By Esther Moosebruger Santa Monica
I agree wholeheartedly with Kelly Hayes-Raitt (SMDP, Oct. 26, page 6): We need more women on the Santa Monica City Council. But she talks about the diversity of candidates and then only mentions the two women on the Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights slate. One of them, Patricia Hoffman, defended SMRR to the skies at a recent forum. She said people keep voting for SMRR because SMRR keeps giving us what we want. Baloney.
We renters used to buy the SMRR mantra that our rent control was safe only if SMRR controlled the City. We are smarter than that now. We know that rent control can only be changed by a vote of the people, and that renters comprise 70 percent of Santa Monica’s population.
The truth is, SMRR has given us what we don’t want: Vagrants in our front yards, garages and laundry rooms, not to mention taking over our parks and the Promenade; gridlocked traffic; city officials who pretty much thumb their noses at residents.
Kathryn Morea is the only woman candidate who has a chance to win, even though she is not controlled by SMRR. She will help turn this city around.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 29, 2004. Read the original PDF.