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# Letter: Voters should choose self-reliance over SMRR's government dependence
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/103004-story-20041030-4/
- Published: 2004-10-30T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T05:22:27.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless

tant decisions.

Tuesday’s election is quite simple. We either continue with the SMRR status quo, allowing government to overregulate and overstep their role, or we elect a new slate of candidates who have a more balanced approach to government. Again, it’s the fish or the fishing pole choice: do we encourage people to take care of themselves, or do we continue to give them free fish and continue their dependence on government’s heavy hand?

The choice became even more clear to me when I heard SMRR candidate Patricia Hoffman answer this question at a recent candidate forum.

The question (paraphrased): How should children handle being approached by a homeless person begging for money?

Her response (paraphrased): Homeless people should not approach children. Though my children have seen me give homeless people money since they were little, I don’t want the homeless approaching children.

It’s sad that she thinks she is helping homeless people by giving them money. I never give money because I know most people use it to continue their drug and alcohol habits, no matter how much I wish that weren’t the truth. I sometimes buy a banana and some milk for someone if approached outside a store, because I know this will help them get through the day. But I realize, as most citizens do, that giving money only perpetuates the problem. Homeless people don’t need money nor do they need free meals in the park every day. They need a “fishing pole” so that they can regain an independent life, counseling, medical and psychological attention if they aren’t capable of taking care of themselves, and a reminder that Santa Monica is not a mecca to a life of handouts. This handout-not-hand-up philosophy has dominated our City Council for the past 25 years. Either we change it now, or continue to hand out fish and suffer the stench that goes with it.

Most people don’t understand the SMRR machine. SMRR endorsed elected officials have created some good policies and programs in Santa Monica — they

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 30, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/103004.pdf?ref=smdp.com)