How I’m voting for the environment on Nov. 7, 2006, for the City of Santa Monica. Here are my votes for the state-level propositions and for the state-level offices.

My vote on Measure U: Yes

Basically, Measure U would give more power to the City Manager, allowing the manager to hire and fire city department heads without having to get approval from boards and commissions. The argument is that this would make government more responsive.

The measure has pretty much no opposition. In fact, the city’s voter information pamphlet doesn’t even have an argument against measure U.

One concern, however, is that this measure would give the City Manager too much power. And in fact, it’s the City Manger himself — Lamont Ewell — who’s behind this measure. Basically, Lamont helped write a measure that would give him more power.

In addition, Lamont actually left his last job as City Manager of San Diego because the city moved to a strong mayor form of government, giving the mayor the responsibilities that the City Manager used to have — like the power to hire and fire department heads.

Meaning that Lamont left San Diego in part because he couldn’t hire and fire department heads, and now, he’s put a measure on the Santa Monica ballot that would let him hire and fire department heads at will.

Which, at least for me, raises the question: Is the guy’s just looking for more power?

Then again, one could argue that this is necessary power for the City Manager to do the job properly. After all, Beverly Hills, Culver City, and other cities allow the City Manager to hire and fire department heads at will.

Plus, the City Manager is appointed by the City Council, and as the City Council supports the changes outlined in Measure U.

I feel sort of unsettled by measures such as these, as it’s quite difficult for voters to weigh the pros and cons. But I gotta go with the info I have. Considering that other cities give their City Managers similar powers, and that our City Council’s unanimously behind this measure, I’m voting yes.

0 Comments