> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Letter: Responding to Marc Sanschagrin on Pico neighborhood views of school parcel taxes
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/021104-story-20040211/
- Published: 2004-02-11T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T03:46:06.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Pico, #archive-import

*By Mathew L Millen*

Pico Neighborhood Association board member Marc Sanschagrin said in letter to the editor (SMDP, Feb. 9, page 4) that “the neighborhoods in the PNA voted in higher percentages for both school funding measures than did any other neighborhood group in the city.”

That still doesn’t mitigate the fact that those dues paying, voting members in the PNA, who were former board members, Peter Tigler’s and Don Gray’s constituency, still list “traffic, green space and graffiti” and not education, as the key neighborhood issues. Sanschagrin also seems not to understand that 1) Mr. Tigler’s and Mr. Gray’s opposition to the regressive parcel taxes were their personal views, and they did not invoke the name of or use the PNA, 2) the PNA only speaks for the organization itself and not for everyone living in the Pico area and 3) Mr. Tigler opposed Prop. EE but was not active in the “No on S” campaign.

Contrary to Sanschagrin’s allegations, Gray, Tigler and myself do strongly support the schools and felt that the school parcel tax proposals were unfair and put their heav-iest burden on lower income persons and others who could least afford it. There is a difference in not supporting schools and not supporting a severely flawed tax measure that lets the wealthy skate free, burdens the poor and still falls short of raising enough money for schools.

Lastly, Sanschagrin makes erroneous assumptions about SMDP columnist Bill Bauer’s presence at the most recent Pico annual Congress. Bauer has a long history with numerous Pico area residents, has attended the last three annual congresses and even arrived early at the last Congress to help with the set up, as well as assisted in giving out door prizes during the meeting.

School teacher and union activist Sanschagrin should especially be careful about making assumptions about what other people know or do without being aware of the facts, because it only affects his own credibility.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 11, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/021104.pdf?ref=smdp.com)