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# There ought to be a law, or two
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/there-ought-to-be-a-law-or-two-editor/
- Published: 2005-12-03T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T08:15:50.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless

*By Lee Fernandez Santa Monica*

Yet another letter about the homeless problem in Santa Monica. I use public transportation, and go for walks twice a day all over the city. I am accosted, barraged and harangued by these folks daily not just for some “spare change,” but for “a couple of bucks.” Seems like the aftermath of Reagan’s policies are even affecting the homeless.

My biggest problem with these people is the threat of contracting diseases, like ringworm, or worse, and contacting things like lice on the bus, the train, or the cloth on chairs in the coffee house or park benches, etc. The homeless are essentially “lost” in our system, and they don’t get the medical care they desperately need.

The good citizens of Santa Monica need to pass a law: No day or overnight camping or panhandling on any city property including city streets, parks and beaches, except by permit.

Although it may seem to create another bureaucracy at first glance, the fact of the matter is, it would be easier to enforce than anything the police are doing now to help maintain order. Enforcing overnight camping is simple. If someone is sleeping on the city streets, parks or beaches, they are overnight camping.

Day camping is a little more involved, because we have to distinguish between someone sitting and resting, or enjoying the day and a homeless person “camping out.” But making shopping carts in parks and beaches illegal is a good start. The permit is for events like movie night at the pier where citizens “camp out “ and eat on the beach during the movie or concert. The permit is temporary. The organizers of the event would be responsible for obtaining the permit, or any citizen who wants to have an organized gathering on the beach. Having a picnic at the park is not day camping.

I admit, day camping rules would have to be specific, and may not be viable, but forbidding overnight camping and panhandling is specific.

As far as enforcement is concerned, the police would be more effective in stopping crime by essentially moving the homeless person off the streets and into the homeless shelters where they belong, rather than chasing down perpetrators after the fact. The citizens will be safer too. As far as the homeless are concerned, forcing them off the streets and into the homeless shelter where they can get the care they need is much better than where they are now. If we don’t have enough shelters, then we just have to raise the money to build them. Surely, we can find enough philanthropists in the city who can help us raise the money we need. But we have to have the law first to weed out those who want and will use the shelters from those who don’t.

If we are “pushing” the homeless out of Santa Monica and into Los Angeles or Malibu, then it is up to those cities to follow our lead, and enact the same laws.

We are not helping these people by letting them live off garbage and urinating in public and giving then “a couple of bucks.” They are sick people who need care and they have the services available to them if we force them into the shelters. If they don’t want to go into the shelters, fine, then leave the city. We’ve had enough.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 3, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/120305.pdf?ref=smdp.com)