Unseating SMRR and the Politics of Historic Districts

October 15, 2002

Dear Editor,

I see that the City Council is trying to do something about the homeless issue. Linking feeding programs to social services, now that's a good idea. ("Council Approves Measures to Curb Feeding, Sleeping," Oct. 10)

Prohibiting loitering and sleeping in doorways, what a clever way to discourage transients from camping on the streets. The downtown and Main Street districts are a start, but the new ordinances must be expanded citywide to really solve the problem. Who will champion that effort? Who represents your neighborhood and will be accountable to you when the transients end up in you back yard?

Because it's an election year, SMRR was publicly forced to take some action on one of the city's oldest problems. Up until now, every effort the community ever organized to deal with this problem was thwarted by SMRR council members. In the past they have routinely chastised us when we pleaded for help.

After Nov. 5th, the SMRR council will go back to business as usual unless VERITAS, measure HH, is passed. Remember all the talk about traffic during the last election? Traffic has only gotten worse.

Mayor Michael Feinstein even wants to change the social services review so it doesn't ever trouble or distract the voters again during an election. I guess he thinks we should focus on important things like what's on his agenda instead of ours.

Our Mayor was appointed by his SMRR super majority colleges to promote their agenda. VERITAS, measure HH, will allow us to vote for our own mayor. A mayor who promotes our agenda. That's a novel idea.

Councilman Bob Holbrook is the only viable council candidate who supports VERITAS. He believes that our community is worth fighting for. As an independent candidate, he will run against the political machine SMRR on Nov. 5th for a seat on our City Council.

If you are looking for a candidate who will promote your agenda instead of their own, vote for Holbrook and for VERITAS, measure HH, to insure that more candidates like him will come along in the future.

Donna Block
Santa Monica

October 15, 2002

Dear Editor,

Immediately following the November election, the City Council is schedule to address the Historic Preservation Element. The city will be taking a close look at a $134,000 report created by HISTORIC RESOURCES GROUP, which includes a recommendation for the creation of five new historic districts in the North of Montana neighborhood.

This election season is a good time to ask the members of the City Council why they are waiting until after the election to debate this matter. It is also a good time to ask the candidates for City Council whether they support imposing historic districts against the wishes of the majority of people who live in those districts.

For those who are unfamiliar with the injury inflicted by a historic district, you might want to take a look at Section 9.36.060(c) of the city code and read for yourselves how residents are barred from getting a permit to remodel or add to the size of their homes, without the approval of the Landmark Commission, whose decisions are subject to the arbitrary discretion of its members.

Jeff Segal