The Santa Monica City Council put on the best of its two faces Tuesday night, when they voted to sign a resolution opposing an expected war in Iraq.
The resolution, introduced by Councilman Kevin McKeown, cited negative effects on the tourist economy as one of the reasons he opposes war with Iraq. Come again?
An average of 1,200 vagrants and transients per day, camping in parks and on our beaches, urinating and defecating on our sidewalks, alleys and promenades, and exhibiting anti-social behavior does-n’t negatively affect tourism?
Was McKeown concerned about tourism when he supported an inflationary $13.50 hourly “minimum” wage for hotels and restaurants downtown?
Really worried about the economy? I don’t think so. Out to promote his personal ideology? Damn straight!
Rumor has it that City Councilman Mike Feinstein’s political career might come to a whimpering end before council elections in November, 2004.
Michael angered many hard-core SMRRs when he supported Josefina Aranda’s City Council run last fall. Many SMRR loyalists were backing Abby Arnold. They thought that Aranda would pull votes from Abby and were angry at Mike for ultimately costing SMRR and Abby a seat at the dais Feinstein’s whining about parking tickets and his latest hissy-fit culminating in him storming out of a City Council meeting a couple of weeks ago didn’t win him any respect either. If anything, it demonstrated his petulance and impatience.
Feinstein’s alleged mishandling of Green party funds has reared its ugly head again. His reluctance to answer questions about the party’s finances has become a public relations disaster for the former mayor and seriously affects his credibility.
Feinstein was the top vote getter in the 2000 council elections. But in the words of one SMRR loyalist, “The Teflon is wearing thin.” He might not receive their endorsement come 2004. Still, a lot can happen in the next 18 months. If SMRR thinks he can win again, he’ll be back in the political saddle, battle scars and all.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 14, 2003. Read the original PDF.