By Philip and Susan Harnage Santa Monica
We applaud OPCC’s mission. Helping the needy is always a good thing. But, as parents of a small child, we would be negatively impacted by the proposed OPCC site at Cloverfield and Michigan. In fact, we feel this move would have a negative impact on all of the surrounding neighbors, but especially the beleaguered residents of the Pico neighborhood. It would make shopping at Ralph’s difficult for families. It would make getting gas at any of the three gas stations around the proposed center a risky business, especially for women and seniors. It would degrade the Bergamot experience. It would mean turning over the Pico neighborhood’s only park — Virginia Park — to hundreds of sick people. Remember, as study after study has shown, the great majority of the “homeless” are, in fact, alcohol and/or drug addicted and/or mentally ill... or all of the above. Do we want these individuals descending on the homes and businesses of the Pico neighborhood? Do we want them hanging out at Rite Aid... or in front of Grant Elementary School? We wholeheartedly support the Pico Neighborhood Association’s views in this matter and we urge the City Council and the citizens of Santa Monica to do the same.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 13, 2003. Read the original PDF.