In a functional family, boundaries are created so everyone understands what the rules are. If the rules are broken, then a consequence is inevitable. The Santa Monica “family” has imposed boundaries, but it has not followed through on the consequence.
Since rules are clearly broken in the increasing homeless debacle we have gotten into, it is clear that we are simply maintaining the status quo in order to keep the peace. Do council members like Kevin McKeown honestly believe it is acceptable for people to sleep on the very dangerous Santa Monica bluffs, beaches and parks until we can find a home for them? The answer is “yes.” He made his beliefs very clear when he voted to let homeless people continue to sleep in the crevices of the Santa Monica bluffs. I believe that he did not have the city’s best interest at heart when he voted against installing cameras on the pier as well. The shooting of a child in the beach parking lot below the pier this month should have been recorded, but that obviously was impossible since there were no cameras.
The reality is that whether it is the imploding homeless problem or the blatant disregard for public safety, there are those who are too comfortable on our City Council. It is time for visible chance on the streets of our city and in our council chambers. Words and promises no longer are acceptable. The old adage of “actions speak louder then words” seems more appropriate now than ever. The Santa Monica community as a whole must create change.
We have the power to make change. We have our voices. We are a very special community of people with big hearts and sharp minds. I recently read on the City Hall blog an entry entitled “Hell of the Homeless.”The blogger said “The city must do more to provide the means for our churches and nonprofit groups to get involved more to help the homeless people and we should try to solve this problem by working with the city housing department.” I find comments like this incredibly frustrating.
City Hall, along with the churches and nonprofits, continue to do so much to help the homeless. Why do you think so many are here? It is because they have heard that Santa Monica is where the programs are plenty and the living is easy. That is why we are in so much trouble. We have so many programs, yet the city is still an unsafe place. The homeless are not in “hell.” They to have the choice to accept myriad help offered and available. Additionally, they get hot meals, lay by the beach and stay in our parks without being asked to move by the police or the rangers. They have nice, clean bathrooms along Palisades Park that lock from the inside for privacy. Many are aggressive and many make enough money to meet some basic needs.
I send kudos to the organizations that are able to truly help those who want help. However, there are many who do not want help because they are perfectly happy having lived on our streets for 10 or more years. Certainly wonderful programs like Step up on Second have approached and continue to try to vigorously help many who have needs such as finding housing, getting sober, obtaining educational opportunities, or reintroducing necessary medications for mental and physical stability.
We must set our boundaries, offer help and follow through with consequences when rules are broken. We must take our city back and no longer accept the status quo. We must act and act quickly.
Following are the critical areas that must immediately get attention: ■ Enforcement: City Hall must enforce existing vagrancy laws — all the time. The City Council needs to make the necessary funds available for the police or other law enforcement agencies to handle this growing problem. They must provide funds for enough police and medical personnel, since, at the present, they only have less than five dedicated officers for this program. This is unacceptable for such a critical issue. ■ Feeding programs: The programs must be moved to locations indoors. There are lots of locations and businesses that would be more than happy to assist in making this happen. They could even be rewarded with a tax break. ■ Housing alternatives: City Hall needs to recognize the success of programs in other cities where housing has been created for the chronically homeless. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. ■ Family reunification programs: These programs need to be encouraged by reuniting the homeless with their families. ■ Veterans hospital: This is an alternative because one third of our homeless are veterans. More money should be allocated to allow the VA to help the homeless. If Santa Monica shows a commitment, others will follow our lead. ■ “Give a Hand Up Not a Hand Out”: This will allow people who normally give money to homeless people on the streets to deposit it into a meter-type device. Then the money would be distributed to organizations that would really help these people. A citizen’s council would be created to monitor the proper allocation of money. (Jenna Linnekens lives in Santa Monica. She implores people to weigh in on this issue and be part of making a change in the city.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 13, 2006. Read the original PDF.