As an acute observer of the political scene, I think it’s always good to know what you might be getting over the next four years when electing new council members.
And while you’ll be getting public servants, you’ll get their warts and all.
Santa Monica voters will elect three city council members next Tuesday. Nine people are running, including all three incumbents — Kevin McKeown and Pam O'Connor (endorsed by Santa Monicans for Renters Rights) and Dr. Bob Holbrook, who is unaffiliated.
McKeown is seeking his second term. McKeown has worked on lowering the public review threshold on commercial development, which gives the public more say on commercial developments. Aside from that, McKeown and I differ on many issues.
McKeown and his SMRR compatriots have consistently supported a city homeless policy that attracts an unsavory lot to our community. To allow this to continue for so long, virtually unabated, is irresponsible. Four more years of McKeown and O’Connor will most likely mean four more years of vagrants and transients overrunning our community.
Whatever you call it — traffic calming, pedestrian enhancement or gridlock — it all ties up traffic. McKeown and O’Connor have consistently supported crosswalk enhancement programs that make it harder to drive. This policy will most likely continue if they are re-elected.
McKeown supports parking permits to allow business employees to park in restricted residential parking zones. And, McKeown, who is a member of the Green Party, says he’s against big chains stores with corporate logos. His opposition to a Target proposed downtown resulted in a loss of an important shopping resource, a large employer and a generous corporate donor to schools and local charities.
McKeown is a frequent protester alongside of out-of-town labor organizations against local businesses who employ residents and pay city taxes.
Residential parking space is scarce, yet O’Connor opposes requiring more on-site parking in new neighborhood commercial developments. O’Connor told me that restricting on-site parking leads to less traffic. Sorry, but they come to shop, not to park.
Bob Holbrook is the most moderate of the incumbents. Holbrook’s a folksy, common sense sort of guy who — while opposing the city’s homeless policies — allowed O’Connor and Councilman Richard Bloom to beat him to the punch when they asked for ways to curtail public feedings and camping in doorways.
Holbrook supports HH (VERITAS), voter reform and opposes the living wage, also known as Measure JJ.
Newcomer Matteo Dinolfo is running on his record of being a good doctor and medical administrator. But he has shown little interest in city affairs until a few months ago.
Dinolfo sought a SMRR endorsement, but reinvented himself as a moderate when they turned him down. Dinolfo seems to contradict himself on many issues.
He says he’s for business but supports unionizing hotels and the living wage, which he says is too low.
Dinolfo suggests a number of solutions to problems that all involve lavish outlays of cash, such as more money to the schools and police, funding early childhood development and health care programs for seniors and expanding affordable housing. Dinolfo’s wish list could add millions to the city budget. Does he realize the city seems to be heading toward financial hard times?
Abby Arnold predictably supports more affordable housing, homeless services, the living wage, hotel unionization and other planks in the SMRR platform.
Josephina Santiago Aranda, also sought but didn’t receive SMRR's endorsement. Aranda does not support the living wage. However, she’s a strong voice for a diversified community and affordable housing.
Council candidate Chuck Allord wants more effective code enforcement and fiscal responsibility. He’s appeared at hundreds of council and various board and commission meetings over the last six years speaking out on virtually every issue known to man.
Candidate Pro Se worked for years to establish a city disabilities commission is the face of nearly unanimous opposition by our “compassionate” city council. Pro is also a frequent presence at city meetings and speaks for the disabled, seniors and others in our community in need of help. Both Allord and Pro Se are outspokenly opposed to the city’s pro-homeless policies.
So there you go. Take your pick and may the best person win.
Bill Bauer is a 25-year Santa Monica resident and a freelance writer.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 1, 2002. Read the original PDF.