Realizing that I am in the minority on this issue, I still feel it has to be said.
Out of sight--that is Lake Worth's solution to this growing problem of homelessness. Lake Worth has now said that they will deal with these people during the day, but 10pm to 6am, they had better be out of sight, the very time that the homeless try to sleep while we are home sleeping in the comfort of our beds. They will no longer be allowed to sleep in public spaces.
Even though there were people complaining at the commission meeting that their kids had to witness public urination or even someone bothering their child (not even sure I believe that because they should have called the Sheriff), we are banning them from sight for eight hours a day on all public spaces.
We are not the first city that has voted to penalize the homeless--it has happened across the country. We don't have any adequate facility or shelter space in Lake Worth. We have no public restrooms that they can use. We don't care...just get them out of here.
This is all about moving them out of our sight so that we now can feel better and congratulate this commission for making it impossible for these poor people who have no home, no food and basically have nothing and make it harder on them. We have decided to now take what little dignity they have left.
Homelessness is a pervasive problem and the rate seems to have escalated in Lake Worth over the last year. Solutions are neither simple nor easy but Lake Worth passed an Ordinance and a Resolution and took the easy way out and the vote of Maxwell, Triolo and Amoroso will not solve it. The Homeless will just move on to the neighborhoods and urinate behind your bush and their lives will be just a little more miserable.
Dehumanizing people should not be a policy of government.
Congratulations Lake Worth. Just one more thing that you can't and are unwilling to manage.
11 comments:
well, you've opened up a door Lynn and I'm going to step thru.
What about refugees from Syria, Haiti, Cuba and God knows where? Should we not have a heart for them too? I know what you're going to say, they are terrorists and other filth sneaking in. But no, not all.
Just like the homeless, there are many decent people among them who need help. Why turn them away?
Among the homeless are criminals, rapists, muggers, druggies and other undesirables. Who will sort them out?
It has to stop somewhere, it has to start somewhere. There is no easy solution. If there was, we wouldn't be talking about it today.
These are Americans...
We are almost as poor as Belle Glade and threrefore become a dumping ground for all the neighboring communities who also don't wish to deal with these expensive, larger than one community, problem.
These people who want to live this way, go where they will not be hassled. You cannot alleviate the problem, only move it around, similar to prostitution.
Help the ones who want help and allow the ones who don't to move on.
These may be Americans, but they are in Palm Beach County, which has a wealth of resources for them. I've had to call PBSO (with very satisfying results) about three different aggressive panhandlers. If I am out without my husband, I will not walk past the Cultural Square- where are my rights as a taxpaying member of this community?
6 hours a day? You must have meant 8hrs at night because as far as ive heard nothing was past to say they were allowed on public areas during the day. Don't you see its a safety issue?
don't lose your integrity lynn, its a fine line you are walking with your readers.....consistency is important
Following anon at 12:22 - I agree, your position on the homeless seems quite opposite to most of your other opinions on political and social issues. I was actually quite confused seeing this. True they are Americans (well, actually maybe some are maybe some aren't), but since when does that give you the right to freeload off everyone else's tax dollars and public property. So if the cultural plaza became a homeless camp you would be ok with that?
Lots of really *&^% people--heartless too--in this city. I have stated my position. You have yours.
Look, be happy--you got the commission vote to rid yourself of homeless people and now you can throw them in jail. Happy yet?
What I am OK with is finding solutions that will work. Thanks for asking, again, and again, and again.
But I'm not hearing any solutions there are county camps but they are run by catholic charities and such on 10-20 acre plots of land donated by the county or charities where are they here
Gee I feel so guilty about sleeping in my simple bed paid by 32 years of labor sometimes with two jobs at the same time. I scraped by without help and I have nothing fancy. There were times I subsisted on brown rice and eggs portioning what was there for a week never had one food stamp and never thought of it.
I guess you really have to live in someone's shoes before you really understand. Happy you made it, anonymous...so did I. But for so many who aren't as healthy, mentally or spiritually, they could not.
Post a Comment