By Robert Donin Santa Monica
As a Santa Monica resident and longtime health and tobacco control advocate who appeared before the City Council to testify in support of the smoking ban, I write to express objection and disappointment to the comments attributed to the executive director of the Bayside District Corporation and the Bayside District Board of Directors.
The position articulated and advocated by the Bayside District Corporation Board of Directors is a familiar one: self-serving, desperate and not based in fact or reality.
Let me remind the SMDP audience, as well as Santa Monica residents, that the Bayside District Corporation charge is to partner with City Hall to promote and manage downtown and the Promenade.
Self-interest and failure to follow council intent and action is not a best or proven practice when implementing community and policy change.
I urge the Bayside District Corporation executive director and its Board of Directors to reevaluate and reconsider their position.
Finally, I urge the comments attributed to the Bayside District Corporation executive director be rescinded.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 2, 2006. Read the original PDF.