For most of the last 15 years, the left-leaning Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights has held solid majorities on the Santa Monica City Council much to the consternation of local business owners who have had to shoulder a living wage ordinance and strict limits on development.
This time, Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights faces a serious challenge. Several strong outside candidates are on the Nov. 2 ballot, with four of seven council seats two belonging to SMRR candidates are up for grabs.
All the sitting council members are running for re-election, and at least one of them is likely to lose, because challenger Bobby Shriver, brother-in-law to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and nephew of John F. Kennedy, is expected to gather enough votes to place among the top four in the at-large election.
To retain its current 4-3 majority on the council, SMRR will have to retain the two seats held by Mayor Richard Bloom and Councilman Ken Genser.
SMRR already lost one seat. Former Mayor Michael Feinstein has since had a falling out with the group and is running for re-election without its backing. While he remains philosophically aligned with the renters, the break has not been amicable and his vote would be less predictable if he were re-elected.
“I remain aligned with SMRR on many issues,” Feinstein said. “I have been as successful as anyone on the council in advancing the objectives of the SMRR platform.”
The Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce is backing a slate that includes Shriver, incumbent Herb Katz and two other candidates. Chamber members are pumping money into their coffers.
“There is a general dissatisfaction in the community with the current leadership,” said Kathryn Dodson, president and chief executive of the Santa Monica Chamber. She said the concerns centered on dealing with the city’s growing homeless population, a shortage of parking in business districts, and ensuring the smooth flow of traffic.
Shriver is the group’s best hope.
“Given his name recognition and his money, I would be surprised if Shriver didn’t finish first,” said Bob Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies.
As a councilmember, though, the liberal Shriver may not hew closely to the chamber’s line, Stern said.
Feinstein’s re-election would be another setback for Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights. The group broke with him after he backed a non-SMRR candidate in a 2002 election.
Which leaves Bloom and Genser, two popular incumbents, carrying the renters’ torch. SMRR chair and co-founder Denny Zane said the the presidential election turnout should help their cause.
Utility Tax Proposal
The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor is proposing that utility taxes be raised on businesses by 1.5 percentage points, which would bring the rate to 14 percent.
The funds, roughly $6 million a year, would be used to pay for textbooks for community college students. Residential utility taxes now at 10 percent would not be touched.
The federation plans to gather signatures to put the tax proposal on the ballot in 2006. As a specialized tax, it needs a two-thirds approval.
Business interests are already raising howls.
“Do they have any more ideas for driving businesses out of the city?” said Carol Schatz, president and chief executive of the Central City Association. “When you drive businesses away, you also drive away jobs and union jobs at that. This is a grossly simplistic and unrealistic solution to a complex problem.”
County federation spokeswoman Hilda Delgado said the measure would benefit businesses in the long run.
“This proposal is more about workforce development than anything else. The biggest factor in business decisions related to an expansion or relocation is the quality of the local workforce.”
A Rubalcava Departs
Sharon Rubalcava, one of three Rubalcava family members who have been serving on L.A. city commissions, has stepped down.
Last month, Rubalcava resigned from the Information Technology commission; Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn has nominated real estate executive Sarah Maga & #324;a-Withers to replace her.
Sharon Rubalcava said that serving on the commission would take away from her work as an environmental attorney, including a major case involving the Pier 400 expansion at the Port of Los Angeles.
Also weighing on her decision was the increased consideration being given to commissioners’ fundraising activities in the wake of “pay-to-play” allegations at City Hall.
While Sharon Rubalcava has stepped down, her husband Dominic Rubalcava was recently reappointed as president of the Department of Water and Power board.
Staff reporter Howard Fine can be reached at (323) 549-5225, ext. 227, or at
[email protected]
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