THE FACTS ABOUT PAM O'CONNOR

I.

IS PAM O'CONNOR FUNDED BY DEVELOPERS?  DID SHE TAKE ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM DEVELOPERS AFTER VOTING FOR THEIR PROJECTS?  YES!

The Complaint filed by the SM Transparency Project alleges that Pam O'Connor has persistently violated the Oaks Initiative since 2008 by repeatedly accepting contributions from 24 officers, directors or owners of major developers whose project she voted to approve (Hines/Papermate, Macerich/Santa Monica Place, and Century West/ 1320 2nd Street project.
http://www.santamonicadispatch.com/link19

For developer contributions AFTER she voted for their projects, see Complaint against Pam O'Connor filed with the City Attorney by the Transparency Project on 10.08.14 alleging Pam O'Connor has violated Santa Monica law (the Oaks Initiative which makes it illegal for council members to take donations from developers AFTER voting on their projects); the Complaint alleges 24 violations involving 3 developers with the biggest projects in Santa Monica (Hines, Macerich and Century West) who all donated to Pam O'Connor AFTER she voted for their projects.  On 10.16.14, the Transparency Project filed an Amended Complaint with the City Attorney, alleging 7 additional counts that Pam O'Connor received contributions from the owners of and a senior officer of Century West Partners after she conferred yet another benefit on them for their 401 Broadway project in downtown Santa Monica. See:
http://www.santamonicadispatch.com/link24
http://www.santamonicadispatch.com/link25

On October 17, 2014 the City Attorney referred the Complaint to the L.A. District Attorney's Public Integrity Division to investigate possible misdemeanor criminal conduct of Pam O'Connor in violating Santa Monica law by accepting campaign contributions from developers after approving their projects. The City Attorney recused herself because she reports directly to Mayor Pam O'Connor and the City Council, thereby posing a conflict of interest. See:
http://www.santamonicadispatch.com/link26
On October 27, 2014 additional complaints are filed against Pam O'Connor for new violations of the Oaks Initiative based on her latest campaign disclosure statement which shows she accepted donations from Edward Thomas executives, owners of Casa del Mar and Shutters after voting to confer benefits on the company.  Edward Thomas has also contributed over $50,000 to the PAC formed to re-elect Pam O'Connor, chaired by Councilmember Terry O'Day.
http://smdp.com/link27 (O'Day heads hotel-backed political group)

"To get a glimpse of how the council will vote, all one has to do is follow the money."
http://smdp_backissues.s3.amazonaws.com/link30

II.
DID PAM O'CONNOR  REWARD DEVELOPERS WITH MILLIONS FOR DESTROYING RESIDENTS' HOMES, INCLUDING VILLAGE TRAILER PARK AND 301 OCEAN AVENUE?  YES!

Voted to reward developers with lucrative projects who evicted tenants and destroyed rent-controlled housing. In both 301 Ocean Avenue and the Village Trailer Park, O'Connor voted to reward developers who had evicted tenants from their homes and destroyed rent-controlled housing by allowing them to build with greater heights and/or density than existing code allowed.  In the case of 301 Ocean, O'Connor also voted in favor of overturning the Landmark Commission's designation of that property as a landmark, which would have saved the residents from eviction.
http://www.tenantstogether.org/link31
http://www.docstoc.com/link32
http://www.santamonicadispatch.com/link33
http://www.smmirror.com/link34
http://www.smmirror.com/link35
http://www.surfsantamonica.com/link36
http://www.smgov.net/link37
http://smdp.com/link38
http://smdp_backissues.s3.amazonaws.com/link39

III.
SEVERE WATER CUTBACKS AND FINES ARE COMING FOR SANTA MONICANS. WHILE A GUSHER OF NEW PROJECTS FOR DEVELOPERS (3,500,000 SQUARE FEET IS PENDING). PAM O'CONNOR HAS NEVER VOTED AGAINST A LARGE DEVELOPMENT - WILL SHE EVER?

There are over 40 large development projects in the pipeline; http://www.smgov.net/Departments/PCD/Boards-Commissions/Case-List/; 9.25.14 City of Santa Monica Major Development Projects Pending Projects (The report identifies over 3,500,000 square feet of pending and new development, including 3 new hotels approved, 4 more hotels pending, 700 approved "pack-and-stack" apartment units, and 2,300 more "pack-and-stack" apartments pending (600 of them just on Lincoln Blvd).  This is like 7 new Santa Monica Place malls.)

Pam O'Connor has never voted against a large development project (30,000 square feet or more) in 20 years.  Just Google her Council votes for the following projects: Target, Lantana Hines, Maguire-Thomas, Rand, St John's, Santa Monica Place, Hines Papermate, Village Trailer Park, 710 Wilshire Hotel, and Civic Center "Village." At "Squirm Night" on October 14, 2014, sponsored by the Daily Press, the Daily Press reports that current Mayor O'Connor, who has served on city council since 1994, said she could not remember the last time she voted against a development agreement."I don't keep track that way, no seriously, I don't," she said. http://smdp_backissues.s3.amazonaws.com/link41

Here are the facts about WATER USAGE, DROUGHT, AND FINES

"Could California's Drought Last 200 Years?" National Geographic (2/13/14)
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/link42
"California is experiencing its worst drought since record-keeping began in the mid 19th century, and scientists say this may be just the beginning.". B. Lynn Ingram, a paleoclimatologist at the University of California at Berkeley, thinks that California needs to brace itself for a megadrought—one that could last for 200 years or more. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/link43

Water Conservation FAQs http://www.smgov.net/water.aspx/link44

City website that explains how the 20% reduction will be calculated.  Also "Staff will return to Council on October 28, 2014 with updates to the WSRP, including water allowances for all customers and percent reductions, implementation plan and schedule for final approval. It is anticipated that implementation of the Stage 2 water allowances will begin in January 2015 with penalty surcharges starting no sooner than March 2015. Each resident, business, and water customer will be informed about how and when the Stage 2 Water Shortage will affect them well in advance of implementation so there will be time to make permanent water-saving changes."
http://www.surfsantamonica.com/link45

Santa Monica Could Ration Water . . .  Santa Monica Lookout July 18, 2014
"The City's drought response plan includes "increased enforcement and changes in water allocation." said Gilbert Borboa, Santa Monica's Water Resources Manager. "Stage 2 establishes water allowance per customer. It's mandatory in that it allocates a certain amount of water per person."

During Stage 2, water allowances would be 68 gallons of water per person per day. The average person uses 80 to 100 gallons of water per day. Stage II also would boost enforcement of water use restrictions."

http://smdp.com/link46
Santa Monica Daily Press July 30, 2014
"We're going to Council on August 12 and asking them to declare a State II, what we call a mandatory water shortage," she said. "Assuming Council approves, there are going to be water allocations or budgets, customers will be given a certain amount to use and if they go over that, they will have to pay a penalty on the amount that's over." According to the City's Water Shortage Response Plan, customers that exceed their allotment will pay on a sliding scale ranging from $4 per HCF (equal to 748 gallons) to $40 per HCF depending on the amount used. The plan also allows for the City to restrict water flow to a customer who repeatedly overuses, mandate water efficiency upgrades and eventually disconnect a customer if that customer fails to comply with the regulations. - See more at:
http://smdp.com/link47

http://www.smmirror.com/link48
Santa Monica Mirror August 15, 2014
"Under the conservation plan, single-family and multi-family water customers would be given a "water budget" per each billing cycle.
The water budget per single-family and multi-family residence would be 68 gallons per person per day "plus additional water for outdoor uses that adjust seasonally."
Certain households would be exempt from the water conservation requirement. For example, any single-family residence or duplex using up to 16,456 gallons of water per billing cycle would be exempt.

Similarly exempt are multi-family unit using 5,984 gallons or less per billing cycle.

"In addition, for commercial accounts, including City facilities and schools, the water allowance is 90 percent of 2013 use, requiring commercial accounts to achieve a 10 percent reduction," City staff stated. "The water allowance for landscape-only water accounts is 80% of 2013 use; these accounts will need to reduce use by 20 percent."

The water reduction requirements would not apply to hospitals, emergency care facilities, public safety facilities, emergency shelters, assisted living facilities, and non-potable water customers.
http://www.smgov.net/link49
City Council Agenda August 12, 2014 Item 8B  Recommendation to Adopt a Resolution Declaring a Stage 2 Water Supply

"Stage 2 mandatory water conservation requirements:
Pursuant to the City's Water Shortage Response Plan adopted by Council in 2009, single-family and multi-family water customers will be given a water allocation, also called a water budget, for each billing cycle. This allocation provides 68 gallons per person per day plus additional water for outdoor uses that adjust seasonally.  Under the Water Shortage Response Plan, more water will be available during the summer and less in the winter. Single-family and duplexes that use 16,456 gallons (or 22 hundred cubic feet as shown on a utility bill) or less per bill would be exempt from allocation requirements. Each multi-family unit that uses 5,984 gallons (or 8 hundred cubic feet as shown on a utility bill) or less per bill would also be exempt from allocation requirements.  In addition, for commercial accounts, including City facilities and schools, the water allowance is 90% of 2013 use, requiring commercial accounts to achieve a 10% reduction.  The water allowance for landscape-only water accounts is 80% of 2013 use; these accounts will need to reduce use by 20%.

Customers that exceed their allocation will be charged penalty surcharges for each hundred cubic feet of excess water used in a billing period. This sends a strong message to conserve water. The penalty surcharges are tiered and increase with an increase in water usage as follows:

• 1-4 hcf = $4.00 per hcf
• 5-10 hcf = $16.00 per hcf
• 11-16 hcf = $32.00 per hcf
• 17+ hcf = $40.00 for each hcf over 17

Variances and relief from compliance may be granted under certain conditions. Certain water customers, such as hospitals, emergency care facilities, public safety facilities, emergency shelters, assisted living facilities, and non-potable water customers are exempted from the water allowance reductions.