By Milton Billingsley Santa Monica
So sorry Mr. Randy Walburger, but you missed the point (SMDP, July 8, page 4), or you were afraid to write the quote from the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:13 “we must always retain our faith, hope, and love.”
Instead, you proclaimed a program that is a total failure in Santa Monica. It is also implied that all we need is shelter, when most have been in homeless shelters or programs numerous times only to return to their addictions and the streets.
Try listening one more time. It’s not the low living wages or health care or affordable housing that keeps us homeless — it’s us. Our inability to strive for a better life. Our so-called homeless newspaper that does nothing but rag on police, the citizens and the politicians, instead of directing us positively on how to solve our personal problems in a Christian way.
Lastly, we have a great police force in Santa Monica, and thanks to them and other higher officials, they are here to protect and serve. If the elderly lady in the alley is drunk, or high on drugs, then yes, she should be arrested or cited. If, however, she is unable to help herself, any kindhearted policeman or park ranger would try their best to help her.
Mr. Walburger, I am a 63-year-old former Marine from the 1960s. I am not addicted to anything except coffee in the morning and trying to improve myself and others through Jesus.
If you ever see an “old” lady in an alley and pass her by, give me a call, I’d love to meet you face to face and discuss your personal crisis of ignorance, repugnance and lack of love all but yourself and the profit of your company.
I accepted your challenge of logging on to the Web site that you constantly referred to in your last, and other, editorials, and I noted with interest that you own the trademark for the modules that you believe will help “solve” the homeless problem here in Santa Monica.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 19, 2005. Read the original PDF.