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# Letter: Reader Criticizes City Council, Downtown Shops and Homeless Problem
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/082804-story-20040828/
- Published: 2004-08-28T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T04:57:53.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless

✆ “The biggest and most important issue in our community is the ever-escalating problem of vagrancy. We are overrun with vagrants, drifters, crazies, alcoholics, drug addicts and downright criminals. These people need to be sent back where they have come from. The vagrancy laws need to be enforced. A new look at traffic management is a must, also. Let’s give the sidewalks back to the pedestrians, keep these rude bicycle riders off of them. Speaking of sidewalks, would someone please take responsibility for cleaning them? There are multiple sidewalks in the city that stink of human waste, especially around the 5th Street post office. There are tons of other problems, which I am sure other residents will cover.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 28, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/082804.pdf?ref=smdp.com)