Stop Throwing Stones
October 27, 2022
Nicole Faries, CEPS co-chair, responded directly to Maria Loya’s “Who Are the Real Right-Wig Conservatives in Santa Monica?” published in the Lookout.
Dear Editor,
As a Black woman I am acutely sensitive to racial and gender bias. And I’m also skeptical of stones thrown by those who live in glass houses. Ms. Loya is strangely coy when she states “I know Councilman Oscar de la Torre well...” He is, of course, her husband.
He’s also part of a City Council which, given the opportunity to redress a lack of diversity in the leadership at City Hall, chose two white males to serve as City Manager and City Attorney. So much for the progressive causes of racial and gender justice.
There’s more: Ms. Loya and Mr. de la Torre have been instrumental in forming the PAC “A Brighter Future,” which supports a slate of four dissident candidates for the SMMSUD Board.
Guess what? All four are white. (Note: A Brighter Future has not disclosed its donors and expenditures for public review since June 30, in violation of campaign finance law.) Furthermore, while Ms. Loya decries “marginalizing Democrats of color for their political positioning,” she and her allies at A Brighter Future have relentlessly attacked the credentials of Alicia Mignano, the only person of color in the school board race.
Perhaps she should be more cautious about accusing others of fomenting racial injustice and falsehoods.
Nicole Faries Co-Chair, Community for Excellent Public Schools (CEPS)