By Matthew Muzio
Nothing really changes in Santa Monica. I have lived here for 52 months and I find it fascinating that they allow homeless people to sell and use drugs between California and Arizona (avenues) along Ocean Avenue — three blocks from the police station on Second Street. There is a theory that they let these people do this because it will show the community that there is a homeless problem so taxpayers can feel comfortable that their money is going to the problem, and this keeps the 50 are 60 government-subsidized companies for homeless and drugs in Santa Monica in business, making money off the backs of others.
Santa Monica will always be a second-rate place if the police department and city allow this activity to keep going on. Also, it smells like piss up and down the Palisades. Santa Monica is using the same formula they use on Skid Row, but this is a problem because Santa Monica is a place of beauty and a different socio-economic population then Downtown LA, which is trying to change and grow in the right direction. Eventually, Downtown LA will change for the better and we’ll see more of a homeless problem because of the lack of authority and decision-making.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 27, 2007. Read the original PDF.