Time to boot up Editor:
By Julia Reeves Santa Monica MAD as hell Editor: Greg Thomas Santa Monica Police and politics Editor: Joe Weichman Santa Monica Nice job, Louis Editor: Dan Dunn Santa Monica (Editor’s note: Dunn writes a weekly column for the Daily Press.)
I wish Robert Meyers would take a hike.
This letter is addressed to Robert Myers and homeless people in Santa Monica. AT WHAT POINT will you open your eyes and see that the VAST MAJORITY OF THE VOTING PUBLIC ARE SIMPLY SICK AND TIRED OF THE HOMELESS IN THIS TOWN IN ANY, WAY, SHAPE OR FORM?
WE ARE TIRED of seeing them sleep, eat, shoot up, smoke pot, have sex in public, piss, defecate, “panhandle/berate” (ALL of which I have personally witnessed) in our public parks/streets/alleys/front yards.
WE ARE TIRED of having this city and its council look the other way, claiming “we are compassionate because we always have been compassionate.” (Look what that has gotten us, Mr. Mayor and council.) WE ARE TIRED of being the “homeless dumping ground” for all of Southern California.
WE ARE TIRED of being told “make housing more affordable so I can live in an apartment with 45 of my homeless addict friends.” Complaining about the high cost of living here? MOVE!! There are PLENTY of apartments in the Valley, in Palmdale and further from the water for as low as $350 a month. Where do you get off thinking that YOU get special rent privileges? I have to bust MY ass to pay rent here. Why can’t you?
WE ARE TIRED of having to call our already overworked and understaffed fine police force, only to have these losers repeat their crimes again and again.
You did see Chief Butts’ report on the inordinate numbers of homeless calls and arrests and what it costs us, didn’t you?
Overall, WE ARE TIRED of being “compassionate,” because we plainly see that this has done NOTHING except wave a giant “No job? No Problem!” welcoming flag to the miscreants/addicts/predators/losers of the world. WHY is it that other cities have successfully and rightly made life MUCH harder on the homeless, therefore leading them to leave town and not have the problems we have? I have lived in nine different cities the past 15 years, and NEVER have I seen one as disgraceful and spineless in dealing harshly with the homeless and the problems they bring as this one. IT SIMPLY IS UNFORGIVABLE TO THE TAX-PAYING, HARD-WORKING RESIDENTS TO ALLOW THIS ATTITUDE OF PERMISSIVENESS TO GO ON, AND WE WELCOME A MUCH HARSHER POLICY IN DEALING WITH THE HOMELESS.
Do you read the papers, especially the opinion section, Mr. Myers and your homeless friends? Do you see that this is EASILY the biggest issue on our minds this election? Do you see and understand that the TAX-PAYING AND GAINFULLY EMPLOYED citizens of this town are mad as hell and are not going to take it any-more? It is true we are turning “more and more anti-homeless over the past decade.” Do you think you and your miserable homeless friends could collectively pull your head out of your asses and see why?
You think life is tough on you now? Get ready. Hopefully, your days are numbered. I PROMISE you they are in MY neighborhood.
You just don't get it yet, do you?
Why is the Police Officers Association (POA) using scare tactics to oppose VERITAS? The POA recently mailed a flier to Santa Monica residents. In addition to its list of recommended council candidates was the following: “We would also ask that you vote NO on HH. People are trying to limit your voice in your own city government. Would you like it if you asked a police officer for help and he told you he couldn't because of what district you lived in?”
Why is the POA opposing an initiative that has no bearing on public safety?
I don’t know whether to be offended or pleased over being called a “semi-literate vulgarian.” (SMDP letters to the editor Oct. 23).
Damn... if only I knew what that means. I guess I should watch Star Trek more often.
Whatever the case, Louis Pastore is entitled to his opinion. After all, the guy DID figure out how to purify milk. Way to go, Lou!
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 25, 2002. Read the original PDF.