I am writing to corroborate the account shared by School Board member Jon Kean in his letter dated October 11th, 2024 and printed in the Santa Monica Daily Press regarding (then Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School Board member) Councilmember Oscar de la Torre.
I can confirm that Jon Kean’s account of this incident is true and accurate. I have not spoken about this publicly until now for fear of retaliation against the School District, myself, and any others I am affiliated with by (then Santa Monica-Malibu School Board member) Councilmember Oscar de la Torre.
On July 1, 2019, the School Board engaged the services of Maniker Associates, a government improvement firm, to facilitate a comprehensive evaluation of the Board’s challenges and strengths. Each School Board member participated in individual meetings with the facilitator. On August 6, 2019, (then School Board member) de la Torre met with the facilitator, Marci Maniker, to share his perspectives.
As Board President at the time, I was later informed by the facilitator Ms Maniker, who is Jewish, she could no longer continue her work with the Board due to antisemitic comments made during her meeting with de la Torre. According to her, de la Torre remarked that the Board was "controlled by Jews."
Following this alarming revelation, Superintendent Ben Drati and I met with de la Torre to discuss the matter. Mr. de la Torre did not deny making the comment(s) but explained that he was referring to what he perceived as a problematic "power dynamic" on the Board. Ironically, he admitted that he assumed I was Jewish and considered me among the "four" individuals who, in his view, wielded excessive influence over the Board.
I am not Jewish. However, I understand how remarks like those made by Mr. de la Torre are deeply hurtful to Jewish people and perpetuate a dangerous stereotype that fuels antisemitism. At a time when so many Americans are subject to all kinds of hateful "isms", we must not tolerate this kind of behavior in our elected officials.
Dr. Richard Amir Tahvildaran-Jesswein, boardmember, SMMUSD
