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# City takes stand against possible Iraq war
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/city-takes-stand-against-possible-iraq-war/
- Published: 2003-02-13T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T01:33:19.000Z
- Author: Andrew Fixmer
- Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless

*Students influence city councilman on anti-war vote*

Heeding the calls of more than 100 residents and peace activists, the Santa Monica City Council voted Tuesday to sign a resolution opposing a possible war with Iraq.

Many council members said a peace rally attended by dozens of Santa Monica High School students before the City Council meeting convinced them that war with Iraq would have enough local impacts that they should respond to the possible conflict.

“War is a national issue,” said Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McKeown. “I recognize that. But many of the impacts of a war would be felt locally.”

McKeown cited a likely drop-off in tourism, which generates a huge amount of tax revenue for the city; an increase in homeless war veterans, many of whom already can be found living on Santa Monica’s streets; and a diversion of federal dollars away from local police and fire services to pay for the conflict.

Councilwoman Pam O’Connor disagreed. She said while she opposes a war against Iraq, she did not feel it was within the council’s purview to act upon it.

O’Connor, who was elected to another four-year term last November, said during her campaign she received no feedback from residents that Iraq was a concern for them. For that reason, O’Connor said she couldn’t represent the views of her constituents on the issue of war.

“I think this is fraught with problems,” she said. “I wasn’t elected to act on foreign policy matters. That’s not my place.”

However, Councilmen Herb Katz and Ken Genser said they were convinced from the public testimony and outcry that residents truly are against an Iraq war and want the City Council to take a stand against it.

“What got me was the students,” said Katz. “As the oldest City Council member on the dais, I want them to know that I get it.”

Genser said the council’s action probably wouldn’t add much to the national debate over war and was mostly a “feel good” resolution. But he said an Iraqi war would be “such a catastrophic event that it requires our attention.”

Some in the audience hoped when Santa Monica was added to a list of more than 70 cities nationally that have already passed resolutions opposing a possible conflict with Iraq, that a “critical mass” would be reached.

“Perhaps,” said Santa Monica resident Patricia Hoffman, “you will be the one last municipality to pass such a resolution that will create the critical mass necessary to avoid this plunge into insanity.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 13, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/021303.pdf?ref=smdp.com)