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# Letter: Response to John Zarchen on Santa Monica's gangs and homelessness
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/072503-story-20030725/
- Published: 2003-07-25T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T02:39:06.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless, Homelessness

*By Ann S. Petersen Homeless in Santa Monica*

Santa Monica has three serious problems: Gangs, homelessness and ignorance mixed with hatred and selfishness. This is my response to John Zarchen’s editorial piece, (SMDP, July 22, letters to the editor, page 4).

We need to dig a little deeper when finding a solution to the violence and homelessness that plague our lovely community.

People become homeless for a wide variety of reasons. Some people are escaping domestic violence. Some people have suffered injustice of unimaginable proportions and have not yet found hope or developed coping skills. Some people have obvious physical disabilities and try tirelessly to find people willing to hire them. In many cases, people have families that can’t or won’t help them. Some people have had imbalances in their brain chemistry due to malnutrition, gluten intolerance, or other food sensitivities, or other causes, and feeling miserable, have sought relief by any means available to them — like drugs and/or alcohol, or the very foods that may be at the root of their problem.

Dr. Daniel Amen’s book, “Change Your Brain, Change Your Life,” explains why people feel compelled to do what they do. In his book you can view SPECT scan images of brains in each of the categories of mental illness or chemical dependency. It is understandable why some people might succumb to illegal drugs or alcohol to feel better. I am not saying that that absolves anyone of taking responsibility for their actions but I am saying that it is far more difficult to choose the straight and narrow path when you have only enough energy for the path of least resistance or you are struggling with bio-chemically based rage or delusions.

Law breakers should pay the consequences of breaking laws. For some people, that’s what it takes to make them look at their choices. In all cases, I believe that SPECT scans and a thorough medical work up, (including testing for nutritional deficiencies, histamine levels, endocrine functioning and food sensitivities) should be routine in prisons.

I see the gang members as lost and angry children. They are a result of a society that has become increasingly difficult to survive in without two income households. When there is no time or energy for disciplining children, or hearing them or showing them God’s love, mercy and justice, they will take their rage to the streets. Do not encourage them to make choices that result in catastrophic consequences. Laws should apply equally to everyone.

My savior, Jesus Christ, was homeless and probably looked no more attractive to the wealthy, self righteous citizens of his day. He came to save sinners and he has already saved countless souls, turning their lives around so completely as to astound even the most sophisticated intellectuals. Who are we to judge anyone else’s potential?

We defeat the purpose of clearing the streets of “undesirables” when we use violence as a means to do it. Make our streets truly safe for our families without incur-ring pain and fuel for revenge, including the revenge of our most supreme justice, the honorable, almighty God. Instead, let’s make an investment in helping these individuals help themselves, so that they can make meaningful contributions to the society that belongs to all of us. I am one of them.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 25, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/072503.pdf?ref=smdp.com)