A New Civic Action Group in Santa Monica
by Peter Tigler

Friends of Santa Monica hopes to establish itself as an "all Santa Monica issue & action group." I interviewed Donna Block, FOSM's founder, about the intentions.

Who are you and what is this about?
I am a resident stake holder in this community. I have a child in the public school system, I work in town, and I have been an active member of the community for over ten years. I'm on the SAMOHI PTA Board, a member of the League of Women Voters, Past Vice-president if my local neighborhood group and attend numerous community meetings on many
different issues.
FOSM is all about having a voice in our community, one that will be heard. It's about an ALL-Santa-Monica voice. I want to transcend a my-neighborhood vs. your-neighborhood competition, and one-issue-activism. It's about fair representation for all the stake holders in the community. There are many disenfranchised citizens in Santa Monica who want a voice. Our public process does not work to serve the citizens. Some of us believe that should change and the only way to do that is to get organized.

Is there an articulation of goals?
The primary goal of the group is to be included in the public process, to have a voice in decision making city wide. Things like parking solutions for residents and businesses, the way our tax dollars are being spent, public safety, and our schools.
Right now we are active on the issues of establishing a vehicle camping ban, getting a rebate on the utility tax, preserving community access to school playgrounds, and the problems created by the transient population. I hope to see support for activities for older youth and the SMRPH initiative (the home ownership initiative.)

Who sets the groups agenda?
The membership will set the agenda, it will be by majority vote that an issue will be addressed. Board members will serve only as facilitators and representatives of the group. Input from the membership will be compiled then submitted back to the full membership for consideration. The agenda will reflect the direction that the membership chooses to go in.

Where are you now? How big are you?
Right now we are in the process of getting our nonprofit status. It will be a 501-c4, which means that we will be able to raise money, endorse ballot initiatives and candidates if we choose. We cannot take membership dues until we complete this step, so we don't really know just how big we are yet. I would say over 100 people have expressed interest in the group already, I'm sure as soon as we get rolling the word will get around.

What would attract Pico neighborhood residents to this group?
The same thing that would attract anyone else - fair representation in this community. I believe, as do many others, that the Pico neighborhood has been ignored or gotten the short straw. Folks outside of Pico are not blind to or isolated from the public safety issue, politicized housing agenda of SMRR, parking needs of Pico Blvd or the apparent tolerance of graffiti vandals. This is an opportunity to unite and work together.

To get involved do you need money or interest or both?
Both, but if you don't have $20.00, yet have an interest, we can work it out. This isn't about money; it's about working together in the community for a common goal. It does take some money to do this kind of work. We will see what those goals are once we are established as a working group. What affects one area of Santa Monica, affects us all. I believe we should all have a voice in our community.

Friends of Santa Monica: donnablock@earthlink.net