Homelessness & Bush in S.F.

[Epicurus]

That's the other hot spot right now, Golden Gate Park. The battle has been, as I'm sure your aware, over whether to kick the homeless of the Park. Some people are finally fed up with all the vagrants, used drug needles etc. in the park and others think its cruel and inhuman to remove the homeless from there.

Almost all of those kids have nowhere to go. They have absolutely nothing. No SS#, no drivers license, and no money. I just don't see how kicking them out would turn out at all well for them. They're living okay right now because they've figured out how to live well under harsh conditions. They have a great sense of humor about it. Last time I was there I was talkin to a buddy in GG Park, and I walked over this certain patch of grass. A homeless kid popped out of the bushes and says "Hey man stop stepping on my sheets! "

Like I said, great sense of humor. I couldn't ever vote to kick them out, but I've never found human feces on my front porch either.

 

[cawacko]

Almost all of those kids have nowhere to go. They have absolutely nothing. No SS#, no drivers license, and no money. I just don't see how kicking them out would turn out at all well for them. They're living okay right now because they've figured out how to live well under harsh conditions. They have a great sense of humor about it. Last time I was there I was talkin to a buddy in GG Park, and I walked over this certain patch of grass. A homeless kid popped out of the bushes and says "Hey man stop stepping on my sheets! "

Like I said, great sense of humor. I couldn't ever vote to kick them out, but I've never found human feces on my front porch either.

Yeah, its tough. (A sense of humor is always great, especially in tough situations). You have the whole quality of life issue (human crap and piss on the street is not uncommon around downtown and other neighborhoods) vs. wanting to help.

 

[Cypress]

When the police in the city have tried to force homeless off the street locals have gone crazy that its inhumane and harrassment etc. That is fact. Frank Jordan, our former mayor, lost his re-election bid years back when he basically started a program of the police getting homeless off the street.

As this article said now there may be a sea-change in people's attitudes.

Cawacko, I detect in this post a sort of snickering, mocking quality of humour: "Look at those silly liberals...getting what they deserve"

Some street people are mentally ill. Some are destitute and have emotional problems. And yes, some are just plain assholes, harrassing innocent people and vomiting on their lawns.

but, I think its very telling that Cons would mock any sort of compassion for the homeless and destitute. Very telling indeed.

I don't think anyone likes having people vomit on their cars, or harrass them for spare change. I've never met a liberal who does. That's not the issue. I think the issue involves whether law enforcement and criminalization should be the primary tool to deal with it - or, whether changes in the communities social, welfare, and mental health infrastructure is the place to deal with it. These are things all communities have to balance out, and periodically adjust.

 

[Cancel7]

Cawacko, I detect in this post a sort of snickering, mocking quality of humour: "Look at those silly liberals...getting what they deserve"

Some street people are mentally ill. Some are destitute and have emotional problems. And yes, some are just plain assholes, harrassing innocent people and vomiting on their lawns.

but, I think its very telling that Cons would mock any sort of compassion for the homeless and destitute. Very telling indeed.

I don't think anyone likes having people vomit on their cars, or harrass them for spare change. I've never met a liberal who does. That's not the issue. I think the issue involves whether law enforcement and criminalization should be the primary tool to deal with it - or, whether changes in the communities social, welfare, and mental health infrastructure is the place to deal with it. These are things all communities have to balance out, and periodically adjust.

Very well said!

And especially these "kids" he and Warren are talking about. For god sakes, why are they homeless? And it's early enough to intervene and really turn that around for them, and for their entire lives.

 

[Epicurus]

Very well said!

And especially these "kids" he and Warren are talking about. For god sakes, why are they homeless? And it's early enough to intervene and really turn that around for them, and for their entire lives.

Well most were there running from warrants or debts. Some wanted to experience the "new hippy" lifestyle and actually left decent homes to come to the Park.

By the way, these are my friends. If you can't see that I don't care, but it matters a lot to me what happens to them.

 

[Cancel7]

Well most were there running from warrants or debts. Some wanted to experience the "new hippy" lifestyle and actually left decent homes to come to the Park.

By the way, these are my friends. If you can't see that I don't care, but it matters a lot to me what happens to them.

I don't think you don't care. I think Cawacko doesn't care, he's a vampire you know, homeless kids are midnight vittles to him.

Anyway, they left decent homes to live in a park? You know, I'd have some questions about that. At any rate, they could benefit from some visits to a social worker.

 

[Epicurus]

Anyway, they left decent homes to live in a park? You know, I'd have some questions about that. At any rate, they could benefit from some visits to a social worker.

Not all of them. Not most of them. Probably not even a third. But some did. I've been sorely tempted before and honestly if I was closer to SF I probably would have when I was younger. The way I first met some of the Gate kids was through a friend who left his parent's home in 10th grade and paid for a Greyhound ticket to SF. Slept on some guys rooftop for a while and he's been in the park ever since.

It's not an easy lifestyle, but I can certainly see its appeal. If I find myself with a felony drug charge and have to abandon law school, I could pretty easily see myself there.

 

[Cypress]

Very well said!

And especially these "kids" he and Warren are talking about. For god sakes, why are they homeless? And it's early enough to intervene and really turn that around for them, and for their entire lives.

Thanks!

Oh God, there's nothing more heartbreaking than a homeless kid.

 

[Epicurus]

Btw I use kid to cover a range from about 12-25. So don't be picturing a 7 year old shivering in the park. Though there could easily be such a person.

 

[cawacko]

Cawacko, I detect in this post a sort of snickering, mocking quality of humour: "Look at those silly liberals...getting what they deserve"

Some street people are mentally ill. Some are destitute and have emotional problems. And yes, some are just plain assholes, harrassing innocent people and vomiting on their lawns.

but, I think its very telling that Cons would mock any sort of compassion for the homeless and destitute. Very telling indeed.

I don't think anyone likes having people vomit on their cars, or harrass them for spare change. I've never met a liberal who does. That's not the issue. I think the issue involves whether law enforcement and criminalization should be the primary tool to deal with it - or, whether changes in the communities social, welfare, and mental health infrastructure is the place to deal with it. These are things all communities have to balance out, and periodically adjust.

Our mayor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who at one point they talked about as a possibility for Govenor, put Care Not Cash on the ballot a few years back. It was about giving services to the homeless instead of just giving cash. He was called every name in the book, a "right-winger", "evil", "no heart" etc. for proposing this.

Again, this wasn't about arresting people on the street. It was about trying to get them help and that's how people spoke about him. Unless you've lived here you do not understand the homeless problem and its affect on the City.

I'm not snickering at crap. I'm glad that people are finally getting fed up and maybe something will be done.

 

[cawacko]

Cawacko, I detect in this post a sort of snickering, mocking quality of humour: "Look at those silly liberals...getting what they deserve"

Some street people are mentally ill. Some are destitute and have emotional problems. And yes, some are just plain assholes, harrassing innocent people and vomiting on their lawns.

but, I think its very telling that Cons would mock any sort of compassion for the homeless and destitute. Very telling indeed.

I don't think anyone likes having people vomit on their cars, or harrass them for spare change. I've never met a liberal who does. That's not the issue. I think the issue involves whether law enforcement and criminalization should be the primary tool to deal with it - or, whether changes in the communities social, welfare, and mental health infrastructure is the place to deal with it. These are things all communities have to balance out, and periodically adjust.

A. I'm the only one talking here, not "cons".

B. I'm not mocking shit. It is the number one issue in the City according to polls of voters. Once again, Democrats outnumber Republicans by some 8 to 1 ratio in this City so its not just Republicans who are saying.

And truthfully a big part of the problem are people with attitudes like yourself who are so damn condescending with your nose tilted slightly in the air saying "I care about the homeless because I'm so compassionate". Please.

 

[Cancel7]

Our mayor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who at one point they talked about as a possibility for Govenor, put Care Not Cash on the ballot a few years back. It was about giving services to the homeless instead of just giving cash. He was called every name in the book, a "right-winger", "evil", "no heart" etc. for proposing this.

Again, this wasn't about arresting people on the street. It was about trying to get them help and that's how people spoke about him. Unless you've lived here you do not understand the homeless problem and its affect on the City.

I'm not snickering at crap. I'm glad that people are finally getting fed up and maybe something will be done.

What would you like to see done? Give us some examples of what you are talking about, and what this Mayor Newcom was talking about?

I mean is this program about letting charities take care of it, and letting the market decide? A little shock therapy? Or are there some actual ideas here? I'd be interested in seeing them, seriously.

 

[Cypress]

A. I'm the only one talking here, not "cons".

B. I'm not mocking shit. It is the number one issue in the City according to polls of voters. Once again, Democrats outnumber Republicans by some 8 to 1 ratio in this City so its not just Republicans who are saying.

And truthfully a big part of the problem are people with attitudes like yourself who are so damn condescending with your nose tilted slightly in the air saying "I care about the homeless because I'm so compassionate". Please.

Okay, sorry Cawacko. I'm sure your top three issues of concern are:

1) Male porn stars
2) USC football
3) Homelessness.



(just teasing, dude!)

 

[cawacko]

What would you like to see done? Give us some examples of what you are talking about, and what this Mayor Newcom was talking about?

I mean is this program about letting charities take care of it, and letting the market decide? A little shock therapy? Or are there some actual ideas here? I'd be interested in seeing them, seriously.

From Wiki, it seems pretty accurate from what I know.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Care_Not_Cash

 

[Cancel7]

From Wiki, it seems pretty accurate from what I know.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Care_Not_Cash

Cawacko, if the ballot measure passed, how was he voted out by the same "liberals" who presumably voted for it?

I read it, I think that your whole problem is that you're underfunding. You can't "create affordable housing" and institute counseling programs, and all of the other things this care not case program claimed it was going to do, for 13 million a year, get real!

But many of the ideas in it, are sound, in my opinion. Which, once again, disputes your whole theory that "even the liberals are getting fed up with homeless people"

I really don't think that is what is happening.

 

[Epicurus]

I like the idea of services instead of cash in principle.

 

[cawacko]

Cawacko, if the ballot measure passed, how was he voted out by the same "liberals" who presumably voted for it?

I read it, I think that your whole problem is that you're underfunding. You can't "create affordable housing" and institute counseling programs, and all of the other things this care not case program claimed it was going to do, for 13 million a year, get real!

But many of the ideas in it, are sound, in my opinion. Which, once again, disputes your whole theory that "even the liberals are getting fed up with homeless people"

I really don't think that is what is happening.

Newsom proposed Care Not Cash before he was elected. This was his signature issue and he got elected on it. Frank Jordan was Mayor during the late '80's and '90's and he got bounced for how he tried to handle the homeless problem.

The column I originally posted was spot on. Again, maybe you have to live here to understand it.

 

[Cancel7]

Newsom proposed Care Not Cash before he was elected. This was his signature issue and he got elected on it. Frank Jordan was Mayor during the late '80's and '90's and he got bounced for how he tried to handle the homeless problem.

The column I originally posted was spot on. Again, maybe you have to live here to understand it.

Oh, I see.