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# Wi-fi lowlights
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/wi-fi-lowlights-editor/
- Published: 2007-03-13T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T00:14:06.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless

*By Jonathan Mann Internet activist*

According to Council member Kevin McKeown, “It is time to resume the reform fight" but he only considers "outsider developer money" to be at odds with resident interests. I strenuously beg to differ.

What about business interests inside the city that are at odds with the needs of "voter-owned" elections, like developers, car dealers, tourism and other interests that increase the tax base? Do we need more tax revenues so the city council can provide work force housing to pay back city employees for their loyal endorsement of incumbents like McKeown? Do we need more so called low income housing so the city can profit from HUD subsidies?

What about special interests like the coalition between CEPS, SMRR, City Employees and Living Wage advocates? Seems like there is far more concern to foster dependency by providing grants to the homeless industry (who just happen to support incumbents) than to assess the impact all this compassion has on the residents who have been driven from their parks and libraries.

Seems like the hotels and outside developers, despite their huge investment, failed in their attempt to oust incumbents who pander to the other special interests who really run this city. If McKeown really wants to see a level playing field why not limit the amount of money incumbents can raise and provide matching funds for candidates who aren't endorsed by any special interests? Here's is another radical concept: Term Limits...

Now that Los Angeles will be providing WiFi to residents, will Santa Monica will follow their lead? Will our council finally reinstate a Public Electronic Network on the city website to give residents a voice? I doubt it...

Do we need to keep the airport open for those wealthy enough to afford landing fees, when all that land could be put to public use? Outside developers continue to build all over Santa Monica, or am I the only one that notices the boom in construction? I know I am not the only one who notices the parking and traffic chaos from policies like increasing foreign enrollment at our "community" college...

We voted for school bonds because we were told it would go to upgrade facilities, etc. Truth is that teachers were really lobbying for a salary increase for themselves. Shall we expect a raise for city employees, too?

So who really owns the elections in Santa Monica? Certainly not the resident voters who do whatever they are told by the ruling coalition. It's time for the voters of this city to wake up to who really has a voice in city government!

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 13, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/031307.pdf?ref=smdp.com)