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# Let shoppers decide where to shop
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/let-shoppers-decide-where-to-shop-editor/
- Published: 2004-10-05T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T05:15:26.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Main St, #archive-import

*By Ken C. Arnold Santa Monica*

Of course the needs of the people usually come in second behind the self-satisfaction of the city rulers and their need to adhere to an flawed intellectual formula. Why? Because people enjoy shopping at the national bookstores, clothing stores and others. All stores national or local exist only to supply goods and services to shoppers.

If you prefer locally owned stores you can easily visit Main Street in Ocean Park. For the most part the restaurants and stores unable to pay the rent on the Promenade may choose to relocate to the surrounding streets and this only makes the whole area more interesting and multi-dimensional. Let’s not allow the one-dimensionality of certain city rulers to keep Santa Monica’s citizens from enjoying the good life.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 5, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/100504.pdf?ref=smdp.com)