Editor:
Several weeks ago … I received a call asking me to take part in a survey. Since I have strong opinions on everything, I accepted willingly. It started generally, with questions like: "How do you like living in Santa Monica?" then switched to questions about the two hotels planned for Fifth Street and Colorado Avenue.
The questions seemed to pressure me for a favorable response. For example: "How do you feel about the employees getting higher than minimum wages?" or the enormous (they had a figure which I have forgotten) increase in taxes for the city?, etc. I finally decided the survey was sponsored by the developers, lost my temper and almost shouted at them that I was dead set against the projects and that was my final answer to the projects.
Cecilia Rosenthal
Santa Monica
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 10, 2013. Read the original PDF.