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# New ‘grassroots’group spewing misinformation
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/new-grassrootsgroup-spewing-misinformation/
- Published: 2006-04-10T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T23:52:42.000Z
- Author: Bill Bauer
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless, Homelessness

I’ve taken some good hits on this page in recent weeks.

Alan Toy (SMDP, March 29, page 4) took issue with my recent column on racism and community dialogue. Toy accused me of being sanctimonious, naive and lacking compassion.

Although Toy’s letter was somewhat incoherent, the consensus is that he criticized me for suggesting we “all get along, move past old social injustices and work together for a common good.” Go figure.

Toy asserted that I was “living in a dream world.” But, where was the Santa Monica Rent Control board member when I wrote six columns over the last few months about low-and middle-income residents who were losing their homes because of developers, speculators and flippers looking for a quick buck? Not interested or just taking a nap?

Then, there was the letter (SMDP, March 28, page 4) from Bob Hattoy accusing me of complaining, opposing new ideas and being afraid of losing power (what power)? in my column about Santa Monicans for Sensible Priorities (SMDP, March 13, page 4).

Hattoy, in Santa Monica for less than two years, definitely sounds like a paid consultant for SMSP these days. “The community needs an infusion of new ideas and activists,” he said. I know I’ll sleep better tonight knowing Hattoy and his cavalry have ridden in to save us all.

Wait a minute. New ideas? Hattoy says SMSP has identified homelessness as a community issue and surveyed residents for their opinions. Surveys about the homeless have been done to death. Nothing new about that.

It’s obvious that Hattoy hasn’t done his research since he accused me of being uninvolved in local civics. He said in his letter that I’ve never voiced my concern in front of City Council or applied to a board of commission. More B.S. and false assumptions. I won’t bore readers with all that I’ve done, the civic organizations I’ve been involved with or number of times I have spoken before City Council and commissions over the years, but it’s considerable.

Hattoy says I’m upset because “SMSP is recruiting people to create positive change in Santa Monica.” Wrong, again.

I’m upset because SMSP refuses to say who they are and how they’re going to “make things happen.” So far, all they’ve done is evade and prevaricate.

I’m glad Hattoy mentioned local citizens with “impeccable credentials” who signed SMSP’s recent mailer on homelessness. One of them, Dr. Don Ha, told a resident who is involved in local civic issues that he was never informed by SMSP representatives that they were going to use his name and signature on a citywide mailing. And they didn’t show him the letter ahead of time, according to the resident who asked to remain anonymous. He also seemed to be unaware they wanted to run candidates for City Council. When I called Dr. Ha, he told me, “It was a printing mistake. Call Seth Jacobson (a public relations representative for the group).” This smells like one more embarrassing SMSP screw up involving misuse of names and misrepresentation. These latest tactics are reminiscent of my 2004 campaign for a City Council seat in which the group plagiarized one my fliers, signed a phony name to it and sent it city-wide in a mailer.

Hattoy’s statement, “Mr. Bauer and a handful of friends like to complain and do nothing and are clearly threatened by people who want to do more than talk,” is a put-down of the dozens — no — hundreds of real neighborhood activists of all political persuasions. It shows just how arrogant, exclusive and self-righteous these newcomers are. The only citizens marching with these guys will be on their payroll.

I just write an opinion column about the local political scene so I’m hardly threatened by the likes of Hattoy and those behind SMSP. All I know is that SMSP’s agenda is to seize control of City Hall, make fundamental change and “kick butt.” If they’re talking trash like this now, I shudder to think what government will be like if they were to actually gain control of the City Council.

I do have a positive suggestion. End the mystery and subterfuge. Be open and tell the truth — something you’ve refused to do so far. End the “tough guy” rhetoric and contempt of all who’ve worked hard to make this a better city.

Maybe Hattoy got away with this kind of stuff in the Clinton White House. However, after all is said and done, it’s Mr. Hattoy and his SMSP cohorts who talk the talk, but have yet to walk the walk. (Bill Bauer is a longtime Santa Monica resident and community activist. He)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 10, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/041006.pdf?ref=smdp.com)