Troublesome grades

By all accounts, the city of Santa Monica is a national leader in its efforts to achieve sustainability, having adopted its Sustainable City Plan more than a decade ago and striving to maintain a consistent path toward the goals therein. Other cities’ residents should be so fortunate as to have elected officials consistently seeking ways to ensure that an enviable quality of life is not compromised while the city meets necessary environmental, economic and social needs.

Among the criteria that fall under the plan’s umbrella include such things as environmental health, human dignity, community education, resource conservation and affordable housing — conditions that would affect not only local residents, but people from across the globe.

It is commendable that city officials would hold its feet to the fire in regards to sustainability, as they did with their second annual “Sustainable City Report Card,” the results of which were unveiled by gushing city officials last week. There were plenty of reasons to smile — the report was stacked with As and Bs in subjects such as civic participation, open space land use and community education.

The only problem? The grades were awarded by city staffers. More than 50 indicators ranging from incidents of discrimination, voter participation and market rents, to the number of trees and parks near a particular community, job creation and air quality were employed to calculate the grades.

In essence, however, it was an internal audit, with city staff grading themselves.

That’s not to say the city’s performance in those respective areas is not deserving of the high marks, but the internal methods utilized to award the grades smacks a bit of self-congratulatory affirmation. It all rings a bit hollow, given the hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions, the city spends yearly on outside consultants for everything from garbage hauling to homeless services to information technology.

While the successes and setbacks we’ve experienced should be measured, those barometers would appear to carry more weight — with admirers both within city limits and on the outside looking in — had they been issued by an independent entity, not the same staff who drew up the plan in the first place.

Then we would truly know where we stand, before we call on others to follow our lead.

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So long to Sack

For close to five years, founding editor Carolyn Sackariason has overseen the Santa Monica Daily Press newsroom with an unquestioned commitment to community and a fervor for setting the record straight. Under her stewardship, the daily newspaper has not only gained a foothold in the city’s collective consciousness, but become a trusted news source and informational soundboard.

It was with regret that news broke of her decision to step down as editor of the newspaper she’d helped found, effective next week, not only for an affected newsroom that fully intends to soldier on, but for a community that is losing one of its most active and critical voices.

Ultimately, Sackariason’s efforts have served to fan the flames of debate and keep clear the lines of communication amongst us all. She leaves Santa Monica a better place than when she found it, and for that she should be commended, wherever the road may lead her.