By Michael Jackson Santa Monica
As a young African American, I have a different perspective on the City Council election and what it means to my community. My family has lived in Santa Monica’s Pico neighborhood for more than 33 years. Slowly, but surely, African American families are being pushed out of Santa Monica. The African American population is a mere 3.5 percent of Santa Monica’s total population, but our numbers are decreasing at an increasing rate.
According to a RAND study the black population decreased 17 percent from 1990 to 2000. The numbers dropped more dramatically for young black men and women. From 1990 to 2000, black men and women between the ages of 15 to 25 dropped 54 percent. With the loss of our ethnic and economic diversity, one can only expect that the city of Santa Monica will become less vibrant and culturally homogenous. Cultural celebrations, music, political movements, the arts — everything that makes life wonderful will suffer as a result of losing our city’s diversity.
That is why this election is so important for our city’s black community. Our cultural survival is at stake and we need to support candidates who will fight for social and economic justice. Santa Monicans For Renters Rights is the only political entity that I know that specifically states in its platform that “protecting the ethnic and economic diversity of our city is a priority.” Also, SMRR is the only political organization that has endorsed an African American candidate, Doug Willis, to serve on the SMC Board of Trustees. SMRR has also endorsed Ana Jara for school board and Maria Loya for City Council. If Loya, Willis and Jara win, it will be the first time in history that the Pico neighborhood is represented in the halls of power within our city.
Without a doubt, the SMRR slate is the most diverse slate in the history of Santa Monica politics. Hopefully, now the issues of community/police relations, youth violence prevention, services for older youth, affordable housing, equity in public education and the need for good paying jobs for Pico neighborhood residents will be addressed. Most of these issues have been ignored in the past and our youth have paid the price with their lives. Since 1989 more than 29 youth of color have been murdered on the streets of the Pico neighborhood. All of them have been victims of the poverty that results from local inequality, social neglect, segregation and marginalization.
While some of our wealthiest residents complain about “hedges” many of our poorest families suffer from gun violence. I have seen televised political forums focus so much attention on the traffic that development produces but very little is said about the need for workforce development in our working class neighborhoods. I recently received a mailer from one SMC Board of Trustee incumbent talking about “keeping the doors of SMC open” but she voted to eliminate many vocational training programs that are a gateway to good paying jobs for local youth.
A lot is at stake in this election, even more so for African American residents. In order to sustain our ethnic and economic diversity we need to support Maria Loya for City Council, Ana Jara for school board and Doug Willis for SMC Board of Trustees. These Pico neighborhood leaders have a proven track record of advancing the plight of working class families in Santa Monica. By electing progressive leaders of color we can show the country that we are truly an inclusive community that celebrates the cultural diversity that makes us a vibrant city.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 27, 2004. Read the original PDF.