The Truth About Development

June 10, 2013

Dear Editor,

I attended a very eye opening discussion at a workshop at Esalen in Big Sur this week. The Relational Turn: The Practice of Sustainability

A young man spoke who said he worked for an LA City Council Person. The young man shared the truth about so called community input meetings. Specifically, he talked about meetings concerning development projects similar to the Miramar meeting a few weeks ago at the Santa Monica main Library. This is a summary of what he said.

First, development is never about what’s good for a community. It’s always about Real Estate values and Profit for developers. The needs of the community are in last place when decisions are being made.

Second, community input meetings are about “Managing and Manipulating Public Perceptions” The true intent of the meetings are to stop the residents from mobilizing opposition to a development project. 

Third, City Employees know the meetings are a charade because back door deals have been made. And, the decisions are put in the hands of a few in city government who often have direct interest in seeing the development come to fruition. 

Lastly, development is disguised as what’s best for the community based on “community benefits” that ultimately do very little to actually benefit the overall good of the community. And, city employees play a large role in masking the truth about the long term ramifications of development, in order to gain short-term recognition and favorable outcomes for high profile developers they hope will further their career aspirations.

Sad and sounding a lot like what’s happening in the City of Santa Monica.

Development and growth are good for our City and necessary. Irresponsible over-development is the destruction of our City. 

Laura Wilson-Hausle
Santa Monica