The city of Santa Monica is considering an ordinance that would protect its cultural heritage by designating homes and neighborhoods as historic.
The Homeowners for Voluntary Preservation, however, believes such a law is an intrusion of their personal freedoms, and they don’t like the idea that the city may have more to say about the upkeep of their homes than they do.
Preservationists, on the other hand, argue that Santa Monica’s historic homes are in danger of vanishing, and a landmark ordinance is necessary to protect them.
So this week Q-line wants to know: “Should the City of Santa Monica step in and protect its cultural history? Or do the rights of homeowners supersede a well-meaning law?”
Call (310) 285-8106 with your responses before Thursday at 5 p.m. We’ll print them in Friday’s paper. Please limit your comments to a minute or less; it might help to think first about the wording of your response.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 30, 2002. Read the original PDF.