A Difference in Process, A Little Strip of the City and Political Game Playing

May 3, 2000

Dear Editor,

Great piece on the City Council -vs- the SAAB Dealership. I'm delighted you pointed out that the SAAB dealership and the Simonson appeal, a few months ago, were both Kelly Olson-inspired appeals. It's bad enough we have Olson grandstanding -- whether he dislikes architect, Herb Katz or just auto dealership projects in general, this all smelled like more political game playing to a lot of us who attended last nights City Council meeting.

Our City Council went along with all of this with a straight face. With the
Simonson project, it was endless nit-picking about parking spaces. With the SAAB appeal last night, it was endless micro-managing the rear gate/wall and the trash bins.

As you pointed out, each of these appeals ran over 3 hours with last nite's appeal running almost four hours.

By the time this has run its course, many in attendance (interested in other items) as well as the press had gone home. A very tired and worn-out City Council were left to tackle some real issues. So, things are rushed, speaking times are cut down and everyone else is shortchanged. I and seven others spoke a little after 11AM, last night on the R2/NW overlay emergency ordinance and we were only allowed to speak for two minutes. Earlier in the evening, sixteen public speakers on the SAAB issue were given three minutes each.

The last time some of us spoke on an issue was a couple of months ago after the Simonson appeal. Many of us got to speak on the Montana Interim Ordinance at that time did so after 1AM. And both times, because of the late hour, those of us who came to speak (and stayed) were also limited to two minutes.

This situation virtually eliminates working people and many others who can't afford to sit around Chambers for four, five or six hours to speak two minutes on an item at 2AM in the morning from participating in the process. How clearly our City Councilpersons are listening or even functioning by that time is also at question.

I have some suggestions. Council persons should limit their questions to the "public speakers" as well as limit their comments and stop nit-picking other peoples affairs. It would have been short and sweet to say, "we will OK the project only if you do this, this and this." End of discussion.

Or, move "Appeals" back in the agenda. I'll bet this item would not have
gone 3-plus hours if Council had started on the appeal at 11PM or later.

Better yet, schedule City Council meetings more frequently. -- twice a week if necessary.

The present situation is just not working and not fair. Everyone is very
unhappy about it.

Bill Bauer
Santa Monica

May 3, 2000

Dear Editor,

Thank you for the article (Man Shot Near Beach Lot, May 2). Yours was the first news of this in the press. It's so important to us living here that the rest of the city be aware of what's happening in this little strip of the city. It's doubly important that city council members see it in print. They voted to keep the arcade open till 2:00AM, knowing (while denying) that it attracts gang members. Wonder if these shootings would have happened if the arcade had been closed.

I note the matter-of-fact tone of the police press release. As if a
shooting was as normal as the rise of sun. Makes me want to scream!

Thanks for the article, Jorge. It helps us feel a little less isolated.

Ellen Brennan
Santa Monica

May 2, 2000

Dear Editor,

There are some BIG differences between the presentation of the SMART Living Wage and the Santa Monica College proposal.

The SMART proposal was brought to the City Council through a public
process. While some Councilmembers might have provided input to SMART, the City's staff was not involved in the proposal's formulation nor was it discussed in the City Council's closed sessions. Community members who drafted the proposal asked that the issue be put on a Council agenda for the full Council to discuss in a public forum with public involvement.

The SMC proposal appears to have been a product of much staff and
special paid consultant discussions and possibly the topic of SMC Board closed session deliberations. That's a BIG difference in process.

Pam O'Connor
Mayor Pro Tem
Santa Monica

May 1, 2000

Dear Editor,

What a beautiful article you wrote about Ilona Katz.

Thank you. She was quite a lady and a fighter.

Barbara Inatsugu
Santa Monica