The irony is precious. Although Seattle is quite proud of its status as a Sanctuary City," they are putting up fences in order to keep homeless people from camping beneath bridges. Source: Seattle Times
They say it's to prevent fire damage to the bridge. Well, it would take one helluva fire to damage a concrete bridge that big. I wonder what the real reason is?
There definitely is some irony in that but: When I was the educational director of the Seattle Union Mission (for the program people) we had one gentleman join the New Creations program who had lived under the same bridge for 14 years. He was one of the few who was a little more prepared for the winter. During the winter we would often have a midnight watch when a group of us would drive around in a van and find people hunkered down under the bridges and give them food, coffee, gloves, ski hats and blankets if they didn't want to go back to the mission. One year we stumbled across 6 dead adults who had succumbed to the cold. There were many times when we would call an ambulance because someone was pretty close to being down for the count and other times, whether they wanted to or not, we would scoop them up and take them to shelter because they were not quite ready for professional care but too close to leave them alone. So yeah, I can kind of understand the fence thing but still........................... Seattle is definitely not a city I care to go back to. While drug pushers are readily visible selling their drugs at Pioneer Square, the cops are giving tickets to jay walkers. I have seen it happen. I also saw 2 bicycle cops frisking a known pusher while another pusher was busy selling crack just 20 feet away. When I first arrived in the city I went for a walk at the square and had a seat on one of the benches just to have a crack head ask me if I wanted to join him on his pipe. And, speaking of illegal aliens, the mission has a floor dedicated to the Latinos. They arrive and get 3 hots and a bunk for 6 months during which time they learn some English, find a job, and get directions on how to stay in the country. Nope, never going back. It's a backward city with backward people running it.
We got a mess in this country. I watched a segment on Fox News that had a radio talk show host I listen to talking about California wanting to ban drinking straws. As contrast they showed garbage all over at homeless camping spots. Again what a mess.
The initial step they are taking is to make it illegal for food and beverage servers to offer drinking straws under penalty of fines and imprisonment.
I read about this awhile ago but think I read that if you want a straw...you have to ask an dthe then you get one.
The only straws I could fine that were made in the U. S. were at Walmart under the Pioneer Woman brand. They are heavy, not bendable and re-usable. I picked up two packages.
Well, not only does something have to be done about immigration and sanctuary cities, but the homeless as well. Thing is, many, many homeless people want to stay homeless.......that is a proven fact. Another thing is, there isn't one business that wants homeless people loitering around their business, let alone panhandlers. Either one is extremely bad for business. I have compassion in me, but only to a point. There are towns and cities where a person doesn't see, or very little of, homeless people and panhandlers. Both groups think law enforcement is hassling them, to get them to leave the area, but in truth, the town or city's business's can be hurt by either or both groups being there.
Much of what you say is true, but let's look at the other side of the coin. Over 25% of the homeless are military veterans Nearly 50% of the homeless vets are into substance abuse. 45% of the homeless military vets have been classified as mentally ill. 2016 number of homeless in the U.S. 564,708 of those: 33% of the entire population of the homeless are classified as mentally ill. (compared to 6% of the population of the U.S.) 50% are over the age of 50. About 70% of entire population of homeless is into substance abuse. NOTE: More than 58,000 college applicants indicated they were........homeless. When one wishes to get rid of a weed, one does not move it to another part of the lawn. Attack and kill the root and the weed is permanently finished.
True, especially your last paragraph. But, a big problem called “lack of money” to help these people is always there. And then, there are those that refuse help, even when help is offered.
In early years, we call that a man standing up for himself. In later years and in more dangerous predicaments, we call that mentally ill. For a military person, admitting that one needs help is probably the hardest thing to do hence the suicide rate as it stands today. We were trained as a team and when the team is gone and there is only one left, the war still has to be fought. Many of us are still fighting a war and only we understand it. One other thing I didn't mention in my last post. When I worked with the Seattle Rescue Mission, we fed nearly 1,200 people a day and that was over 20 years ago. I did an interview with one of the local stations which was eventually sold to FOX and stated that one of the massive problems is that an American has to be able to provide two I.D.'s in order to obtain a job even from a labor pool. No I.D......no job because an I-9 form must be filled out under penalty of law so the cycle of "no I.D., no job, no money to get an I.D., means no job." For whatever reason, the illegals can get a job sans I.D. and get paid under the table but if an American citizen tries to do the same, most employers of illegals will not hire them. FOX did not air it.....................
The organizations I belong to ( VFW, DAV and VVA ) will help and have helped, homeless Vets obtain a Veterans Affairs Id card ( VIC ) or VHIC which is used for part 'B' of the form I-9. Part B can be used with Part C to satisfy the requirement. I carry cards with the number of these groups to give to the many homeless Vets I meet downtown in my city. Also, this at least gets them a start at getting in the VA system. Other than this, I'm not sure what the answer to the problem is.
Strangely enough that very few vets know that they should register with VA right out of the gate. I found out about 6 or 7 years ago when I was working with the Greenville Rescue Mission (S.C.) and synonymously working with a vets home. When I go to Lowes, there are many times when I see someone cashing out and they appear to be newly discharged. I always ask if they are registered because Lowes honors vets by giving us a 10% discount. Flash the card and yup....discount. All that said, yes, if one is registered it is one step closer to having the necessary info for the form I-9. A social security card will serve as the second necessity.