By EYE ON THE CITY BY ELIZABETH RIEL
Open up the pages of the Daily Press on any given day and chances are you’ll find a story about the city’s homeless problems.
Just last week we read that a homeless man assaulted the head librarian at the Ocean Park Library. A businessman who brought his company’s convention here was apparently so upset about his recent run-ins with the homeless that he said he’s not coming back.
Frustrated residents write letters all the time asking why City Hall can’t do something. So I decided to ask our city’s leaders that question. I contacted our city councilmembers, Santa Monica Police Chief James Butts Jr., City Manager Lamont Ewell, and homeless “Czar” Ed Edelman. All expressed concern and outrage about the recent incidents. More specifically, here’s what they said, in the order that they responded to my inquiries.
First to respond was Chief Butts, who said that in his experience “it is rare for a homeless person to assault citizens or tourists. Most assaults committed by the homeless are against other homeless.”
Butts said it’s more common that the homeless upset residents by monopolizing public spaces and parks, panhandling, or frightening people with aberrant behavior.
As far as what the SMPD is doing to combat problems, Chief Butts said they conduct “regular nuisance sweeps” for illegal behavior in problem areas throughout the city. They also focus on finding and arresting transients who are on parole and are not complying with their parole conditions.
What’s the most important thing people can do? Butts urged residents and others to report any assault or criminal behavior immediately to the SMPD.
City Councilman Kevin McKeown also stressed that violence of any kind should be reported immediately to the SMPD and said that the City Council has repeatedly directed enforcement of laws against antisocial behavior, particularly violence.
However, McKeown cautioned that the effective removal of homeless people who commit crimes also depends on follow-through from the courts and available space in our county jails. When arrestees are freed due to lack of jail space, “it makes our police officers’ jobs even more difficult.”
McKeown added that decisions about where, when and how many police officers to deploy are up to Butts — not the City Council.
Mayor Bob Holbrook empathized with residents’ frustrations but was optimistic that things will get better.
“The number of homeless in Santa Monica is far too large but we are doing more than ever before,” he said. “We have solicited federal grants to get chronic alcohol addicted persons off our streets and into care and housing. The City Council has devoted additional resources and directed city staff to do everything within our power to reduce the numbers of homeless persons on our streets, ensure public safety and to improve the quality of life for our residents, workers and visitors.”
City Councilman Ken Genser stressed the need for immediate enforcement.
“Anyone who comes to or lives in our city should respect and abide by certain community standards,” he said. “The issue is really one of enforcement. The long-term regional approach is absolutely necessary, but it doesn’t address people’s immediate concerns. We need to be aggressive in enforcing the laws to let people know that if you break the law, you will be arrested and prosecuted. In order to do this, people must contact the police when there’s a problem. The city can’t do much more legislatively.”
City Councilmen Richard Bloom and Bobby Shriver pointed out that we are feeling the impact of problems that have gone unaddressed in LA County and Southern California.
“We are not going to see real progress until there’s a concerted regional effort,” Bloom said. “Political leaders throughout the state are finally waking up and paying attention to the issue. As long as there’s 90,000 homeless in Southern California, we’re going to continue to have a visible, on-the-street population. People need to be housed.”
In the meantime, Bloom said Santa Monica is working on short-term solutions like an ambassador program for the Promenade, in which individuals outfitted with walkie-talkies wired to the SMPD would circulate throughout the Promenade greeting people, monitoring activity and providing assistance.
“The problem is not a lack of policing,” Shriver said. “We need the city and county of Los Angeles to provide more resources, leadership and housing. Santa Monica is doing the best it can but it can’t stop mentally disturbed people from coming here. They need to be in mental hospitals. I understand that people are frustrated but the public has got to hold the LA County supervisors accountable and push them to get on top of the issue.”
And although City Manager Lamont Ewell is a newcomer to Santa Monica, he weighed in with his thoughts.
“We need to balance the rights and needs of the homeless with making sure that there is no tolerance for aberrant behavior,” he said. “These things are not mutually exclusive. Right now, the city is working on short-and mid-term solutions that not only focus on zero tolerance for criminal behavior but also on job opportunities, stabilized housing, wrap-around services, and coordination with food and social service providers. This is a community-wide issue and everyone’s interests must be protected.” (Note: I did not hear back from Councilman Herb Katz or homeless czar Ed Edelman. Mayor Pam O’Connor said she had been busy with various work-related projects and hadn’t checked her city e-mail in a while to be able to respond.) (Elizabeth Riel is a Santa Monica resident. Write her at)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 6, 2006. Read the original PDF.