Santa Monica’s Warring Factions Urged to Be Allies on Environment : Politics: Mayor Abdo calls for longtime foes to respect one another’s positions. Her agenda for action emphasizes water conservation.

Taking aim at an issue that she hopes can unite this politically divided community, Santa Monica Mayor Judy Abdo this week said the biggest challenge and the biggest threat to Santa Monica’s future will be in the environmental arena.

Abdo, who was appointed to a one-year term as mayor from among her council colleagues last November, said she hopes that her environmental agenda will provide an opportunity to bring “together those groups and factions that have been at odds with one another.”

“In previous years, our community has been deeply divided to the point where at times people wouldn’t even talk with each other across political lines, and our political life has been defined by bitterness. . .,” she said. “But with the 21st Century just around the corner, the challenges we face demand that in many arenas we pull together as one . . . held together by our love for our community.”

Abdo made her remarks at a monthly luncheon of the Santa Monica Area Chamber of Commerce on Monday, and pledged to dedicate much of her time to coordinating an environmental package that would include the following:

* Expanding the city’s ability to conserve water. That could include constructing a reclamation plant to use storm-drain waste water for irrigation and desalinating ocean water for public consumption.

* Establishing an environmental task force to develop and implement a program to keep the city at the forefront of environmental innovation.

* Broadening the city’s recycling program to increase participation by businesses.

“The environmental challenges we face transcend all of the issues that have previously divided us,” Abdo said. “Everyone who lives or works in Santa Monica . . . (has) a stake in protecting and preserving our quality of life. Environmental degradation knows no barriers. We all breathe the same air, drink the same water, use the same beach, and walk or drive the same streets.”

In her talk--which she dubbed a state-of-the-city address--Abdo suggested that both sides on such traditionally divisive issues as development and rent control should be more understanding of each other’s positions.

“Neighborhood groups need to accept that the vitality of the business community is critical for the economic health of the community,” she said. “At the same time, the business community must accept that residents are trying to preserve the very quality of life that makes Santa Monica such a desirable place to do business.”

And as for rent control, the dominant issue of the last decade, Abdo said: “Property owners need to recognize that tenants must feel secure in their homes. Rent control is a critical element in preserving the diversity of the community. At the same time, tenants need to recognize that . . . landlords must have incentives to stay in business.”

Abdo said a task force will be appointed this month to deal with local homeless issues. She said she hopes a program can be presented within six months.

Abdo said she does not expect longtime antagonists to suddenly embrace each other’s ideology, but “we in Santa Monica need to develop more tolerance for one another and a greater capacity to work together to confront our problems.”

KEY POINTS OF PLAN “The environmental challenges we face transcend all of the issues that have previously divided us,” said Santa Monica Mayor Judy Abdo. She pledged to dedicate much of her time to coordinating an environmental package that would include the following. Expanding the city’s ABILITY TO CONSERVE WATER, including possibly constructing a reclamation plant to use storm-drain waste water for irrigation and desalinating ocean water for public consumption.

Establishing an ENVIRONMENTAL TASK FORCE to develop and implement a program to keep the city at the forefront of environmental innovation.

Broadening the city’s RECYCLING PROGRAM to increase participation by businesses.