Hovie Hawk, one of the founders of the new “Keep Ballard Friendly” campaign emailed us to say that the campaign is refining its efforts.
Hawk writes: I wanted to let you know that thanks to the great comments and suggestions we got from MyBallard.com readers, we’ve refined our campaign to be less homeless specific. We realized that although many of the issues affecting Ballard involve homeless people, it was unfair to place so much of the blame on their shoulders. After all, if any person (rich or poor, homeowner or homeless) is drunk and disorderly or sleeping on the street, it creates a problem that should be reported.
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Candy coat it but it still reeks of vigilantism and self promotion. We all know that business is desperate to find answer to their woes. This is not it but we smell your desperation. Instead just accept that Reaganomics has come to final fruition and that this downturn is the direct result. We told you so.
Right. Because, you know, at the end of the day all the drunks and abusive skanks I see in Ballard head home to their condos. None of the troublemakers are homeless.
Hovie – you are not going to be able to appease the bumvocates here no matter how you frame your efforts. There are a lot of soft-headed folks here who just cannot abide ANYTHING that might imply that ANY homeless person might have ANY responsibility for their own plight. They believe that the drunks and druggies you see passed out on our streets are “peaceful” and should be coddled.
Look, anything that you and your efforts do that imply anyone who's without a home is a problem is going to result in you being trashed. Might as well just accept that and stop worrying about the spin.
I for one appreciate your efforts and think the Ballard has already done more than enough for the homeless. All homeless are not bums. But most of the bums are homeless. Just because they're “homeless” doesn't mean they get a free pass to do whatever the hell they want. But anyone who says that is generally crucified here – which is precisely why the problem has become so bad.
Agreed. Ballard IS a friendly place. This unnecessary campaign is supporting divisions in the neighborhood. Ballard has always had a lot of homeless people. It has always had crime. Don't think just because you decided to put up some poster that our nation's economic woes will go away. That's what the real issue is. People need our help right now, not us calling the cops every five seconds because we see an 'unsavory character' on our neighborhood streets.
Thanks for un-blocking me. ;-)
As expected, this effort will continue to evolve. It has to, especially as more provide input to issues that they seek to see improved.
I'm glad that the timing is now, as we head into summer, given how these issues exploded last year, I look forward to having more opportunities to become involved and for others to do the same.
Yeah, and it will seem unfair, to some, to do anything except ignore these issues.
Fortunately ignorance is not an option for everyone.
Right. The MyBallard blog commentaries are what creates the problem on the street. Are you avoiding the first poster's point; Reganomics has come home to roost, baby. Weep.
This has nothing to do with economic woes. It's the present moral woes that plague us. No one has the right to impose harmful distasteful antisocial ills upon our friends and neighbors, I don't care how 'poor' they happen to be.
Civility is expected, and, has to be required of those who have forgotten it's importance in any society.
Work towards solutions to what you claim as the issue, no one will stop you, but quit trying to undermine those of us who see things quite differently.
I choose to believe that people should behave, irrespective of the current economy, or the time of day.
Oh, I thought this was all Bush's fault, no it's Reganomics…
Would you consider that personal choices have more to do with outcomes than ANY president, or congress, or welfare statist diatribes?
Until, or unless, personal choices are challenged, and changed, you will see more of what society is becoming, unaccountable, to say the least.
“The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread. “
Anatole France, Le Lys Rouge
I agree with Onederfullone (big surprise). The problem is the lack of respect these people have for us as fellow citizens, and also the lack of respect for Ballard. It is not too much to expect folks to act right…and that means not deficating on the streets, not being beligerent to people, and not ruining our parks.
Their behavior is not acceptable, and I am happy someone is doing something about it.
I didn't mention Bush, you did. Which Bush? Could look up the figures for Reagan, Bush, or Bush Jr. easily enough-the facts are out there.
The point is, Reaganomics was bad enough for David Stockman to so famously bail on Reagan. Tax cuts for the rich are not the solution, and that's all she wrote.
As far as choices go, people make bad choices all the time. Those in power make bad choices that really mess us up, our kids, and our grandkids. Like Reaganomics.
This makes Ballard sound like some old fart gated community!!! I should know… just been in Florida all week! =
“Reganomics has come home to roost”
Last time I checked, there were bums before Reagan.
Absolutly! The idea that these bums would be at a job if the economy was better is a
What I heard when I saw Hawk on tv was that this response is somewhat fear-based. Homeless people do not commit crimes more than housed people; in fact, they are more likely to be victims of crime because they are vulnerable. They may seem to have lots of contact with the police, but this is generally disturbing the peace stuff. If Seattleites would get over their passive- aggressive tendencies, and ask people not to urinate or harrass or whatever, this “campaign” would not be necessary. Sometimes people, drunk or not, dirty or clean, loud or quiet, need to be reminded that society demands “norms” in behavior. I am amazed at the number of people who walk by street people and refuse to acknowledge their existence. I once had a guy thank me for making eye contact and speaking to him. It may seem contradictory, but direct confrontation will go a long way toward building community. Creating more “we” vs “them” will not.
I appreciate the reframing. While I think it's a terrific idea for the community to be alert and aware of the non-emergency numbers, I was very concerned about the tone of the earlier announcement. It seemed to carry an unspoken very ugly message.
My message to the “KBF” folks, if you're truly interested in keeping Ballard a great place to be, please focus on criminal behavior. There's no room anywhere for that. But, “those people” are our neighbors no matter where they live. That's just reality.
And don't imagine for one second that the nastiness on this blog represents true Ballard. Some of these people make me ashamed, regardless of whether or not I agree with their underlying message.
Reagan increased the homeless population.
Look at Reagan's tenure as California Governor. Thousands of people suddenly on the street from his policies, like dumping the mentally ill out in the streets for tax cuts. In the '80's when he was president, the homeless population went up. Again, from the policies enacted. Yes, Reaganomics.
People are on the street sometimes because they lost their jobs, homes, etc. Sometimes they're predators. Sometimes they're nuts. Most of the reactionary commentary here applies to the nuts and predators and lowlifes. SOME of these people are just people, however.
Thank you. It's wonderful to read a post containing such thought, compassion, and realism.
I very nearly posted that, myself.
>>No one has the right to impose harmful distasteful antisocial ills upon our friends and neighbors…
Leave it to socially dysfunctional Seattlites to project their own issues onto those least likely to speak for themselves.
Yes, some of them are fine, but the bums we have in ballard would be bums in boom times or crash times.
oh, so when I see someone making bad choices, and ending up in prison, or homeless, then I should REALLY be blaming those in 'power' for the results, not the individual.
It's always someones elses fault. How empowering…
You poor helpless individual, I hope that those in power make better choices for you then…
As far as our children, this president has just gauranteed they will never know a day of financial freedom in their entire lives.
And THAT'S all she wrote.
No, fool.
When someone steals a loaf of bread, they're responsible for that. When white collar thieves steal from millions, they're responsible for that.
One has a bigger effect on the world. Can you guess which one?
Don't we ALL want Ballard to be a little nicer? I'm not a big fan of all the bums hanging outside the library everyday. I dont see why people are getting upset about this plan? Its not going to cause any harm, if it does anything it will only help the situation.
And look how nice some are being!
I support this campaign. I've lived in Ballard for 10 years and I have to say, as a woman, I never felt unsafe walking alone at night in Ballard until about two years ago. Now I seriously consider carrying mace with me. Yes, there have always been homeless people and drunks in and around Ballard, who were pretty much harmless, and I never felt threatened by them, but now there's a new sketchy element setting up shop here. These aren't just drunks, but twitchy methheads and young punks who seem like they would roll anyone to get a few bucks.
I'm appalled at what I see in broad daylight – open drug dealing in the park, belligerent men yelling profanitities at passersby who don't wish to give them money, people strung out. Just the other day I saw one of the regular park campers peeing right ON the side of the library! Such a sign of disrespect! That's what it boils down to – all we want is common respect and civility among ALL who choose to live here – homeless or not, and to feel like our safety isn't being compromised. I'm glad Hovie is stepping up and taking action because this problem is only going to get worse if we don't nip it in the bud. Does someone have to be assaulted in order for Ballard to collectively say “Sorry, folks, your sketchy kind isn't welcome here anymore”?
Neither one effects my choices, nor does it free me from the accountability of them, ever.
I don't tolerate one theft in order to put more blame on another, just like I don't tolerate racist acts of one to be excused in any way by the racist acts of another.
Oh, now you sound like the fool.
There is no morality in your argument about morality.
Maybe all the people “urinating & defecating in the street” do so because they have NO OTHER OPTIONS?
Good lord, folks – they are HOMELESS and virtually no businesses will let them use the pseudo-public bathrooms. What do you expect them to do?
Why don't these “friendly” folks spend some time working on actual productive solutions??? You can gripe all you want, but the reality is there will always be a segment of the population that needs to be supported by the rest of us – due to mental illness, disease, addiction, luck of the draw, or just plain stupidity. Some people just CAN'T take care of themselves, and the sooner we all accept that reality & started doing something genuinely helpful, the better.
In my opinion, it is how you treat the weakest among you that sets anyone apart from having a “primitive nature”. The real problem with Ballard, is a lack of compassion and a lack of tolerance. It seems to me that most areas that start to attract people with higher incomes, also like to ship anything that appears “unsavoury” out of sight out of mind. There are real issues at the heart of America and it's time to recognize them and work toward a solution.
We are a people without a real culture except that we have perfected “wanting”…. I want, I want, I want… and I will do whatever it takes to be that person that I see on T.V that I want to be. We all have a hole and that is really what's going on. We need to look at our society and consciously embrace a real psychological growth.
Just wanted to make sure you're aware that no American will ever know financial freedom. Our economic structure is set up to ensure all citizens be in debt. If there were no debt in America there would be NO money in America.
Trust me, when they smashed up my car trying to get in, it wasn't a loaf of bread they were after.
I pay a lot of money to live in Ballard. Anyone who has been here for more than 2 years and doesn't notice a different element here is a fool. These cockroaches aren't my problem, they routinely break the law in a variety of ways and are allowed to get away with it. We need more of a police presence here to stop it because I have news for you folks, cancer spreads.
Put the bong down and get a grip.
Good god, it's breathtaking, isn't it?
We are doomed.
Really? What debt do I have? Credit card? Nope. Car payment? Nope. Mortgage? Nope. I don't owe anything to anyone. I can pack up and go anywhere without any financial strings attached.
Really? What debt do I have? Credit card? Nope. Car payment? Nope. Mortgage? Nope. I don't owe anything to anyone. I can pack up and go anywhere without any financial strings attached.
You're an idiot. Try spending some time in San Francisco. SF has ***WAY*** more money than Ballard and a homeless problem that is FAR worse.
“We are a people without a real culture except that we have perfected 'wanting'”
Right. This of course explains why when there is a disaster anywhere in the world the USA is more often than not the biggest contributor of relief funds.
Seriously, get a clue and do some traveling.
Some of us do know how to manage debt and make our money work for us.
I realize some people are stupid and spend more than they earn, but I guess you don't think that's their fault, it's someone else's right?
Ytoo, and the rest of the bleating class, shouldn't dissuade this group. The can splice words all they want to frame you as insensitive or uncaring, but intelligent people know the distinction between homeless (misfortune) and a bum (shiftless). There is no crime in being poor, or rich. (Though your resentment for people who have achievement, Ytoo, is palpable. And your envy, apparent.) There is a very real crime in vagrancy, trespass, theft of services, etc. We gotta' stop being such candy-a*s's and call it like it is. Vagrants, drunks and derelicts aren't welcome. Get rid of them. Don't back down. Fight. Don't apologize for having an opinion. You're right. They're wrong. We support you. We're fed up. Fierce is coming.
Whatta buncha freakin' troglodytes.
What if YOU had a sister or mom who was mentally ill or challenged? These are people that would be homeless without the help and support of others. What a bunch of a**holes. Denigrating the efforts of good people who try to help their families, low, baby. Low.
Lump ALL down & out people with a few bad apples that are nasty and poison. Get a grip, paranoid ones. Raise the bar, just a little.
Didn't expect to see a reasonable comment on here. Thanks for that.
The harm is in sweeping the homeless problem under the rug. Like Beltown did.
Reagan's cuts have nothing to do with this.
Reagan cut Social services spending from 1981 to 1982 by $800 million dollars, from $6.3 to $5.5 billion . By 1984, $1 billion was added back to leave us at $6.5 billion, $200 million over the pre-Reagan 1981 numbers.
As of 2005, social services spending was $16.5 billion, $10.2 billion more than when Reagan started.
To suggest that an $800 million dollar cut 30 years ago in a budget that has grown over $10 billion since then is simply assinine.
My Dad and I were driving by the Ballard Blocks the Monday morning about 10:00 am and a man was walking down the sidewalk, stopping periodically to throw up on the sidewalk and side of the building. He was obviously still drunk, and didn't appear to be one of the more hard off homeless… clean shaven, mostly clean clothes, decent shoes backpack. What was his excuse?
While walking by Habitude once, my husband and I came across a man who was obviously drunk and altered, lying on the sidewalk. Called 911, wasn't anything they could do (they'd already checked on him). He wasn't harming himself or others, he wasn't dying, he was just drunk. Downtown, yes, they haul them into a drunk tank and sober them up. Ballard, nope. They are left to lie around in the middle of sidewalks on Sunday mornings while families trying to eat brunch have to step around him, and nobody with any training is available to help him.
I think what the purpose of this movement is, is to shine the light onto problems like this. Downtown didn't get the resources to deal with their drunks until people spoke up and made people realize it was a big problem. I applaud them and KBS.
Instead of just dismissing it as “bad,” work with us to find a better solution. How would you deal with it? Ignoring it is not an option for many of us any more. So what do we do instead? That is what I hope this discussion will help us figure out.
The name of this campaign should be … Keep Ballard Unfriendly.
That's what it is…. a movement to keep Ballard unfriendly towards unwanted people.
I'm glad I moved out of this neighborhood when all you Californians moved in.
“without the help and support of others”
So how many do you have at your place?
Sweep away I say, only a fool thinks there's a cure for idleness, drunkeness and sloth. These folks aren't from Ballard so they can get up and leave as far as I'm concerned.
Now, having said that, we should always have a few picturesque hobos in Ballard; a couple of photogenic but harmless bums are always needed for 'urban authenticity' plus they're needed to show our kids the consequences of bad choices. What we don't need is this invading army of vagrants being fed like pigeons by morons who don't notice their flock sh*tting on other folks' homes. The less welcome they feel, the better.
It is not Ballard's job to end homelessness in America. Go chase your windmills elsewhere.
That amazing that you have managed to go living in America without having any debt, but what I was referring to was the entirety of America. Which is not just YOU…. Sorry to burst that bubble. You should probably know how your countries monetary system works, even if you chose not to be apart of it! The average American has EIGHT (8) credit cards…. I think that most of America has enough credit and debt owed that the MAYBE 8-15% that don't still heavily don't make a divit in the economy.
But Great trolling…. had fun chatting. If your a real troll i'll hear from you again soon.
I'm a physics and psychology major, and one of the few people in Seattle that doesn't smoke weed. But thank you for your amazing life altering note!
You are so mature! Your right I am an idiot. For some reason I believe that people can actually still grow as individuals.
And check your statistics; America borrows SIX BILLION$$$$ a day from INDIA and CHINA to function. So tell me again who contributes the relief funds.
And do not respond unless you actually check out the information. I didn't just pull it out of my ass. Really, look it up!
Your Right! Let's throw them in JAIL, ship them to other parts of the city, Shoot them…. thats good then they will be gone for good!
You can do all of that and the fact is they will keep coming back because there is a cause, and the fierce reaction that you want, is not going to solve the issue. It's just going to get it out of your face. Which since our current society is just based person to person…. just YOUR life matters right.
Well, then you had your fill of liberal dogma. We have a culture here dumbass, and have for a lot longer than your socialist-coddle the lazy ass masses-reinventing America crap.
What a waste of time to fill your head with such nonsense.
And seriously, quit expecting an end to accountability, it isn't going to happen.
ok, nutbag, for you, I get literal.
The American people are the most generous nation on the planet.
The Federal Government is the most selfish government on the planet, and you idiots want to give it even more power, more control over our lives, and steal from people to give to others, just call it a 'moral obligation'.
People are free to choose to be in a drunken stupor, and they are free to waste their lives away on liberal utopian dreams. Both are sick, and need intervention. I too believe that people can improve.
Just as soon as they pull their head out of their ass.
Me too. It would suck to have you in the way…
For me, it boils down to: do I prefer a Ballard filled with drunks and vagrants? Or do I prefer a Ballard without drunks and vagrants?
It’s the latter.
The numbers KBF posts are direct lines to city services that are staffed by professionals trained to deal with problems. Our tax dollars support these services. Let’s make use of them, and rid Ballard of undesirables.
Will this solve “the homeless problem”? No, but that’s not an applicable question anyway. This is using current tools to do the job they’re designed to do. Solving societal ills is a whole other topic.
So when I was doing relief work in Cambodia, Thailand, Haiti, etc. how come I didn't see anyone from India and China? Where were the planes from the Chinese and Indian air forces unloading supplies? In fact, in Cambodia my work was focused on removing all the land mines those wonderful Chinese supplied to the Cambodians. Keep in mind the American government and the American people are not one in the same.
Instead of ranting why don't you actual doing something? Ever think of that?
You also ignored my point about SF having more money and more of a homeless problem than Ballard which completely refutes your statement about primitive nature.
You believe that people can grow as individuals (so do I) but then you make huge, sweeping generalizing statements? You're one of those people who no doubt claims to be open minded but in reality are just as prone to stereotyping as everyone else.
hey you…have a kick ass day ;-)
hmmmmm sounds like you paid too much. It was very foolish of you to think money spent could protect you from reality. Someone REALLY saw you coming.
..”they will keep coming back because there is a cause”
No dummy, that's what is called an effect.
The cause is the complete lack of accountability, from sexual predators to drunken bums, the red carpet is free. You just sign up, and wait for the benefits to roll in.
That is why it is increasing, the choice to be a burden is too damn easy.
You now want to treat ALL as though they have no choice.
Rubbish.
Ytoo, sounds like you don't appreciate anything of value, especially what has to be earned, or created, by someone else.
You think that giving it away will protect you from reality? Of course! That is what a GOOD society does.
Don't be surprised when they expect more. And riot when they are refused.
I hope that you are the first to be spit on by these whom you feel so passionate for, they don't care, they are entitled.
meg-
not sure how long you've lived here, but ballard has never had this many homeless. this has become a gathering place for the city. it is an issue.
they've been asked. they continue with their unsavory behavior. next suggestion egbutler
Compassion and tolerance builds community – not sound bite big brother tactics.
Twas a time when Ballard often saw drunken fishermen on the streets who looked pretty similar to homeless folk, with the weathery skin and such. Oh, but NOW its not OK huh. Keep Ballard like Ballard is, not like the police-state ideal of some authoritarian dupe of the oligarchy.
He doesn’t need an excuse because he has a right to get drunk and throw up.
The solution is quite simple. Mind your own business and learn to accept that not everyone in the world chooses to live as you do.
My neighbor chooses to have a garage sale nearly every month. It makes my block look tacky to have someone drag all the crap they wasted their money buying out into their yard and it causes low life types to park all over the street making it difficult for those of us who live here to park. I have learned to deal with it because my neighbor has chosen to live in this manner instead of work for a living. I don’t like it and it brings down my property value but I believe in free choice so I say and do nothing. Terrible thing free choice.
“Compassion and tolerance builds community “
Sounds like a soundbite….try again.
But it's true. Certainly no one wants someone like you as a neighbor. I loathe the garage sales but the people are otherwise pleasant neighbors. It's not hard to tolerate their nasty habit.
You seem motivated by intense fear. Really, it's OK.
Well, let us know if he pees and sh*ts in your yard, does drugs in front of your home, drops needles and beer cans all down your street or staggers through your neighborhood yelling obscenities at your young kids…..then we have an issue.
Yard sales are not what we are talking about. Smarten up and follow the red ball.
I have lived in Ballard for 60 years and never once has someone done any of those things in my neighborhood. It sounds as if you choose a bad area.
Umm, no.
It's called drunk and disorderly and public intoxication and is very much illegal.
ah, that the first proper thing you've had to say. Not everyone will chose to live like I do.
That's why we have laws, and methods of holding people who make poor choices accountable. You think that I want everyone to think the same? No, but I want them to sleep in their own bed, and stay the ef out of mine…
Sorry but you can't dump all of this on Reagan. Starting in the late 1960's the ACLU started a major campaign to end the institutionalization of people with “mental disabilities” against their will. Their view was that is was preferable for someone to live “free” in an alley eating garbage rather then be involuntarily confined with food and shelter. Small government conservatives were only too happy to oblige by closing state run institutions.
To the main point, what the group is essentially saying is that the laws on the books should apply equitably to everyone. You'd think we could all get behind this basic idea. More to the point, if it's illegal to camp out in the city it should be illegal for everyone.
They are not in your bed and it is not against the law to be homeless.
Then best we close every bar in Ballard because the only time and place I see this is Friday night on Ballard Avenue.
Maybe you should call the cops then. Not happening in my yard either. Ytoo has a point, you must live in a bad area.
Thanks. :)
For me, it simply comes down to:
1. Do I want to live in a Ballard with many drunks and vagrants?
or
2. Do I want to live in a Ballard with few drunks and vagrants?
Drunks and vagrants are generally unsanitary, unlawful, and impolite. Therefore I prefer a Ballard with as few of them as possible.
So, I thank KBF for encouraging Ballard residents to make use of the tax-funded services provided by our city.
Will KBF solve “the homeless problem”? Of course not, and it's not trying to. That's a whole other issue. Will KBF result in a cleaned-up Ballard? Good lord, I certainly hope so. As others have said, “the homeless problem” won't go away, and those who want to work on real solutions to such problem will still have plenty of reason (and opportunity) to do so. More power to them, say I. But again: I prefer that the subjects of their concern move elsewhere.
Unsavory is a scone that doesn't taste good. Folks who have to live their lives with no privacy, in front of judgmental people who cannot take the time to imagine how they got there, are not unsavory. You live in the city. This is part of a city. Here's a suggestion, you move to Mayberry and they can stay.
We will call the cops, that's what this campaign is all about. Thanks for your support.
I totally agree with nikkidavis1. I'm not religious but I did grow up a Christian and I know that for all those out there that have negative things to say about the homeless, turning their back on them in thier own community and consider themeselves followers of the Christian movement, take a lesson from that guy Jesus who spent his 33 years caring for and protecting the poor and homeless. Followers of that guy and that book written about him and God mention multiple times that the only true gift you can give and a clear path to “heaven” is through helping those less fortunate, not pushing them away. With that said, I like the Dalai Lama's view on compassion even more.
Let's not allow Ballard to turn into the amazing east-side towns we all love to hate. We need a new “FREE BALLARD” bumper sticker that is directed towards the growing movement of those demanding to cleanse our beautifully, diverse, American towns into homogenous pieces of crap places to live, and for people like me, move away from. I hope I don't have to and I will fight to make sure I don't.
I totally agree with nikkidavis1. I'm not religious but I did grow up a Christian and I know that for all those out there that have negative things to say about the homeless, turning their back on them in thier own community and consider themeselves followers of the Christian movement, take a lesson from that guy Jesus who spent his 33 years caring for and protecting the poor and homeless. Followers of that guy and that book written about him and God mention multiple times that the only true gift you can give and a clear path to “heaven” is through helping those less fortunate, not pushing them away. With that said, I like the Dalai Lama's view on compassion even more.
Let's not allow Ballard to turn into the amazing east-side towns we all love to hate. We need a new “FREE BALLARD” bumper sticker that is directed towards the growing movement of those demanding to cleanse our beautifully, diverse, American towns into homogenous pieces of crap places to live, and for people like me, move away from. I hope I don't have to and I will fight to make sure I don't
I have compassion for those that have compassion for themselves and their community. I dont for those that are disrespectful to my community. Clean up Ballard I say. What's the harm?
Your right! I'm soooo STUPID, for getting laid off and making the decision to go to school!! How dare I think that I should get an education. Oh yeah and I'm really stupid for going to the hospital when I was severely ill. That cost me 1,800 …..
And the fact that you added “some of us know how to manage our debt” just proves what I was saying about our economic system.
let me try to spell it out slowly for you…. I was simply saying that if no one in America owed money to anyone then there would be no circulation of capital. The Monetary system of America works based on the knowledge that you're going to use CREDIT…. which is not free you always owe it back. That was all I was saying.
Have you BEEN calling the cops? When will you begin?
Okay… WOW you must be pretty dense.
I said that America BORROWS MONEY from China and India. I did not say that they helped out in crisis' You had made a statement that America is the biggest” contributor of relief funds” But we don't actually have any money!!! We borrowed the money from India and China….. that was alll that i was saying.
And yes there are LOTS of GREAT American people that will offer their time and their lives to make the world a better place.
And as for me “instead of ranting why don't i do something”
You don't know me at all! How do you know what I do. Do you know that I volunteer with a few different organizations, or that I intend out using my degree in the red light district of India. THanks for just assuming who I am on a few statements. Whos the sterotyping person?
And I seriously love and feel for everyone! All of my statements on here have been taken the wrong way. Most people were making local discussion… I was making a few global statements it is my fault I was taken the wrong way.
I feel that How you treat the weakest among you, aka with compassion and respect and seeking to heal not band-aid….is what makes us sentient beings, as opposed to primitive. It has nothing to do with money! It has to do with greed. People that I know is San Fran are pretty tolerant of their homeless. Just depends on the crowd.
Yeah because they riot now with nothing! You are the one that acts like your Entitled. Your just a rude intolerant troll!
“People that I know is San Fran are pretty tolerant of their homeless. “
1) People in SF -never- use the term “San Fran”
2) Their tolerance of the homeless is a BIG part of the problem. SF spends over $40,000 per year on each homeless person. For that kind of money you can afford an apartment, medical insurance, and basic living costs (I know because I lived in SF on less than that!) Their tolerance of the homeless also means more people die on the streets of SF than die on the streets of New York or Chicago which are both MUCH larger cities and have MUCH harsher winters. Which is more tolerant and compassionate:
A) Letting people freeze to death on the streets as they do in SF
– OR –
B) Forcing them into shelters as they do in NYC
Tell me wise one, what's the morally “correct” answer? Should concern for a persons physical well being take precedence over their civil rights? How do you help people who don't want to be helped? This is where compassion starts to get tricky.
I can appreciate your wide eyed optimism about the world and I was that way when I was in school. Of course then I got into the real world and realized things were not nearly as black and white simple as my professors said.
There was a great street poster years ago in NYC that said “How can you worship a homeless man on Sunday and ignore one on Monday?” Simplistic but still a good question. Too many “Christians” today are more concerned about selectively enforcing what the Bible says you can't do while ignoring much of it what it says you should do. Funny how that works!
Now all that said, you have to get down to certain realities:
1) How do you treat people who don't want to be treated without violating their civil rights?
2) Where do you find the money to pay for treatment? Take it from schools? The fire department? The police? Public transit? A little from each?
3) Where do you put people while they're receiving treatment? Never underestimate the NIMBY factor.
Have yet to see anyone come up with answers to these questions.
No I think we just have been invaided by east siders.
Pure Poetry!!! I could not have said it better!!
Actually, I was relieved to see you are not a finace or business major because your facts are twisted.
You should really breathe. Why are you getting so worked up over an opinion? I have never been to San FRAN so sorry i didn't call it the right name. That is why I couldn't comment on your inquiry. I do not judge what I don't understand. And I am most certainly not WISE. Just a child of the lessons life has taught me and will teach me. Being on my own since I was 15 helped. Being homeless from 15 to 18 might also explain my swayed opinion. And I never said that they all want help. I think that pan-handling should be illegal… anyways I'm done with this forum. Good luck with your friendly challenge.
“Letting people freeze to death on the streets as they do in SF”
IT DOESN'T FREEZE IN SF, DUMMY! IT'S CALLED A MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE FOR A REASON, IGNORANT ONE!!
No, you're the dummy. I lived in SF for 10 years. If you don't have adequate protection you will die of expose from sleeping outside, especially in the winter. I personally saw the body of someone who died of exposure sleeping on the sidewalk on Leavenworth St.
…and yet the state mental institutions are all still closed down, the amount of services available to keep people off the streets are still less than ever, etc…
Yes , we shoudn't just target the homeless. Ballard has many drinking establishments where people of means get very drunk. I personally would like to see a police raid on Ray's Boathouse, a nortorious den of habitual drinkers.
It's funny that many of folks here who feel the homeless are a blight probably vote in a manner that insures that there will be more homelessness.
Against paying taxes for universal health care? Against paying taxes for community services? Just saying, ironic.
Like it or not, there will always be people who can't or won't help themselves. All these Ayn Randians with their high ideals of self-reliance say it's their fault, so they shouldn't be helped. Great. Just realize that that attitude has consequences, and you're seeing it.
Your facts are absolutely false. I actually am for a public option and many social causes – just because I want to feel safe and not want to watch crazy individuals defecate in my neighborhood does not put me in the Sarah Palin leagues. Generalization is bad in all forms. I am not talking about the poor – who are jobless or had some unfortunate circumstances we are talking about addicted or crazy individuals living in our parks and sidewalks.
I have a simple request… can you please learn the difference between “your” and “you're”?
Your is a person and you're is you are…. I knew that did i make one mistake because i didn't see it, but thanks for pointing it out. You're such a mature person! Oh are you a english teacher?
Then you may want to stop watching “Cold Case” and get out of your house more often. It's all over Ballard. Disorderly yard sales are the least of our worries.
This is one of the most ridiculous arguments I've ever heard. The problem is with people and their problem with using alcohol. Getting rid of booze, tobacco, guns or strippers will not cease the behavior. The problem is with a person's unhealthy attachment to these things. For regular everyday folk, these things are fine when they don't take over your life.
Why shut down Ray's Boathouse and lay-off hundreds of staff members there because they have a bar? It's America, man. Let the drunk drivers get caught because THEY did something wrong.
There was a time when Americans were made of sterner stuff. Why Carrie Nation and her ladies would bust up saloons like that with a hatch axe.
I agree – this is a weird idea. At first I thought it was a campaign to encourge overall politeness not single out a specific group.
If people are really concerned with homelessness in our neighborhood then why not volunteer at a homeless shelter, vote or help out in some other way? Some way that would be more helpful then being a Big Brother.
What? When did a yard sale become conparable to homelessness? Go live in a condo – elsewhere – if that actually bothers you.