By Roger Genser Chairperson, Santa Monica Landmarks Commission
The political organization backed by the hotel, business and development interests known as “Santa Monicans For Sensible Priorities” has put out another slick flyer attacking Councilmember Kevin McKeown. But it has misrepresented the facts regarding security cameras and the Landmarks Commission’s normal review of additions to the historic Santa Monica Pier and the carousel building.
On Feb. 14, the City Council, including Councilmember McKeown voted to approve a contract to install security cameras on the Santa Monica Pier and the Promenade. On June 27, four and a half months later and less then two weeks prior to the next scheduled Landmarks Commission meeting, approval of the camera installation was before the City Council in the form of an emergency ordinance. Councilmember McKeown and other councilmembers were concerned that this would bypass the Landmarks Commission review that would ensure that the historic integrity of the landmark pier and highly important carousel would be protected. Additionally, the council had incomplete information regarding the installation procedure and any effort to protect the landmark buildings. The council needed four votes to pass the emergency ordinance and it split 3-2 on the issue During the intervening few days, the staff and the camera installers prepared a complete report on the cameras and the installation. On July 10, the more detailed and thoughtful report came before the Landmarks Commission. The proposal protected public security but also protected and was sensitive to the historic integrity of the pier, the symbol of our city. The Certificate of Appropriateness was unanimously approved by the Landmarks Commission. The pier and carousel building remain on the National Register of Historic Places with a minimum of potential irreversible damage.
Councilmember McKeown has been a steadfast supporter of the Landmarks Commission. He supports community efforts to protect neighborhood character from the rapid depletion of the historic fabric of our city.
He supports reasonable growth through adaptive reuse. In addition he supports sus-tainability, containing traffic and rampant overdevelopment, and opposes destruction of our affordable housing stock, thereby protecting both homeowners and tenants.
Perhaps this is why “Santa Monicans For Sensible Priorities” is working so hard to defeat him.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 8, 2006. Read the original PDF.