A series of mailers criticizing city leaders and policies have been cropping up in Santa Monica residents’ mailboxes.
Local business interests are employing a controversial new tactic in their effort to affect change in City Hall.
A stream of mailers criticizing city policies have found their way into Santa Monica mailboxes recently, detailing stories of frustrated merchants and residents.
The group behind the mailers, Santa Monica Citizens for Sensible Priorities, has yet to disclose its members or its finances, and legally, doesn’t have to because it hasn’t endorsed any candidates. Its goal, attorneys claim, is to educate residents and promote social welfare.
Meanwhile, another group calling itself Santa Monicans for Change is sending out mailers using the same design and layout as the Sensible Priorities mailers. Those mailers were funded by the deep pockets of Santa Monica beach hotels Casa del Mar and Shutters on the Beach, and endorse two candidates backed by the local chamber of commerce — City Councilman Herb Katz and challenger Bobby Shriver.
Santa Monicans for Change was formally organized last week, while Santa Monica Citizens for Sensible Priorities was organized late last month. Both are represented by public relations consultants who often work with the chamber. The groups also are touting campaign themes championed by the chamber — homelessness, traffic and City Hall bureaucracy, among others.
Still, chamber officials denied any involvement. “I can tell you, categorically, the chamber is not behind this,” said Dr. Mike Gruning, former chairman of the chamber of commerce board. “I think what it is, probably, is a great meeting of the minds that a lot of people from different groups had the same message.”
There’s little question the groups behind the two sets of mailers hope to raise hairs prior to the Nov. 2 election. Controversy reigns, however, over whether the mailers are ethical. Business leaders said the mailers show there’s consensus among different groups that it’s time for change in City Hall. Others questioned the appropriateness of the mailers, labeling them unfair.
“These secret mailers are altogether new,” said Denny Zane, co-founder of the Santa Monicans for Renters Rights group, founded 26 years ago. “That hasn’t happened before. There have been secret things, but not like these mailers. There have been newsletters where people wouldn’t name themselves, wouldn’t take credit for themselves... but this is clearly more money.”
Attorney Barry Fadem, who filed the papers to create Santa Monica Citizens for Sensible Priorities, declined to name the group’s members or discuss its finances, but said the group is in the process of forming an advisory board and may hold a press conference soon.
“There’s going to be some announcement,” Fadem said Friday. “The specific purpose of the group is to promote social welfare by education about city government issues. The organization was created to raise awareness among residents, businesses and leaders of Santa Monica about critical public issues facing Santa Monica and to encourage a vigorous public debate of those issues.”
Rob Wynne, a local resident working with the group, said more mailers are in the works. Wynne wouldn’t name the group’s members, but downplayed the issue of secrecy.
“I don’t think it’s that issue at all,” Wynne said. “It is a private group, but it’s one of those organizations that’s getting bigger and bigger as we go along... It’s a pretty broad mix of leadership.”
Election mailers play a key role in local elections, because many voters don’t follow City Hall’s business closely and decide quickly who to vote for. More than a dozen mailers have been sent out this month alone in favor of various candidates and ballot measures.
Among the mailers already sent are two put together by SMRR — one introducing the SMRR slate, the other reprinting portions of a Santa Monica Daily Press article about a possible federal lawsuit challenging rent control, with the words “They’re back” printed on the front.
Katz has sent out a large, eight-page mailer entitled “The Voice of Reason” and City Councilman Mike Feinstein has sent out mailers touting, among other things, his record of supporting local public schools.
Chamber-backed independent Matt Dinolfo has also sent out a mailer listing his priorities, if elected, as well as a form voters can send in to request an absentee ballot. Shriver, a Kennedy-family descendant, has sent out three mailers laying out his positions on local issues.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 16, 2004. Read the original PDF.