Descrição
Is this the image we really want for our downtown. People going around with shoping carts downtown picking out bottles from the garbage. I know people pay a lot for rent for the store fronts. Maybe, something can be done.
Declarante
Is this the image we really want for our downtown. People going around with shoping carts downtown picking out bottles from the garbage. I know people pay a lot for rent for the store fronts. Maybe, something can be done.
79 Comentários
Joe Taormina (Visitante)
Michael (Visitante)
Many Saratoga Springs familys, in the past, have collected other peoples scraps and gone on to become very successful in our community.
Get a life that does not criticize others for doing something to make ends meet.
Michael
tom (Visitante)
John (Visitante)
Joe Taormina (Visitante)
(After all it's perfectly OK for our cops to ride their bikes on the sidewalks, isn't it?).
It's REALLY about the poor folks trying to survive in our tough society and lousy economy - - while too many provincials would prefer that we just keep them hidden so our town is picture perfect.
Of course some of our homeless are insane, are alchoholics - - and government, churches, etc. need to do more to help. But many are just people caught in a horrible situation.
Be careful - - it might be YOU next trying to make ends meet.
John (Visitante)
ninjamom (Visitante)
Did any of you actually READ the posters issue? He or she isn't saying we should give them a free shopping cart and pick the cans for them -- NOR did I read any intended holier-than-thou, ewww the poor people sentiment. I just moved to Saratoga and the sarcastic, bitter tones here are sad. It looks like people are just itching for a fight. Yuck.
People removing cans from the trash is a long standing job for some. That being said, I agree that I don't want to see people wading through half eaten subs and other trash while I'm having lunch or a cup of coffee at an outside table. I wouldn't want my kids to do this at meal time and whether or not these people are "poor" makes no difference to me. It's kinda gross.
How to fix this problem? One way would be to provide recycling bins next to the trash. It would allow our recyclers to gather cans quickly and more easily. Although it wouldn't stop the problem it would mitigate the ewww factor. The other option would be to have cans directly in front of outdoor patios moved.
To say that we have shelter is valid. However, having lived in cities all my adult life, even the very best social services will not stop the can collectors. It just doesn't.
Cody (Visitante)
tom (Visitante)
Green for Green (Visitante)
guest (Visitante)
guest (Visitante)
I wouldn't go too far with public image in Saratoga.
You need to chill the hell out.
John (Visitante)
guest (Visitante)
David (Visitante)
Joe (Visitante)
John (Visitante)
Anthony (Visitante)
John (Visitante)
I don't think we should have shopping carts going up and down the streets period.
John (Visitante)
Anthony (Visitante)
So John you are implying that all individuals with shopping carts are drug addicts or alcoholics trading in cans for their next fix? Of course, you resort to deflecting your own ignorance and elitist views by asking me what I have done. Of course, reading your response, your close minded approach seems logical to you. Referring to "the homeless" and "they" don't want to work. Do you think all homeless people don't want to work? Do you think the family that I took in because the father lost his job and lost his house did not want to work? Think before you write and you won't sound like such a stuck up snob.
Open your eyes and see the real world, not just 12866.
I have set forth my opinions and I am done with this conversation. Have fun at the track next year.
saratogaraised (Visitante)
Sandra Cohen (Visitante)
Jen (Visitante)
What image is presented? The the shoppers in Saratoga don't care about recycling? You're right. That is just terrible and needs to be fixed.
I am grateful that someone picks up the cans and returns them to the store.
John (Visitante)
For example, say a waiter looses a table because people don't want to watch a person driving down the street with a shopping cart picking through garbage. Is that fair. They are trying to work, trying to support a family.
I am not saying to hate the homeless, but we as a community could come up with solutions. Thats the point. Don't punish some waiter and don't punish the homeless. Lets figure it out. Thats all.
I have heard some good ideas. Keep them coming.
I know its an election year and maybe the politicians should be asked what can be done.
John (Visitante)
Cody (Visitante)
As I mentioned earlier, I know three different people that pick cans out of our dumpster. I've talked to all of them. Let me tell you what I know about them, just to contribute some facts to the discussion:
One guy used to install drywall for almost 20 years (this is from memory -- I may be off). He fell of a ladder one day and seriously busted his leg. He had/has no health insurance and the leg did not heal properly, and no one will hire him anymore because he can't do the work. He lives with his wife who works a low-income job and he collects bottles to "make a contribution" and "do some work" as he put it.
The second guy, despite dressing like a "street-guy", is actually a retired state worker. He started collecting bottles for environmental reasons and said he just started to "enjoy it" -- frankly he struck me as kind of a "hippie"-type (I don't mean anything positive or negative by that description, it just seems to define his motivations).
The third guy I suspect is homeless (he didn't come out and say it). He is a Vietnam vet and while at times he seems quite lucid and interesting (he tells great stories), at others he seems very depressed and non-communicative. I suspect some mental illness there.
buffalo mike (Visitante)
Jen (Visitante)
togaRN (Visitante)
Jen (Visitante)
The containers are a good idea, togaRN, but I suspect a much larger number of people will be scrambling to get the cans. Not everyone is willing to dig through the garbage cans for a nickle per can, but many would be willing to empty a neat container into their box. The people who have been doing our dirty work for years will lose their livelihood.
Oh, John, my heart just bleeds for the Saratoga driver whose sight line is dirtied by the person pushing a shopping cart down Broadway. How awful it must be to be distracted by the economically disadvantaged when trying to decide whether to go to Sperry's for that tasty foie gras or Chianti for the carpaccio. And that doesn't even take the entree decision into consideration. Oh, life is just unfair and complicated.
Joe Taormina (Visitante)
John (Visitante)
Cody (Visitante)
Sandra Cohen (Visitante)
Jen (Visitante)
geocachelinda (Visitante)
John (Visitante)
If you are going on a date with your better half. Do your really need to be dealing with society problems. Shouldn't there be a place safe from that. Don't you think thats why a lot of people come up here in the first place. Because of low crime. Does anyone understand the ecomomic impact that this can have on downtown.
I can picture it now the convention people are taking around a tour group that might want to pick Saratoga for a convention site. Right when the are walking out of there office on division st, the first thing they see is a shopping cart coming up division. Does this really make since. Do you people really not get it. She would we say to bad for all the business that invest there money downtown. We don't care one bit about you. But, then we complain at the job numbers.
Maybe if we go back to a welfare town with boarded up business you will be happy.
Thats one of the problems with this country no cares about the small business man. Everyone gives money to big business that don't pay taxes or to welfare people. Thats why we are loosing our middle class. We have better protection for those groups.
Emma (Utilizador Registado)
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Grego (Utilizador Registado)
jen (Visitante)
John,
As a former resident of two cities with much larger populations and more tourism, I can assure you that a person picking up cans will not steer a convention to another town. This happens in every metropolitan area. It is not a problem confined to upstate NY.
Do you really want a solution? Help to end the decreasing employment opportunities in our state? Fight to end the constant cuts to mental health services. Fight to ensure that our returning vets get the medical care, especially the mental health care, that they need and deserve. This is an issue of poverty and not a tourism issue.
The containers are a good idea. But lazy people will continue to throw their cans in the garbage. It happens at the track all of the time. There is no law against taking an item out of the garbage. I think you might have to learn to live with this one. The police can't even stop cars (or dont' bother to try to stop them) from running over my children as we cross the street with the right of way. I don't see them getting involved even if we had laws against it.
JoeT58 (Visitante)
JoeT58 (Visitante)
Guy Falks (Visitante)
geocachelinda (Visitante)
John (Visitante)
The best solution is for me to quit my job and get government help with food stamps and Medicade and other social services.
Only one other person tried to understand my point of view. I think its a sad day in this country when you rather keep the homeless on the streets rather than help out the working man.
I will have the last laugh because soon all of you will be paying for my public assistance. i will sit home all day and just wait for my check. Thank you very much for helping me make up my mind.
geocachelinda (Visitante)
geocachelinda (Visitante)
John (Visitante)
Emma (Utilizador Registado)
Empathetic (Visitante)
tberry (Visitante)
JoeT58 (Visitante)
Fechado Crazy (Visitante)
Reopened John (Visitante)
John (Visitante)
Donna (Visitante)
cuddles (Visitante)
mousie (Visitante)
John (Visitante)
John (Visitante)
mousie (Visitante)
Fechado toga2012 (Visitante)
courtneypmb (Visitante)
cuddles (Visitante)
Sandy (Visitante)
Sandy (Visitante)
Reopened John (Visitante)
Fechado guest (Visitante)
Linda (Utilizador Registado)
Reopened John (Visitante)
caesar (Visitante)
Sandy (Visitante)
Linda (Utilizador Registado)
guest (Visitante)
Fechado PD (Utilizador Registado)
Sandy (Visitante)
guest (Visitante)
Sandy (Visitante)