By H.P. Epstein Santa Monica
When you ask Santa Monica residents what are their top concerns, most reply “the homeless and traffic congestion.” The City Council talks a good game but does not really address these issues.
The City of Santa Monica has about 2,000 homeless wandering the streets, more than the county of Ventura (1,900) which has 10 times the city’s population. Santa Monica hired a “homeless czar” for $200,000 per year for two years. It set up a court to deal with homeless lawbreakers (costing how much per year?). With all the city agencies and services and countless millions spent, just how many people have they gotten off the street? Fourteen a month? A year? Maybe the council knows but it’s not telling the taxpayers. If they shut down all the “homeless services” and put that money into renting apartments for the homeless, how many would be helped? Or is it in the interest of the city agencies and private nonprofits to keep the homeless “industry” going?
As for traffic, the council couldn’t find $200,000 in its multi-million budget to do an actual study of vehicle movements. It prefers to hide behind an out-dated methodology and its “estimates” and “projections.” When the city failed to act, the civic group, Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City, put together a ballot referendum that would force the city to restrict commercial development to less than 75,000 square feet a year and thereby reduce the cars and trucks on our roads.
For those who have been stuck in traffic jams in their hometown, this proposal will offer a chance at relief. All Santa Monicans should want to sign the SMCLC petitions to get the proposal on the ballot and then vote for it because less commercial building means less traffic.
Mayor Herb Katz has already condemned the proposal for no legitimate reason except it cuts into the council’s authority to make the rules. Note to Mr. Katz: It’s a historic American tradition for citizens to act when their government fails to do so. If he thinks he can defend his indefensible position, he should hold a public debate with an SMCLC representative.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 28, 2008. Read the original PDF.