Ain’t Got No Dog

A nurse who temps around the country told us that she has never, ever been in a city that deals with the homeless like Santa Barbara does. They are brought into Cottage on a regular basis, some almost every week, treated and released. More and more citizens and business owners are aware of the growing problem but the city leaders seem intent on making it ever easier for the homeless to set up camp here. Santa Barbara is viewed as a very hospitable place by transients from other areas. Why?

Why? It's all Mrs. Childs fault.

Homeless?
Homeless, has been a problem in Santa Barbara forever or at least since the Goverment cut funding for National Mental Health facilities. While living my 20 yrs. in Goleta and visiting most of South County in one manner or another there has been homeless. Nearly all are mental patiences seeking a hand-out to self-medicate themselves. I did meet quite of Mid-West and East Coast folks who came here while the rest of the Nation was dealing with their own ressession during the 80's. They started out seeking employment but as I have learned since arriving in Metro DC any education or experience garnered elsewhere is considered irrelevant to employers not from your home State but I degress. The point is the Mentally ill have NO where to go, No Government will take them, No family wants them and No Business wants them either, so untill either they all die (What most people want) off or another solution comes up, live with your mental brothers and sisters, and SHUT-UP!

Santa Barbara has 2 options, just like San Francisco did when I lived there and they dealt with this issue.

1. Make SB unfriendly to homeless people and make them head some where else.

2. Spend money to help them.

Of course SF decided to do a little of both.

The straw that broke my back in SF was when I was standing there with a cop as she wrote me a parking ticket for my BWM (for being there 9 minutes too long), while a homeless mas a peeing about 10 feet from us into the gutter, right in the middle of downtown. The cop didn't flinch - that parking ticket means money for the city. The homeless guy doesn't.

With the crappy economy the problem is only going to get worse. We need to seriously look at this problem and try to address it. I feel for the homeless, but at the same time I can't go for a walk anywhere in town without half a dozen people walking up to molest me for money. As a tourist town, that's obviously going to negatively effect the city as a whole over time.

I feel for our elected officials who have to deal with these hard problems, but then again that's the job they signed up for and it's where my tax dollars are going to pay them.

Having said that, GET TO WORK! Do something! Enough talking about plans, it's time for some kind of action to resolve this problem.

Between the homeless issue and the gangs rolling into town from down south, SB is going the wrong direction.

Why must I allow people to defecate on, urinate on, sleep on and beg from me my own property? Why is my desire for them to stop doing this so wrong? What happened to my right to pursue happiness? Would they like it if I crapped on their shopping carts? Their mental status should not enter into the equation. Respect for yourself and for others is a two way street.

Yeah, Nick, we all know you don't like Falcone and that your heart bleeds bright red. But having said all that, what would you propose for dealing with the homeless problem? There are clearly those homeless who need society's help, and there are clearly bums, vagrants, and transients who are here for the handouts. I for one believe that someone who spits on me because I didn't give a handout deserves no sympathy. So let's quit lumping all the homeless together and let's also quite demonizing the people who would actually like to do something about the problem. Very easy to criticize those who act; very difficult to come up with alternatives.

Are the homeless edible? If we used them for food it would give them a sense of purpose and it would also cut down on our food bills. I suppose they'd be a little tough though.

This is more of the same reported earlier here >>>
http://www.independent.com/news/2009/mar...

I understand and can empathize with this revulsion and discomfort represented by residents, property and business owners. But what can be done without further harming already ill, outcast or damaged people. The West Beach group's remedies suggested so far are not realistic and are punitive by targeting the "least among us." There are enough bleeding hearts who will fight to ensure that these people are not hustled off ("polite ejection") or jailed for simply sleeping in public places or panhandling.

While I won't discount the complaints I can't help wonder how much hyperbole is involved. How often is someone spat on or assaulted by homeless? Is there provocation? How often does someone knock on hotel doors and ask guests for money? Is the peeing and pooing on any given property wall a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly occurrence? How is it known who did it all? I know we would not want these offenses to occur at all. But why is all this attention given to these 'lesser people' infractions when there are so many other enforcement deficiencies to be had of our average property owning people.

Many of the complaints, such as trespassing can already be treated as crimes. Perhaps property owners can install video surveillance or motion detection lighting to discourage trespassing and assist law enforcement. It is your property and you may need to do more yourself rather than relying on law enforcement.

It is clear that there is a national systemic notion and by default or neglect the nation assigns major regional cities the burden of response. These people are a symptom. We can forego our national and state constitutions and start locking these people up if we want to continue becoming a third world nation. Otherwise a national response is going to be required to solve these problems. The last several years this country has been acting as great masters of distractions, creating much chaos where we go. Then we blame anyone and everyone else around. No difference here. My suggestion, start reforming by not being a scapegoater.

Bronc: What is a BWM?

birdbrain - your username explains your last two sentences perfectly.

I have a question for you, birdbrain. God forbid YOU ever become homeless, or have a family member who does, do THEY have a right to "pursue happiness"?

Gandalf47,

Why don't you answer birdbrain's first three questions? Or is your MO to try and shut anyone down with a different opinion before we all find out you have nothing to add to an honest debate?