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# Let the homeless build our future
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/let-the-homeless-build-our-future-editor/
- Published: 2003-05-20T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T02:09:23.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Pacific Palisades, #archive-import, Homeless

*By Thom Trybus Santa Monica*

Santa Monica has decided to rebuild its main library and that is a very good thing, despite all the criticism by the yes on “S” camp, who would like to see any and all available public monies go to the now “traditional” funding mismanagers — the educators.

Libraries are for the benefit of all of the public, including the student children. No one can reasonably bitch that the funding required to build ought to belong rightly to them for their pet programs and what have you. $70 million is thought to be small in comparison to what huge budget monies the educators still have to work/play with, even with the present state budget cuts. Their funding gripes are wholly with the state government up in Sacramento, and not with the county or local government or taxpayers. Rebuilding the breakwater with pleasure and commercial boat mooring and the needed shoring up of the eroding 100-foot cliffs at Palisades Park are two examples of public projects which appear to take precedent to the funneling of more gifted municipal funds into what has now been perhaps rightfully described as “The black hole” of school budgets.

Missing out on the generous federal government matching funds to implement these two necessary projects which would both ensure public safety and increase the quality of local tourism would be a tragedy. There is a time limit in place on the availability of the federal matching funds. And in addition to the foregoing, the Santa Monica City Council ought to ensure the public it serves, by passing much needed local laws and/or ordinances, that the multi-million dollar projects to be started, such as the new library, have as diverse as possible of a labor force employed by all of the contractors and sub contractors performing any work in the city of Santa Monica.

In addition to this, that all labor being hired for this huge demolition-construction project be hired directly from the local population, instead of bringing in distant outsiders. They should include the diverse mix of ethnicity and talents among Santa Monica’s available and willing homeless who rightfully deserve a first real opportunity — a chance to work.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 20, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/052003.pdf?ref=smdp.com)