Living Wage, Parking and Traffic

May 28, 2000

Dear Editor,

Congratulations to the Santa Monica Museum of Art for seizing the momentto present Robert Mapplethorpe's "a perfect moment." Most of the photos are captivating and some are magnificent.

It is sad to think that there are people who would deny us the ability
to see these works of art.

Certainly, some people would be offended by some of the photos. Of
course, they don't have to visit the exhibit. Today, the controversial photos are mild compared to what's found on most newsstands.

Our community is honored to be the site for this exhibit timed to coincide with the Showtime dramatization of the obscenity trial in Cincinnati a short decade ago.

Even though the museum director was acquitted, we need to reflect on thesmug assertion, by the puritans in the film, that the ordeal successfully chilled the willingness of museums from staging other controversial exhibits.

Paul Rosenstein
Councilmember
City of Santa Monica

May 24, 2000

Dear Editor,

One thing that traffic engineers discovered is that the public will ignore traffic laws that are not realistic. Most people will drive at a safe and sane speed regardless of the speed limit.

What we are experiencing in Santa Monica are too many stop signs. Many four way stop signs don't serve any purpose except to impede the flow of traffic. I live between two stop signs that were installed within the last 8 years. They don't slow traffic one bit in front of my house.

The signs are being ignored more and more often. People just go through them without even slowing down. Santa Monica does not have one north-south street that does not require a stop on most every corner.

Cliffwood drive between Sunset and San Vicente has speed bumps that I would like to see more of. They are very gentle as long as you don't exceed about 25 miles per hour. You can proceed in comfort as long as you don't speed.

Traffic calming in not calming. It is just making more people break the
law.

George Nolan
Santa Monica

May 23, 2000

Dear Editor

It's interesting that so little attention is paid to the consequences of
preferential parking. Now Pico will become more like Main St. and
Montana -- trendy boutiques, sidewalk coffee. No dry clearners, key shops, small grocery stores, etc. No neighborhood serving businesses that need on street parking to survive.

Lots more expensive strip mall construction -- lots of cars jumping in and out of mid block driveways. But, with corner sidewalks jutting out into the middle of the street, what's a few more driveways in the middle of the block? See kids, Mommy really didn't run into the curb. The curb ran into Mommy.

Linda Sullivan
Santa Monica

May 18, 2000

Dear Editor:

To respond to Ms. Sedillos comment. She says that this behavior is common here in the city. I have lived here for 41 years and have been involved in the political life here for at least half of this time.

I have never experienced goons on our streets and out right lies. These people who are collecting the signatures tell us that they are asking for the living wage, is that a bit suspicious to any one. When you read the materials they present (one should always do that) you see that they are limiting the number of worker to about 200, they removed the lessees of our public space from the initiative and placed a poisoned pill to say that no other initiative can be placed on the ballot in the future. I think these people do NOT WANT the living wage.

As to Mr. Pollin what is your problem, like those who claim that they are for the living wage and lie, he really is for the living wage. I would take his honesty any day over liars.

Bruria Finkel Santa Monica

See Letters May 17.