By Greg and Margaret Lloyd Santa Monica
Michael Beattie recently wrote a letter in the Daily Press personally attacking writer Bill Bauer for his recent article on the homeless. Beattie accused Bauer of making up research, but it was in fact Beattie who made things up. Contrary to what Beattie claimed, Bauer never said there were “40 feedings in Palisades Park with up to 1,000 people at any given feeding.”
He did say there are “drug addicts” and “anti-social” persons within the city’s homeless population and this is true. Beattie resorted to childish name calling by referring to Bauer as a “Nazi wannabe,” which I found to be very inappropriate.
Had Beattie read Bauer’s article carefully, he would have noted that Bauer praises Samoshel and people, such as Beattie, who are working toward making a better life for themselves. He supported making programs that help people trying to return to self-sufficiency more efficient and effective, while eliminating those which enable persons to live in misery on the streets indefinitely.
My advice to Beattie: If you disagree with Bill Bauer, disagree on the facts... don’t make things up.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 29, 2002. Read the original PDF.