By Sunny Collins Palm Desert
As a former and recent resident of Santa Monica, I am well acquainted with this city’s acute homeless problem. I’ve learned that the city of Corona in 2002 instituted the requirement that homeless persons carry identification cards. The city of Palm Springs is now also considering this. The free cards contain a photo and expiration date and do not replace CA I.D. cards or driver’s licenses. These cards would assist police if they need to stop and question someone and are for everyone’s protection. The Santa Monica City Council would do well to take the time to study and research solutions to the homeless epidemic utilized by other California cities and nationwide. It’s time to adopt goals of protecting all citizens and helping the homeless toward productive lives and replace the bleeding-heart, so-called liberal mindset that labels all proponents of constructive solutions as “homeless haters.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 7, 2006. Read the original PDF.