OCEAN PARK — Local activists will meet in a church on Hill Street Saturday to mark the 25th anniversary of Santa Monica’s political ruling party.
Santa Monicans for Renters Rights was formed in 1979 out of a coalition of organizations that banded together to sponsor the local rent control law. The powerful, left-leaning group has spearheaded a variety of progressive local measures through the years.
In 1981, SMRR first gained a majority of seats on the Santa Monica City Council, and has retained control over City Hall every since 1988. Five of the seven current council members were endorsed by SMRR.
Denny Zane, SMRR co-chair and one of its founders, credited the organization with everything from strict environmental and recycling policies to aggressive tenant protections, new affordable housing projects and the success of the Third Street Promenade. Strict building standards put in place by SMRR have helped control growth, he added.
“When people think about the developments they don’t like, they usually are thinking about the Water Gardens or Arboretum Project or some of the hotels,” Zane said. “And those were approved between 1984 and 1988, when SMRR adversaries had the majority on the council.
“There were about 5 million square feet (of projects) approved.”
SMRR supporters will meet at the Church in Ocean Park at 7 p.m. Saturday for Hors d’oeu-vres, drinks, music, dancing and “staged readings from dramatic oral histories documented nearly 25 years ago that recreate the multi-generational struggle that brought rent control to Santa Monica,” accord-
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 14, 2004. Read the original PDF.