Dear Editor and Readers:
I am disappointed and disheartened that a defamatory letter written by the president of a local political club was published without verifying accusations contained in it. Had someone spoken to me first, I would gladly have set the record straight.
The Culver City Arts District organizes the Art Walk & Roll Festival, which is a city-sponsored event. I informed the Arts District several days before the event that the DBA would not be able to use a booth it had requested earlier because it no longer had a 100th anniversary event to promote. I then asked if Culver City Democrats United could have a booth instead. The organizers approved a booth for CCDU. In no way did CCDU set up a booth under false pretenses.
On the morning of the festival, I waited in a line of trucks with materials, then checked in with staff as a member of CCDU and received the booth assignment.
Around noon, a person – who was not an organizer of the festival – came up to me and said I would have to leave because they had heard about unspecified complaints about political activity, and they personally believed that political booths were not allowed. Jeff Schwartz and Leah Pressman then came by with a camera and started videoing me and yelling at me. I could not understand why.
I connected with the Arts District BID organizers to understand what was happening. The organizers confirmed with City Staff that we had done nothing wrong and told us we could stay. They confirmed with City staff that there is absolutely no policy against political campaigning or booths at these types of events, and that we were “100% fine” being there. The First Amendment would not permit such a limitation. Political candidates, including those endorsed by the club run by Schwartz and Pressman, were also there at the Art Walk & Roll Festival with signs and wagons distributing literature.
CCDU decided to leave the event because of the difficulties being caused by Schwartz, Pressman, and their colleagues. Although it was confirmed that CCDU had the right to keep the booth, I wanted to spare the Arts District organizers any further difficulty at this wonderful event.
So to sum up: the Arts District organizers approved the booth for CCDU, there was nothing dishonest about CCDU being at the festival, there was no bar on political booths there, and neither I, nor CCDU, nor the DBA did anything wrong or dishonest. Period.
The behavior of Schwartz and Pressman has been problematic for quite some time, and the letter by Schwartz and Pressman is only their latest episode. That they would go so far as to threaten my job and my ability to support my family is beyond the pale.
As with others, I have the right to be involved in political activity in Culver City. I am separately proud to note that I was voted “Democrat of the Year” for 2024 by the 55th Assembly District delegation for the Los Angeles County Democratic Party (the only official party organization that represents Culver City) and was honored at their annual Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt dinner just this Sunday. I appreciate that several members of CCDU attended the dinner, helping to raise money for LACDP.
Culver City Democrats United (https://culvercitydems.com/) was formed because Democrats in this city craved a political organization focused on positive change and collaboration, and I am proud to be a founding member. CCDU is the fastest-growing Democratic Club in Los Angeles County, and the only Culver City-based political club collaborating with other Democratic clubs as part of the Westside Democratic HQ, which is focused on electing the Harris/Walz ticket.
Perhaps some of our local political activists should take a cue from Vice President Harris, who often says that there is more that unites us and divides us. It’s time to end the threats and intimidation, and to understand that we can coexist in community without engaging in the politics of personal destruction.
Darrel Menthe, Culver City Democrats United Club Vice President & LA County Democratic Central Committee Associate Member
Darrel Menthe
