By Mark Sanderson Santa Monica
People, what has happened to the will of the people of Santa Monica? In response to Monday, the headline article, “Homeless feeding law to be debated in federal court,” (SMDP, Feb. 14, page 1), they’re at it again. Now, the city attorney must take her time (again) to defend this law in federal court because some nonprofit groups feel this law “tramples” on their First Amendment rights. I assume they mean the right of assembly? “This implicit right is limited to the right to associate for First Amendment purposes.” Feeding homeless in a park is expressing free speech? How is forcing large feedings of more than 150 people inside against one’s First Amendment rights? Take it off the streets and inside where it belongs. What about the rights of the city’s residents to attend a park and not have it look like a disaster area scattered with sleeping bags, worldly belongings, baby strollers and a gaggle of folks laying around? It’s absurd. What about the rights of residents who have to deal with daily feedings at 1 p.m. at Reed Park? Generally, most of those handing out the food are from outside of the city. It’s very easy to feed and then leave the mess to the residents to deal with daily. I was even surprised one day to find a van filled with students from Loyla Marymount passing out sandwich bags and warm socks. Boy, I’m sure those socks will really help some people to get off the streets.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 16, 2005. Read the original PDF.