Homeless Activists Ordered to Perform Community Work

Two homeless activists have pleaded no contest to charges that they trespassed on the grounds of the vacant Flamingo Hotel in November.

Jennafer Waggoner and David Busch, who represented themselves Tuesday in Santa Monica Superior Court, entered pleas of no contest to misdemeanor trespassing charges, said Norman Wegener, Santa Monica deputy city attorney.

If the two perform 50 hours each of community service before a July 7 sentencing hearing, Wegener said, the charges against them will be dismissed.

Waggoner, 27, and Busch, 42, were arrested Nov. 19 for allegedly trespassing at the beachside hotel, where they were providing meals and shelter to dozens of homeless people who they said could not find other places to escape the rain.

Of the plea agreement reached with the city attorney’s office, Waggoner said: “Fifty hours of community service is not punishment for us. We gladly take that on. That’s our mission.”