Neighborhood association and activist split on issue
There’s a turf war in the Pico neighborhood. But this time it’s political.
The troubled neighborhood on Santa Monica’s east side struggles with gang violence, drug dealing and weak political clout. But some residents think a proposed election reform this November may give the Pico neighborhood a chance to be heard.
The Voters Election Reform Initiative for a True Accountability System, also known as VERITAS, seeks to split the city into voting districts so citizens would vote for one council member from their neighborhood, instead of all seven at large as it is now.
The Pico neighborhood has never had council representation, which some argue is why there are so many problems there. The neighborhood covers about eight square blocks just north of the Santa Monica Freeway to Pico Boulevard, and east to the city limits.
But Pico Youth & Family Center Director Oscar de la Torre and the leadership of the Pico Neighborhood Association — two of the most prominent voices in the Pico neighborhood — are divided on the election reform issue.
While the newly opened Pico center is slowly growing roots in the community, de la Torre has been long-involved in Pico issues. A graduate of Santa Monica High School, de la Torre, 30, grew up in Pico and his family continues to live there.
“I’m registering a no vote on VERITAS,” said de la Torre. “I don’t think (VERITAS) will benefit the Pico neighborhood or a great number of working class families that live and work in the Pico neighborhood.”
However, both PNA chairman Peter Tigler and vice-chair Don Gray said they support VER- ITAS and will attempt to convince the association to endorse the measure.
“I think informally from speaking with other board members that we’ll probably support it,” Gray said. “Santa Monica has a skewed (electoral) system. Pico definitely doesn’t have fair voting representation.”
Under the current election guidelines, all seven council members are elected citywide. Council members then vote for who will serve as mayor.
Paul DeSantis and Irene Zivi, authors of VERITAS, argue Pico residents have not been able to elect one of their own to city council for the past 60 years because of at-large elections.
“Some neighborhoods have been overrepresented with two or three residents on the city council but the Pico neighborhood has always been under represented,” said DeSantis. “Currently, the mid-city neighborhood — which is next to Pico — is also underrepresented.”
Original city law had split the municipality into voting districts. That was overturned in the 1940s when large numbers of African Americans moved into the Pico neighborhood, one of the first areas in the state to allow minorities to own property, DeSantis said. City officials at the time changed the voting system to at-large elections to address the new minority voice in Pico.
“I would say that the 1946 charter amendment was designed in part to keep African Americans out of government,” he said. “Subsequently, there has not been a representative elected from the Pico neighborhood.”
However, opponents of the measure disagree. Mayor Mike Feinstein said residents are better off having seven council members interested in listening to their complaints than just one.
“This bad government measure would reduce voice and representation for Pico neighborhood residents by allowing them to vote for only one council seat instead of all seven like they currently can,” he said.
“My expectation for the November election is not only will a majority of residents citywide vote against this reckless and ill-conceived measure but so will a majority of residents in the Pico neighborhood,” he added. de la Torre plans to challenge the PNA to make sure a balanced hearing is given before any organization tries to speak for the neighborhood.
“I think they owe it to the community to hold an educational forum before they represent the neighborhood on such an important issue,” de la Torre said. “I plan to make contact with the PNA and their leadership and other organizations in the community to sponsor a debate or a forum to educate people about this proposal and what it means to the community and the future of Santa Monica.”
But Tigler said whether or not the PNA votes to support VERITAS, the neighborhood has to become more politically active. He has been asking for a larger police presence on the streets, more graf-fiti clean up efforts and more beautification projects.
“I look around town and I see more flowers planted in parkways and street improvements that you can shake a stick at, and there is nothing going on in the Pico neighborhood,” Tigler said. “Perhaps if we had a councilman, these things would finally get done.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 4, 2002. Read the original PDF.