Reply #30: And Some Local Residents

[iamjoy]

From what I understand, some residents who lived in the area didn't like it because the homeless would gather there (for free food, of course) but then, without adequate public restrooms, many would just relieve themselves on people's lawns. You wouldn't like that if it was your house. And I guess some folks are scared of vagrants, thinking they might do them harm and got nervous when dozens would gather.

Don't assume everyone living near downtown is rich. And it's not such a stretch for people to think that some vagrants could be dangerous. Sure some are just nice folks down on their luck, but some are mentally ill. And some mentally ill are dangerous. Of course, your squeaky clean next door neighbor could be a closet psycho, but we never think that, do we? We're trained to be suspicious of what seems like it doesn't belong.

I sympathize with the residents, but think this ordinance is stupid. Why not really try to help the homeless (and mentally ill) rather than passing punitive rules that do nothing to solve the problem?

I have a friend who used to live near downtown. When she put out her trash, she noticed that sometimes the homeless would go digging through it for something to eat. So, she started wrapping the food she was discarding in foil and putting it on top of the garbage. Then it was easier for the homeless to find something to eat and made it less likely she had to deal with her trash scattered across her lawn from people digging through it. Compassionate and smart.