Dear Editor,
Voters are smart enough to realize that besides eroding trust in local elected officials, Council leaks out of closed session cost resident taxpayers real money. Christine Parra’s defense of such lawbreaking (SMDP 6/18 "Council votes not to proceed with an investigation into closed session leaks") is disturbing and embarrassing.
Make no mistake, such leaks violate state law. The LA County District Attorney’s Public Integrity Division stands ready to investigate and enforce, but not if the Council itself votes for a cover-up. This is the second time in just three years that the "change slate" voted to prevent an investigation from going forward.
Closed session leaks and cover-ups are not normal — far from it. During my experience on the Council, going back to 1998, allegations of leaks were never an issue until after the 2020 election. Something new and extremely concerning is happening behind the scenes at City Hall, and voters should demand transparency and justice.
Instead, Parra pulled a page from the Trump playbook, accusing other Councilmembers of "weaponizing the city attorney’s office for political gain." Wait a minute, who’s been saying that about state and federal Departments of Justice? Buy the nice lady a MAGA hat!
The change slate’s hitherto unacknowledged conservatism was revealed by something else Parra said in dismissing concerns about Councilmembers’ honesty and integrity; "...this is not the first time that we’ve seen the liberal minority use this body for political gain…" Whoa! If we have a liberal minority, that means we have a conservative majority… for the moment.
Integrity and ethics will, and should be, a major issue in November’s election. Last Tuesday’s Council inaction, as reported by the Daily Press, makes it clear we need to clean house and restore our City Council to trustworthy representation of Santa Monica voters. We can’t afford to keep Councilmembers who believe living up to the honesty we expect of them is merely optional. Christine Parra and your allies, I have to say it again: your behavior is an embarrassment.
Kevin McKeown, Retired former Mayor
