By Lori Emerson Santa Monica
The two opinion letters (SMDP, June 23, page 4) have the same content, outline and tone. They both identically slam the new “mysterious” group called Santa Monicans for Sensible Priorities for misrepresenting Kevin McKeown’s voting record. Ms. Kushner’s letter says that residents don’t know what McKeown’s votes really meant and that McKeown’s the one with sensible priorities.
The reality is that McKeown’s votes have resulted in more homeless coming here and taking up permanent residency. His votes have resulted in a ridiculous increase and push for low-income housing plans and starts, all geared towards the goal of replenishing Santa Monicans For Renter’s Rights’ (SMRR) dwindling voter base. His votes have had everything to do with the massive grid lock downtown.
It seems as if Denny Zane hasn’t done his homework. Santa Monicans for Sensible Priorities (SMSP) has been around for awhile. I personally like the expensive glossy flyers that I have been receiving for some time, and I am delighted that a group has been organized in an effort to clean up Santa Monica. I have yet to see the “masked hit squad” that Denny is so paranoid about, but at least SMSP has his attention.
Until now, I had not heard of Sherrill Kushner, but I know who Denny Zane is. He’s the self-proclaimed king of SMRR, the guy that called me at 5:30 in the morning during the last City Council election campaign, obnoxiously pushing for my vote. Hopefully, Denny Zane won’t have a part in the upcoming plans to harass residents by phone for this election. The only thing worse than getting a call from Denny Zane at 5:30 in the morning would be to get one from Kevin McKeown at that time of the morning, begging for my vote. I’m going to make it a sensible priority and unplug my phone the night before.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 28, 2006. Read the original PDF.