By Genise Schnitman Santa Monica
In response to “Prop. V is ‘wastewater’ for oceans and taxpayers” by Bill Bauer (SMDP, Oct. 9, page 4), I can scarcely imagine a worse-informed and more ideologically driven rant. To Bauer, the city of Santa Monica — populated as it is, in his view, with bureaucratic empire-builders whose sole mission is to fleece taxpayers — can do no good, of any kind, at any time, not even in the area of environmental stewardship. I pose a particularly bizarre suggestion: Santa Monica has earned a worldwide reputation for the creativity and effectiveness of its programs for safeguarding our natural resources and ensuring that we live, work, play and commute in an environmentally sustainable fashion.
Fortunately, most Santa Monicans are proud of the numerous national and international awards that testify to the efficacy of the city’s environmental programs that have made it a model of progressive municipal and regionally coordinated policy. The city’s efforts to restore Santa Monica Bay to full health are a highlight of years of forward-thinking and proactive practice.
The truth is, Measure V will enable the city of Santa Monica to implement a comprehensive municipal plan, already approved by the City Council, to dramatically reduce local pollution that goes into Santa Monica Bay. And we will not be alone: Los Angeles voters have already approved a $500 million bond to help finance measures to tackle regional dimensions of the problem.
What Santa Monica has done, however, is to develop a fully fleshed-out plan first, prior to seeking voter approval for financing. We will be doing our share, but we will also be showing other communities how to do it right, which is the only way the job will ever get done. Leaders must lead, and we in Santa Monica are proud to be known for our municipal leadership. I will gladly vote ‘yes’ on Measure V and urge all my neighbors to do the same.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 13, 2006. Read the original PDF.