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Health & Fitness

Giving Residocracy Campaigners the Respect They Deserve

Don’t believe everything I say 

Writing about Residocracy’s victorious signature-gathering campaign, calling on the City Council to rescind their vote approving the Hines Project or bring it to the residents of Santa Monica to decide, I took a provocative stance that was a little less than honest.  I encouraged the members of City Council who had voted for the Hines Project to stand their ground and bring the issue to the people at the general election in November.

"Is that the best you can do?"

On reflection, this was like having witnessed David slay Goliath and taking it upon myself to mock the Philistines by encouraging them not to give up.  Taunting the enemy in defeat when one has not fought as hard as one's companions is hardly fitting.  Wars are costly, and victory does not come cheap.

Treating others with respect

I have been proud to work with those who led this campaign and have nothing but respect and admiration for all they have done to stand up for their community.  When the community speaks as loudly as our community has, those who have been elected to represent us need to listen.  For me to have suggested otherwise showed a lack of respect for both sides.  I apologize for not taking more care in considering the weight of my remarks.

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Know us for who we are

That being said, the rest of what I wrote, I believe was respectful of the efforts made by those I have worked with over the years.  The account of our struggle is one that many do not know–which is why developers and those who represent them have believed they could label us as a disgruntled minority of highly vocal misfits who do not represent the majority of Santa Monica's residents.

The time has come
Thanks to those who worked tirelessly over these last four weeks, that lie will no longer stand.  It is time that the residents of Santa Monica be heard.

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