For more than 30 years, I have tried to convince people that homelessness is about a lot more than housing. It's about why people can't afford "affordable" housing. And at its core in many cases is the elephant in the living room - the "self-medicating" maternal substance abuse/addiction, including prescription drug abuse, and its negative effects prenatally and in the first three years of life. That damage, and/or the damage done by toxic environmental issues such as domestic violence, tobacco, lead, etc., predispose many children to have learning disabilities, which often lead to school dropouts,, substance abuse, and homelessness. Paired with sub-standard, over-crowded housing, and left unaddressed holistically, you can expect homelessness to continue increasing. It's time to get the elephant out of the living room, not only in New York, but nationally.
3
Are we encouraging homelessness with our policies?
Not now but in the summertime, when observing homeless on the streets, I saw that a bottle of booze is never far away. I see homeless sitting on cardboard on the sidewalk smoking $15 a pack cigarettes, talking on cell phones. I see stores with "help wanted" signs in their windows with homeless sitting on the sidewalk opposite those signs.
Not everyone but there seem to be a number of mentally disturbed people who apparently to want to live in the streets. I remember when Koch was mayor he rounded up homeless, brought them to City Hall and offered them jobs. Almost no one took them and most of those who did were off the jobs within days.
Not now but in the summertime, when observing homeless on the streets, I saw that a bottle of booze is never far away. I see homeless sitting on cardboard on the sidewalk smoking $15 a pack cigarettes, talking on cell phones. I see stores with "help wanted" signs in their windows with homeless sitting on the sidewalk opposite those signs.
Not everyone but there seem to be a number of mentally disturbed people who apparently to want to live in the streets. I remember when Koch was mayor he rounded up homeless, brought them to City Hall and offered them jobs. Almost no one took them and most of those who did were off the jobs within days.
18
I am a fourth generation New Yorker now living in VA. I read an article a while ago re two children who were burned by malfunctioning radiators in a home the family was living in under some sort of homeless program. The article raised several questions, but the most important was why New York is required to find housing for residents of Maine! The parents' life was falling apart in Maine so they just decided they'd be taken care of better in NYC and just showed up. This is truly a case of "if you build it, they will come."
I am sure the homeless problem is costing the city a lot in the form of lost tourist dollars. SAN Francisco had a terrible problem with homelessness, aggressive begging and clearly psychotic people wandering around. Tourism dropped. Although international tourists will probably not be put off by these problems, Americans will. There are a lot of other cheaper attractions competing for Americans' vacation dollars.
I am sure the homeless problem is costing the city a lot in the form of lost tourist dollars. SAN Francisco had a terrible problem with homelessness, aggressive begging and clearly psychotic people wandering around. Tourism dropped. Although international tourists will probably not be put off by these problems, Americans will. There are a lot of other cheaper attractions competing for Americans' vacation dollars.
16
Some of us went to New Orleans to help homeless folks after Katrina & ventured to Staten Island also. Theater people need to chip in and offer service & even implement some aid via creative problem solving. Can we write about & involve these people who currently lack resources? In 1950s German theater genius Erwin Piscator included those who were called 'Bowery Bums' in programs with university drama students. This work should resume today. This issue shouldn't be invisible. It needs to be aggressively out there & conveyed even in contrasting rhapsodic language of theater. The power of ritual & language can create a metamorphosis. A cautionary resistance theater must be instituted.
3
This is absurd
Our taxes to live in this city are outrageous and it is not rationale to stay- but for the desire to be in a place of vibrance and diversity
Deblasio was ill suited to deal with this problem and should realize that every family is on the precipice of leaving annually
We have a huge amount of resources from a bigger tax base than ever and our government can't get it together to help the neediest.
Mental health and substance abuse is one of the primary causes and fighting the problem with apartments and no coordinated support is pointless
If this continues, families will leave and the tax base will suffer - there's only so much patience young families can deal with in witnessing fellow citizens suffering from a hapless city government - but deblasio doesn't care because he thinks us "wealthy" New Yorkers (anyone apparently who works in an office according to deblasio) are all part of the entitled class - but in reality we are funding the whole city and are making huge transfers of wealth
Without a tax base options really start narrowing and the neediest will have no witnesses or resources to draw from
Don't blame gentrification - has nothing to do with this
Our taxes to live in this city are outrageous and it is not rationale to stay- but for the desire to be in a place of vibrance and diversity
Deblasio was ill suited to deal with this problem and should realize that every family is on the precipice of leaving annually
We have a huge amount of resources from a bigger tax base than ever and our government can't get it together to help the neediest.
Mental health and substance abuse is one of the primary causes and fighting the problem with apartments and no coordinated support is pointless
If this continues, families will leave and the tax base will suffer - there's only so much patience young families can deal with in witnessing fellow citizens suffering from a hapless city government - but deblasio doesn't care because he thinks us "wealthy" New Yorkers (anyone apparently who works in an office according to deblasio) are all part of the entitled class - but in reality we are funding the whole city and are making huge transfers of wealth
Without a tax base options really start narrowing and the neediest will have no witnesses or resources to draw from
Don't blame gentrification - has nothing to do with this
9
NYC has a constitutional obligation do house homeless people from other states; as NY state and city liberality is the cause and not the solution to homelessness. NYC is a place where you can literally be homeless and make it in this metropolis. Bonafide residents of NYC compete with out of state homeless for few the resources and housing stock. Look in the east village and you have blocks of street dwellers known as the crusties; a group of sojourners, mostly from the south, who live on the street not because they have nowhere else to reside but for the simple reason they can. The east village has the look and feel as a third world city; as every form of scam is witnessed on nearly every street coroner. NYC is the mecca of Liberalism attracting all like minds to the insular community of NYC. The "homeless" come to the east village and prey upon the naiveté of liberal" new yorkers" worming their way to the limited resources of true new yorkers. Granted there is an affordable housing shortage and people truly in need of services; but new york must provide for NYS residents and provide transportation for those not native to New York!
9
How about tearing down Rev. Al's store front shake on 145th Street, and building a new facility for the needy. This part of Harlem has been an eye sore for decades with no financial contributions by Rev. Al to beautify the area of help the poor & homeless.
12
NYC spends over $1.3 billion a year on homeless services but the homeless do not receive these services; the most of the money goes fraudulently to private contractors.
DeBlasio, Cuomo and Schumer know this; they are the ones who set up and facilitate these contracts.
DeBlasio, Cuomo and Schumer know this; they are the ones who set up and facilitate these contracts.
13
Reminds me of the nightmares in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Those who needed help got nothing. My whole neighborhood was destroyed. No one got a dime, and the Red Cross showed up 9 weeks later with bottled water no one needed, as the water hadn't gone out, and nothing else other than insults tossed at all of us. But the FEMA folks and insurance adjustors got put up in very nice hotels.
7
Back in the 60s, you regularly saw reports on TV and in the newspapers of homeless people being given one way bus tickets to New York, and left on their own. Now, in the teens, you regularly see homeless people interviewed who claim to be from Pennsylvania, North Carolina or Maine. Look at the map, and see where the economy is functioning and where it is not functioning. Can anybody guess why we have a problem? Does anyone think this is a recent phenomenon?
7
Here is another example of Capitalism Failing us. The problem with massive job loss, failure to fund mental hospitals, failure to provide affordable housing, the financialization of our economy.
I have a challenge for you: Drive down any street and tell me how many businesses you see that pay a living wage. 3/4 of Walmart employees are on some form of public assistance. These low wages have devastated the lower caste in America.
Thomas Piketty proved capital grows at a much faster rate than labor wages. This sets up a guaranteed unbalanced society.
Why do churches get to run tax free but don't fix our homeless problem? There are many churches close to you. Yet, you still see homeless and desperate people outside. I thought God was forgiving and generous. I guess that's why all the church leaders are millionaires to billionaires (Pat Robertson)...
I have a challenge for you: Drive down any street and tell me how many businesses you see that pay a living wage. 3/4 of Walmart employees are on some form of public assistance. These low wages have devastated the lower caste in America.
Thomas Piketty proved capital grows at a much faster rate than labor wages. This sets up a guaranteed unbalanced society.
Why do churches get to run tax free but don't fix our homeless problem? There are many churches close to you. Yet, you still see homeless and desperate people outside. I thought God was forgiving and generous. I guess that's why all the church leaders are millionaires to billionaires (Pat Robertson)...
9
The E train seems to be a de facto homeless shelter.
I feel bad for them, but they are imposing burdens and costs on the rest of us by camping out in public spaces. I know they are down and out, but normally we'd call that selfish or anti-social behavior. If that was your child, you'd say they need some tough love. Can't just simply excuse and ignore it.
I feel bad for them, but they are imposing burdens and costs on the rest of us by camping out in public spaces. I know they are down and out, but normally we'd call that selfish or anti-social behavior. If that was your child, you'd say they need some tough love. Can't just simply excuse and ignore it.
10
The E train is the only line in the system that runs entirely below ground, so it tends to attract more homeless people who want to hide out from the elements of weather, particularly in winter.
2
How about not guaranteeing housing and food to anyone that feels like hanging out in Manhattan? If you invite them, they come; you have no ability to sustain your invite. But, that doesn't matter to politicians, especially de Blasio as he spent his early years traveling to network towards... a dream for president? Then spends the rest of his time being driven around to expensive meals and gyms and who knows what all?
I thought New Yorkers had lost their minds when they voted him in, but then only 17% voted, so I thought they had just given up. Didn't know much about the opposition, but almost anyone would have had more experience. Our local politicians across the country behave as entitled elitists, regardless of party. I lived through Colman Young of Detroit all the way through the current ATL mayor (he too is driven around town with an escort, travels like a rich man on the tax dollar, and believes he's God's gift).
Guess it's always been this way, but it's time to change.
I thought New Yorkers had lost their minds when they voted him in, but then only 17% voted, so I thought they had just given up. Didn't know much about the opposition, but almost anyone would have had more experience. Our local politicians across the country behave as entitled elitists, regardless of party. I lived through Colman Young of Detroit all the way through the current ATL mayor (he too is driven around town with an escort, travels like a rich man on the tax dollar, and believes he's God's gift).
Guess it's always been this way, but it's time to change.
19
Why is imminent domain only used when millionaires want to build sky scrappers? How about seizing some of those luxury apartments and solving the homeless problem once and for all.
The mayor gets a lot of flak for being a socialist- but he is the worst socialist I ever saw. Liberal socialists don't sell out working people to developers.
The mayor gets a lot of flak for being a socialist- but he is the worst socialist I ever saw. Liberal socialists don't sell out working people to developers.
8
It's "eminent domain." And while I do not live in Manhattan, nor in a "sky scrapper [sic]," nor in luxury, I prefer to live next door to people who slog off to work the way I do.
But you're right about Mr. de Blasio. All those promises to keep libraries and hospitals open fail beside his need to cozy up to developers -- some of whom don't even need to put down money before they tear down what exists, as in the case of the Cadman Plaza Library.
But you're right about Mr. de Blasio. All those promises to keep libraries and hospitals open fail beside his need to cozy up to developers -- some of whom don't even need to put down money before they tear down what exists, as in the case of the Cadman Plaza Library.
13
Looks a lot like San Fran. I guess this is what happens when you let liberals rule the world. Eventually nobody will work and everybody will be in cardboard boxes. Its nice to have places like NY and SF to show us how screwed up the liberals can make this world.
16
@allen miller - Spokane WA - Spoken with true humanity and empathy from The Spokesman Review:
"The most significant increase (In SPOKANE HOMELESS) is among those who live on the streets, most of whom are considered chronically homeless – up 158 percent compared to 2013. People are considered chronically homeless when they’ve been without housing for more than a year or at least four times in three years.
There are 1,149 homeless people in Spokane County, according to the Homeless Point-In-Time Count. Spokane’s first such census in 2006 counted 1,592 homeless.
Sheila Morley, a program coordinator for the city of Spokane’s Community, Housing and Human Services department, said it’s likely the chronically homeless number jumped because the people doing the counting were more successful reaching that population.
“I think we’ve done a lot in the past 12 months to increase engagement with the chronically homeless. I anticipated that number to increase and give us a truer number of that population,” she said. "
Of course you could always put the homeless in police round up holding pens as Mayor Giuliani was wont to do when I last lived in NYC. He certainly seemed to treat poverty and homelessness as a crime. That didn't seem to solve much. By the time I was leaving town the streets were up in arms. Bloomberg at least had some compassion, though his policies seemed to favor rich developers over the poor and housing challenged, they improved the outer boroughs.
"The most significant increase (In SPOKANE HOMELESS) is among those who live on the streets, most of whom are considered chronically homeless – up 158 percent compared to 2013. People are considered chronically homeless when they’ve been without housing for more than a year or at least four times in three years.
There are 1,149 homeless people in Spokane County, according to the Homeless Point-In-Time Count. Spokane’s first such census in 2006 counted 1,592 homeless.
Sheila Morley, a program coordinator for the city of Spokane’s Community, Housing and Human Services department, said it’s likely the chronically homeless number jumped because the people doing the counting were more successful reaching that population.
“I think we’ve done a lot in the past 12 months to increase engagement with the chronically homeless. I anticipated that number to increase and give us a truer number of that population,” she said. "
Of course you could always put the homeless in police round up holding pens as Mayor Giuliani was wont to do when I last lived in NYC. He certainly seemed to treat poverty and homelessness as a crime. That didn't seem to solve much. By the time I was leaving town the streets were up in arms. Bloomberg at least had some compassion, though his policies seemed to favor rich developers over the poor and housing challenged, they improved the outer boroughs.
5
De Blasio and his band of cohorts are all pretending that the issues are beyond them, and that it cannot be fixed, when in fact, the matter is one of thievery and fraud.
A plate of food at NYC shelters cost $18.78 to taxpayers yet the homeless clients in these shelters are fed dogfood costing about $1.80 per plate.
NYC shelters are paid millions of dollars to provide laundry facilities yet they are not provided, or minimally at some shelters resulting in dirty and smelly shelter occupants.
In addition, NYC shelter owners steal $215 a month from each shelter occupant while each occupant is given a measly $45 per month, in spite of the fact that the NYC shelter owners are already paid upfront millions of dollars a year to maintain the homeless occupants.
The list of fraud goes on and on and on, and DeBlasio knows this but continues to sustain and perpetuate the fraud.
This is how government works in the USA at all levels; they set up private contracts to supply goods and services, and then thief as much as possible in rendering 3rd rate services like 3rd world countries.
A plate of food at NYC shelters cost $18.78 to taxpayers yet the homeless clients in these shelters are fed dogfood costing about $1.80 per plate.
NYC shelters are paid millions of dollars to provide laundry facilities yet they are not provided, or minimally at some shelters resulting in dirty and smelly shelter occupants.
In addition, NYC shelter owners steal $215 a month from each shelter occupant while each occupant is given a measly $45 per month, in spite of the fact that the NYC shelter owners are already paid upfront millions of dollars a year to maintain the homeless occupants.
The list of fraud goes on and on and on, and DeBlasio knows this but continues to sustain and perpetuate the fraud.
This is how government works in the USA at all levels; they set up private contracts to supply goods and services, and then thief as much as possible in rendering 3rd rate services like 3rd world countries.
25
Most are not "homeless". They are vagrants. They are antisocial drunks and drug addicts who simply will not take responsibility for their lives. $400,000 per day on hotels! In addition to the many millions per year for shelters and programs that never seem to work?
Not my responsibility as a taxpayer. They need to get it together or move on. Enough.
Not my responsibility as a taxpayer. They need to get it together or move on. Enough.
28
Personally i feel the city should seize and rehab all those rat trap apartment buildings whose owners continually refuse and/or ignore building and health regulations but rather see homelessness as a way to reap profits with little investment. That would be a good start. Maybe even freeing up money and resources for further improvements.
8
It isn't just gentrification.
For several decades, now, the least responsible young women have been dropping out of school to have babies, and those babies, for the most part, do no better than their progenitors.
Birth control. Don't have babies until you have mastered your high school studies, learned a skill, gotten a job, and found a partner with whom you can rear a couple of children.
But things are even more complicated. How many homeless people need medication? How many have families who could be responsible for helping to administer medication? How many should be institutionalized? Our jails often serve as temporary havens -- if one could call them that -- for those who should be in more civilized versions of Willowbrook and Creedmore?
Immigrants come here from all over and despite gentrification tend not to wind up in homeless shelters. Something else is afoot.
For several decades, now, the least responsible young women have been dropping out of school to have babies, and those babies, for the most part, do no better than their progenitors.
Birth control. Don't have babies until you have mastered your high school studies, learned a skill, gotten a job, and found a partner with whom you can rear a couple of children.
But things are even more complicated. How many homeless people need medication? How many have families who could be responsible for helping to administer medication? How many should be institutionalized? Our jails often serve as temporary havens -- if one could call them that -- for those who should be in more civilized versions of Willowbrook and Creedmore?
Immigrants come here from all over and despite gentrification tend not to wind up in homeless shelters. Something else is afoot.
32
Only the "hard working" immigrants make it here. The not-so-hard working immigrants are in their own countries creating problems.
As a society, we have to take care of those who are not the top performers. The children of the rich can be crazy or shiftless or criminals, and they get bailed out. The heirs to the Hilton hotels are shiftless and criminal. But, because they are rich, you see them as "good".
Churches are supposed to take care of the poor. The right-wing has convinced these religious people to vote Republican and to cut social programs that help the poor or mentally ill. The churches claimed they would "fill the gap"... But, as you can see, the "privatization" model pushed by Republicans does not work in reality.
I see empty donation jars at every convenience store to raise money for cancer treatments for some poor soul who became ill. Capitalism is failing us.
As a society, we have to take care of those who are not the top performers. The children of the rich can be crazy or shiftless or criminals, and they get bailed out. The heirs to the Hilton hotels are shiftless and criminal. But, because they are rich, you see them as "good".
Churches are supposed to take care of the poor. The right-wing has convinced these religious people to vote Republican and to cut social programs that help the poor or mentally ill. The churches claimed they would "fill the gap"... But, as you can see, the "privatization" model pushed by Republicans does not work in reality.
I see empty donation jars at every convenience store to raise money for cancer treatments for some poor soul who became ill. Capitalism is failing us.
6
Immigrants thrive in large part because they are willing to live in conditions that most Americans would find unacceptable. Look for example at Corona or Woodhaven in Queens. Those are densely populated areas with illegally created rooms/apartments which are typically occupied by immigrants. I remember looking at a standard size single family house in Woodhaven 2 years ago and there were 8 bedrooms in it! The realtor told us that the living room could be further subdivided to rent out if we wanted to.
On the one hand, it's good that people are industrious and finding spaces to live, but on the other, when it takes 8 people to make the rent on a standard house, either someone is getting over, or something is very wrong.
By the way, the teenage pregnancy rate has been falling for several years now. I'm sure there are still some people falling into this situation, but I doubt it's the leading cause of homelessness in NYC (see http://www.businessinsider.com/teen-pregancy-rate-united-states-birth-co... Mental illness plays a much bigger role.
On the one hand, it's good that people are industrious and finding spaces to live, but on the other, when it takes 8 people to make the rent on a standard house, either someone is getting over, or something is very wrong.
By the way, the teenage pregnancy rate has been falling for several years now. I'm sure there are still some people falling into this situation, but I doubt it's the leading cause of homelessness in NYC (see http://www.businessinsider.com/teen-pregancy-rate-united-states-birth-co... Mental illness plays a much bigger role.
1
New Yorkers will be able to correct the mistakes of Mr. de Blasio next year - the question is, will they? Or will they either not show up more than last time (around 17%) or shrug their shoulders and vote for him anyway because he has a 'D' after his name? This man needs to be shown the door.
23
Property is theft.
1
How about BDB managing the Build it Back program better? Right now this program has not fulfilled it's obligation to homeowners. Other vacant houses and lots owned by church groups should be seized by the city and used to build proper housing. Or, hold these houses of worship responsible for helping the homeless and disadvantaged. Example: How many vacant properties does the Abyssinian Development Corporation continue to not do anything with?
11
I can't totally blame deBlasio for this endless crisis. But no one wants shelters in their neighborhoods because of all the crime and disruption that they bring.
17
The great recession, 20 years of aloof and tone deaf, and destructive housing policy from previous mayors and Albany. Gentrification.
Mr DeBlasio's administration may not have caused the current surge of homelessness but after 3 years, he owns it. Mr. Cuomo, who has even more power to change course, could care less - as long as the mayor takes the blame.
Mr DeBlasio's administration may not have caused the current surge of homelessness but after 3 years, he owns it. Mr. Cuomo, who has even more power to change course, could care less - as long as the mayor takes the blame.
5
Last time I looked there was not a Constitutional right to live in one of the most expensive cities in the world. So instead of encouraging the homeless to stay in NYC by giving them access to free housing how about giving them a one-way bus ticket to a state which needs workers and has a low cost of living.
50
It's because most of the homeless arrived from those places with one-way bus tickets to New York.
12
I have seen in the past few months a tremendous increase in homeless people carrying shopping carts, dirty bags and smelling really bad riding the subways.
As a result, some of the trains are half occupied as passengers try not to be closed to them.
Do passengers who have paid a fare for a simple ride have to be subject to this type of abuse? Isn't the City Government responsible to provide at least a safe and clean subway trains to its residents?
Simple questions - demagogic answers!
As a result, some of the trains are half occupied as passengers try not to be closed to them.
Do passengers who have paid a fare for a simple ride have to be subject to this type of abuse? Isn't the City Government responsible to provide at least a safe and clean subway trains to its residents?
Simple questions - demagogic answers!
47
I've noticed an increase in my neighborhood too. One guy was always coming on my property to go through the recycling trash. I told him not to do it anymore. He trips or cuts his pinky and I'm going to get sued.
9
Mayor De Blasio again proves that words mean much less than competence
15
Warehousing of apartments -- holding them vacant so a building can be emptied for development -- is a huge problem in NYC. The city needs to inventory vacant apartments and should tax them. A $1,000/mo. tax on any apartment not rented for six months would make an enormous difference in the stock of affordable housing.
9
Warehousing is less of a problem in recent years than developers carrying vacant units in their condos off market in order to artificially manipulate their "sellout" rate falsely. If they were required to honestly report the number of unsold units in their condos they would be forced to price them more reasonably, or rent them and sell them occupied, similarly to how it worked originally with non-eviction plans. This along with your suggestion would help drive down the rental market to true supply and demand pricing. New Yorkers are prey to rampant price manipulation.
Homeless activist groups should hold a House-in at Trump Tower, which is a public facility after all - Trump was allowed several extra floors in exchange for the city's largess in addition to an incredible HUGE tax break. Maybe he should be made more aware of the homeless problem since he's REALLY SMART and can fix it IN ONE DAY! Maybe at least he'd stay away from NYC and let the neighborhood recover from his obnoxious presence.
Homeless activist groups should hold a House-in at Trump Tower, which is a public facility after all - Trump was allowed several extra floors in exchange for the city's largess in addition to an incredible HUGE tax break. Maybe he should be made more aware of the homeless problem since he's REALLY SMART and can fix it IN ONE DAY! Maybe at least he'd stay away from NYC and let the neighborhood recover from his obnoxious presence.
7
jwp-nyc - "Homeless activist groups should hold a House-in at Trump Tower,"
Why Trump? You have a Democratic mayor and a Democratic governor who should be able to do anything, right?
Why Trump? You have a Democratic mayor and a Democratic governor who should be able to do anything, right?
3
I feel sorry for the homeless.
Nevertheless, Mike Bloomberg told you day one, the more shelters you set up and give out free things to people, the more people sign up. It's a never ending cycle.
Free things will increasingly attract people to come to NYC or just give up on life. It's just human nature and the way the world goes.
Try planning policies around this fact of life.
Nevertheless, Mike Bloomberg told you day one, the more shelters you set up and give out free things to people, the more people sign up. It's a never ending cycle.
Free things will increasingly attract people to come to NYC or just give up on life. It's just human nature and the way the world goes.
Try planning policies around this fact of life.
37
Its called 'induced demand'. Some believe in induced demand from highway improvements, but deny or ignore it in social welfare.
16
The reasons we have and will continue to have a problem with homelessness in NYC are obvious. The mayor thinks the problem is a "lack of affordable housing." It is not.
The reason there are so many homeless people in NYC is because we make it a very nice place to be homeless. We have legally mandated, free, on-demand housing to anyone who shows up. Therefore lots do, and who can blame them.
And if you chose not to take advantage of city-provided, on-demand shelter, and would rather maraud around the streets, stammering to yourself and panhandling, the mayor has no issue with this, and in fact argues that we ought to be compassionate to these folks rather than doing what should be done, which is institutionalizing them for their own safety. Thus, homeless people proliferate.
The reason there are so many homeless people in NYC is because we make it a very nice place to be homeless. We have legally mandated, free, on-demand housing to anyone who shows up. Therefore lots do, and who can blame them.
And if you chose not to take advantage of city-provided, on-demand shelter, and would rather maraud around the streets, stammering to yourself and panhandling, the mayor has no issue with this, and in fact argues that we ought to be compassionate to these folks rather than doing what should be done, which is institutionalizing them for their own safety. Thus, homeless people proliferate.
42
STOP THE PRESS: Problem solved, alert the Mayor of every city!
"We make NYC a very nice place to be homeless." and...
"...the homeless should be institutionalized for their own safety"
Whew...glad that's fixed.
What's next, immigration?
I know " NYC is a very nice place to be an immigrant....." (yeah, that Ellis Island thing...)
Does anyone *think* anymore?
Treat the homeless - when possible - for mental illness; it's a start to reducing the homeless crisis. Teach parenting skills, treat addiction better, this is a SYSTEMIC problem.
Homelessness is only ONE result of complex problems. No one - almost no one - strives to come to NYC or anyplace on earth, to be homeless. There are lazy people. They're not that lazy.
This is a BIGGER problem to be solved and not just by opening more shelters - it's taking many steps in a thoughtful strategy to help people.
"We make NYC a very nice place to be homeless." and...
"...the homeless should be institutionalized for their own safety"
Whew...glad that's fixed.
What's next, immigration?
I know " NYC is a very nice place to be an immigrant....." (yeah, that Ellis Island thing...)
Does anyone *think* anymore?
Treat the homeless - when possible - for mental illness; it's a start to reducing the homeless crisis. Teach parenting skills, treat addiction better, this is a SYSTEMIC problem.
Homelessness is only ONE result of complex problems. No one - almost no one - strives to come to NYC or anyplace on earth, to be homeless. There are lazy people. They're not that lazy.
This is a BIGGER problem to be solved and not just by opening more shelters - it's taking many steps in a thoughtful strategy to help people.
2
@ CC
How about opening shelters in Connecticut?
That works for New Yorkers.
How about opening shelters in Connecticut?
That works for New Yorkers.
7
In Portland, Oregon, many Conservatives said they made it "a very nice place to be homeless". 7 homeless people died during this last cold weather spell.
I guess in your world, freezing to death in the street is "a very nice place to be homeless."
I'll bet you're a member of a church, too. So glad religious people are so compassionate! Churches need to be taxed. Churches are untaxed because Lyndon Johnson made a deal if churches avoided politics, they could maintain a tax-free status.
I see many pastors openly engaging in politics. The Crystal Cathedral (before its bankruptcy for all the leaders stealing millions from the church) had a huge poster of the Pastor with G. W. Bush and Laura Bush in the entry way.
I guess in your world, freezing to death in the street is "a very nice place to be homeless."
I'll bet you're a member of a church, too. So glad religious people are so compassionate! Churches need to be taxed. Churches are untaxed because Lyndon Johnson made a deal if churches avoided politics, they could maintain a tax-free status.
I see many pastors openly engaging in politics. The Crystal Cathedral (before its bankruptcy for all the leaders stealing millions from the church) had a huge poster of the Pastor with G. W. Bush and Laura Bush in the entry way.
2
Not to mention his condescension, arrogance, aloofness, lack of qualifications for the job, and way too large sense of self.
And you have to wonder about somebody who can choose a dozen gyms within walking distance of Gracie Mansion, but has his detail driving him every day to his old gym in Park Slope, which takes early morning meetings off his schedule, and make tardiness a real possibility for his first meeting.
And you have to wonder about somebody who can choose a dozen gyms within walking distance of Gracie Mansion, but has his detail driving him every day to his old gym in Park Slope, which takes early morning meetings off his schedule, and make tardiness a real possibility for his first meeting.
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Homeless?
de Blasio is clueless.
de Blasio is clueless.
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