OCEAN PARK — Despite six years on the streets of Santa Monica, Alberto Rico said he refuses to panhandle or beg.
The 66-year-old native of Cuba, widely known by neighbors and friends as “Rico,” instead said he mostly lives off a modest stipend he earns as a 15-year veteran of the U.S. Navy who fought in Vietnam.
Rico hopes to be “moving up” soon. But he also knows how hard that can be. In an interview last week, Rico praised some of the work done by local social service providers, but suggested Santa Monica’s 2,000-strong homeless population be put to work.
Over the years, Rico has befriended the community surrounding a staircase at Ocean Avenue and Pacific Street. Joggers there nod hello as they pass, residents stop to chat while walking their dogs, city workers honk and wave as they drive by.
“I don’t go uptown, downtown, into town,” Rico said. “This is my office. I’m here, seven days a week.”
That is, until he finishes the last 100-plus days of parole he has to serve for violating parole on an earlier crime. Until then, Rico must stay within a certain number of miles of his parole officer in Van Nuys, whom he sometimes struggles to regularly meet with.
Rico didn’t want to discuss the original crime, pre-ferring to put it behind him. Adrian Rico, his daughter, a worker at the Los Angeles Police Department, said she wasn’t sure exactly what the offense was, but that it happened in the 1970s, adding Rico spent nearly two decades in prison because of it. Rico’s parole officer didn’t return calls seeking comment.
The Daily Press sat down recently with the man who first came to Santa Monica 28 years ago as a visiting seaman, asking for his take on the state of the city.
What’s you’re favorite thing about Santa Monica? “The people are courteous, very courteous. If you respect people, they respect you...
“Sometimes, we get people, aggressive panhandling, being violent — the people are scared and I don’t blame them. But I’ve got respect.”
There are myriad services for homeless people who want help in Santa Monica. Do you take advantage of any of those services?
“Like with the VA, the VA in Long Beach, I want to get in, but I’m in line.
“I take a shower under the pier... I got a mailbox over at (Ocean Park Community Center), that’s where I pick up my check and I wanted to get into (another) shelter, but every time I go they say, ‘You got to come back in two weeks’... and I’m not a begging person. I’m 66 years old.
“At OPCC, you’re supposed to check with them every day. But every time you go up there, you see people, they’re drinking, they’re getting into fights...”
Many local residents and businesses want to see the city cleaned up. Do you think Santa Monica has a large homeless population?
“No. That’s bullshit. I don’t know how many cities you’ve been in, brother. LA has the biggest population.
“The area right here where I’m at is very small. I don’t know about up in the parks, where people are drinking — I stay away from that. My life is getting short.”
What do you think the city could do to help improve the homeless situation?
“By give ‘em some work they can do. Believe me, the people out here would be glad to have jobs...
“This old man here (gestures to another homeless man) picks up cans every day. He will work. I will work... Let them sweep up the parking lots here. Let them clean up.”
One of the local City Councilmen has suggested just that — asking all homeless people to work for the community’s betterment. Do you think that would work?
“Yeah, we will clean up the beach, anything. Just give us minimum wage, something, so we can get something to eat and find a place to stay. We need some work, man, to get in the system.
“I don’t panhandle. I never panhandled in my life. I will work for it before I ask you for a penny. I have nothing against people doing it, I just don’t do it.”
What about the homeless people with serious mental or addiction problems? How should the city handle those situations?
“Some got drinking problems. Some been cooking some (drugs).
“Instead of putting them in prison, they should put them somewhere where they can get help. It costs so much for someone to go to jail — taxpayer money. For what? For panhandling, for having two or three joints. Open up a clinic where they can get some help.”
What would you be doing if you weren’t here? “I’d have an apartment. I’d like to do some painting, you know painting walls and houses... I plant grass. I can operate a forklift. I’d be working...”
What about a dream job — if you could be anywhere, doing anything at all?
“I’d like to be on a ranch, where I could be around some cows. I’m a country kid. I pick cotton and cut (sugar) cane... I’d like to live that life again.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 1, 2004. Read the original PDF.