THE LOW-DOWN ON THE TOWN Impudent, uncensored account By C. Castle

A Future Vista

It didn't take long for Richard Bloom, who beat rival Susan Cloke by nearly 3,000 votes this weekend, to take his place on the city council - not in any official sense, of course. But hours after the votes were counted, Bloom's name mysteriously materialized on the empty council mail box.

Seems Bloom will only have to wait a couple of weeks before receiving mail at City Hall. In all likelihood, the councilman elect will be sworn in on May 11, the very day the council is expected to consider two items related to the massive $8 billion Playa Vista project slated to go up south of Marina del Rey.

Bloom, who filed a lawsuit against the project, joins two other staunch opponents of Playa Vista on the council, Green Party members Michael Feinstein and Kevin McKeown. The threesome, along with fellow SMRR council members Pam O'Connor and Ken Genser could throw a legal monkey wrench into the project.

Here's the potential scenario, as we see it laid out in the May 11 agenda:

In the first of two seemingly unrelated items, the council is expected to ask staff to explore the feasibility of taking over Lincoln Blvd. from Caltrans. This, in effect, would place the busy state highway under the control and management of the city. It's something the council recently did with Santa Monica Blvd. Now, when the city complains about Playa Vista's impact, it rings even more true because it is directly responsible for Lincoln.

In the second item, the council is expected to direct staff to explore the impacts Playa Vista will have on the city. Five years ago, Santa Monica agreed not to contest phase one of the project in exchange for $1.2 million to be used for neighborhood traffic mitigation. But it reserved its rights to challenge phases two and three of the project, during which most of the building would occur. The findings could lay the groundwork for a potential lawsuit by the city attorney's office who tackled another giant -- Mobil Oil -- and won.

If foes of the project get their way, the rag tag army of activists who have been fighting to save the Ballona Wetlands may finally get a heavy hitter on their side, and the new council will send a clear message to large developers - don't mess with this city.

It's a message that could become even clearer when the council makes three appointments to the seven-member planning commission this summer.

Chief James T. Butts, Jr. did not…we repeat DID NOT…give city council candidate Susan Cloke a lift to a debate at Century Communications.

Turns out that our source in the police department made a mistake in spreading the rumor. We made an even bigger one by repeating it.

We got an earful from the Police Chief. We got an earful from Cloke. We got an earful from their supporters.

They were angry and we don't blame them.

SMRRR? No, it's NOT a Typo
What can a fifth seat on the city council do for SMRR?

Perhaps give the political organization the self-confidence to change its name.

Leaders of Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights - that's SMRR's official name - for several years have considered changing to Santa Monicans for Residents' Rights, or, in a compromise, to Santa Monicans for Renters and Residents Rights. As the political organization has broadened its voter base and has begun to appeal to more than just renters, the idea of a name change has made sense.

Until now, however, a name change might have been perceived as a political move designed to draw homeowner voters. But with a new
five-member majority on the council - and the newest member being a homeowner - now might be the time for SMRR to justify the change.

Santa Monicans for Residents' Rights….at least the acronym will stay the same.

Imagine if the group was considering Santa Monicans for People's rights (SMPR) or Santa Monicans for Voters Rights (SMVR).