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# Compassion doesn’t equate to rolling over
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/compassion-doesnt-equate-to-rolling-over/
- Published: 2006-06-29T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-25T00:18:37.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Promenade, #archive-import, Homeless

*By ENOUGH IS ENOUGH BY JENNA LINNEKENS*

I was born and raised in Los Angeles and I went to school in Santa Monica. My school was very near Third Street, before the Promenade was even a thought in the city’s mind. As a newlywed who is thinking about starting a family, I am fearful that I and many others will no longer be able to live safely in this community, if our city government does not take immediate action to remedy the chronic homeless problem. We must seriously begin to blaze a path to the reclamation of our community.

When I walk my dog in the evening, I stumble upon homeless people lying on sleeping bags on my neighbor’s lawns. This is called camping and it is illegal. We must call the police when we see it. When I pull out of my garage, people are defecating against the wall in the alley. I see my neighbors chasing vagrants out of their carports early in the morning. I see mothers pulling their children closer into them as they are accosted by beggars and transients who are yelling profanities at the top their lungs. The police stand by doing nothing. I walk in the park and I see makeshift houses under tarps and belongings affixed to parking meters and bicycle stands. This is a matter of public safety and public health.

Our parks have become virtual refugee camps that only the homeless are allowed to enjoy. Last week when I was in Reed Park I talked with a ranger who said to me, “Please stand back. That woman is a spitter.” He was referring to a homeless person who was walking by. He also said, “I am just the eyes and ears around here. I cannot tell them (the homeless) to move on.” Thus we continue to simply manage the status quo, and that in no longer acceptable.

We must reclaim our community. At this time we are not making the best use of the money specifically allotted to fight the homeless issue. We — the residents and business owners — want to be partners with the city in this monstrous mission. In order to be partners you must have similar objectives and at the moment that does not seem to be the case.

Let us send a very clear message. Santa Monica is not the place to come where the living is easy. Santa Monica has compassion — however, our safety has been compromised, and a result we are living in a community where people are scared, uncomfortable and becoming more apathetic daily. We must not forsake our residents, business owners and our very important tourist industry. We must save the future of our special community.

Is it going to take a rape,a murder or a serious assault on a person or their property to help our local government realize the enormity of this issue? If the laws that are supposed to protect us — the law abiding residents, the people that visit Santa Monica and the main-stream population — they are not working. The beauty of living in a democratic society is what we have the power to change.

As a point of reference, our state government implemented a small solution that helped a large number of people: “Give a hand up not a hand out!”

Sacramento installed a series of parking meter type devices along some popular pedestrian thoroughfares. Those meters collect donations that go directly to various homeless feeding programs and housing programs. The devices have signs that clearly read “Give a hand up … not a handout.” So, instead of residents and visitors putting money into the hands of myriad homeless people, they would put a hand up and deposit their hard-earned money into the meter. It has proven very successful in our state capitol. Why couldn’t it work here?

The time is now — action is the only option.

I leave you with this quote, think about it. “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma, M.K. Gandhi. (Jenna Linnekens is a seven-year resident of Santa Monica. She believes that all residents’ voices matter. To reach her, )

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 29, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/062906.pdf?ref=smdp.com)