Description
This is absolutely absurd. There is a large encampment at this park, on both the right and left sides of the building in this Chinese park. The building is a DAYCARE with little children who frequent and play around. For them to witness homeless/transients walk around "naked", drug deals going on is appalling. Please remove this site so that our children are not witnessing this type of activity.
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23 Comments
Acknowledged City of Oakland (Verified Official)
mitchell (Registered User)
dg510 (Registered User)
City of Oakland (Verified Official)
mitchell (Registered User)
"Already have an open service request at this location"?
If this situation isn't dealt with DEFINITIVELY and IMMEDIATELY, I would urge all SeeClickFix users to flood the City with more demands to do so -- "duplicate" or otherwise. Do we need to wait until some little child steps on a syringe?
Enough is enough!
David Coleman (Registered User)
mitchell (Registered User)
I disagree with you about those handing out the needles. The onus is on the users to dispose of them properly -- just as the onus is on the homeless (and drug users, for that matter) for their choice of venue and their behavior on the street.
These people simply need to get out of our face; it's not up to the rest of us to live their lives.
David Coleman (Registered User)
dg510 (Registered User)
dg510 (Registered User)
David Coleman (Registered User)
dg510 (Registered User)
mitchell (Registered User)
dg510 (Registered User)
mitchell (Registered User)
mitchell (Registered User)
They'd also initially blocked my above comment that contains the sentence, "These people simply need to get out of our face; it's not up to the rest of us to live their lives." -- but then it somehow got released (with no explanation from the moderators).
Incidentally, I meant that comment literally and seriously. This isn't about "enabling" people (or, for that matter, about reforming or "helping" them); it's about harm reduction.
I don't believe it's my right or responsibility to decide what these people do with their lives -- but we do have a right to prevent them from interacting (harmfully) with others. That, too, needs to be recognized as part of any sane approach to harm reduction.
Their right to swing their fist ends where my nose begins.
dg510 (Registered User)
mitchell (Registered User)
It might not be feasible (nor constitutional) simply to "eject" anyone from the city. OTOH, their belongings or tents should be subject to immediate seizure under dumping and zoning regulations (or health codes) if they camp anywhere other than in designated areas -- and they're not entitled to expropriate public spaces of their choice based on their own convenience (let alone to harass others).
"The woods" aren't an all-purpose option: after all, I doubt that we'd want to see these people flooding Yosemite Valley (along with their offensive behaviors). Many are ostensibly long-term Oakland residents who've been priced out. There are plenty of vacant areas (e.g., west of Wood St. or near the airport) where they might be allowed to camp without offending existing residents.
Then again, if they have such "deep roots" in Oakland, why can't they find any neighbors willing to put them up?
dg510 (Registered User)
It is both feasible and constitutional to eject people who are illegally camping on the streets of Oakland.
There is vast swathes of forestland where these people could camp where nobody would ever see or hear them again. If they enjoy camping that much they can camp like real campers in the forest. Oakland taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize people who choose to be homeless (homelessness is a choice)
mitchell (Registered User)
It might well be feasible and constitutional to ban camping on the streets, but not to ban the mere presence of certain people -as is done in countries with internal passports and checkpoints).
In this brutally tightening real estate market and this economy (with its obscene concentration of wealth and power in the 1%), sometimes homelessness is a choice; sometimes it isn't.
Again, the truly relevant distinction is considerate behavior.
I'm not suggesting that we employ hordes of social workers and "mental health professionals" to patronize these people, or that we cater to their every whim (and I've taken plenty of flak from the left for refusing to do so).
I've tried to take a balanced (and reasonably nuanced) position; my guiding principle is "Live and let live!"
mitchell (Registered User)
It might well be feasible and constitutional to ban camping on the streets, but not to ban the mere presence of certain people - as is done in countries with internal passports and checkpoints).
In this tightening real estate market and in this economy (with its gross concentration of wealth and power in the 1%), sometimes homelessness is a choice; sometimes it isn't.
Again, the truly relevant factor is everyone's responsibility for considerate behavior.
I'm not suggesting that we deploy hordes of social workers and "mental health professionals" to patronize these people, or that we cater to their every whim (and I've taken plenty of flak from the left for refusing to do so).
I've tried to take a balanced (and reasonably nuanced) position; my guiding principle is "Live and let live!"
mitchell (Registered User)
It might well be feasible and constitutional to ban camping on the streets, but not to ban the mere presence of certain people - as is done in countries with internal passports and checkpoints).
Sometimes homelessness is a choice; sometimes it isn't. Again, the truly relevant factor is everyone's responsibility for considerate behavior.
I'm not suggesting that we deploy hordes of social workers and "mental health professionals" to patronize these people, or that we cater to their every whim (and I've taken plenty of flak from the left for refusing to do so).
I've tried to take a balanced (and reasonably nuanced) position; my guiding principle is "Live and let live!"
mitchell (Registered User)