> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Initiative politically motivated, councilman says - URL: https://www.smdp.com/initiative-politically-motivated-councilman-says/ - Published: 2002-04-25T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T00:15:10.000Z - Author: Andrew Fixmer - Tags: Government & Politics, Montana, #archive-import *SM city council could revise landmark policies* It’s an election year and in Santa Monica, that means issues are used to pit one group against another in a battle for power. That’s the take from some elected officials who believe a movement to fight historic designation of private homes north of Montana Avenue is nothing more than political maneuvering. “Homeowners for Freedom of Choice” formed after the city paid $29,000 for a historical survey of homes north of Montana Avenue, one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the city. The report recommended creating six historical districts within the area. Arguing that historical designation would limit their rights as property owners, the group is attempting to place an initiative on the November ballot that would require the city to get permission from every homeowner affected before bestowing landmark status or creating a historical district. Councilman Herb Katz asked other council members on Tuesday to instruct senior city staff to look into possible revisions to the current landmarks ordinance as part of a compromise with the homeowners. Katz is politically aligned with some of the group’s members and is in minority on the council, which is dominated by Santa Monicans For Renters Rights supporters. Katz, who said he does not support the initiative, was instrumental in founding a group with a similar membership called Santa Monicans for Responsible Government. “I would like to see us avoid a ballot initiative if at all possible,” Katz said. Councilman Richard Bloom said the city has been discussing making procedural changes to its landmarks ordinance for years, and chided the group for skirting the public process with the initiative. “It’s really a politically motivated device,” he said. “This whole idea of personal choice is some kind of campaign theme. I can’t understand the motivation of this initiative other than it stems out of political motivation.” Council members said staff was overwhelmed with budget preparation and would not be able to address the issue for at least two weeks. > “The petition process stirs debate. As these people go around seeking signatures they get people to start thinking about the issue.” — – BEA NEMLAHA Third Street Historic District resident Mayor Mike Feinstein said he was disappointed the group did not try to work through a public process of making changes to the ordinance before trying to put an initiative on the ballot. “Instead there has been this confusion over an early, preliminary process of looking over a historical survey,” Feinstein said. “Instead of coming to the city council or working through a public process, they went straight to the initiative.” Some homeowners feel the city is infringing on their property rights and fear the city council will create historical districts, which are entire neighborhoods of landmarked buildings, without their consent. The residents also believe the status would prevent them from making neces- The group needs to get 6,000 signatures to have its initiative on the ballot, and after three weeks of petitioning, a group member said they had collected more than 1,000. One homeowner, who lives in a Santa Monica historical district along Third Street in Ocean Park, warned residents to read between the lines of the group’s proposal. “The initiative as proposed is slick and appealing, but at its base is superficial,” said Bea Nemlaha. “Protecting our remaining historical resources is critical at this time.” Supporters of the initiative said there could not be a compromise unless the city was willing to make great changes to the landmarks ordinance. “To me, this is simply a matter of personal freedom,” said Tom Larmore, a local property rights attorney and an organizer of the initiative. “What we’re telling people is that they can’t change the exterior of their homes without going to the Landmarks Commission.” He added, “I feel you are stepping on people’s basic rights. There can’t be landmarking without consent. That’s just how I feel about it.” Nemlaha urged the council to allow the petition process to move forward and not to compromise with the group. “The petition process stirs debate,” she said. “As these people go around seeking signatures they get people to start thinking about the issue.” *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 25, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/042502.pdf?ref=smdp.com)