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# Waiting to exhale: Homeless are the real issue
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/waiting-to-exhale-homeless-are-the-real-issue-editor/
- Published: 2006-10-12T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T21:38:49.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Promenade, #archive-import, Homeless

*By Peter Shopay Santa Monica*

In response to the city’s attempt to ban smoking everywhere: I think it’s all nice and sweet that we can ban cigarette smoking throughout the city, on our beaches and in public places. But that’s not the reason why my kids don’t get to play in the public parks that my taxes pay for. How about we figure out a way to ban the homeless while we’re at it? Start small like “no homeless on beaches at night” or “no homeless on the Third Street Promenade.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 12, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/101206.pdf?ref=smdp.com)