Voting for Shriver
Editor:
Before marking my absentee ballot for LA County Supervisor, I sat down with 21 campaign ads. Taken as a group, they show the difference between the candidates, Sheila Kuehl and Bobby Shriver.
I received 10 ads for Kuehl - two from her campaign, eight from PACs supporting her. Eleven came for Shriver - nine from his campaign, two from PACs. Nine of Kuehl's ads talk about her past, one about the county's future. Two of Shriver's ads talk about his or Kuehl's past, nine about the future. PAC vs non-PAC and past vs future tense, the two sets are almost the reverse of each other.
The themes: From Kuehl - past legislation for families (five separate ads), past legislation for nurses (two), endorsements (two), and one ad with four general statements about what she'll do for the county. Shriver's ads have action items on job creation (two), transportation, veterans, the film industry, infrastructure, fiscal responsibility (three), and education.
There's a big difference: Kuehl talks about her past. Shriver plans for our future.
Holly Lynne
Santa Monica
Proposed Water Cuts in Santa Monica
Editor:
I read with interest that City Hall may be moving to cap water usage in Santa Monica ("Revised Water Cuts Coming" SMDP 10-23-14).
I am confused as to why such cuts are needed, as Santa Monica clearly does not face the serious drought conditions so devastating to the rest of California.
I recently walked around Santa Monica's tropical rainforest region (known by locals as "North of Montana"). It is reminiscent of the lush highlands of Papua New Guinea. The air in Santa Monica's pristine jungle is humid, the vegetation rare and exotic, the foliage and plantings dense and lush.
Far from facing a water shortage, Santa Monica's rainforest region has water flowing down the streets early every morning, and beautiful rainbows of color reflected in the daily showers that refresh and soak the ground. We are so blessed as a city to have a jungle of such stunning biodiversity right here in our backyard.
Given that we share so much flora with Papua New Guinea, we presumably also are located close to the Equator with a similar rainfall (over 3000 mm per year). This makes Santa Monica's microclimate unique in California.
Instead of restricting water usage in our sodden city, perhaps City Hall should consider sharing our natural abundance with the less fortunate residents elsewhere in California? We are a generous city, deeply concerned about the environment. Surely we should be willing to share our bounty in water with the parched and desperate people facing drought conditions throughout our State?
John Hall
Santa Monica
