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# Readers sound off on Pico violence problem
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/readers-sound-off-on-pico-violence-problem/
- Published: 2003-05-30T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T02:15:07.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Pico, #archive-import, Homeless

Last week, Q-line asked: “What can be done, if anything, to end the cycle of violence and bring peace to the Pico neighborhood?”

Here are your responses: ■ “Get rid of the low-income housing projects and all of the crime will dissipate.” ■ “I think what is necessary to end the cycle of violence and bring peace to the Pico neighborhood is to keep the SWAT team, which was presented in your newspaper last week, permanently in place. Perhaps foot patrols, machine guns? The entire situation with a SWAT team in place permanently is probably going to be the only thing that is going to help this neighborhood.” ■ “Unfortunately crime is a boon to big business. If one thinks not just consider the amount of people who would be out of work if it were not for crime and counter-crime prevention activities and devices. This would include the entire judicial bureaucracy. Still murder is terrible. The gangmembers who are aware of the consequences of their actions continue their deadly game, even when innocent people are often caught between their deadly crossfire. It has a great deal to do with retaliation and macho. Also, jail has become a way of life with most gangs and crime gives gangmembers the opportunity to reunite with gangmembers behind bars where they continue their gang life. A jailer mentioned that fact to me. Perhaps reinstating the military draft would ease the tension. If you are 18 and not in college, you should be in the military for two years. Two years in the military will take the wind out of his sails. Trust me I have been there.” ■ “That’s a stupid question! Of course we know the answer to that. Get rid of all illegal aliens. They bring the crime to this country.” ■ “On the east coast when a family member is involved in violent crime or any kind of illegal activity, that person is evicted from the public housing. That’s how they should do it out here.” ■ “Why don’t they go back to having foot patrols like New York? Their crime rate is a lot less than ours. I think that would work in the Pico neighborhood.” ■ “Send the military in.” ■ “Let me get this straight. The police have a problem in the Pico neighborhood and they can’t solve it. They handle this problem the same way they handle the homeless. Don’t tell me they don’t have the manpower. The police can round up a lot of personnel when the janitors marched on Third Street. I’m sure they can increase the police presence in the Pico area. Maybe they need a curfew. I don’t think the police have done enough to protect the residents of that area.” ■ “This would not happen on the other side of Wilshire. Again, this would not happen on the other side of Wilshire. ■ “To stop violence you can hire the sheriff’s department, since the Santa Monica Police fails to do drug work. Maybe the city could promote police presence.” ■ “First of all, we need representation from the Pico neighborhood on the City Council. Time after time, issue after issue, the City Council is unresponsive to the concerns of the residents of Santa Monica.” ■ “The city needs to recognize that the problem exists first of all. Secondly, they need to devote the police social service resources to residents of the area. Currently one-third of police time is spent on drunk, homeless and millions are spent on services to transients. Little goes to Pico and this must change. Thirdly, they need to fix the broken windows. Civic improvement dollars should focus on Pico. For example, Cloverfield both north and south of the Pico neighborhood were beautified, yet between Pico and the freeway not one street tree exists. The city policy must change. Those convicted of violent crime, especially those with firearms should be evicted. The city attorney should help with this. Currently, this does not happen. CCSM should be prevented from an over-concentration of low income-only housing and execute criminal checks.” ■ “I’m a retired Army sergeant and I live on 18th and Michigan. I believe that the parents know a lot more about what’s going on than anyone else in that neighborhood. They need to step forward and turn in these trouble makers. That college should not cancel some trade-type schooling. It will give them something to do. Not a lot of them are college-bound people. I still believe it’s the parents that could help. That’s how it was when I was a kid. I personally know a mother in the area that had her own son’s probation violated because he was hanging around this gang. He went back to jail. My point is that this mother loves her son so much that she wants him away with that behavior.” ■ “Children learn by examples set and behavior that is condoned in our society. Everything from the leadership of this country that chooses war over diplomacy to all the movies, TV, Play Stations and video games that promote violence as cool and sexy and the answer to problems. I guess we all have to change.” ■ “What they need in the Pico neighborhood is more expensive police presence. Like what was used to control drug and other criminal activity in Palisades Park. Also better rewards and protection for law-abiding citizens who report disturbances and criminal activity.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 30, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/053003.pdf?ref=smdp.com)