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# More on Lantana, Pico
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/more-on-lantana-pico-editor/
- Published: 2004-03-23T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T04:03:24.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Pico, #archive-import

*By Chuck Allord*

Thanks to Marc Sanschagrin, (SMDP, March 20, page six) for revealing what Bill Bauer did not in his most recent Daily Press column (SMDP, March 19, page six).

Sanschagrin admitted in his letter to the Daily Press that he, Maria Loya, Oscar de la Torre (and possibly others) plotted on how the Pico Neighborhood Association could extort money for de la Torre’s Pico Youth and Family Center from developer Lantana-Hines in return for PNA approval of Lantana’s expansion plans. de la Torre is not on the PNA Board of Directors. Why is he sitting in on closed board meetings when, according to my sources, some board members were left out? While it might come as a surprise to Sanschagrin, it’s against the law to exclude any board members from attending sub-committee meetings.

Sanschagrin confirms what we all knew: Oscar de la Torre pulls the strings of his puppets on the PNA board to serve his interests. Both PNA co-chairs — Ana Jara and Michael Jackson — are employed by the PYFC. Fellow board member Maria Loya is a PYFC volunteer.

It took only six months for de la Torre to get his stooges running the PNA to weasel funds for his business and his agenda. It is even more amazing that Sanschagrin does-n’t see anything wrong with a few so-called PNA leaders hijacking neighborhood resources. But, why should he? By his own words, he is part of the problem, too.

Meanwhile, Sanschagrin’s neighborhood contributions are limited to attending closed door meetings and writing defensive letters filled with erroneous information (Steward Park?), convoluted logic and harebrained speculation about Bauer’s “ax to grind.”

To me, it’s all wrong and a scam to say the least. None of the PNA’s shabby, selfish behavior is in the best interests of the Pico neighbors. Despite Sanschagrin’s ranting, they are all being robbed.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 23, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/032304.pdf?ref=smdp.com)