SMRR's "Disloyalty"

March 29, 2012

Dear Editor:

Last Sunday, Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights, which has run the city for 30 years, showed its lack of loyalty to Mayor Richard Bloom, who has been an active and loyal member of SMRR for 23 years.  ("Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights Snubs Bloom, Endorses Osborn," March 26, 2012)

SMRR has endorsed Mr. Bloom for City Council five times since 1998, but they chose to ignominiously dump him at an endorsement meeting that had not been previously announced as such to SMRR members.

I have known and admired Richard Bloom's wisdom, talents, intellect and commitment to Santa Monica.  He certainly deserves more respect and support from an organization he has supported for so long.

Mr. Bloom has said that he felt it would be in SMRR's best interest not to endorse any of the candidates running for Assembly in the 50th District.  He was correct.  In response to his intelligent recommendation, SMRR management chose to endorse another candidate. 

How much longer will the voters of Santa Monica be fooled by the empty promises, the back door dealing and the disloyalty of SMRR to their own?    SMRR claims to stand for Santa Monica.    What support or chance do we have as citizens when the Mayor of our city gets thrown under the bus. 

Santa Monica voters should be very suspicious of SMRR's political shenanigans.  SMRR had no reason to behave so disrespectfully to Mayor Bloom.  Will they treat their other loyal members in the same fashion?  Will you and your family be the next supporters they throw under the bus?

At what point, my fellow Santa Monica residents, will you stand up for your freedoms and your own interests?

Remember the immortal words of one of this country's founders, Benjamin Franklin:

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."