Insensitive, Naïve Words and Victimized by Tenants

February 18, 2004

Dear Editor,

In response to the letter published on Tuesday, February 17th, under the title "Unprofessional and Disrespectful," I would like to rebut the insensitive, naive words this out-of-touch, alleged citizen of Santa Monica/Malibu so easily hurls at educators dedicated to children at risk of slipping through the cracks.

She should be so lucky as to have these people as role models for her children, if indeed she has any -- judging by her ignorance of the facts, I suspect she does not. This alleged citizen has no idea what the principal and teachers of Olympic High School are up against everyday.

If she sincerely wants to see "…exactly what they are trying to… protect," as she states in her letter, then maybe, before shooting off her poison pen, she should take the time (as should Superintendent John Deasy) to visit the school and observe how these committed educators turn the tide from "against" to "in favor of" for the many students of Olympic who would otherwise be swept under the societal rug.

Many would not be eligible for college or even a high school diploma, and some would end up in prison or worse, if not for these dedicated individuals who help them develop self-respect, a strong work ethic and the ability to see their own potential as productive, valuable citizens.

This woman is also clueless about what ensued prior to, and off-camera at that Santa Monica school board meeting, and knows nothing about how the children in attendance were inappropriately accosted by Santa Monica school board member and so-called "community leader" Oscar de la Torre, who told them they would "look like fools " if they got up and defended their school.

She knows nothing of his inappropriate statements, like, "These white teachers don't care about you," and other divisive comments designed to manipulate and generate hatred.

Nor does she know that, days before the meeting, John Deasy was quoted by two reliable school sources as stating that he planned to close Olympic High, not simply evaluate it, which was the shocker that had inflamed the crowd to begin with. Mr. Deasy also arrogantly stated that "the school board trusts (him)," so he can do what he pleases!

She should aim her self-righteous words at John Deasy, Oscar de la Torre and their dubious political motives, rather than at Olympic High's embattled principal and staff, who were passionately fighting an unjust proposal that would leave its students out in the cold.

Of course, they were angry. School Board meetings and other public forums are not tea parties, and First Amendment rights are not forfeited when one becomes an educator, although she and Attorney General John Ashcroft might think otherwise.

Perhaps this alleged SM resident should stick to watching "Leave it to Beaver" reruns if rough & tumble democracy in action so offends her delicate sensibilities.

Joanna di Paolo
Los Angeles

February 18, 2004

Dear Editor,

Recent crimes in the vicinity of Community Corp. of Santa Monica low income housing projects validate the H.U.D. study, "In the Crossfire, The Impact of Gun Violence on Communities."

That study (during the Clinton administration.) concluded those residents who live in and around low-income housing projects are more than twice as likely to suffer firearm related victimization.

With a sex offender living in a CCSM building on Delaware accused of burglary, and a firearm found at the notorious CCSM building on 17th St. (numerous gun related incidents, including bullets shot into a resident's bedroom), I now understand why the Executive Director of CCSM and Director of the City Housing Authority, the two people responsible for developing multi-family low-income housing in the Pico Neighborhood, have made the choice not to live adjacent to the projects they develop in the Pico Neighborhood.