Being out front, I was hired and paid by “A” backers, Homeowners for Voluntary Preservation, to produce the “Yes on A” lawn signs. I was pleased to be of service. I’ve been an ardent preservationist here in Santa Monica.
I became involved in local politics in the mid-1970s when I helped to “Save the Piers” from demolition by a misguided city manager and pro-development City Council. I helped unseat three anti-pier city councilmen and successfully managed the campaign for a ballot initiative, now part of the city charter, that makes it illegal to demolish the piers.
I fought to save the old Spanish-style Main Library at 5th Street and Santa Monica Boulevard — where Cal-Fed now stands. In recent years, I’ve supported preservation for a number of local structures.
The Landmarks Commission is responsible for determining what structures and geographic features are “historically” significant in the city. However, many of them have limited expertise in what is historically significant and lack the knowledge, or competency to judge what is really “historic” and what isn’t.
Landmarks commissioners are citizens appointed by the City Council — as are most other city commissioners and board members. Some suspect that politicians and the renters rights power structure dole out these appointments to extend their influence. Sometimes a commissioner is a relative. Example: Landmarks commissioner Roger Genser and arts commissioner Harriet Beck are cousin and sister of councilman Ken Genser.
Garth Sheriff, a nationally known architect and co-author of the “Pier Preservation Act of 1974” recently said he “doubted if there were more than two or three dozen truly historic structures in the city.” Yet, commissioners have compiled lists of many hundreds of potential landmarks.
Last year the Landmarks Commission announced a study of 18th Street from Montana Avenue to San Vicente as a possible historic district despite the fact that two-thirds of the homes have been extensively remodeled, modernized or rebuilt. Remaining homes built more than 40 years ago are “nice” but hardly significant.
The failure of the landmarks commission to make the distinction between “historic and significant” and “cute and charming” has resulted in the present crisis regarding recognition of potentially significant properties.
Many who run the city view private homes as “community resources.” The majority of those on the Disabilities Commission favor requiring that private homes, when remodeled, be handicapped compliant — complete with ramps, extra wide doors and wheelchair accessible bathrooms, for example.
SON’s campaign against “A” is being handled by Jasper Communications, a Los Angeles firm whose principals have had a long and close relationship with Santa Monicans for Renters Rights and their co-chair Dennis Zane. Additional resources and financing for the “no” campaign is coming from L.A. county and state preservationist groups.
Now, as in all local elections, the old SMRR lies are trotted out.
White Lie No. 1: Renters will lose their apartments. According to an editorial in a local weekly and mentions by another columnist in this newspaper, “A” will make it easier for landlords to Ellis and evict tenants and for developers to demolish apartments.
Falsehood No. 2 : “Yes on A” was created by landlords, property owners, developers and real estate speculators.
Misrepresentation No. 3: As with those who opposed the “living wage,” Proposition “A” supporters are outsiders who are trying to take over our community.
SON knows they must get renters to vote “No” and mail their ballot. Misinforming them with hoary old lies such as “you’ll be evicted” is the only way they can defeat “A.”
The truth is that the homeowners who created “A” deliberately wrote it so it wouldn’t effect renters. Saying that “A” is in any way an “anti-renter” measure is flat out not true and complete BS.
If there is anything wrong with “A,” it’s that it doesn’t cover single-family homes in multi-family or commercial neighborhoods. That’s unfortunate because all of our single-family homes should be protected equally from well-meaning preservationists and those who view a person’s castle as a community resource. (Bill Bauer is a longtime Santa Monica resident and freelance writer.)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 21, 2003. Read the original PDF.