Columnist’s Note: I never want to get anything wrong in my columns. I can picture my old journalism prof Tony Hillerman raising his eyebrow and reaching for his red pencil. I also have never had a problem with apologizing for legitimate errors, professional or personal.
There were some in my previous Curious City column.
Important journalism rule: never get someone’s name wrong. That’s personal, of course. I have known OPA board member Patty Godon-Tann for at least 10 years. Why did I type "Cathy" instead of Patty? Who knows. Ask my fingers.
I listed Judy Abdo as co-chair of Forward, because that’s what I thought her bio on the OPA website said. Turns out she was, but no longer is, co-chair of that pro-development group that is very influential in SM politics. I think having been co-chair there makes my point, but I do regret the error. I also wrote that she had renter/housemates on the board, when in fact I know of only one. I still think that's one too many, for conflict of interest. Let me also say this about Abdo. She has a very long resume of service to Santa Monica, in many elected, appointed and volunteer positions. She has much to be proud of. I just don’t believe her current positions and activities are beneficial to our city.
I mentioned Armen Melkonian’s now-defunct organization Residocracy, and repeated an accusation I heard often, that he overruled his board for his own agenda. I had a very reliable ex-member of that board tell me that they could never remember that happening. Just because you hear something several times from reliable sources doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true. I regret that error.
Lastly, I did not recommend excluding Ocean Park from such a residents group as my proposed URSM. Just that they not have a board member automatically be in the board. A representative could be chosen another way. Also, downtown does not have a neighborhood group, and they should also be represented.
OPA has made efforts to bring in more residents at their meetings.
OPA President Sean Besser submitted a letter to the paper 2/24 that did not even mention my name. I was prepared to be crucified by their response, but they took the high ground and used the opportunity to extol the standing and accomplishments of OPA, and to urge residents to participate. I salute Besser and the group for their high mindedness. – CWA
I am not a community organizer
I can suggest ideas in this column, but when it comes to an organization addressing those ideas, there is a built-in conflict of interest if I am a prime mover in that organization.
Two weeks ago I proposed that we need an umbrella organization looking out for the interests and well being of residents here. Hardly an original idea. But I suggested that we need to do it NOW and that it needn’t be a long complicated process. A Union of Residents of Santa Monica, I proposed, could be quickly set up if the heads of the relevant neighborhood associations would become the governing board. They are knowledgeable about the city’s issues, and the complicated machinery of SM city government. And always looking out for their constituents.
I haven’t heard directly from any of them, though other City leaders have told me they think it is a good idea, whose time has come. And I see and hear that individual residents are weighing in, favorably. I know — those neighborhood leaders have already added a lot of time and effort to their busy lives, helming those neighborhood groups. But there would be a lot of overlap, and this larger organization could be a game changer, and is worth the sacrifice, I think. So many smaller, isolated voices could join together to be a force to be reckoned with, for creative governance, for residents.
Things are moving forward
In Santa Monica politics. Thank goodness.
Behind the scenes, of course, at this point, and it’s going both directions. The difference is, the anti-resident forces, mostly developers and ideologues, and the politicians willing to serve them, have already been working on their strategies and on grooming candidates, for months, to retake City Council.
I have been pleading, in this column, for a long time, for some good candidates to step up, NOW, because you can’t win a November election if you start in June. Everybody knows that. But getting started is so hard.
But now, in February, courage has popped up in several places. Anger, no doubt, is part of the equation, and being finally just too fed up at being used. For untested textbook social engineering that might look good on paper but does not predict or take into account human suffering, such as we have experienced here in Santa Monica, because of it.
You really have to care
About Santa Monica to run for Council, because you know you will not only be attacked during a campaign, but while you serve for four years. You need a thick skin. But the rewards are tremendous. It is not an exaggeration to say that the Santa Monica we love is in danger of being destroyed. But you can prevent that, you new candidates. Yes, the state of California has legislated away most of the control that cities have had over their own zoning/destinies — all in the name of the false panacea of "more housing!" in a state with declining population (we have an affordability crisis, not a housing crisis), but while decades of corrupt Councils paved the way for a Sacramento takeover, there are ways we can fight even now. Better late than never.
State of the City
A good place to eat some perspectives from city leaders, and maybe engage them personally, before or after. Thursday, 5–7 p.m., at John Adams Middle School Performing Arts Center, 2425 16th St. Mayor Phil Brock, Vice Mayor Lana Negrete, and City Manager David White will all give their vies on the last year, and projecting the future: "Leaping Toward a THRIVING 150th," a reference to Santa Monica’s upcoming founding celebration.
I know, it sounds like a total snooze, two hours of speeches, but I’ve gone to many of these, and it’s not. It’s kind of an old style town meeting where you spot neighbors and move around the room, and buttonhole officials to give them a piece of your mind. Or, maybe, praise. I highly recommend it.
Charles Andrews has lived in Santa Monica for 38 years and wouldn’t live anywhere else.
