang-related shooting on Appian Way, again near the Loews Hotel.

And summer hasn't even begun!

Are there solutions to this violence? Yes, many. Here are just a few....

1. A hotel-sponsored security patrol. Le Merigot is for it, but so far, not Shutters, Casa Del Mar, or Loews. You would certainly think that Loews would prefer positive press for its beach location rather than ground zero for 2 recent shootings, including one murder.

2. Increase police patrol on Appian Way, the beach parking lots, and the beach itself. The City Council says it will budget for it over the next 2 years. We need it now! When our City's population swells from 90,000 to 300,000 on warm weekends, we simply don't have enough officers for the job.

3. Have our city council start paying attention to the real needs of our city -- creating a healthy and safe environment. Police our beaches instead of our ATMs. Wage war on gangs that want to stop us from living on the beachfront, rather than concentrating on a beachfront confined living wage.

LET'S GET OUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT

The South Beach neighborhood is tired of waking to gunshots in the middle of the night, tired of the sirens, tired of the gang fights, and tired of being ignored.

Genser, Holbrook, O'Connor, Finestein, McKeown, Rosenstein--wake up to the real needs of your community. By ignoring the gang problem, you are moving down the road of turning your gold coast into a ghost town, indelibly linked to gang violence and the resulting Westwoodization of your cash cow Promenade and beachfront.

And council members, instead of ignoring the pleas of your police and voting unanimously to extend the hours of the pier arcade to 2 am -- where our youthful gang members can hone their shooting skills on realistic video games --, pay attention to your public safety experts and follow their advice. The 10 PM Arcade closure should be revisited and enforced it on the pier!

Sincerely,