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# Evelyn Jerome: Council's $7.4 million 'loan' to Ocean Park Community Center
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/081903-story-20030819/
- Published: 2003-08-19T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T02:47:36.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Ocean Park, #archive-import, Homeless, Homelessness

*By Evelyn Jerome*

■ Here’s how your City Councilmembers have dealt with a multi-million dollar budget deficit this year: They voted to give a “loan” of $7.4 million to the Ocean Park Community Center, a “loan” which they publicly admit will likely never be repaid.

Here’s what the Ocean Park Community Center is going to do with that “loan” money: Build a new homeless shelter. Just what Santa Monica needs.

Ever the champions of Orwellian “double-speak,” those Santa Monica city leaders. It’s called the “Ocean Park Community Center.” It’s not in Ocean Park. And it’s not a community center.

Almost $2 million of that “loan,” by the way, is funding from Big Blue Bus revenue. Remember that next time City Hall tells you that revenues are “restricted” and can only be used for certain purposes.

Your City Council approved the project, despite a chorus of opposition from Santa Monica residents, the business community, two city commissions and strong opposition from the Pico neighborhood, where the new shelter will be located. But wait, there’s more. The original plan was to close the current OPCC shelter near Colorado Boulevard and Seventh Street so that the bus maintenance yard could be expanded, and move services to a new location near Michigan Avenue and Cloverfield Boulevard. But homeless advocates argued that some downtown services should be retained. So the current location will continue to have daytime “drop-in” services in addition to the new overnight facility.

It’s like having twice as many homeless shelters. Just what Santa Monica needs.

You might surmise that I’m opposed to all homeless shelters, but you’d be wrong. But I don’t understand why Santa Monica has designated itself to be the social conscience of Southern California, while other communities are happy to ship their homeless problem directly to us.

Homelessness is a growing problem and I agree that the “community” has some responsibility to deal with the problem humanely. But it’s fair to discuss what “community responsibility” really means and how much public funding goes to the cause. It’s fair to say that shelters and public feedings are only band-aids to this problem.

And it’s important to recognize that Santa Monica taxpayers, homeowners and businesses have shouldered a hefty burden as our city has dispensed those band-aids.

Let’s focus on ending the cycle of homelessness. Encourage local businesses to grow and hire more workers. Ensure that rent-controlled apartments are used by those who truly need them. Take steps to move people from the streets back to productivity.

Food and shelter are important but temporary. Give a man a fish, etc. You get it. (Evelyn Jerome is the founder and principal of Strategic Communications, a communications consulting firm. She is a past president of the Los Angeles County Young Democrats and a Santa Monica homeowner. To respond or to reach her, e-mail evelyn\_thinktwice@yahoo.com.)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 19, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/081903.pdf?ref=smdp.com)