By Rob Martin
Julie Rusk is at best naive when she claims “outrage” that there are 20-year homeless “residents” on our streets.
She is not alone. The citizens of Santa Monica have been “outraged” for decades. Outraged at City Hall.
The city continues to sponsor agencies that “assist” the homeless, but are not required to house them first.
As a result, we have become a magnet for bums, who dilute the resources that otherwise would be available for the truly needy.
She has the audacity to ask, “We need landlords to help” — while apparently excusing everyone else.
Landlords are the most compassionate people I know, but the city of Santa Monica and (Santa Monicans for Renters Rights), long ago, took away our rights to be charitable.
Through rent and eviction controls, they created a shortage of units, encouraged hoarding, drove up rents on vacancies, and made it punitive to take a chance on at-risk tenants.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 12, 2008. Read the original PDF.