“The pier is so integral to the City of Santa Monica in terms of the city’s identity. It has certainly evolved over the years, but it has also been a constant for 100 years, which gives people a sense of history. One of the things that people may or may not realize is that the pier has been a critical component in the city’s political climate. In 1973, the City Council voted to tear down the pier, and that was a time when people really took control of their own city. The people led an effort to save the pier and the council reversed its decision. The movement to save the pier led to other works of community activism, like the fight for rent control. In that way, the pier served as a catalyst for community involvement and change.” – Mayor Ken Gensor
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