By Kevin Gilliland Santa Monica
I know many elderly SM residents are concerned about the “homelessness problem,” and since they don’t have too much else to do with their spare time, they write letters to the SMDP to complain about it instead of running for a seat on the council like they should. I mean, hey, if there was a true consensus amongst residents on this issue, surely someone would step up to the plate, and get elected campaigning on a callous platform such as anti-homelessness that is contrary to Good Samaritanism.
I read one letter written by a man who felt that his tax dollars shouldn’t go towards helping provide a service for these people because “they made bad choices in their life.” What about women that are survivors of domestic violence that had to flee abusive husbands? They may have otherwise been killed by their spouses, so is it really their fault that they had to choose a homeless life over abuse in a private residence? What about veterans that fought overseas to protect our rights to complain about homeless people that could never get their feet on the ground after returning from defending our constitutional rights? Are we to brush them off? Should we punish them because they decided to enlist? I think not.
The real reason I am writing this letter is because of the terrible driving habits of many people in and around Santa Monica. I work at the UCLA Orthopedic Hospital, and I swear to God, I’ve almost been killed several times crossing the street by drivers doing 45 mph in a hospital zone. I have several co-workers that share my sentiments. I even saw a small child crossing the street almost get hit by a SUV on Monday. Personally, I don’t mind giving change to person with no home, or putting some of my tax dollars towards homelessness, but what I do mind is almost getting struck by a truck when I’m legally crossing the street in a crosswalk. Especially in and around 14th through 16th streets on Wilshire.
It’s a known fact that elderly people have diminished driving abilities, and to back up my claim, I cite the incident at the Promenade that recently took place, as well as the incident that happened a few years ago at 15th and Wilshire in which a high school student was killed by an elderly driver while she legally crossed at the crosswalk. I say stop worrying about the homeless because they kill far less than the poor drivers in this great city.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 21, 2006. Read the original PDF.