By R.E. Brezic Santa Monica College is such a waste Editor:
I was amazed to see the ill-informed stuff that (Chamber of Commerce President) Kathy Dodson wrote about Santa Monica. To brag about the city, she must have come from a place in Texas with under 100 residents. I notice she does not live in this pig pen that Santa Monica has become. When my friends and myself read those words of wisdom, we could not stop laughing. It’s just hoards of people walking up and down Third Street with nothing better to do, and then rushing to eat in the fast-food places in Santa Monica Place or listening to the lousy musicians who are just a plain annoyance to sensible people. As far as I am concerned, Santa Monica is out of control, this caused by the Bay District Corp. and people like Dodson.
The rental situation is unbelievable with the rents sky high and, if the truth be known, Santa Monica is nothing but an ugly, dirty, little hick town, and I’m refer-ring to this downtown area where, unfortunately, I am stuck for the present. The Bay Cities Corp. won’t even permit a drug store or supermarket to open up on Third Street. Plus, Target stores tried to open up, but instead they are permitting 152 “luxury” apartments to be built, citing there would be a traffic problem. No, that wasn’t it at all, they felt it would take business away from these so-called “upscale, flagship” stores on Third.
I’m writing as I know you like certain views from your readers and as I have lived here for many years. It breaks my heart that so much greed and lies have taken over this city. Local residents need some peace and quiet when they need to use Third Street. It never happens all year-round, and it is particularly awful on the weekends.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 22, 2004. Read the original PDF.