This past week, Q-line asked: Do you think the Chamber of Commerce and its endorsements will represent your issues and views in the upcoming election? Why, or why not?
Here are your responses: ✆ “The Chamber of Commerce should concentrate its efforts in making the city of Santa Monica consumer friendly. We all understand that the problem is homelessness, a condition I refer to as drunkenness. I have always felt that homeless-drunkeness is a national problem, and the onus of correcting the problem should not be placed on local municipalities. All 50 state governors and county supervisors, and municipal mayors, regardless of political affiliation, should march on Washington, D.C. and demand federal assistance in improving the homeless condition. The ACLU states that the U.S Constitution allows us freedom and liberty to drink ourselves to death and sleep in doorways. I say baloney to freedom and liberty. Just exceed the 35 m.p.h. speed limit on San Vicente Blvd. between Ocean Ave. and Barrington and see how much freedom and liberty one truly has.” ✆ “ I do agree with the Chamber of Commerce on its endorsements. I feel that the present group of people have really been almost inactive about dealing with some of the major issues in the community, and I feel that it is time for a different group of people to look at the issues and see what can be done. More of the same is not acceptable.” ✆ “I personally think they will. We have had in this city the worst city council, the most liberal, worst, city council and a man like Michael Feinstein should never be on the city council. Also, the homelessness is a very bad issue. We’ve got to do something about it. And I see in today’s paper that they’re talking about putting up a tent city at night in the parking lot underneath the pier. Well that is for the birds. Just get rid of the homeless, put them into Beverly Hills if we have to, so we won’t have to worry about them. But as far as the city council, the new members, let’s get every one of the incumbents out, and new ones in. ” ✆ “Yes, I think the Chamber of Commerce will provide a needed change in policies on many issues. The fact that their candidates hopefully will replace the incompetents now seated is reason enough to bet them. Get rid of Renters Rights’ majority.” ✆ “Yes, Chamber of Commerce. We need to be tourist-and business-friendly and homeless and defecation unfriendly. It’s time for a change.” ✆ “No. The Chamber is only interested in bringing in money for the city of Santa Monica, not the residents of Santa Monica. The large homeless population is hurting the businesses and tourism in Santa Monica. The high, unaffordable rent is the reason for some small businesses being forced to move. Only big companies can afford to do business in downtown Santa Monica. Note the previous days’ articles regarding the future of Santa Monica Place and the extended Promenade. Homelessness does have to be addressed. Santa Monica has invited people who do not want to work to its city with its free handouts and now it wants other cities to share in its foolish, irresponsible actions. I think Monday’s opinion writer, Carol Orlin, makes sense. She should be elected.” ✆ “I don’t think the Chamber of Commerce and its policies and its proposals are going to create what I want in Santa Monica because it’s like buying an election, and I want the majority of the people to rule with what happens in Santa Monica, whether I agree with it or not.” ✆ “The Chamber of Commerce city council candidates will present fresh faces to the electorate. It means that some issues that they espouse that are directly the opposite of Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights may, if they are elected, become enacted. What they will be, only time will tell if they are elected. So I can’t really say whether the Chamber of Commerce candidates represent my views at this period in time. However, I do know one thing — if anybody was elected to the new city council will get after the homeless issues and correct it, so that we can be like Culver City or Beverly Hills and free of people on the streets who ruin the tourism industry, who ruin the livability, who should be taken care of in some manner, in some other place, perhaps a farm, perhaps a piece of land with some tents, a la the Ted Hayes’ program downtown — anything to get these people out of this community and get life back to normal. They’ve absolutely ruined Santa Monica.” ✆ “The Chamber of Commerce is nothing more than a businessman’s union, but it is in opposition to workers’ labor unions. As an average hourly-wage worker, I find it will be to my best interest to generally vote opposite to what the Chamber of Commerce recommends.” ✆ “I’m not sure the Chamber of Commerce and its endorsements will represent my issues, I’ll have to wait and see that. I do know that I don’t really care if the Renters’ Rights or the Chamber of Commerce or some large group is endorsing one or more candidates. I’m interested in what the individual candidates have to say, and certainly the Renters Rights’ people who are incumbents and sitting on the city council, have done nothing, nothing to address the problems that citizens of Santa Monica think they should be addressing, and they’ve wasted our money on programs that don’t work and nonsense. So, for sure I know the incumbents up for reelection will not have my vote, and I will see what the individuals have to say and see who does get my vote. But whether the Chamber and the Renters Rights’ are endorsing someone really doesn’t mean all that much to me.” ✆ “No, endorsements, whether from the Chamber, Santa Monica for Renters Rights’, or whatever group, are selected by a very small handful of people from that group and represent only a small number of people’s views. I urge all Santa Monicans to check each candidate’s views, not to rely on any endorsements, and to vote independently for the best candidate.” ✆ “I think what the Chamber of Commerce is doing is very good because it’s the only chance we’ll have to have some diversity on the council and to have some other voices other than the Renters’ Rights voices. Right now, with the council always at 5-2 in its makeup, there’s just not enough difference of opinion, it’s just why everyone moves in lockstep and the council needs to have some balance. Hopefully the Chamber of Commerce will be able to bring that balance on issues that everyone is concerned about, namely the homeless and traffic.” ✆ “Before the Chamber of Commerce tells the public how to vote, they should spend their time cleaning up the terrible mess of corruption that Santa Monica’s business world is in.” ✆ “I definitely agree that the Chamber of Commerce represents my views in the city. Number one, I’m a renter and I have the privilege of paying $12 per month to the rent control board so they can hold my very nice landlord by the short hairs and I also do not shop in Santa Monica any-more, mainly because of all the bums. I do not see family men and families down on their luck on the streets, I see hardcore bums who have absolutely no regard for anybody else but themselves, they pick our trash and throw it all over the alley and sit out there and have their lunch and carry on, and mess up the place. And if you ask them to move on, they sneer at you or get very smart-mouthed, that “God Bless you.” This is not a very pleasant situation and I frankly think they should be run the Hell out of town. That’s my story and I’m happy that the Chamber of Commerce is taking on the city council.” ✆ “Yes, I believe the four candidates that Chamber of Commerce is endorsing will represent the most pressing needs of our community. That being, having city officials work for the citizens, not against them, to be pro-growth and pro-business, to rid the community of homeless people and the advocates who drag down our status as a community, by having so many homeless people in our community and generally to keep our community growing as a capitalist and democratic stronghold of California.” ✆ “Not one present or future contestant has mentioned Pico neighborhood’s festering drug problem, much less speak against Chief Butts and police department failures.” ✆ “The Chamber’s endorsements have now come about. They’re not perfect, but they’re certainly a million miles better than what we’ve had for 25 years with the blind, narrowminded SMRR viewpoint. Santa Monica needs to change, and it needs it now. In November, we can do that, and hopefully, we will.” ✆ “The Chamber of Commerce will probably know more about helping the city of Santa Monica than the idiots on the city council. The city council just cares about bums. The Chamber of Commerce cares about business. So, vote out the bums to get rid of the bums.” ✆ “No, they’re not representing any issue or view of the residents of Santa Monica, they’re representing the business community and business community only. I don’t think they should even get involved. Their revenues come from businesses in Santa Monica, and that’s where they need to lobby for that sect of the city. So, no they should not have any separate candidates because that is not what Santa Monica is all about. And besides, most of the businesses here, people just work there, they don’t even live in Santa Monica, so they shouldn’t even have a voice.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 18, 2004. Read the original PDF.