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# One big carrot for transients
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/one-big-carrot-for-transients/
- Published: 2007-09-10T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T02:49:08.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless, Homelessness

JOHN MAC E R I, TH E EX EC UTIVE director of OPCC took issue (Letters, SMDP, Aug. 30, Page 4) with my Aug. 27 column (Page 4) about his non-profit’s roll in Santa Monica’s homeless invasion.

Maceri claims the column contained “numerous inaccuracies and false allegations.” He wrote that “It’s not only ludicrous but absolutely false that OPCC would be involved in bussing people to Santa Monica for services."

However, Maceri ignored the line on his own literature for OPCC’s newly opened $3.2-million dollar city-funded Annenberg Access Center describing it as "the primary entry point into the homeless service system on the Westside."

Whether transients get bussed here or invited to come on their own via Web sites, word-of-mouth, tens of thousands of flyers, or other outreach that extends all the way to L.A.’s skid row, OPCC is targeting transients regionally. The fact that their literature says “the Westside” and not “Santa Monica” speaks for itself Maceri maintains that OPCC’s priority is “serving people already here in the community.” That includes any transient who crosses our city border — even if they’re only in town a few hours. It’s why nearly 100 percent of those in OPCC and other city-funded programs are from outside Santa Monica.

Over the last seven years, Santa Monica’s homeless population has tripled. Why does only Santa Monica have a “surge” of nearly 3,000 transients? Maceri wrote that “public policy decisions resulted in Los Angeles County becoming the homeless capital of this country” and claims it’s the beach, climate and tourist industry drawing them here.” However, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, Hermosa Beach and other coastal communities have the climate, beaches and tourism, too.

> “Surge” — Over the last seven years, santa monica’s homeless population has tripled. Why does only santa monica have a of nearly 3,000 transients?

The difference between us and them is that we offer free food handouts, wide ranging programs and services, city ordinances that facilitate and sustain (maybe unintentionally) a street lifestyle, a humanitarian-oriented police department that doesn’t knock heads, lots of alcohol outlets and promises of free housing without restrictions — to name just a few. Enticing carrots, wouldn’t you say?

OPCC and other city supported providers contribute to the growing homeless population by not limiting the length of time or number of times clients utilize services. Some OPCC Access Center clients have been there for 10 or 20 years — or longer. Many programs require clients to stay in town — like prisoners — for services. Worst of all, Santa Monica can only help a handful of the thousands already here let alone all those coming.

Although Maceri claims OPCC’s programs are “the very resources these individuals need,” he’s flat-out wrong when he claims his services, “aren’t magnets that attract and keep ‘em here." One is not mutually exclusive from the other and Maceri knows it.

Despite more than two decades and tens of millions of dollars, an expanded city Human Services staff, numerous enabling programs, free housing and dramatically accelerated spending on the “continuum of care,” we’re still getting, at best, marginal results and even more problems.

City programs are created based on an obsession with solving homelessness on the “Westside"— not getting people off our streets. The city’s homeless service model lacks goals and focus. Money is misspent and resources are squandered. Meanwhile, non-profits such as OPCC, expand and suck up funding that could go to other communities that want to “do their part."

A radical change in the way City Hall handles homelessness and manages homeless service providers is needed and the clock is ticking.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 10, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/091007.pdf?ref=smdp.com)