Candidates Appear In First Debate

Michael Rosenthal

   The Santa Monica political season officially started Thursday, September 29, with a City Council debate in which 12 of the 13 candidates appeared. 
   The forum, which took place in the Adelphia Cable studio and was produced and hosted by Adelphia Vice President Bill Rosendahl, was the first time the three incumbents and nine challengers squared off against one another. Taped by Adelphia, the debate will run on CityTV several times before the election. 
   The 11 white males and one white women (Donna Block) opened with statements ranging from Jerry Rubin's startling pronouncement that, "I haven't decided yet who to vote for. I might not even vote for myself, I am here to hear what all the candidates have to say," to incumbent Councilman Richard Bloom's statement, "My name is Richard Bloom, I am proud of what I have accomplished in just two years, and I'd like your vote."
   Each voter can vote for as many as four of the 12 candidates. The top four vote-getters will win four-year terms on the Council. The three incumbents -- Bloom, Mayor Ken Genser and Michael Feinstein -- are currently seen as the front runners because they are better-known than the others and are backed by the powerful Santa Monicans for Renters Rights (SMRR) political organization. SMRR chose not to endorse a candidate for the fourth seat, which is being vacated by Paul Rosenstein, saying that it has ample representation no, (SMRR currently holds five of the seven Council seats) and to seek an additional seat would make it vulnerable to criticism. 
   In fact, during the debate, some of the other candidates made an issue of SMRR's super-majority on the Council. 
   "I am running because I care about diversification, the 5-2 majority is arrogant, the oneness of thought is not healthy, I would not want five of me" said candidate and former councilman Herb Katz. 
   Rosendahl laid out the ground rules, which included one-minute opening and closing statements and a call for equal time, fair play and no interruptions. He also encouraged interchange between the candidates as he wanted the "public to see how you really are."
   In his opening remarks, Jon Stevens, who is running a strictly internet-based campaign, called for citizen participation in what he called "electronic democracy," a theme he repeated numerous times.
Candidate Chuck Allord charged that "two hundred people represent the entire community's voice," adding that he didn't think his neighborhood had been well represented in 20 years and alleging that the City has "dismantled public safety" particularly in its treatment of the homeless. Allord also called for a "stop to all new construction and remodels."
   David Cole opened his remarks by saying the city "needs to change leadership every couple of decades," so that the it works "on our behalf, not career politicians, who I do not trust." In his closing statement, Cole a member of the Mid Wilshire Neighborhood Association, also called for a halt to new construction.
   Donna Block, describing herself as the only "mom" running, complained of political promises not met, parks not built and a deteriorating qualify of life in Santa Monica. She referred to herself as the "pot hole filler" candidate who will work on local issues and the small things like "trash collection."
   During the debate, a number of the candidates criticized the current Council for grabbing at national headlines rather then focusing on local issues. Candidate Richard Horner complained about the lawsuits the City has faced as a result of its activist legislation, including the now-suspended ordinance designed to curb excessive ATM fees. Horner also bemoaned "sound bite politics."
   Rosendahl asked the candidates how they stood on the ballot initiatives the citizenry will vote on next month. Charter amendment MM, which seeks to lift the current 100-year-old cap on civil fines, primarily to permit stiffer penalties for pilots violating Santa Monica Airport regulations, had mixed support. Candidate Don Gray, characterized MM as a "misguided" effort, since "there have been only five fines in the last year." Gray also felt the measure would "compromise civil protection." Genser supports the measure because it would "remove limits on environmental polluters." Allord also supports it, saying "the city made a mistake in 1984 when they invited jets in to the current fleet mix." Rob Ross, who teaches law and business and is also a lifeguard said the "measure was too broad."
   The most controversial issue this political season is the hotel and Chamber of Commerce-backed measure KK, which is called the Living Wage Ordinance. Genser agreed with the LA Times' characterization of the measure as a "phony wage" initiative. Incumbent Councilmen Bloom opposed it, as did Rubin and Stevens. Horner stated that "the city should not be talking about it, it does not affect residents." Block said the business community had been "backed into a corner, and initiated the measure after SMART (Santa Monicans Allied for Responsible Tourism) proposed their own measure." 
   Perhaps most passionate on the issue was Feinstein who said, "The first rule of politics is to follow the money. Large corporate hotels have contributed nearly a half million dollars in support of this measure as a way to exempt low wage workers" from a living wage. Genser said he favored a living wage which would adequately compensate the "labor of workers who cannot afford to put food on the table" and said he is seeking a "reasonable, fair and sensible" proposal, adding KK was none of those things. 
   The debate moved on to a discussion of the proposed parcel tax increase, as a means of increasing local funding for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD). Most candidates supported the measure, but some concern was expressed about the "black hole" in Block's phrase, which the management of SMMUSD funds has become. Bloom, noting that he has two children at John Adams Middle School, said he supports the measure, "We need to help our children." Herb Katz said when he was a member of the Council he repeatedly called for "accountability" of the City's contribution toward district funding "to no avail." Ross said he sought an "overall solution to school funding."
   Traffic issues. including parking, congestion and "calming" devices, provoked some of the most heated exchanges of the afternoon. Allord, upset by the re-engineered city streets, told the current Council members to "quit poking fingers at the old City Councils," and said, "We will NOT get used to them," referring to the curb extensions and numerous humps and bumps all over the city. Bloom said the measures are really a "public safety issue as it makes the city safer for pedestrians and can dramatically reduce injuries and deaths." Herb Katz called for an "end to preferential parking," and for "the immediate removal of bumps and humps." Katz also favors an "inner city transit shuttle service." Jerry Rubin who has never owned a car encouraged residents to "take a bus or shuttle." 
   In his closing remarks, Gray repeated an oft-quoted remark, "It is never too late to be that which you might have been," referring to the possibility of changing the city's direction, and said, "It is time for a leadership change." 
   Cole, said "special interest groups and career politicians" run the city and he wants to "stop development" Bloom pointed to "real accomplishments," including a decline in crime and a robust economy. Feinstein characterized himself as an "independent thinker" who seeks "consensus." He appeared to be proudest of his environmental agenda which, he said, focuses on "open space" needs for the city. Genser spoke of a "well run city," with "a highly rated bus service" and "educational improvements," and said he is most interested in seeking the "right solutions to complex problems."
   The Mirror has submitted its own questions to the candidates. Their responses will be run in upcoming issues.