October 17, 2024

Dear Editor,

In Kevin McKeown’s October 15th letter, he maliciously calls out Phil Brock and Oscar de la Torre for not supporting rent control. This cannot be further from truth. The truth is that since 2020, Council votes on rent control issues have been consistently unanimous.

As usual, McKeown is falsely spinning a rent control discussion that occurred at the Council two years ago. What was discussed was an idea to permanently eliminate ALL rent increases from the bottom half (by rent) of the controlled units, as a rough attempt to mitigate the impacts of rent increases on those with the lowest incomes. This was simply brought up for discussion and perhaps further study.

The fact that the idea did not originate from SMRR seems to have been the biggest problem. Having a productive conversation also appeared to be out of the question simply because the SMRR faction on the Council, Rent Board and staff were adamantly against the idea. That being said, Brock and De La Torre, along with others on the council, unanimously agreed on the 3 percent across the board cap.

In addition, it should be emphasized that the Rent Control Law is in Article XVIII of the City Charter. It was established April 10, 1979. As part of the City Charter, it can only be amended by a vote of the people, as every amendment to the law has been since 1979. Somehow McKeown cynically fails to mention this. Rent Control will never be at risk. The SAFER SANTA MONICA SLATE SUPPORTS RENT CONTROL 100 percent.

So, the real question here is if his case is so strong, why does McKeown constantly default to disinformation?

In full spin mode, McKeown then states that Democrats Phil Brock and Oscar de la Torre are not supported by the Democratic Party. Really?

Well, let’s take a good look at who bestows Democratic Party candidate endorsements in Santa Monica. It just happens to be the Santa Monica Democratic Club and the Westside Democratic Club. And…Surprise! The leadership of these organizations consist of the same people that control Santa Monica Renter’s Rights. More deception by McKeown.

I was on the Downtown Santa Monica (DTSM) Board for many years while McKewon was on the City Council. He was one the most anti-business, biased and difficult people to work with. He didn’t want to know or hear about the fact that his policies were hurting the Third Street Promenade, the very heart of Santa Monica.

He was unable to comprehend that it is the businesses of Santa Monica that subsidize all the city services and amenities for the residents. Business-related revenues are more than 50 percent of the City’s General Fund. He forgot that he represented all the people, not just his SMRR group.

McKeown was in office from 1998 to 2021 before leaving the Council. That is 23 years. Thank goodness in 2018 the voters, by a 74 percent margin, decided to limit the terms for council members to 12 years.

What is at risk here is the SAFETY of all the residents and tourists that visit Santa Monica.

The Santa Monica Renter’s Right group has had control of the city for four decades. Their bad polices, which you are all aware of (crime etc...) has also allowed and accelerated the deterioration of our precious commercial districts.

They don’t understand how to maintain, let alone grow, business or promote business within the city. This failure is noticeable to all who see downtown. This lack of fiscal responsibility has led to the deterioration of this beautiful little town.

The lack of safety that we all feel and experience is the direct result of their policies. At its most basic level, they have not allowed our police to do their job. In fact, they want to defund the police and control them even more.

SMRR DOES NOT WANT TO BAN the distribution of needles and pipes in the parks. SMRR DOES NOT WANT to ban sleeping in public spaces. SMRR IS NOT SERIOUS ABOUT FIXING THE INTRACTABLE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE DEVELOPED AND BEEN ALLOWED TO FESTER ON ITS WATCH.