Flier contains wrong facts
It could be the beginning of a new community movement or just the actions of a lone malcontent.
But throughout the week someone or a group of someones trying to drum up anti-development sentiment along Main Street posted fliers in Ocean Park neighborhoods and faxed them to city officials and community leaders. “(Santa Monica) City Council votes (4- 3) to build luxury apartments on Boulangerie site,” the flier reads. “One-two years of bulldozers, dump trucks and dirt and more dirt. Final vote Tue. 2/19 7PM.” Only problem is, the flier is wrong. “Obviously, this is someone who is ill-informed and has an ax to grind,” said Councilman Richard Bloom, who was anonymously faxed the flier. “This does a disservice to the entire community because of the misinformation it contains.”
“Obviously, this is someone who is ill informed and has an ax to grind.” — — RICHARD BLOOM Santa Monica City Council member
First in the long list of misinformation, the city council unanimously voted to conditionally approve the apartment complex for the former-Boulangerie site.
Second, construction is expected to take 18 months from beginning to end, with bulldozers used during only the first three months.
And third, the city council didn’t meet this week to decide whether to grant final approval on the project. That isn’t scheduled to happen until Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.
The project was publicized in the neighborhood for two years before the vote, said Howard Jacobs, the site’s developer. In addition, the “two or three residents with problems” who showed up at Santa Monica Planning Commission meetings were concerned with affordable housing and traffic issues, he said.
“I don’t see overwhelming criticism of this project,” Jacob said. “If they are so against it, where were they at all the public meetings we have had.
“I have heard more sentiment in favor of it than against it.”
The flier ends, “You hold the key to stopping construction mania. E-mail! (each city council member). Mike Feinstein, swing vote, call and visit.”
However, because the vote was unanimous in favor of the project, there is no need for a swing vote.
And unless new evidence is presented to the city council next week showing why the project shouldn’t go forward, Bloom said he and his colleagues are likely to move ahead with the approval.
“I think we have to listen to the public,” Bloom said. “If they make a convincing argument why we should-n’t follow though with our commitment I would listen. But I think it’s a real long shot.”
Stretched across the bottom of the fliers in all capital letters is the word, ‘Moratorium.’
“As far as I know there has never been a construction moratorium under consideration for Main Street,” Bloom said. “If residents think there should be one then they need to come forward at a council meeting and tell us that. But it seems to me that that end of Main Street is in need of rejuvenation.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 22, 2002. Read the original PDF.