By Ed Silverstein
Some time ago, a group of animal activists released about 9000 minks. Most of the animals promptly tore each other to shreds while those remaining died lingering deaths from exposure and starvation. The dogma adopted by these types of activist-zealots precludes all contrary thinking and is dangerous.
Which is why I'm not surprised that a group of homeless activists are going to make a similar mistake by suing to overturn the two recently created, and badly needed, Santa Monica laws. The activists call the measures anti-homeless, but they might be better termed anti-crime, pro-revenue or even pro-homeless.
On the most basic level, fighting this legal action will take precious funds from a cash-strapped Santa Monica and leave less money for social programs to help the homeless. Add this to a multi-million dollar shortfall in sales tax revenue, much of it due to the overwhelming homeless problem, it will become increasingly difficult to offer help to those most deserving.
But what is most irritating is that, should the activists prevail, their only accomplishment will be to vastly overwhelm the city's social services. This will ensure that the homeless, mentally impaired and substance abusers will get very little help and few or none of the homeless will be lifted out of their condition. Of course there are other motivations behind some activist’s actions. Charities, though not without altruistic sentiments, are big business and depend on continued suffering for their survival. Publicity or public recognition can also be enticing.
A prime example is Mayor Feinstein who parades out his social compassion before the media at every opportunity. Even if completely sincere, the mayor has defined his public image so narrowly, that for him to even contemplate policies or solutions, no matter how promising, that do not conform to this image, would be unthinkable. If the mayor and the other homeless activists want to show true compassion, they should each take a single homeless person into their own home, feed them and help them to become self-sufficient. If they succeed, they will do far greater good than any questionable lawsuit. If they are unwilling, perhaps they're in the wrong fight.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 29, 2002. Read the original PDF.