Editor:
The time to think about your vote is now, not when you step into the voting booth, open the sample ballot and read about the candidates and issues for the first time.
There have been a number of times when a dead person was elected to office. That's how informed the electorate is. They didn't even know the person had died long before election day. It is easier to elect a dead incumbent than it is for a real representative of the people to get elected.
Yes, people are busy. Most of us have too much on our plate to give all the time we'd like to important projects. But please consider this: How many people have put themselves in harm's way to protect our right to vote? How many have died, been tortured, been a POW, suffered grievous injuries, all to protect our right to vote? Don't we owe every one of them due diligence as citizens and voters? You've heard it before — freedom is not free.
Unfortunately, even in our little city by the sea, organizations with very deep pockets have spent millions to deceive the voters of Santa Monica. Everyone complains about the parking and traffic congestion. But who is doing anything about it? Do you think it is a coincidence that larger and larger developments keep going up in Santa Monica and traffic keeps getting worse and worse? There are more large developments in the pipeline right now than in the last 35 years.
There are neighborhood organizations in Santa Monica and there are citizen groups. The trick is to figure out who are the phonies and who are legitimate. There are groups called PACs. They are immune from the donation limits for each candidate. They produce slick brochures and mailers using catch phrases that will appeal to voters.
But who is really paying for those brochures and mailers? The intelligent statement has always been "follow the money." Usually, it is a group of developers who pay for those mailers. Usually, they pick some name for their group that is actually the opposite of what they actually want. Don't be fooled. Do some research. Check with your neighborhood association for a list of web sites that tell the truth about the candidates, their funding sources and who they really are.
Be a responsible voter and take back Santa Monica from the deceivers.
Jeanne Laurie
Santa Monica
