Measure Yes: Widespread support for bond proposal
By Daily Press staff
Despite its past controversies, nearly every political organization in Santa Monica has thrown its support behind a bond measure that would infuse millions of dollars into the local community college, as well as public properties.
Voters will be asked on Nov. 2 to approve a $135 million bond that would be used to build and upgrade several buildings at Santa Monica College, buy new open space in Santa Monica and Malibu, and develop other properties owned by the city.
An earlier bond proposal was shot down by SMC officials and community members. As a compromise, $40 million was slashed from that original bond proposal.
Santa Monica took the heav-iest hit under the revised proposal. Whereas the previous plan proposed $75 million in projects at SMC, $75 million in joint efforts with Santa Monica City Hall and $25 million in joint projects with Malibu City Hall, the new bond proposes just $45 million for joint projects with Santa Monica City Hall and a slightly reduced amount for SMC.
The $40 million college officials deleted from the plans would have been used to build an arboretum, a children’s outdoor fitness center and instructional resources for the college along the coast, among other things.
If voters give their nod, it would mark the second SMC bond proposal approved in the past 2 1/2 years, and cost the average Santa Monica homeowner $77 in the first year. The average renter would have to pay $13 in the first year.
Opponents of Measure S criticize the distribution of the money as disproportionately affecting Santa Monica. Joint projects between Santa Monica College and Malibu City Hall took less cuts than those with the city of Santa Monica. Also, perceived promises that another bond wouldn’t be needed after voters approved a $160 million bond in 2002 added to the criticism.
Some say the measure was thrown together with insufficient time for public debate, and was greatly watered down from the original. It was a mere four days between the rejection of the initial $175 million proposal and the revised $135 million measure that passed unanimously by the SMC Board of Trustees.
However, many organizations still support the bond.
“It shows widespread support and includes almost everybody which is a pretty good demonstration of community support,” said Measure S campaign spokesman Denny Zane, who also is a paid consultant for SMC and the co-chair of Santa Monicans For Renters’ Rights, the political powerhouse that holds a majority on the City Council.
Endorsements include: Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights (SMRR) Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education Santa Monica-Malibu PTA Council Santa Monica College Faculty Association Santa Monica Child Care Task Force State Sen. Sheila Kuehl Assemblywoman Fran Pavley Santa Monica Police Chief James Butts All members of the SMC Board of Trustees All members of the Malibu City Council All members of the SMMUSD Board of Education
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 25, 2004. Read the original PDF.