By Lori Emerson Santa Monica
Dear Santa: All I want for Christmas is for Charles Springer to stop IMPERSON- ATING a homeless person, (SMDP, Dec. 22, page 4).
Mr. Springer is “homeless” because he has made a choice. Anyone who has sucked off, burdened, and over used the handout system in this city for over a decade is not down and out. It's a lifestyle, supported by city leadership, that itself, once lived in a van in the Bay Street beach parking lot.
Anyone that has made a career of begging and freeloading for over 10 years, and can't find, at a minimum, a roommate situation or Section 8 accommodations just isn't trying hard enough.
Inasmuch as this city thrives (ad nauseam) on providing, supporting, funding, building, and negotiating low cost housing availability and construction, just what IS the problem in someone giving Charles somewhere to live for free?
Mr. Springer, you have made my point. There are many people like you on the streets, freeloading off of my tax dollar for years and years. Yes, in my mind and heart, you are the norm.
Again, here you go with “circumstances beyond your control.” Ten years of circumstances beyond your control — come on! Where will it end? Will it ever end? Will you ever stop sucking off Santa Monica? And then you have the nerve to complain that you have to wait in line for a bathroom? What else do you and “your brothers” have to do with your day? Harass tourists, scare my kids in the parks? Yes, I would deny you food and clothing, because I am tired of supporting your excuses, and over a decade of pure, outright irresponsibility.
You accuse me of being heartless, I am not. I am and was touched at the outreach and support that the Jordan Mission downtown provides to the real homeless. That would be families, not people like yourself. When I see 3-and 4-year-olds in line for hours, just for a meal, I become completely intolerant of you and “your brothers,” as you nap in the parks, waiting for your lunch to be delivered.
As for the OPCC and Mr. Maceri's “commitment to community service,” that commitment comes along with the paycheck he receives for working in the homeless industry (Dec. 22, page 1). If we were to solve the homeless problem, wouldn't Mr. Maceri be out of a job? Where is the incentive for Mr. Maceri to solve the problem?
Basic math skills tell me that if the OPCC has $5.1 million to oversee, that means that $13,972 per day are going to people like Mr. Springer, rather than to the schools. What's wrong with this picture?
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 24, 2003. Read the original PDF.