Overbear

Sounds like its a good time to get 10-12 "good ol boys" together to go down there with you, and hand out verbal "reminders" that this ain't a camp ground, move on before somthing "bad" happens and someone gets hurt.

They will get the hint, and word will get around its a bad place to camp.

Lowend

iTrader: (5)

I'm afraid I can't do stuff like that. In the last 3 months I've been on so many news story's and been so vocal, if a "clean-up crew" went in there the police would knock on my door.

Here's the tough part:
I don't think that most of these homeless folks as "bad people". They need help.
1.5 months before the last clean-up there were outreach teams going in weekly speaking with the homeless and trying to get them to take services. During the sweep, I was really glad to hear that about 20 people did sign up for temp housing, work programs etc.
Of course this also leads me to think that the folks that are moving back in right now are just not interested in getting help, or improving their situation.
... to hell with those people.

I'm working on a return email to the police chiefs now and will be cc'ing pretty much every city official that matters with the response.

Snoopy408

iTrader: (9)

did u vote in June regarding police and fire cuts?

Overbear

WHO CARES...

More taxes wont fix this problem, less waste on the part of the city will. Want to cut police/fire...start first with cutting all pay to the councel, and any elected official first.

Snoopy408

iTrader: (9)

oh i totally agree with you but he is saying the cops dont care. i dont think its that i think they care about other stuff not these homeless living in the park. i voted against it. i just find it interesting that there are 650,000 voters registered in San Jose and only about 150,000 of them actually came out to vote.

and btw it wasn't about raising taxes it was about cutting police and fire.

Lowend

iTrader: (5)

If I'm not mistaken - June's vote didn't concern funding for current PD and Fire; it was pension legislation. Which has absolutely nothing to do with today's operating budget.

I don't think this problem has anything to do with the patrol officers. This has to do with the SJPD Chief's needing to allocate resources.

chicagozer

I wouldn't go that far. The defined benefit pensions make up a big part of the local government budgets. It's pretty amazing to think 20-40% of a city's fire and police budget may be going to people no longer working for the city (i.e. retirees).

I would certainly be happier knowing the salaries and benefits paid to the city employees were an obligation limited to current staff. This is the essence of a defined contribution plan (aka 401k).