Vagrancy

Before Smarty Jones tries to make history in the Belmont Stakes, owner-trainer Wesley Ward has an opportunity to win two races on the card. In the first, a $58,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles, Lifestyle, who has won his first two starts by a combined 23 1/4 lengths, will try to remain unbeaten. Five races later, Bear Fan will aim for her fourth consecutive victory in the $150,000 Vagrancy Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs. The Vagrancy is the first leg of a pick six with a guaranteed pool of $1 million.

Nov. 2, 1908: A man walked from the West Coast to the East Coast and didn't get a warm welcome, The Times reported under the headline "Jail Walker as Vagrant; Boston's Way of Welcoming Man Who Tramps There From Long Beach." "Word comes from Boston that after having walked from Long Beach, adhering to a schedule of 17 miles a day, taking this means to reach a cattle steamer to take him to his home in England, Henry Stewart, aged 58 years, proud and penniless, was locked up there ...

The Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce has called for the formation of a panel of chamber members, city, state, and federal officials and social-service providers to deal with the city's homeless. In a newly issued position paper, the chamber said Santa Monica should cooperate with the city of Los Angeles to offer services to the homeless.

Overnight parking restrictions have been imposed around the Canyon Park Townhomes area in response to homeowners' concerns about drug activity and vagrancy at night. The ban was approved Tuesday by the City Council. Enforcement of the 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. ban will begin April 27 along the following streets: The south side of East Walnut Avenue, between Ivy and California avenues. The north sides of South Canyon Boulevard, between Walnut and Chestnut avenues.

Like the hundreds of people they serve every day, the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen soon may not have a home. The group said Friday it has been given until April 1, just shy of its 10-year anniversary, to move out of the First United Methodist Church on 19th Street, where it has been dishing out lunch to the poor and homeless for the last four years. Someone Cares is the last organization in the city that serves meals to the poor.

Redeveloping the west side, passing some type of anti-vagrancy ordinance to get rid of the homeless and reducing overall crime in the city are some of the goals council members set to accomplish by year's end. At a recent study session, the five council members mentioned a variety of objectives, including expanding city limits via annexation, putting a receptionist just inside the front door of City Hall and making sure all city departments stay open between noon and 1 p.m.

The city Redevelopment Agency has approved construction of a pedestrian bridge to connect the north and south platforms at Fullerton Station. The project, approved 3 to 1 last week, is intended to reduce the danger to commuters and other travelers who have been crossing the railroad tracks. The $1.2-million bridge will include elevators and security cameras and is expected to complement the design of the historic station.

Reagan's request for increased military aid to El Salvador is comparable to the Johnson's Administration investment in Vietnam--it has zero net worth. In this era of budget deficits and economic uncertainty, a policy of increased military support to the El Salvadoran government makes no sense. The Salvadoran army possesses a fundamental flaw that will lead to the eventual demise of U.S.-backed forces. The soldiers of the Salvadoran army are not committed to fighting for continued domination of an oligarchic society.

After an unsuccessful five-month search for a new home, Someone Cares Soup Kitchen is scheduled to close Friday. Merle Hatleberg, founder of Someone Cares, said she was notified in December that First United Methodist Church, where the charity has been based for four years, could no longer accommodate it. She has since contacted every church in the vicinity, she said, but has not been able to find a new location. Hatleberg said she is disappointed but not surprised that no one has come forward.