Evicting the Powerless is not the Santa Monica Way.

Editor:

July 26, 2011

The City Council Tuesday night will be urged to approve a development agreement at Stewart and Colorado, as a way to keep a valued employer, Lionsgate, in town, and to retain good local jobs -- both goals which merit consideration.

It is also important to retain residents. The only way to protect the nearby Village Trailer Park seems to be to coordinate the Lionsgate project with planning for the adjacent parcels.

Just a year ago, in adopting the new Land Use and Circulation Element, the Council adopted language meant to protect the unique affordable housing ownership opportunities at Village Trailer Park.

Now is the time our Council must live up to last summer's commitment. If the approval of the Lionsgate project as currently proposed means the subsequent eviction of our long-term neighbors in the nearby Village Trailer Park, we must pause and seek a better plan. Evicting the powerless is not the Santa Monica way.

Kevin McKeown
Councilmember