By Thom Trybus Santa Monica
Of the three major issues of concern to most of your readers, (i.e. homeless individuals, voters deciding to not authorize a local parcel tax/state school budget cuts, and the optional historical status of not so old residential homes), I believe that there can be found some solutions to at least the first issue: Homeless individuals (The most naturally diverse mix of individuals on the planet) and their situations, by the proposal to, and the enacting of by city council, long overdue local ordinances and laws similar to, (but better than) what we used to know as “affirmative action.” To be sure, the following suggestions are far from perfect, and are in no way absolute, though they can be expounded upon, and/or added to.
A.) Require all businesses contracting with the city which provide services that include, but are not limited to laborers who landscape and garden, laborers who engage in various construction work and janitorial services. They should employ (from a pool of readily available “registered” unemployed homeless individuals) at least five percent all of their contracted workforce, or face stiff fines and penalties.
B.) That all other licensed businesses within the city of Santa Monica with a permanent labor workforce 30 or more individuals; i.e. car washes, hotels, fast food restaurants, construction companies, seafood industries, etc., newly hire, and continually employ at least 2 percent of any available individuals from the current pool of “registered” homeless unemployed individuals.
C.) That all of the aforementioned city contracted and licensed businesses be bound by agreement with the city, as a condition of such contracting and licensing, (or such continued contracting and licensing) to be in compliance with at least a minimally determined standard of “diversity” in all of their hiring and continued employment practices. Where no single ethnic or racial group (such as whites, blacks, Latino or Asians) dominates their workforce to the exclusion of all others, that there be as close to an even diverse mix of racial/ethnic talent as can be had or obtained from the available homeless population, in addition to their agreeing to preferential hiring of citizens first. And continued employment of only those individuals who are proven to be legally documented and not in any way in violation of any work permits, visas, or U.S. laws.
Diversity and homeless to work independence is really possible. Santa Monica would surely benefit from it.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 22, 2003. Read the original PDF.