By Charles Andrews
THE GLOVES ARE OFF
I wrote in my previous CURIOUS CITY column. But what happens when you take the gloves off? Bare knuckles bashing? Could be. The expression usually means things are going to escalate, punches will no longer be pulled, names will be named, and villains identified.
All the case, here. But it can also mean… an open hand revealed, and extended, in cooperation, solidarity, and common humanity. Wait – do I think “the other side” is capable of that? Yes, I do, and I am praying I am right.
It’s a tricky balance, on a tightrope. When Michelle Obama said, “When they go low, we go high,” I thought, that sounds right, like something I should believe and support. But then I looked over my shoulder at what was going on, what was on fire, and another expression sounded loudly in my head: don’t bring a rock to a knife fight.
I have followed politics since I was a kid, through 14 presidencies. This was not politics, Dem versus GOP, conservative versus liberal. This was good versus evil. This was existential. Both nationally and in Santa Monica.
We have been suffering terribly through 10 years (20+ in SM) of never-dreamed-of chaos and cruelty, and attacks on our laws and years of precedent, our City charter and our Constitution, from our own elected and appointed officials. Deception and corruption, “like no one’s ever seen before.”
I used that meaningless, foolish Trump-ish exaggeration intentionally – a signpost that he has just uttered some nonsense he made up, that he knows “his people” will never bother to verify… because I think some people take some things I write in that spirit – oh c’mon Charles, overblown, it ain’t that bad – prove it.
SO, BETWEEN NOW AND THE ELECTION
in the fall, I will try to expose some things I think we all should be worried about. Mostly SM things because they are the ones more hidden. The GOP and Trump have become increasingly “forthright” and shameless. Yeah, I’m doin’ it – try and stop me.
But that type of thorough dissection, such as the city planning professionals in the SMa.r.t. group practice in their columns, isn’t the way I operate. If I try to “prove” every detail, I will cover only a handful of issues, and it is the preponderance of deception and things that just don’t make sense that will lead you to conclusions, and to voting against “the villains.”
Now, this is important: I will try to walk that fine line that condemns the act but does not demonize the actor. I believe everyone “in the arena” loves this town, but some are terribly misguided, often by philosophy, sometimes by ambition for power, or potential piles of cryptocurrency. But elections have c consequences – no kidding – and we won’t get anywhere unless we put the right people into the seats of power.
The SMa.r.t. group, Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow, have been exposing these issues for more than a dozen years, in this newspaper, every Friday, and if you read all their columns, you will be much better informed. As mostly architects, they sometimes get a little wonky, and sometimes take three columns to dissect something I would cover in just one. But after you read their analysis, you will be really convinced. With me, you have to accept some of my shortcuts, or better yet, fill in with your own research. I can prove them all, but there’s too much ground to cover. Time’s a-wastin’. Lots at stake.
If you want to easily find my columns, the best way is to join my substack, MUSIC, POLITICS, LIFE, free, using the link – https://bit.ly/3UGkK1F. You will have them emailed to you. Easy peasy.
CANDIDATE FORUMS
are the best way to get a sense about the candidates. Keeping in mind that any candidate can say and promise anything, but more important is their record, the things they have actually done or failed to do. The Santa Monica Democratic Club is holding two of them, but unfortunately, the one for Rent Control Board, School Board, and College Board was held Wednesday night. You may be able to find it on the SM Dem Club website.
One candidate, for Rent Control Board, I highly recommend is HEATHER THOMASON. She has dug in the last two years to learn everything she can about how this city works, and why it works so badly. I hope she runs for City Council someday. She is exactly the kind of outraged, informed citizen activist we need to change things. She will be an excellent advocate for residents on the Rent Control Board. A candidate for that important position I highly do not recommend is former City Council member SUE HIMMELRICH. I will expand on these two, and others, in coming columns.
For College Board, I recommend SION ROY, and do not recommend former City Council member OSCAR DE LA TORRE. More to follow.
For School Board, NO on everyone except Harry Leshner, for now, because I don’t know enough about him. The others, I know far too much.
The very important forum for City Council candidates will be held this coming Wednesday, July 8, also at the Church in Ocean Park, 7 p.m., doors at 6:30.
You don’t like what you see going on here politically? Get informed, and vote, and inform your friends and neighbors, and urge them to vote. We can do so much better.
Charles Andrews has lived in Santa Monica for 40 years and wouldn’t live anywhere else in the world. Really. Send love and/or rebuke to him at therealmrmusic@gmail.com
