By Victor Fresco Santa Monica
Still haven’t decided on how to vote on Proposition A? Consider this: The initiative that put Prop. A on the ballot forced the city to hold a special election for just this one issue, which cost our financially strapped city over $100,000. The big money interests that sponsored Prop. A hoped that by having a special election voter turn out would be low, which would benefit their side. If Prop. A passes, you can bet this type of expensive one-issue election will become more frequent as big money will see this as a way to pass all kinds of potentially unpopular initiatives which require low voter turn out to push through.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 15, 2003. Read the original PDF.