Unthinkable
So, after almost 13 years in Los Angeles, the impossible is happening. The one thing I said I'd never do.
I'm moving to Santa Monica. We found a place that's owned by an old friend from DD and is walking distance from my new job. I just couldn't say no.
I've lived in a pretty diverse range of areas in LA. Two years in the Valley, five years in Playa del Rey (before it was Archstone Central), three years in (well near, but close enough) Hollywood. I spent 12 years working in Venice, just one imaginary border south from Santa Monica, close enough that crossing the street would put me in Santa Monica city limits. And where Venice has generally been Bohemian in nature, Santa Monica was always the epitome in my head of the limo liberal. All the annoying things about the far-left with too much money and actual civic control. I always felt more comfortable with the scruffy artists in Venice and the mellow beach bums of Dockweiler.
Of course this is all my personal opinion. If pressed, there was nothing really solid I could back up my subjective view of the place, save for one thing: Santa Monica's uber-liberal treatment of the homeless. It was a perfect example of how to totally screw up outwardly good intentions. All sorts of programs and efforts to medically treat and feed the homeless, massage that liberal yuppie guilt! But there was nothing else behind it, just feed them, essentially, and chuck them in the hospital when they need it. Noble, sure, but what did the effort earn them? A five-star Michelin rating of places to go when homeless. I remember reading, years back, of homeless moving to Santa Monica from *out of state* to take advantage of the handouts. Keep in mind, as big as LA is, Santa Monica's all of 3 miles wide by 3 miles deep, if even.
Well, I happened across this story this morning. Someone is finally learning the lesson in city hall.
Things seem pretty placid around the new place. Here's to hoping that I picked the right time to cave in.
I'm moving to Santa Monica. We found a place that's owned by an old friend from DD and is walking distance from my new job. I just couldn't say no.
I've lived in a pretty diverse range of areas in LA. Two years in the Valley, five years in Playa del Rey (before it was Archstone Central), three years in (well near, but close enough) Hollywood. I spent 12 years working in Venice, just one imaginary border south from Santa Monica, close enough that crossing the street would put me in Santa Monica city limits. And where Venice has generally been Bohemian in nature, Santa Monica was always the epitome in my head of the limo liberal. All the annoying things about the far-left with too much money and actual civic control. I always felt more comfortable with the scruffy artists in Venice and the mellow beach bums of Dockweiler.
Of course this is all my personal opinion. If pressed, there was nothing really solid I could back up my subjective view of the place, save for one thing: Santa Monica's uber-liberal treatment of the homeless. It was a perfect example of how to totally screw up outwardly good intentions. All sorts of programs and efforts to medically treat and feed the homeless, massage that liberal yuppie guilt! But there was nothing else behind it, just feed them, essentially, and chuck them in the hospital when they need it. Noble, sure, but what did the effort earn them? A five-star Michelin rating of places to go when homeless. I remember reading, years back, of homeless moving to Santa Monica from *out of state* to take advantage of the handouts. Keep in mind, as big as LA is, Santa Monica's all of 3 miles wide by 3 miles deep, if even.
Well, I happened across this story this morning. Someone is finally learning the lesson in city hall.
Things seem pretty placid around the new place. Here's to hoping that I picked the right time to cave in.