By Ron Yukelson Santa Monica
Santa Monica is truly the home of the homeless (”Homelessness hits home in SM,” (SMDP, Feb. 8, page 1).
True story: I’m an administrator at a large, downtown Los Angeles hospital. Recently a homeless person was presented to our emergency room. He complained about a number of ailments, none of which we could find any evidence to support his claims. After a period of time he was ready to be discharged. He refused, unless we provided him with a taxi voucher to Santa Monica.
Of all the great things Santa Monica is known for, what a black eye that we are so well known as the top choice among the homeless. Personally, it is the single thing that degrades my quality of life in what I would otherwise consider paradise.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 11, 2005. Read the original PDF.