By Kevin Skoglund Santa Monica
Rereading Rent [Control] Board member [Jeffrey] Sklar’s letter provides no end of amusement. His screed against the corporations and trust-fund babies owning Santa Monica property is particularly risible.
Doesn’t he realize “mom-and-pop” landlords were forced out of business by his repressive policies and his deciding how little money they should make?
Sklar brags about long-time neighbors knowing each other’s name, but what of the tenants who were friendly with and had relationships with the people who owned their buildings? Because of Sklar, we now have faceless and soulless corporations to deal with.
Since he has taken the opportunity to vent against landlords as he is being termed out, we are only left to wonder how fairly and justly he performed his duties as a public servant, sworn to represent everyone. He only reinforces the landlord’s claims of the Rent Board having an agenda and the stereotype of Santa Monica as The People’s Republic.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 15, 2008. Read the original PDF.