Editor:
In a 4-2 decision, the City Council was given a choice between two plans for a development agreement for the Village Trailer Park. One option gave the developer many millions of dollars in special development rights, greatly in excess of zoning code, as a reward for destroying an entire neighborhood and throwing 100 families out of their home. The other plan gave the developer a little less special rights, but preserved the homes of the remaining residents.
The two deciding votes were cast by Terry O'Day and Pam O'Connor, whose Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights nominations were rejected by a majority of the SMRR members. However, the SMRR Steering Committee overrode the vote of its membership and gave Mr. O'Day and Ms. O'Connor the SMRR endorsement, which directly resulted in their winning their seats on the City Council. The results of the SMRR Steering Committee's betrayal to its membership has now come to fruition as the City Council has adopted the policy that developers can now use development agreements as a tool to destroy rent-control housing.
Jeff Segal
Santa Monica
