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# Big money behind some big lies
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/big-money-behind-some-big-lies-editor/
- Published: 2006-06-23T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T18:30:54.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Downtown, #archive-import

*By Denny Zane Santa Monica*

Some mysterious “group” calling themselves Santa Monicans for Sensible Priorities seems out to prove that in Santa Monica politics, half-truths can really be full-on lies.

I received an expensive, glossy flyer from this group recently complaining that our City Council’s Kevin McKeown voted against outdoor dining on the Promenade and more parking for downtown. In both cases, half-true — and therefore a deliberate lie by this masked hit squad.

McKeown voted for keeping a mix of affordable dining outdoors on the Promenade, against replacing free public seating with a fenced-in high-end café.

He also supported the new downtown parking proposed to meet the needs of current businesses and shoppers, but drew the line at building additional parking for a half a million square feet of commercial development that has not yet been approved and may not be approved in the future.

Santa Monicans for Sensible Priorities has lots of money to burn. And we know where they get it — from the owners of two luxury hotels in Santa Monica. The same “group” — a classic case of “astroturf,” where big money pretends to be grassroots — spent a half-million dollars in the last municipal election to elect two City Council candidates they saw as cooperative. They are clearly back and they are out to attack councilman McKeown, who has been willing to stand up against developer and hotel interests and for the interests of those of us who live here and love Santa Monica’s quality of life.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 23, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/062306.pdf?ref=smdp.com)