Enabling Homeless, From Hard Work to Handouts and Sex Offender Posting

Oct. 10, 2002

Dear Editor,

Thank you for spelling out this issue in your Frank Gruber's column for The Lookout (WHAT I SAY: "The Epidemic," Sept. 30) (I'm a new reader and this is the first of your columns I've read.)

I'm two-years new to Santa Monica, coming from New York City. I found myself appalled at the complicity of the city's visitors and residents in homelessness; what they pass off as "tolerance" is actually enabling people to remain homeless.

The NYC subways have posters explaining why you don't want to give handouts; responsible organizations pass out contact cards to hand out instead of cash, directing people to locations where real help is available.

I recently became involved with People In Progress (http://www.peopleinprogress.org/about_us.html) in an effort to do something other than complain.

Sincerely,
Susanne Trimbath, Ph.D.

October 10, 2002

Dear Editor,

As I listen to all the rhetoric in regards to the living wage the one thing that stands out in my mind, is the argument, that a group of workers in Santa Monica have to work several jobs to make a living for their families.

I am 50 years old, and when I was growing up my dad worked several jobs, as many of the men did in those days. I remember my father-in-law not only working several jobs, but teaching music at night after a long hard day. It was a struggle, but the struggle is what makes good people better...

When I went into the workforce as a teenager, I started at entry level jobs, part time positions that were never meant to be a career, and during the summer months I would hold down two jobs... plus continue to baby sit for neighborhood kids. This was at the tender age of 16...

Working several jobs made me realize that education was important in order to truly better myself not only intellectually, but also financially... The part time positions were good experience, but again not a career, not jobs that would support a family. In essence, they were a starting off point.

When I married in the early 1970's I was gainfully employed as well as my husband, yet I recall him putting in many hours of overtime and taking on any available extra jobs that would come his way so that we could be a part of the American dream and own a home.

Soon after two children and the home I quit work and saw my husband take on additional jobs. As the children grew, I went back into the work force, first with part time flexible jobs that earned lower pay because of the flexibility, then back into the workforce full time.

The American dream is born on the backs of hard work, not entry level positions, not the types of jobs High school youths start at.

Everywhere you look you see free English classes offered, that is all part of assimilating into the American dream, learning growing, working hard and moving OUT OF the low paying entry level positions, not making a career of them, and certainly not expecting an employer, any employer, to over pay for under qualified, under educated employees...

When did the rules change from hard work to handouts?

Thanks heavens I had a lifetime of great examples of both men and women who felt hard work and self improvement was the way out of poverty...

Shari Wheat

October 1, 2002

Dear Editor,

I write again today in response to yet another example of how a critical function of Santa Monica's government is unable to complete its duty. This time it is the sex offender posting that is not forthcoming by the Chief of Police based purely on economics. (SPECIAL REPORT: "Sex Offender List Unavailable at SMPD" and "List of Sex Offenders Registered in Santa Monica")

This statement, as the city has levied a lot of us thousand of dollars, while at the same time, taking our hard earned money and expending it wastefully on political serindipities "DU JOIR" that are doomed to failure in the courts!

Now, as the "Super Majority" seeks to cast the shadow of its hand by spending even more millions on the Public Safety Building and the "New And Improved Civic Center," not forgetting the "Super Poly Vynal Transit Center", a critical tool to protect the people (POLLY KLAS LAW) cant be exercised.

It's time this present council got a wake up call from the PEOPLE with a balanced budget initiative amendment to the City Charter!