By Kevin Schoeler Santa Monica
Like Judy Avery (SMDP, Oct. 20) I don’t know who is behind “Santa Monica Citizens for Sensible Priorities,” but that is the extent of our common ground. Perhaps Ms. Avery should spend a little more time talking to those of us that own property or run businesses in Santa Monica, to learn about what drives the need for this new organization, and hopefully more like it.
Ms. Avery is irresponsible to assume that the cookie store example is an isolated instance of City Hall’s inefficiency and misplaced priorities. Ms. Avery draws an erroneous and dangerous conclusion that there’s no problem because building permits and business licenses are being issued. Following her logic it would be consistent to conclude that there’s plenty of affordable housing here because people live in Santa Monica. Or that wages are sufficient here because people work in Santa Monica. While she says the money spent on this ad campaign could feed the hungry and homeless, her logic, again, suggests there is no hunger because people eat in Santa Monica.
Frankly, it’s time to change the attitude and priorities of the Santa Monica City Council. It’s time to stop treating property owners and business owners as second-class citizens. And business-as-usual at City Hall needs a major adjustment.
I suppose, like Ms. Avery, I’m also allowed to make some assumptions. I’ll limit mine to the one — she must be a card-carrying member of Santa Monicans For Renters Rights. And, like Ms. Avery, I have an idea too. She might want to talk to a few people who have had encounters with the city administration.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 22, 2004. Read the original PDF.