Today the City Council will consider adding section 4.08.097 to the Santa Monica Municipal Code which will prohibit sitting or lying in doorways in the downtown area (3rd Street Promenade i.e. area bounded by east side of Ocean, north side of Wilshire, east side of Lincoln and up to the south side of Pico) between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
The proposed ordinance states that this behavior leads to: ■“Significant public health hazards.” ■“Degrades the appearance of the downtown area.” ■“Diminishes the quality of life of employees and residents who work and live there.” ■“Poses safety risks.” The ordinance continues to state that during the last year there have been a number of very violent crimes committed by homeless people in the downtown areas. The only problem is that the ordinance limits the "downtown" to the community within the boundaries of Wilshire, Lincoln, Ocean and Pico i.e. the Promenade. So what this ordinance will do is allow the communities outside this very small area to become the receptacle of the aforementioned homeless and vagrants who by their activity have created safety risks, diminished the quality of life and committed a number of very violent crimes.
The Ocean Park neighborhood I live in continues to be in a state of siege with aggressive panhandling, defecating in public and individuals in various stages of intoxication sleeping, passed out or in general destroying the quiet of our beachside community.
As a long time resident and taxpayer, I have watched while my neighbors have moved away because the onslaught of homeless showing up outside their homes and have made it unsafe for their children to play outside.
My elderly parents, visiting from out of state were harassed at 9 a.m. by vagrants who that morning had already been "overserved" at a nearby liquor store.
As an 18-year veteran of the non-profit community, I am well acquainted with the homeless issue, however, I am curious why the City of Santa Monica continues to allow 22 different groups from as far away as West Covina to come to Santa Monica and feed homeless people and vagrants in our city parks. I am also curious why these groups don’t run these programs in their own communities. I, along with many others continue to watch the homeless population grow, negatively impacting businesses and residents on an ongoing basis.
After many years, I am finally at the stage where all the efforts of the city seem to be for naught. And, I want to know how long the businesses, parents, children and community of Santa Monica will continue to be held hostage by the plight of the very individuals (homeless/vagrants) that the Council purports to help. I urge those in the community to attend the City Council meeting at 5:45 p.m. today and let your voice be heard.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 24, 2002. Read the original PDF.