CATCHING UP ON RECENT NEWS includes one of the dumbest ideas that I’ve heard recently: The call for a tree commission by some Santa Monica Treesavers and at least one neighborhood group. Just what this city needs: Another city-supported citizens group that doesn’t accomplish much.
Do we need a commission of self-proclaimed tree experts — attorneys, housewives, retirees and peace activists telling the real tree experts in Open Space Management how to do their jobs?
What’s next? A pothole commission to advise the street maintenance folks how, when and where to fill potholes. Or, a traffic task force to advise the Transportation Management Division on configuring roadways so we can move traffic instead of jamming it?
A bicycling commission could advise the city on getting bicyclists to obey traffic laws. A pollution commission could advise about local stinkiness — and, I’m not talking about political hanky-panky. Speaking of chicanery, we need an ethics commission to watchdog City Hall.Yeah. That’s the ticket.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 7, 2008. Read the original PDF.