Council member's sudden retirement has raised speculations

Recent Santa Monica Lookout article.

"Those who served on the dais with McKeown spent the day looking for answers that included an increasing isolation and loss of influence after three slow-growth candidates were swept into office last November."

https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2021/May-2021/05_26_2021_Speculation_Swirls_After_McKeowns_Surprise_Departure.html

Santa Monica Lookout article, June 9th 2021. City council anonymously voted 6-1 to create a code of conduct and ethics. The code will hold city council members responsible when lying etc.

"Himmelrich's request was the second time she asks that the City adopt a "Code of Conduct and Ethics." In 2015, she co-sponsored a similar item that led to the creation of the City's current code."

"That code, however, does not clearly apply to council members and contains no enforcement provisions, Himmmelrich said."

https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2021/June-2021/06_09_2021_Council_Votes_to_Craft_Code_of_Conduct.html

In recent years, Santa Monica City took over 2 striving and flourishing art centers and private businesses located on city property. This caused devastation to artists and galleries and damaged the cultural aspect of Santa Monica. It appears that council member McKeown was the architect behind the city takeovers, as he provided misleading information to both the city council as well as local newspapers in order to promote his agenda. These events have caused a lawsuit to be filed both against Kevin McKeown, Cultural affairs Manager Shannon Daut, and Santa Monica City.

Case No: 20STCV43902

In the claim, among other things:

1) Theft of trade secrets and breach of contract implied in fact
2) Defamation
3) Intestinal interefrence with prospective economic advantage
4) Conversion
5) Fraud and Deceit
6) Violation of public Records

It appears that by city and state laws, a sitting council member can be convicted for 5 months up to 5 years, for lying and providing false information. One could speculate that there is a correlation between the lawsuit, the Mayors timely initiative regarding council members code of ethics, and council member McKeowns sudden retirement.

Sincerely,

Yossi Govrin