By Tricia Crane
Chair, Northeast Neighbors

The City of Santa Monica just sent out a "survey" to residents and workers who live outside the city titled Your City, Your Voice... The survey begins by stating it's about "what's important to you personally and how we can make Santa Monica even better." But then what unfolds is an effort to manipulate your perspective.

The survey asks you to describe Santa Monica by rating these words on a scale of one to ten: caring, inclusive, diverse, thriving, equitable, neighborly, affordable, supportive, innovative, forward-thinking. But there is not one question in this survey concerning rising crime. Nowhere is the word "development" mentioned. And "traffic congestion" only appears once as a possible response (#8).

Instead, reality in our small city is being reframed. We are being "taught" to use City jargon instead of real words. Traffic is out; mobility is in. Over-development is out; affordability is in.

Read More: http://www.smobserved.com/story/2017/11/07/opinion/latest-city-hall-survey-is-yet-another-cynical-effort-to-manipulate-local-opinion/3181.html