Community Activist Seeks Council Seat

By Jorge Casuso

Community activist Donna Block, a vocal critic of City Hall, became the first woman to announce a bid for one of four open City Council seats in November.

The former vice president of Mid City Neighbors, Block vowed to be "outspoken on issues that are considered politically incorrect. I want to see what kind of support that attracts in this community," said Block.

Block said she decided to run because the majority of the council represents one prevailing point of view, which also is being mirrored in recent appointments to boards and commissions.

"I'm running because I want the democratic process to return to Santa Monica," Block said. "Our government works on a system of checks and balances, and I don't believe that's happening in our city.

"I don't think there is a fair representation of the community and community viewpoints," Block said. "One viewpoint is represented in this community and one viewpoint only."

Block said the same handful of people - all of them members of Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights - is viewed by the council as representative of "the community."

"When they say the community has spoken, what I see is that they have directed 50 SMRR people to come out and then conclude that the community has spoken and disregard the opinion of others as invalid," Block said.

She added that the powerful grassroots tenants group has for years stirred up fear among renters that they will lose their rent-controlled apartments if SMRR loses its grip on City Hall.

"Misinformation and fear have led to the creation of a political machine in this community that has made it extraordinarily difficult for others to get elected in this town," Block said. "It boils down to, 'You support us or you can no longer stay in this town.'"

Block said one of the major challenges facing local government is how to provide affordable housing under a state law that allows landlords to charge market rates when a rent-controlled unit is voluntarily vacated or the tenant is evicted for non-payment of rent.

Block said she supports programs that would help tenants purchase their units, instead of the city's plan to spend millions of dollars to purchase or build a few hundred affordable units.

Block also criticized the city for taking a short-range view of its increasing parking and traffic problems.

"I would like to see some long-term, citywide solutions and stop spending money on band aid solutions like preferential parking that are only increasing the problem," Block said. "I don't see any real unity to anything that's going on in this city. There's chaos."

Block said the SMRR camp has mischaracterized her as being pro development.

"I am not pro development," Block said. "I think this city is maxed out on development and we need responsible planning.

Block also said she opposes what she considers the city's lenient policy towards the homeless.

"The increased population of the homeless in our community is basically left in the laps of the community and businesses to deal with," Block said. "They (city officials) seem more to sustain homelessness than to rehabilitate the homeless."

The parent of a middle school student who has been an active critic of the school district, Block said she would make education "one of my primary concerns.

"We can't continue pumping money into schools without guarantees we're getting better quality education," said Block, who is a former PTA president. "We need some accountability."

Block said she has not yet decided if she will run as an independent or as part of a slate. There has been speculation that Block will run with Herb Katz, who chairs the Bayside District board and who recently announced his candidacy.

Katz, who served two terms on the council from 1984 to 1992, recently raised $10,000 during an afternoon fundraiser and is expected to build a hefty war chest with donations from businesses.

There also is speculation that David Cole, the former president of Mid City Neighbors, could be part of a slate that includes Katz and Block. But for now, Block said she has not made a decision.

"I'm running independent," Block said. "I'm still organizing my committee. David is not ready to announce. He (Katz) knows I'm running and is glad I'm running, but that's where it stands right now."

It is widely viewed that the presence of a woman will help any slate opposing SMRR, which has three men - Mayor Ken Genser, Michael Feinstein and Richard Bloom -- seeking reelection to the council.