Traffic likely to remain an issue as city thrives
Here’s a shocker: Santa Monica residents think there are too many homeless, too much development and too much traffic here.
For at least the third year in a row, the results of a city conducted survey has found that the city’s homeless population, traffic congestion and growth are the top three concerns of residents.
The city’s annual survey, the results of which were recently released, interviewed 400 residents on various topics about life in Santa Monica and how well City Hall responds to its citizens.
The survey asked residents what they feel the city should do to improve its services and the majority of them said it should address the homeless problem, and improve traffic congestion, safety and parking.
“Homeless is rated by far as the most serious problem, followed by lack of affordable housing, parking and traffic as top-tier problems,” states a report compiled by Goodwin Simon Strategic Research, the consulting firm hired by the city to conduct the survey. “Lack of school funding is seen as a mid-tier problem, with gangs, graffi-ti, crime and lack of city funding seen as less urgent.”
Some elected officials aren’t surprised by the survey’s findings.
“I’m concerned about all of those three things too,” said Mayor Richard Bloom, adding two recent laws aimed at addressing the homeless population should help alleviate the increasing numbers of people on the streets.
The first law forbids people from sleeping in doorways downtown from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. The second law requires meal providers who give away free food to the homeless to go through rigorous government approval from the city and county. Those meal programs also could be attached to the city’s social service programs in the upcoming months.
The laws aren’t being enforced yet. “I think we are trying to address them,” Councilman Herb Katz said. “We have certainly moved on the homeless issue. We weren’t trying to hurt the homeless, but better regulate them so residents and homeless can live side by side.”
As far as growth is concerned, Bloom said the current city council has a strong track record of squashing irresponsible and rampant development.
Many of the large buildings in Santa Monica were built during the 1980s when Santa Monicans For Renters’ Rights did-n’t hold the majority on the council. SMRR regained that power and has been the ruling party in Santa Monica for more than a decade.
Bloom also said Santa Monica is not alone in its trouble with traffic and growth — many cities in Southern California are experiencing the same problems.
“Traffic goes hand in hand with development and traffic is growing in the region,” he said, adding cities that have successful economies usually endure more congestion and growth. “The balance that needs to be drawn is what will our future look like?
“We can’t just stop growth completely but we put a lid on it,” he continued. “Santa Monica continues to be a place where developers want to be.”
Katz said the city is attempting to address traffic congestion, particularly downtown. Some solutions are to synchronize the traffic signals better and deploy more traffic officers at intersections during busy times to make cars move along quicker. But because Santa Monica is a popular destination for both business and pleasure, traffic will likely remain an issue.
“On traffic, we are trying different methods, but we are a destination for the entire region,” Katz said. “We get a tremendous influx during the day and at night.”
While most of the city is built out, there are plenty of opportunities for properties to be redeveloped, especially on Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards. That’s the case on the north end of Main Street where a new retail and commercial development has been approved where the former Pioneer Boulangerie Bakery is.
“That will provide a catalyst for other development in the area,” Bloom said. “We can’t just wave a magic wand and make (developers) go away.”
The results of the entire survey can be found at the city’s Web site, www.santa-monica.org.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 15, 2003. Read the original PDF.