Thanks, a Quiz and One of a Kind

October 17, 2003

Dear Editor,

Mark McGuigan’s article Oct 13th “The Weight of Pushing Tin” is the best synopsis of current SM Airport / FAA related politics that I’ve read.

I was at a neighborhood airport meeting last night and the feeling was unanimous. Mark nailed the main points, presented them clearly and did so in an unbiased fashion.

Thank you for committing your resources, time and energy to research and write the piece.

John Reynolds
Sunset Park

October 17, 2003

Dear Editor,

In "Measure for Measure" (October 17, 2003) your reporter writes: The proposed measure, (Councilman Herb Katz) argued, would result in fewer units built in a City desperately in need of housing.

Do we really need more housing? Who else thinks this commonly accepted "fact" is true?

In a city of 8 square miles and roughly 94,000 people - isn't 11,750 people per square mile enough? (Seems like more than that at rush hour now, doesn't it?)

As a lifelong Santa Monica resident who has watched the quality of life steadily decline here in recent decades, I am compelled to ask: Who says Santa Monica desperately needs more housing?

For those of you wondering the same thing, here is a short quiz:

WHO SAYS "SANTA MONICA DESPERATELY NEEDS MORE HOUSING?"

A. It's the bankers, developers and realtors, desperate to make a profit on these additional units.

B. It's the City, desperate for new revenue, looking for additional property taxes rather than developing sales tax and other revenue resources. (We won't have any Target stores here, thank you … can a revision of Prop. 13 be far away?)

C. It's the social engineers who repeatedly demand "affordable housing " -- not for the benefit of long term residents who can no longer afford to live in the area, but to subsidize low-wage earners working in service industries here who currently live elsewhere. (Because federal funding used in all affordable housing construction requires open lotteries based on eligibility for occupancy of these units.)

D. It's the social agenda of the local political majority, desperate to maintain its hegemony, which will benefit from additional unionized, resident members?

E. All of the above.

Alison Wentworth
Santa Monica

October 17, 2003

Dear Editor,

Officer Joe is certainly highlights a true and genuine Police officer. ("Opinion: Santa Monica’s Finest: Twenty years in the Making," Oct. 15, 2003)

Joe you're one of a kind!