You know what I like to do when I see a homeless person lying on the ground in a city park? I like to kick ’em. You know, to make sure they’re still alive. If they’re in a tent, I wouldn’t know they were dead until they really start to stink.
Surely that’s the reasoning behind the city of San Luis Obispo‘s ordinance prohibiting tents in city parks, right? I mean, it can’t be a thinly veiled attempt to make SLO’s unhoused population even more miserable in the midst of a global pandemic.
According to a city press release, “The recent influx of tents and similar enclosed structures at public parks has disrupted the intended public use of these recreational areas and raised resident concerns.”
Did you catch that? “Resident concerns,” as in people who have homes to go to.
“Unlawful activities including illegal drug use have been exacerbated by the encroachment of unpermitted tents, resulting in increased adverse or aggressive behaviors in parks,” the release continued. “In addition to creating opportunities for negative behaviors, tents interfere with park maintenance and the general public’s use and enjoyment of these spaces.”
Yes, what about the “general public”? Why must they be made to suffer inconvenience due to the “specific public” that has nowhere else to go? It’s an outrage alright.
Parks and Rec Director Greg Avakian was also quoted in the release: “Prohibiting the use of tents or similar enclosed structures in public parks and recreational areas is critical for us to be able to continue providing safe, inclusive, accessible, and clean parks for the entire SLO community, which is a top priority for our Parks and Recreation Department.”
By “the entire SLO community,” he clearly means everyone except the unhoused, who need to get out of the city parks and hide themselves from view so the rest of us can forget homelessness exists and continue on with our “happiest place to live” lives.
“Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay. My, oh, my, what a wonderful day. Plenty of sunshine headin’ my way. Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay! Get the homeless out of my park. It’s the truth. My home’s actch’ll. Everything is satisfactch’ll.”
Don’t even get me started with the new shopping cart ordinance, which according to the press release prohibits “the unauthorized removal of shopping carts from retail establishments.”
This obviously isn’t directed at the unhoused population, right? As the release notes, shopping carts “interfere with pedestrian and vehicle traffic; the use of public streets, sidewalks, public areas, and public rights of way for their intended purposes; and can create dangerous conditions for users of those public spaces.”
It’s a public safety issue, see? And by public, the city is obviously referring to the “real” public, not the indigent vagrants, who should haul their meager possessions around in garbage bags and huddle under overpasses like sewer rats.
As SLO City Manager Derek Johnson noted in the release, “neither of the ordinances directly regulate any particular group based on status.” To which I respond, “Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! What a disingenuous load of horseshit!”
“Our No. 1 priority is the health and welfare of all those that live, work, and play in the city,” Johnson added.
What’s the priority number for helping unhoused people who are trying to “live” in SLO? It sure ain’t two, three, or 10.
If the city wants to crack down on homelessness, I wish they’d just admit it. At least we wouldn’t have to wade through the swampy subterfuge of these lying press releases trying to make draconian punishments of poverty into some thinly disguised public safety act. This NIMPPism (Not In My Public Park) is hogwash.
And speaking of NIMBY hogwash, Morro Bay residents are all for drug treatment centers … as long as they’re not in Morro Bay. I first wrote about Morro Bay resident Ashley Smith‘s concerns over the proposed Morro Bay Recovery Inc. taking over the 27-room former Rodeway Inn to help those with addictions to drugs and alcohol (“Yee haw! Cowboy up!” March 11).
On April 20, Smith and fellow Morro Bay residents got their “day in court” as Smith’s appeal went before the City Council. Ten disgruntled phone calls and too many emails to count later, the city denied the appeal because … dum-dum-dum … they had to. The Housing Accountability Act requires approval because the proposed project use is permitted in the project zone, in compliance with the zoning code and general plan, and can’t be discriminated against simply because it’s a rehab facility.
I have to give it up for Morro Bay residents who opposed the project. They had some very creative theories, such as the noise from screaming addicts as they came off drugs, drug dealers coming to the facility because they don’t want to lose customers, and patients who might be sex offenders because … huh? Are all addicts also sex offenders? Slow. Clap. Morro. Bay.
And speaking of a slow clap, let’s give it up for neighbors of Shell Beach’s Chapman Estate, which often hosts fundraising events. Neighbors want to stop events because attendees park outside their houses … on public streets. How. Dare. They. Δ
The Shredder’s bluebird fell of its shoulder. Send commiserations to shredder@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Apr 22 – May 2, 2021.
“Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well- warmed, and well-fed.” Herman Melville
Homeless people are not the problem. They are a result of the problem.
So Mr. Knudson, could you help us understand the SOURCES of the “problem?” No one wants people to be unhoused. No one wants them to suffer. No one wants them to be drug addicts, alcoholics or mentally ill.
Also, no one wants our public resources to become threatening to the rest of the community, and no one wants our public parks to be converted to campgrounds filled with shopping carts, trash, used hypodermic needles and human waste.
Do you have a solution, other than an apparent assertion that the “homeless” should have rights superior to the rest of us?
There was, before it was terminated by the ACLU’s efforts, a program for housing these folks in a state facility. There was an “Agnews State Hospital” in N. California and “SPADRA” in S. California. I don’t know if similar programs might work today, but it seems that this problem cannot be solved by asserting that the public space become a home for folks who cannot care for themselves.
Ahhh…Shredder. “Kick em”? Haha! Oh that we could and that would be the easy way to inspire change of bad behavior in folks who don’t give an expletive. I have battled alcoholism and drug addiction in my past, have been near death numerous times, have watched people I love die because they refused to stop using alcohol and drugs, have found loved ones dead as a result of overdose, have come to realize that the world is a harsh and imperfect place not because of the success of others or failures of those who choose not to participate or compete. All I can do is me, drug and alcohol free. I suggest to those who ask me about recovery that sobriety is a wise idea. I know that 7-8 out of 10 drug addicts or alcoholics will choose to die, the grip of numbness being sooooo attractive to people that are depressed and/or mentally ill. It seems, Shredder, that you are espousing behavior change on those of us who are functioning and contributing in order to bring about behavior change in people who are not functioning and seemingly hell bent on self and societal destruction. My behavior changed when consequences became so unbearable that I had to change or die. I nearly chose death and many will choose death. No matter how you “save the environment” or “stop racism” or “Compassionately care” about anything, nothing will change that. You must allow harsh consequences on those suffering from drug addiction and alcoholism so they can hit bottom and “maybe” change. Many won’t. Quit trying to change me and what I think and value to facilitate something that I can do nothing about. The homeless will change when they pick themselves up to do so, not by you and I throwing kindness and cash at “em”.
Most of the people “camping” in our parks and creeks, and stealing shopping carts, are substance abusers. They are not there because of the high cost of housing, but rather, because of the high cost of getting high. They are there because at some point in their lives, they decided that getting wasted was their highest priority. They can be kind, well-intentioned people, and some are truly pitiful, but we are not doing them any favors by enabling their continuing self-destruction just so we can feel “humane” and smug about our supposed “kindness”.
What would Jesus do?
Jesus would be crucified for our sins. That’s what he would do. Mobs such as BLM, the LGBTQ’s, antifa would crucify him for preaching that God loves us but also sits in judgement of us and our actions here on earth. That standards of decency and morality must be kept to or else face eternal damnation. Many of the left are atheists, some agnostics, some just want a God “of their understanding”. Like an almighty omnipresent God is fathomable by any of us…right? Maybe if you worship your self or your desires or your feelings, you may think YOU are God. Some do. Jesus gave all for all of us. I think he would be saddened by the world we’ve become, but I KNOW he believes in us. If only we would believe in him, rightword. The question really is…what will WE do?
That’s right! Why, there’s not a homeless problem, there are plenty of vacant beds in town for all homeless. Why I bet Shredder is in no way a hypocrite, and allows homeless to stay in his home rent free with no conditions.
Jesus loves the homeless. Love thy neighbor. Love is not an emotion, it is a decision. Jesus is all about love and forgiveness. Anything less is unchristian. The homeless give the non-homeless an opportunity to love and serve others in the spirit of Jesus. Jesus does not decide who gets love and who doesn’t deserve it. Love all, serve all. That’s the way of Jesus.
Illegal Immigrants with Covid being housed, fed, and medical for free at Camp Roberts while Americans suffer in parks without same care? Shredded Cheddar Head Cheese.
We have the resources to house feed and give quality medical care to all those who need it .. it’s really not that big of a deal. We just have to have the unified will to do so and it will happen. Fear is what holds us back , blinding us to the truth. There’s nothing a nation can do for itself that is greater than making sure everybody has enough food to eat and the health care they need. A healthy society would put that as a priority.
It is not unreasonable to help the homeless population, but neither is it unreasonable to ask them to help us. They DO NOT need to occupy our parks and public spaces in a conspicuous display of their issue, and I will assign the Shredder more credibility when he criticizes the whacky left for enabling able-bodied people to appear helpless. Why don’t Heidi Harmon, The Shredder, Quin Brady, Miriam Shah, Aaron Gomez, Erika Stewart, Dawn Addis ALL invite the homeless into their homes?
The whacky left loves the woke feeling of judging others, but hates being judged, their hypocrisy is unconscionable.
Nobody is asking anyone to house the homeless in their own homes. The absurd why dont you have the homeless live in your home, buddy trope is getting old.
The so-called left tends to be correct with most of the major U.S. social and political issues. The so-called left was correct about slavery, the Beatles, Vietnam, civil rights , Nixon, Iran Contra, Iraq, Climate change, marijuana, Donald Trump, and the list goes on and on.
What we need to do is spread love and compassion and selfless service. That is the heroic thing to do at a time like this. Anything less is cowardice in the face of crisis.
We have the ways and means to feed and give quality medical care to everyone. Theres nothing a government can do for its people than to do that. Its really not that difficult if the greedy and selfish people would step aside and allow good to prevail.
There is nothing greater a government can do than make sure that all its people have adequate food and quality medical care. It’s really not that difficult if our nation unifies under that idea. We have the resources to make it happen. Our world will be a much better place when this is accomplished.
A life brimming with selfless service and love is a good life.
@Rightword: Volunteering OTHERS to make sacrifices is NOT a “good life” for those who are burdened by them. It is only “good” for those who get to force others to make sacrifices that they need not endure themselves.
Don’t sweat it dude. In the United States you’re allowed to waste your life if you want to. So if that’s your want, go for it.
But if nobody sacrificed anything in World War II, you wouldn’t even be here to whine. Some people just want to take and take and take and never give back. If that’s the way you wanna live your life, here’s your chance. But don’t come crying to us when you reach the end of your life and you realize you’ve totally wasted it on selfishness and greed and hate.
@Rightword: Drug addicts did not win WWII, nor did those who sat on the sidelines demanding that others go off to fight. Nothing has ever ben accomplished by those in the cheap seats insisting that OTHERS make sacrifices so that they can feel good.
No wars are ever won. Everyone loses including historians. Wars are lessons repeated over and over again. Fools make wars. Fools finance wars. Fools fight wars. There are no heroes, only victims. It’s a program. Modern Humans are now the artificial intelligence.
Keep calling out SLO City Manager Derek Johnson, New Times. Thank you! Derek a real two-fisted Woke Musketeer. Magic Johnson is SLO Mayor Tidy Whitey’s Rosebud Pruner. Magic Johnson was personally hired to trim Mayor Heidi’s “mighty bush” when she waves her magic wand. Magic Johnson prunes low hanging rose buds and dingleberries from Mighty Heidi’s Garden of Toulouse. Thank you for printing, SLO New Times!!! Keep the Shredded Cheddar mill running.
There is nothing greater a government can do than make sure that all its people have adequate food and quality medical care. Its really not that difficult if our nation unifies under that idea. We have the resources to make it happen. Our world will be a much better place when this is accomplished.
To all those who claim to be Christians: what would Jesus do?
There is nothing greater a government can do than stay out of the way and allow freedom to endure. Government is the problem! The fact that people like you want the government to do anything is the problem! Look within yourself for solutions, government only hampers free action by regulation and bureaucracy. Government should monitor business agreements for honesty and provide for a military. Other than that it serves no purpose that a free capitalist society does not provide for. Government is the crutch for lazy people and the hammer for power mongers.
What do you have against the police department, the fire department and The sanitation department, each essential community services sanctioned by our government? What about roadways? Should government give up on those also? What about access to clean water? Give that up also because you want your so called freedom? By the way, what is it that you would like to do that you dont have the freedom to do? Pollute the environment? Steal? Harm people? Can you name one thing youre needing to do that you dont have the freedom to do?
I don’t have the freedom to walk in public parks with my family without vagrants dominating the landscape (open drug use, drunkenness and unchecked panhandling). These folks should be given free bags of dope and a free 12 pack of beer to board a bus to Sacramento, Next STOP???? State Capitol building! Let the do nothing democrat politicians walk through their urine and fecal leavings. Let democrat politicians pick up the used needles so their kids don’t step on them or pick them up. Let democrats and their politicians eat the fecal leavings of the vagrants and dope addled voting bloc they covet. Hey Rightturd? Why don’t you eat the fecal leavings of these wonderful, misunderstood people that you LOVE so much. I could gather them in ziploc bags for you and deliver them to a location of your choice. FREE OF CHARGE! Because I am a giver and giving is what I do.
No one is stopping you from walking in public parks. And you are not required to give people in the park money just because they ask you for some. That’s a lesson you could teach your family members next time you’re in whatever park you’re talking about. Yes, and people do smoke pot. You can explain that to your family members also.
It seems the freedom you want is the freedom to restrict the freedom of others— and call people names.
FYI: I’m not a Democrat.