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# Politicians refuse to choose between agendas and schools
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/politicians-refuse-to-choose-between-agendas-and-schools/
- Published: 2003-05-30T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T02:15:24.000Z
- Author: Bill Bauer
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless

I just received a letter dated May 2003 from Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights signed by SMRR co chairs Denny Zane and co-chair emeritus Nancy Greenstein.

“Measure S is the only hope of saving our schools,” it said.

Being that the powerful renters’ rights organization controls virtually every aspect of political life here in Santa Monica — including five of seven city council seats and most school board seats — this was a stunning admission.

They were unequivocally saying that the SMRR-controlled Santa Monica City Council will NOT provide more financial support for our schools.

The problem is that just isn’t true. The fact that the letter did not mention rent increases, especially for tenants in smaller buildings, also shows how SMRR’s loyalty to its renter base has been compromised by political ambition.

As with almost everything in Santa Monica, SMRR also controls the “yes” campaign that has been claiming that those against “S” are against our schools, oppose education and are “sacrificing children.”

Unfortunately, this is another white lie. We all want to save our schools. Measure S is strictly about who is going to pay.

Will the schools be saved on the shoulders of taxpayers already being squeezed from all sides? Or, will they be saved through the grace of the cities of Santa Monica and Malibu with their combined $400 million-plus budgets?

I wouldn’t mind being taxed if this were the last resort. But here it’s always the first resort preceding prudent spending, fiscal accountability and finding other funding sources.

SMRR knows that if S passes, its agenda and the City of Santa Monica are off the hook.

But, if S loses, does anyone think the Santa Monica and Malibu city councils won’t dig deep for $8 million or $10 million to bail out the district? After all, we’re talking less than 3 percent of their budgets.

You betcha’they will because everyone knows that refusing to support our schools is political suicide for any elected official here or in Malibu.

SMRR politicians don’t want to choose between diverting some of the tens of millions of dollars for affordable housing and services for homeless transients to the schools.

They don’t want to cut millions allocated for maintaining the mostly unused Civic Auditorium and their generous subsidies for the Santa Monica Pier and downtown Bayside organizations and reprioritize for education.

They’d rather fritter away millions on plans, studies and community relations for the Civic Center redevelopment, a $72 million library and parking garage, traffic calming schemes, more parking garages, pier ramps, failed ATM ordinances and other wretched excesses than support our kids.

Their campaign propaganda says, “You must vote ‘yes’,” because they’re protecting their turf.

Lies and distortion is SMRR’s stock and trade. So add, “more taxes are the only way to save our schools” to your “Top 10” list of outrageous SMRR myths.

But the scare tactics play well and hysterical parents and PTA types are swallowing the bait hook, line and sinker. It’s too bad school supporters didn’t press harder earlier this year after 1,000 parents and children paraded in front of a disinterested and non-committal City Council.

You can bet the SMRRs controlling the Save our Schools movement slammed on the brakes and fast-talked parents and school supporters into gambling on a “let’s tax everyone, instead” strategy rather than demanding the city meet its responsibility.

Mayor Richard Bloom, also a SMRR, sent out hundreds of letters last week asking for donations for a pre-Fourth of July fireworks display at Santa Monica College. Too bad Richard and SMRR aren’t expending the same energy on securing donations for education.

We’re all feeling the squeeze. Politicians must stop looking at us as the golden goose for personal agendas or face being voted out of power.

The cities have the resources and they must do what we elected them to do.

So, listen carefully: Stop making threats, stop lying, stop passing the buck. Get a grip or get out of town.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 30, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/053003.pdf?ref=smdp.com)