Sharing Blame and Enemies of the State

June 16, 2004

Dear Editor,

The response to yet another shooting on the 1800 block of 17th Street is pathetic. The question is really whose inaction or lack of outrage is worse.

Is it the Pico Community, who quietly accepts shootings as part of life in the Pico neighborhood? Is it the property owner, who keeps stating we are working on it, but our hands are really tied?

Is it the Police, who have not addressed the series of violent acts associated with a single property or for not interviewing a community member who saw the car driving away before calling 911?

Is it the City Council, who relegates Pico violence somewhere far behind helping the homeless and/or making sure businesses meet the sign Code? Is it SMRR, an organization that has controlled Santa Monica politics for 25 years without addressing this issue?

Is it the media, whose coverage is sporadic and never provides depth into these issues? Or, is it the Santa Monica community at large, who appears to be content that the violence is confined to a three or four block area far away from them?

It seems to me that each group, including some not mentioned, shares some responsibility and shame. However, it is the silence of the Pico community’s majority that speaks the loudest.

If the recent violence does not keep us up at night searching for an answer, then why should anyone else really care? There may not be a single answer to this problem, but I fear that our silence and inaction will lead to yet another death.

We each know members from the stakeholders listed above… Never let them forget violence is a real concern for us. We have four Council seats open this election cycle. Let’s make sure we support candidates willing to address the issue of violence in our community.

Jim Ries
Pico Neighborhood Board member

June 15, 2004

Dear Editor,

I am writing about Santa Monica's new "permit police." It seems code enforcement officers are making surprise visits on local businesses and charging them $500 for the privilege of being inspected, and possibly fined.

Excuse me, what country is this we live in?

I suppose we should be grateful that according to Mr. McCormick of Santa Monica's Building & Safety "We're willing to allow the new business owner to learn the regulations before we fine them." Isn't that thoughtful?

But the $500 is still levied regardless! Even when the business is found in
compliance. "The City is not making any money on it. We are simply trying to pay for our costs." Wait a minute Doesn't the city already get funding from business taxes? And permit fees? And a myriad of other taxes?

Should businesses be held accountable for complying with conditions agreed to as a basis for doing business? Of course. But the fact that 75 percent of the inspected businesses are already in compliance leads one to believe this is not really about rampant abuse of CUP conditions, but rather a revenue generating scheme. If the city were truly concerned about code compliance, they could first look at complaints, instead of mounting surprise attacks on random businesses.

Several months ago I lodged a complaint about a business in violation of a CUP. I did this after contacting the business personally on at least three occasions.
When my efforts failed to result in compliance, I reluctantly contacted code enforcement.

Code enforcement did nothing. I never heard back, no letter, no follow-up. As far as I can tell, they never bothered to try to enforce the condition I complained about. That business continues to violate their CUP on a daily basis, and nothing is done.

Meanwhile, the City has hired an inspection officer & plans to hire two more, as well as a support staff person! Does it bother anyone else that during a time we hear so much about "budget cuts" and lack of funds, our City is adding four new fulltime positions? And for the sole purpose of charging $500 to innocent business owners while looking for additional revenue from fines as well. Unbelievable.

How convenient it is to wage war on businesses. Why are we so quick to defend the poor, the children, the homeless, etc -- yet treat our businesses as though they are enemies of the state? Who will come to their rescue?

It's easy to demonize or at least exclude oneself from the plight of someone who owns a business. They must be rich. They can afford that $500. After all, it's not coming out of my pocket.

Personally, I do not own a business, so it would be easy to ignore this and go on my way. But I was reminded of Martin Niemöller's quote about moral failure in the face of the Holocaust:

”First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist, so I said nothing. Then they came for the Social Democrats, but I was not a Social Democrat, so I did nothing. Then came the trade unionists, but I was not a trade unionist. And then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew, so I did little. Then when they came for me, there was no one left to stand up for me.”

How quickly we forget the lessons of history. Ask yourself: Who will be
left to stand up for you?