By Julia Reeves Santa Monica Bill Bauer reminds writer of a Nazi wannabe Editor:
I have read both installments of the two-part series of Bill Bauer's column appearing in the SMDP. I think that he makes some very good points.
He makes reference to the fact that various municipalities “require ‘event’ permits that regulate the size and frequency of large gatherings on public property,” and that San Diego has a municipal code, which it enforces, requiring a “bond for those handling and distributing food” for health and safety reasons, and, further, that they “also require identification for those who participate in services so they can be monitored.”
As it is in Santa Monica now, to the best of my knowledge, there is no identification check or monitoring on a regular basis of those homeless, or otherwise, who are the recipients of public feedings. Personally, I think that some sort of identification and monitoring should be undertaken.
Quite frankly, I think any long-term public feeding of the same individuals does indeed make them dependent on food handouts, and, more importantly, perhaps unwilling to take any steps to improve their status in the community. To me, it would seem to be a far more charitable undertaking to help them to help themselves; to help them to become less dependent on those, perhaps, well-intentioned do-gooders, who, in fact, may be doing more harm than good.
That is not to say that there may very well be some in serious need of help, but then there comes a time when those individuals must be weaned off their dependence on others and begin to take responsibility for themselves. I think that, perhaps, many can become resourceful, productive and even thriving individuals if they somehow get the sense that they have something of value to contribute and are encouraged and helped to discover it and put it into action for their own good, and possibly the good of others. I believe that some, if not all, have the ability to lift themselves up by their boot straps and rise above their current existence.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 26, 2002. Read the original PDF.