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# Red Cross has vested interest in Pico ’hood
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/red-cross-has-vested-interest-in-pico-hood/
- Published: 2006-04-01T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T17:28:35.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Community, Pico, #archive-import, Homeless

*By SACKA JA MAMMA Daily Mess Maker*

Anticipating that all hell will break loose sometime in the near future, the local chapter of the Red Cross will be handing out bullet-proof vests to residents of the Pico neighborhood.

The Saturday-only event — underwritten by residents living north of Montana — is in response to the recent announcement that the local police department has gone on strike. Lower-ranking officers, many of whom just left the womb, walked off the job late Thursday for fear that they, too, will be shot by outsiders.

The Twentysomethings represent most of the force so their lack of participation has virtually crippled the department.

“I have my whole life to look forward to and I’m not about to waste all of that by patrolling an 8-block pocket full of trouble,” said officer Dan Imbad, behind his mirrored sunglasses while puffing out his chest. “I took this job because I thought being a police officer in Santa Monica would be a cake walk. When I was recruited, they said Santa Monica was affluent, predominately white and there shouldn’t be many problems beyond the occasional homeless man ejaculating in a wheelchair.

“But all this violence, I didn’t sign up for this.” The Pico area is an eastside neighborhood that covers much of the south, north and west sides of the city. It has been plagued by gang violence and drug dealing for years — a phrase that doesn’t sit easy with residents. Nevertheless, the area is always the source of debate in the community.

“This would never happen north of Montana,” said Mimi Weewee, a longtime resident. “But thank God for the Red Cross, their efforts locally are so crucial. They really are a Godsend.”

However, not everyone is pleased with the humanitarian effort, particularly the usual suspects.

“We are not victims,” said Oscar the Grouch. “We will rise up and fight these vests. Our message is clear and anyone who doesn’t think so hasn’t been listening.”

In order to get a vest, Red Cross volunteers will require residents to prove their residency by either a driver’s license, a past due city utility bill or a bullet wound.

The idea of bullet proof vests came from City Councilman Robby Coniver, who stomped heavily in the Pico neighborhood during his 2004 campaign.

“I told them that I would do something for them and I have finally been able to achieve at least one goal in the nearly two years I’ve been in office,” he said. “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”

Even so, the rent on a studio apartment in Santa Monica is $1,500, even south of the 10\. Street parking is not included.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 1, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/040106.pdf?ref=smdp.com)