By Danny Leclair
I am dismayed at Kevin McKeown’s response to the criticism of his voting record regarding new development in our city and the homeless. He states that such criticism is from candidates that are “following the money,” and that he is simply “representing what the residents want.”
Well, I am a resident of the city of Santa Monica, and soon, I will operate a business in Santa Monica. On more than one occasion, I have had the homeless barge into my place of business (currently under construction) requesting money, food, and/or alcohol. Councilmember McKeown’s “supposed” efforts to feed and shelter the homeless are apparently ill conceived, because my block itself is currently sheltering and feeding seven members of the homeless community. I do not believe that we should leave the homeless to their own devices, yet intelligent and consistent solutions have not been offered by Kevin McKeown — in fact, he has voted against some solutions that ensure safety from crime and enforce measures against vagrancy.
Furthermore, Councilmember McKeown seems to think that commercial and residential concerns are mutually exclusive — that business development works in contradiction to our living conditions. In my opinion, it is quite the opposite. Businesses suffer due to a lack of parking. That lack of parking suffocates our residential communities as people resort to parking on our blocks and in front of our homes. For Councilmember McKeown to vote against a parking development in downtown Santa Monica is short-sited.
Santa Monica is a place where people want to live, play and visit, yet Councilmember McKeown votes against propositions that increase safety, votes for propositions that encourage vagrancy on the bluffs, votes against propositions that provide ample parking and increased traffic flow, and votes against propositions that encourage business activity (which in turn, would promote a desire to reside in Santa Monica).
I suggest that our community find candidates that understand the balance between these two growing concerns, such as Bob Holbrook and Terry O’Day. I suggest that our community look beyond the “sound bite” advertising and media-spinning that seem to be incredibly pervasive this election season and instead just look at the voting record. The record will set you straight.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 4, 2006. Read the original PDF.