By Jerry Rubin Santa Monica
It is commendable that L.A. Mayor James Hahn, Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom and other area leaders are convening a committee to deal with homelessness as a regional issue.
But Santa Monica’s input into that regional committee would not be as comprehensive or effective if Mayor Bloom and our City Council do not take immediate steps to reinitiate the Santa Monica Task Force on Homelessness to re-evaluate and update their findings and strategies.
It has been more than a dozen years since that task force met. That’s too long! No wonder our city is once again screaming, finger-pointing and blaming.
Of course homelessness is a tough issue locally, regionally and nationally. Let’s appoint a new Homelessness Task Force now that will include members of the business community, social service group representatives, religious leaders and concerned residents, including homeless activists who are trying to seek possible dialogue and win-win solutions.
Our prestigious Santa Monica Social Service Commission recommended this idea many months ago at a City Council meeting. What are we waiting for? It’s a non-costly approach to bringing our community together and the local and regional solution-oriented bodies can work on a parallel track. Let’s think globally but act locally.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 23, 2003. Read the original PDF.