By Edmund Bravo Santa Monica
Regarding the recent spate of attacks on Santa Monica measure HH (VERITAS), I wonder where the sense of fair government got lost. Those who oppose it, including the League of Women Voters, seem to have forsaken a municipal government whose interests embrace ALL demographics. The League has determined that term limits are OK for federal elections, but not OK for local elections. That seems hypocritical, if not downright illogical.
The Pico neighborhood district has never had a representative on the City Council, even though its roughly 13,000 citizens deal with problems that are unique to its demographics. Without neither direct district representation nor a direct citizen’s vote in the mayoral election, the Pico neighborhood is virtually disenfranchised. I feel the reforms VERITAS proposes are the only way to level the playing field. In the long term, I would want my children to be able to vote for their mayor, just as they will have the right to vote for their governor or president.
Let’s not permit the power elite to maintain their self-interests above the promise of true democracy.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 26, 2002. Read the original PDF.