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# Playing it nice
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/playing-it-nice/
- Published: 2006-08-03T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T19:07:33.000Z
- Author: Kevin Herrera
- Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Chamber ditches its political arm in favor of city liaison*

SIXTH STREET — Trying a new tactic that relies more on honey than vinegar, the Chamber of Commerce has dissolved its political arm in favor of a more friendly approach to getting things done in City Hall.

Instead of raising money to fight city officials through their political action committee, or PAC, merchants are now raising money to fund a new, full-time position at the chamber dedicated solely to forging a better relationship with officials at City Hall.

“We wanted to dissolve our PAC as a sign of good faith on our behalf,” said Kathy Dodson, president of the chamber.“A lot of people saw the PAC as divisive … as a tool by which the chamber fought against city ordinances. Dissolving the PAC is just a way of saying we have this new relationship and we want to work on things early enough that we hopefully won’t need to fight (City Hall) in the end.

“That doesn’t mean we will not disagree on certain things,” Dodson added. “With all good partnerships you get that. But we will try really hard to work together to create a better community in Santa Monica.”

The governmental affairs position, which Dodson hopes to fill by the fall, will be charged with establishing key relationships with city staff and proactively informing chamber members of issues affecting them. The staff member also will act as an ombudsman for chamber members with projects before City Hall.

To fund the position, the chamber has established a “Business Roundtable,” where up to 30 chamber members pay an annual fee of $2,500 to have quarterly meetings with City Manager Lamont Ewell, elected officials and city department heads.

Dodson said 18 members have already signed up, each for the required three-year commitment. The first roundtable luncheon is scheduled for Sept. 7, Dodson said.

Ewell, who served as governmental affairs liaison as the assistant city manager in San Diego, supports the chamber’s move.

“I was extremely happy to see this occur,” Ewell said. “It helps us create a stronger working relationship with the city and the business community, which was badly needed. I’m glad to see we have removed the last barrier preventing us from working closer together.”

Formed in 2002 to fight a living wage law passed by the City Council in 2001, the issues-related PAC was short lived, and its influence on Santa Monica politics unclear. Supporters said it was key in defeating the living wage law in November 2002, while others view its departure as a sign that it was ineffective.

“Most likely, the chamber wasn’t able to raise enough money to counter the opposition,” said Bob Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that studies and helps implement innovative approaches to improving social problems and the processes of self-government. “Chamber members probably thought hiring another staff person to work with City Hall was easier than running an effective campaign opposing Santa Monicans for Renters Rights (SMRR).”

SMRR has been the ruling political party in Santa Monica, holding a majority of the seats on the City Council for last 30 years. Its members have often butted heads with the chamber over issues related to development, rent control and other political issues.

Denny Zane, a co-founder of SMRR, characterized the chamber’s recent move as a “gesture that they are moving in the right direction in reducing unnecessary misunderstandings and conflicts” with City Hall and others.

“I hope its meant to be an olive branch towards community organizations such as SMRR, who have sometimes differed with the chamber,” Zane said. “Olive branches are always good.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 3, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/080306.pdf?ref=smdp.com)