By Bob Abernethy Santa Monica
The comprehensive coverage by the SMDP and other local media regarding the controversy surrounding the inclusion of a perceived religious symbol on the official seal of the County of Los Angeles has alerted me to a systemic and pervasive problem. Galvanized by zeal borne of your splendid reportage, I have come to realize that this plague of official recognition of religion is far more pervasive than even SMDP realizes. Immediate action is required lest we all be subverted by invidious insinuations of the forces of religiosity.
In the interest of seeking the fullest protection afforded by our Constitution I am sending this demand to our fearless mayor pro tem: The recent flap over the removal of a minuscule cross from the county shield has brought my attention to a shocking and blatant breach of the principle of separation of church and state that is perpetuated by our own city. As an alternative to the instigation of litigation seeking a writ of mandamus, I am affording the council the opportunity to enact legislation to forthwith correct this breach of the Constitutional duty that you are sworn to uphold.
This city has perpetuated the official glorification of individuals canonized by the church of Rome. Such a practice is a blatant violation of the city’s Constitutional obligations. The use of religious titles in the very name of the city must immediately cease.
All official signs that refer to any Saint, San or Santa must be changed at once. This would include, in addition to the name of the city, itself (Ms. Monica), but of similarly offensively named thoroughfares such as Mr. Vincente and Ms. Monica boulevards.
While I realize that bringing the city into compliance will entail some significant expense, especially for signs and stationery, it should be noted that Constitutional obligations trump any subordinate legislation. Therefore, the cost of compliance must be funded on a priority basis.
Perhaps, two mandates can be combined were the council to employ the homeless to repaint all of the city’s signs to delete the proscribed religious references. Instead of funneling money to bleeding-heart social agencies to build flop-houses, cash could be directly disbursed to the new temporary city workers who would then be eligible for state-funded assistance on conclusion of their service. Think of the self-esteem that would be fostered by having the former dregs of society elevated to the status of dedicated civil servants.
Of course, since the city would desire to pay these temporary employees a living wage, it may be necessary to seek further economies. The deal to increase the city’s contribution to the school district is not carved in stone. Even if it were, school district superintendent John Deasy would have to agree that school funding must necessarily defer to Constitutional compliance. Besides, he will be otherwise occupied bringing the district into compliance with its own version of this problem.
The law of unintended consequence could work in that the new spending mandates could curtail funds currently allocated for cement that is being poured in seemingly every roadway and corner in the city. The resulting increase in the ability to move freely about town could bring in more visitors, which means more tax revenue and more parking violation revenue. So, you see there is a silver lining to every black cloud.
The passage of enabling ordinances to effect compliance must be treated as a priority matter lest I have no alternative but to seek judicial redress.
But then again, dear editor, perhaps I've read one too many Lloyd Garver columns.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 10, 2004. Read the original PDF.