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# Bauer’s facts are wrong
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/holy-hypocrites-church-abandons-offspring/
- Published: 2005-08-09T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T07:33:53.000Z
- Author: David Pisarra
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Ralph Mechur Santa Monica*

In response to Bill Bauer’s column (SMDP, Aug. 1, page 4). It is unfortunate that Mr. Bauer did not visit the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica before he wrote his column excoriating it’s proposed expansion project. What he would have found is a facility truly in need of repair and, yes, expansion just to continue to provide the service it does for the community. The administrative office is two rooms that also serve as meeting space for volunteer groups and as the nursery room on Sunday mornings. The classrooms upstairs are awkwardly shaped and less than adequate in size — six of seven are less than 200 square feet. There are inadequate and non-accessible toilets. The exiting from the second floor is non-conforming and unsafe. There is a lack of storage space and the kitchen needs to be refurbished.

If he had studied the proposal he would know that it retains one of the oldest residences in the area, something the neighborhood wants to have happen. It is scheduled to become the offices of the church. Imagine, separate offices for the office manager, the religious education director and the finance director.

If he had studied the proposal he would know that it would allow the current wing housing the offices and the minister to become part of the sanctuary to more comfortably house the members of the church on Sunday mornings. The renovation would complete the historic space and provide for accessibility to all its components.

If he had studied the proposal he would know that the addition along the alley would provide classrooms that would adequately serve the religious education program and add only one additional classroom.

If he had studied the proposal he would know that an elevator and code compliant exiting would be provided for the church members, their children attending classes and those groups who have used the church facilities for group meetings for many years.

If he had studied the proposal he would know that the Unitarian Universalist Church of Santa Monica is an integral part of Santa Monica, provides services to many of its residents, and wants to continue that tradition.

Certainly there are parking issues in the area around the Unitarian Church on 18th and Arizona, but they are there for many reasons, the least of which is the church. There is the hospital a few blocks away and many underparked apartment buildings and retail and auto dealerships nearby. If he had studied the proposal and talked to the church members he would know that they are interested in working with the neighbors to try and mitigate the ongoing parking issues. They have a long-standing agreement with Santa Monica Hospital to utilize its parking structure on Sunday. They have instituted a program notifying all the groups meeting there of the neighbors’ concerns and to work on carpooling and bus use.

If he had studied the proposal and talked to church members and neighbors he may have used his bully pulpit to help bring these neighbors together to solve a problem that has existed for a long time.

Instead, based on poor facts, he is working to divide the neighbors, to accuse the group that provides service to all who ask of being the source of the problem and is suggesting that the group with the least resources and the best of intentions should solve a pervasive problem.

Additionally, Mr. Bauer got his facts wrong from his sources about what occurred at the end of the hearing. Commissioner Dad and I did have a short conversation in the hall. But there was no hug (definitely not her style) and no congratulations and her comment was a query as to if there were any issues between Commissioner Pugh and myself, since he had been so aggressive in his questioning. I assured her that Commissioner Pugh was just expressing his strong convictions and that he and I have been on good terms for as long as I can remember. Years ago we even taught a few classes together in the science magnet at John Adams Middle School.

In the end all I can I guess it is reporters and not always columnists who do appropriate research before they write.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 9, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/080905.pdf?ref=smdp.com)