By Monte Grix Santa Monica Homeless aren’t so bad Editor:
I wholeheartedly second the opinion of Mr. Bauer in his column of August 23, 2002. The homeless problem is getting worse not better, and it's impact on the hapless citizens is growing too great to be ignored.
I am not nearly as knowledgeable of the policies and practices of our elected officials such as Mr. McKeown and Mr. Feinstein, but it is a truism, here applicable to public feedings of the homeless, that if you provide it, they will come. And again, echoing the opinion of Mr. Bauer, it is also a statistical truism that, even though the ratio of anti-social versus benign members of the homeless population is quite small, the overall number of antisocial and/or substance abusing persons will rise as the overall population of the homeless rises. And this is a threat to our population.
In spite of our elected body's apparent desire to address the homeless situation compassionately, the first duty of a government, be it federal, state or local, is to protect its citizenry. And the government of Santa Monica is coming dangerously close to shirking this fundamental duty. While I have no statistical data to support this, let me offer some of my own family's anecdotes: Three months ago, while shopping at the Rite Aid on Wilshire Boulevard near 18th Street, a homeless man, who was apparently intoxicated, asked me for money “so I can go get another beer.” I told him no, and walked away. He followed me into the store, and this time demanded the money. I again said no, explaining that I was not going to support him with alcohol. I directed him to my local church if he needed substance abuse counseling or food. He took great offense at this, and, in a nutshell, he became verbally and physically threatening, and the store manager had to intervene.
I have been confronted with similar demands on at least two other occasions in the last six months. Now, I am 6'1", 190 pounds and relatively young.
What might be the fate of someone similarly approached who is physically diminutive, disabled, or aged? Read on: My wife is five feet tall and weighs 100 lbs. soaking wet. Just two days ago, a woman she described as being close to six feet tall approached her in broad daylight, on Broadway near Lincoln, stood within one foot of her, and said, “Give me $5.” My wife, being genuinely in fear of harm, gave the woman the money. I think many others would do the same.
Is this where we, as a community, want to go? The question must be asked, what are the legitimate goals of Santa Monica's homeless policy, and what are the human costs to such a policy. It is time that the city council get their priorities straight and understand that the rule of law and protection of its citizenry must not be sacrificed in the name of a progressive social agenda, no matter how noble its goals.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 26, 2002. Read the original PDF.