Q and A

Slim Pickings for Teenagers in Santa Monica These Days

Heidi Lemmon

Special to the Mirror

Q: What is there for teenagers to do, besides going to the beach and Third Street?

DAVID, SAMOHI, is an honor roll student who plays bass guitar. He was in the condiments, a local band, which played at the Ash Grove. Now he and his friends have to go to Hollywood to play. They’ve played at Dizzy Debbie’s and the Whiskey.

A: Absolutely nothing. The Alligator Lounge was cool, but they closed down. So did the Ash Grove.

NICK, PETER, PHILIP and MAX, Ninth Grade, SAMOHI.

A: Skate at Douglas Park.

LAUREN, Senior, SAMOHI

A: Go to parties and get loaded.

COURTNEY, Senior, SAMOHI

A: Go to parties.

KIM, Senior, SAMOHI

A: I don’t bowl, but you can bowl, visit art galleries, and go to parties.

GAYE SAXON, Parent

A: My oldest daughter studies most of the time, but there is not much for fifteen-year-old, other than the beach and the mall. It’s a real shame we don’t have a community swimming pool. We used to have an ice skating rink, and it would be really nice if we had a rink again.

LARRY MOLLIN, Parent

A: They could use a place to hang out, shoot pool, ping pong, music, that sort of thing. The older teens can drive, so something like the old beach club would make a good teen center.

SCOTT, 9th grade

A: I like to play basketball, but most of the basketball courts are taken up by adults. There isn’t really anything to else. I go to west L.A. to play golf.

LINDA GROSS, Parent

A: I’m not sure there’s a lot for them to do, other than movies and bowling. Maybe there could be something like the Twilight Dance Series for the local teens. They could bring in bands, dancing, that sort of thing.

DIANNE MERZ, Parent and Former Teacher at Franklin

A: There is not a lot for teens to do in Santa Monica. It would be nice to have teen centers that got back to basics, maybe a book club, woodworking, academics and dances. It would be great if we have a swimming pool.

ANTHONY, SMC

A: After I turned 18, I could not skate at the Boys and Girls Club, so I would like to see a city skate park.

Q: How easy is it to buy drugs in Santa Monica?

ALL TEENAGERS

A: They are easy to buy, especially marijuana, Speed, Ecstasy and LSD. Cocaine and heroin can also be bought, though they’re harder harder to get