Candidates made to squirm in final forum
DOWNTOWN — In the end, ‘Squirm Night’ lived up to the hype.
With the eclectic mix of personalities running in a highly contentious City Council race, the final candidates forum, held Thursday night at the Santa Monica Family YMCA, proved a memorable political event.
Accusations, angry outbursts and heated debates between the candidates marked the Daily Press-sponsored forum as candidates were asked a series of intense questions — from a panel, the audience and one another — that caused quite a bit of squirming.
“This is a ‘Squirm Night’ and I want to see people squirm,” said eight-time City Council candidate Jonathan Mann, who chose a casual attire of jeans and a pin-covered vest.
While the format was designed for each candidate to answer questions one at a time, the forum routinely turned into a debate of sorts, with several candidates interjecting during their opponents turns.
One audience question directed to Councilman Kevin McKeown asked if he regretted his decision to delay installation of security cameras at the Santa Monica Pier.
“No, I don’t regret the decision,” McKeown said, after he explained that such a complicated issue deserved consideration at many levels, since the pier is considered historic and would, therefore, need to be reviewed by the Landmarks Commission.
The commission’s review delayed camera installation by two weeks.
“In the meantime, a child was shot and murdered,” event planner and candidate Jenna Linnekens piped in.
McKeown, the target of a lucrative attack ad campaign on behalf of the owners of two beachfront hotels, was put on the hotseat more than his fellow hopefuls. Mann, who was seated next to McKeown, repeatedly took issue with the incumbent, addressing McKeown a number of times. McKeown, meanwhile, returned the favor by using his allotted question of another candidate to call out Mayor Bob Holbrook for not objecting to the negative ad campaign.
As expected, the recent negative campaigning between candidates on the Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights slate and Santa Monicans for Sensible Priorities came to light.
McKeown, who was blasted in several commercials funded by Beverly Hills-based Edward Thomas Management Company, which owns Shutters on the Beach and Casa del Mar hotels, asked if Holbrook would repudiate the negative campaigning and SMSP’s support.
The Edward Thomas Management Company has made close to $400,000 in donations to SMSP, which has endorsed Holbrook and candidate Terry O’Day. SMRR endorsed McKeown, Gleam Davis and Councilwoman Pam O’Connor.
It’s fair to point out someone’s voting record, as the commercials do with McKeown’s history on addressing homelessness in the city, Holbrook said. After all, the Santa Monica Police Officers Association did so four years ago when it pointed out in advertisements that Holbrook did not vote for an additional 20 police officers, he said.
Holbrook finished answering his question without repudiating the support and said he would do so if the claims in the commercial were false. In response to criticism that he had avoided an answer to the question, Holbrook turned to McKeown and said, “will you repudiate SMRR?” drawing a cheer from a small portion of the audience.
Candidates also had a chance to put in their own two cents about negative campaigning, as well as stump for whom they would like to serve on the council with among the candidates on the dais.
Terence Later, an entertainment consultant, said he has been the subject of accusations that his posters around town must have been funded by special interests when they were paid for by him.
Supporting his fellow endorsee in the SMSP slate, Holbrook said he would like to see O’Day, an environmental executive, elected alongside with him. O’Day returned the favor to Holbrook and added O’Connor to his list.
Linda Armstrong, a data entry operator, said she wishes City Council seats would increase and feels all the candidates are qualified to serve.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEBATE The two-and-half-hour forum was split into five rounds: In round one, each candidate gave their introductions; in round two, the candidates answered questions prepared by the SMDP editorial staff; in round three, candidates answered preselected questions from the audience; round four saw each candidate ask another candidate one specific question; and in round five, candidates gave their closing statements, during which they were asked to choose what candidates they would like to see elected.
The lack of affordable housing for the middle class, an overdeveloped Santa Monica and traffic congestion were three of the most controversial issues discussed.
One way to address the traffic situation is to construct parking structures on the outskirts of town, Later said.
The issue of expensive homes is related to the congestion in the city around 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. said Real Estate Agent Mark McLellan, adding the workforce in Santa Monica is forced to commute to the city because they cannot afford the homes here.
“We’re having an erosion of the middle class,”McLellan said. Linnekens echoed similar concerns. The city has been so focused on low-income residents, it has forgotten about the middle class, she said.
“I believe that Santa Monica is working very hard and doing an exceptional job catering to low-income residents,” Linnekens said.
The way to preserve the middle class is to create a wide variety of housing. The definition of affordable housing can include people of all income classes, even residents many would consider to be rich, said Davis, a corporate attorney.
Mann, a flight attendant and substitute teacher, suggested there is a City Hall bias towards wealthy residents. It took over a year for Mann, who lives in Ocean Park, to get a building permit, yet homeowners north of Montana Avenue seem to receive permits frequently, he said.
High property values is the main challenge to affordable housing, said McKeown, a longtime renter. Since there are no vacant lots in Santa Monica, a new development means demolishing an old building.
“To take out something in a neighborhood means a real loss,” McKeown said.
DOWNTOWN VIBE In regards to the increase in mixed-use developments in downtown Santa Monica, O’Day called it a sign of a vibrant community. A downtown filled with mixed-use condominiums and apartments creates a sustainable community because it encourages more pedestrian rather than vehicular traffic.
What has taken shape in the city is something Santa Monicans can feel good about, O’Day said.
There are two main problems with the increase in low-income housing development in Santa Monica, Holbrook said. The first problem lies in the review process, in that residents do not have an opportunity to weigh in on proposals.
The second problem is that many low-income housing developments are not mixed use, causing the city to lose out on business tax revenue.
The incumbents were called out on their voting record during their last term.
The SMDP editorial staff asked O’Connor why she decided to vote for the citywide smoking ban during the second hearing, when she voted against the measure the first time around.
The vote during the second hearing was basically a confirmation of the sentiments of the rest of City Council, O’Connor said, defending her decision. It was not a philosophical vote, but rather a procedural gesture for other council members who felt strongly about the smoking ban.
Though it is a City Council race, educational issues also managed to creep in.
Armstrong said she would like to see every Samohi student with a B average guaranteed admission to the University of California system. Though power over the University of California is out of the purview of Santa Monica City Council, Armstrong said she would continue to fight for guaranteed public university admission for Samohi students.
Davis defended her run for City Council even though she has made public education a cornerstone of her campaign. The school board has a very limited role in implementing educational issues such as early childhood education and parenting classes, she said.
“I believe City Council is exactly the place for someone who cares for education as passionately as I do,” Davis said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 4, 2006. Read the original PDF.