By Ingrid K. Behrens O’Brien Santa Monica
It’s amazing to read about the huge construction project projected to cost $17 million (SMDP, May 22-23, page 1), so the “actors” can recite Shakespeare to themselves and whomever will listen.
While on the other hand, the constant drumbeat of “get rid of the homeless” beats on in Santa Monica.
I propose this to you: Jim Carrey, Dustin Hoffman, Renzo Zecchetto, Dr. Piedad Robertson, John Carroll Lynch, Valeri Mahaffey, Ava Shamban, Marc Flanagan and whomever else would like to help: Pledge $1 million a year to house and feed the homeless in Santa Monica. Jim gets 2005. Dustin gets 2006. Renzo gets 2007. Dr. Robertson (if you have the cash) gets 2008. John Carroll, you get 2009. Ava, you get 2010. Marc, you get 2011... and by that time... the cash will be making money from its own investments. Then, our homeless people in Santa Monica will be taken care of for the many years to come.
Now tell me what’s a better legacy? A 540-seat theater or a hot plate of food and a warm bed for a war veteran or a mentally ill person, AKA the homeless?
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 26, 2004. Read the original PDF.