Eureka City Council Homeless Discussion
I happened to watch some of the recent Eureka City Council meeting last night on Access Humboldt TV where they tried to come up with a plan to deal with the homeless issue. The Humboldt Consequential also commented on the meeting and homelessness in general. He is certainly much more cynical than I am about what went on.
What I saw were five city council members, none of whom had any answers, but some seemingly on opposite sides.
Councilgal Linda Atkins seemed to want to drop the whole thing as it wouldn't work, also pointing out if we run the homeless from the Devil's Playground, they'll just end up somewhere else. She's right.
Councilgals Ciarabellini and Brady seemed more along the lines of the "we have to do something" side, citing the mess and legal liability we have with the current situation. They're right.
Councilgals Bergel and Arroyo weren't sure what to do as it's a complex situation. They wanted something done, but weren't sure what and didn't want to end up making mistakes. They're right.
They were all right but finally agreed to set any action aside until some months from now. I'm not sure there's much else they could do.
One of the comments to the Humboldt Consequential suggested it was all about jobs. If those homeless just had jobs, this wouldn't be an issue. Sorry. From what I've seen, many if not most of the homeless aren't capable of the kind of work that would allow them to get off the streets.
There's no easy answer.
posted by Fred Mangels @ 8:04 AM
10 comments
10 Comments:
They do not want the responsibility it takes to run a house or job. It is a job for them to go out and panhandle, that prefer rape pilage and plunder.
Agreed! Well said. There isn't a simple, one-step solution to this problem.
We don't need more jobs? Eureka had plenty of jobs 50 years ago and there were very few homeless. As the jobs left to Communist countries, homelessness increased. This isn't rocket science.
This cynical, hateful meme that people don't want or can't perform jobs is total BS. Are you honestly telling me that COMMUNISTS are harder workers than Americans? Wow.
The lack of patriotism and realism is disgusting these days. Just lots of fake patriotism and even more butt kissing to our Communist friends.
Donald Trump, is that you? Is this why you prefer to make your clothing line in Communist China? Americans just aren't good enough workers? Plus, we are rapists like those nasty Mexicans, right? Watch your wife around us...
They prefer rape...
Donald Trump, is that you? Is this why you prefer to make your clothing line in Communist China? Americans arent good enough workers? Lazy? Rapists? Watch your wife around us....
" Eureka had plenty of jobs 50 years ago and there were very few homeless."
And less people, too, although I've always wondered if the homeless simply weren't as visible because so much else was going on?
I have to wonder, too, if the same people who think this is just a jobs problem are the same ones who applauded every time a mill around here closed? As one woman wrote to the Times- Standard back then: "A blessing in disguise".
As I already wrote, though, I don't think many of these people are employable in any sort of job that would get them off the street? At least some of them are probably satisfied with the way things are.
When I worked for Rehab we had the task of trying to move people from homelessness to self-sufficiency but even the "homeless" we worked with had to have a stable , if temporary place to stay and a telephone contact. It CAN be one but it's not easy, takes a LOT of staff hours and employers who are willing to take a chance.
Employers would rather take a chance with Communist Chinese workers. Face it. They work cheaper. And harder according to Fred and other posters. I myself doubt that the communists are better workers, but maybe you guys are right
Yeah, I'm sure that people are satisfied and happy as clams living in the bushes. It's the rich, entitled crowd that are suffering and it's the poor and disadvantaged who are happy and satisfied. I had it all backwards for some reason. Thanks for the clarification
Julie wrote, "When I worked for Rehab we had the task of trying to move people from homelessness to self-sufficiency..."
One of the best statements I've seen on the homeless situation, and have heard again since, was from Green Party gal, Nancy Abrams. At least I think that's who it was.
She was running for some office locally and made some statement regarding the homeless. Her point being, to paraphrase, that there's different types of homeless people. Some are people whose life took a turn for the worse and just need to get back on their feet again. Others are mentally ill. Then others that simply don't, or are unable to, accept the responsibility of a job and having a home. You might include the criminal element among those.
What will help one group, probably won't help the other. There's no one- size- fits- all solution. I don't recall her offering solutions, either, but at least she understood the different facets of the problem.
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