Description
I was just out with my dogs, walking along the church side of the garden wall. There are 5 vagrants using all the benches. There is one man drinking beer and another smoking something out of a small pipe while a family tries to enjoy the garden with a small child.
Something must be done about this situation. This is terrible for tourists to see, and neighbors have this 24/7.
16 Comments
AMC (Registered User)
JRKiefer (Registered User)
Skipper (Registered User)
Salem has so much to offer but it is being ruined by these vagrants, beggars and drunks passed out all over downtown. You shouldn't have to step over a sleeping bum in the lobby of BoA!
The shelter turns them back onto the street if they're drunk or high so they roam around creating a nuisance and the city management has told the police not to move them on.
Nothing will improve this until the tourists stop coming, which is unlikely.
AMC (Registered User)
AMC (Registered User)
SalemFYI (Registered User)
SalemFYI (Registered User)
SalemFYI (Registered User)
Mary Madore (Registered User)
Skipper (Registered User)
With all due respect Mary, something named "Collaborative for Hope" has it's agenda already in the title. I'm not sure they're interested in listening to my own 'hope' on the subject.
To me, this is simple:
The shelter attracts people from far and wide offering services.
If they decide to get drunk one night, they're not allowed into the shelter and then roam the streets all night and day.
So: Why isn't the shelter taking a more proactive approach? They're responsible for this mess.
Whatever they're doing clearly isn't working.
Couple that to the mayor who has essentially told the police to look the other way.
Last week we had three beggars in Town House Square at noon holding up signs asking for money. Such a classy image for our tourist town.
What I'd like to know is how much are police responses to what the police logs calls "unwanted guests" costing the taxpayers? And what else is not being addressed while the police are dealing with such unwanted guests?
My personal belief is that it's too late. Salem is no longer family friendly and, tourists aside, now caters to and encourages those who can offer the city the least. Worst of all, it seems to be deliberate.
AMC (Registered User)
Mary Madore (Registered User)
CindyJohnson (Registered User)
Pedestrian Paul (Registered User)
Mayor's Office (Verified Official)
關閉 Eric olson (Registered User)