Dear Kevin,
I am writing this in response to your piece ‘Mayoral Meltdown’. While I firmly agree with the sentiments already expressed about your recent attack on Mayor Negrete, I want to stress that what you wrote about her not only shocks and confuses me, it also saddens me.
It saddens because you have had the golden opportunity since abruptly resigning from the council to get to know your replacement, Mayor Negrete. You could have easily assumed the welcomed role of mentor, advisor, confidant and senior statesman, however you have expressly chosen to go down the path of antagonism, bitterness, jealousy, cowardice and bullyism. Why this path Kevin? The result is a missed opportunity not only for the two of you as neighbors, but for all Santa Monica residents, businesses and visitors.
Rather than get into a diatribe further stating how wrong and unjust you are about someone you don’t even know, I am going to pose some questions for you to answer or at least think about.
1.)When we experienced the riots and looting on May 31, 2020, where were you? And why was it up to the Mayor Pro Tem to lead the city through the worst day of its 150-year history?
2.)When Mayor Negrete was first appointed in 2021, why didn’t you invite her for a coffee to get to know her and offer helpful advice from one long-term Santa Monican and community leader to another?
3.)Has Mayor Negrete’s prowess for leadership, ability to navigate tough situations, properly and tastefully represent Santa Monica abroad and overall popularity exposed some insecurities of your own?
4.)Does your resentment of Mayor Negrete’s success in her role as council member and mayor stem from her ability to achieve this despite the absence of support from local progressive democrat organizations, of which you are a long-time member?
5.)Do you only bully women?
6.)Would you ever address someone in person the way you do in the newspaper and in Zoom chats?
7.)How have you contributed to the betterment of Santa Monica since your dramatic resignation?
I can keep going, but I won’t. You are better than this Kevin and it’s not too late to show us.
Albin Gielicz
Santa Monica