By SLACKARIASON Daily Planet Slave
Home and Garden Magazine this month has ranked Santa Monica the “best place to be homeless.”
“With its political tolerance, beautiful beaches, temperate climate and spacious parks, what’s not to love?” the maginze’s editor, Dartha Mewert wrote. “The city is so accomodating with its lax laws and free food programs, no wonder it’s a haven.”
The survey was conducted last month and those polled were the same ones asked by the major television networks if they supported the war. It is was a two prong question, “What’s your opinion on the war and secondly, where’s the best place to live on the street in America?”
Santa Monica beat out San Francisco and Santa Cruz, who ranked second and third, respectively.
As a promotion, Southworst Airline, which is a major advertiser in the magazine and is currently contracted with the city, will offer free one-way tickets to Santa Monica for anyone who can prove they don’t have a home.
For years, it’s been secretly known that other cities around the country have sent their residentially challenged citizens to Santa Monica in hopes they’ll find a better life here.
“It’s out in the open now, we are the best once again,” said Santa Monica Mayor Rob Righteous, just before he got a parking ticket. “This puts us on a whole new level of cities... we can once again be looked as the ones who set the example.”
Aim Less, who lives in a van down by the ocean, said times have changed since he first got here.
“I came from Chicago on a bus 20 years ago,” he said. “It was a long, strange trip. These new recruits have it so much easier now. They’ve got free flights, free food, free camping supplies, free clothes and fundamental freedom here. Back in the old days, I had to walk miles from Skid Row to get my needs met in Santa Monica.”
The three-page article is the magazine’s cover story and features several photo spreads of homeless people lounged out on makeshift beds in Palisades Park overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
City officials said the ranking again puts Santa Monica in the national spotlight and they intend to capitalize on it.
“Tourists love it,” said convention and visitor’s bureau director B. Frank. “They will see that spread in the magazine and immediately book a trip here to experience one of the most progressive cities in the world.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 1, 2003. Read the original PDF.