tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post6658590022226349203..comments2024-03-25T17:49:41.408-07:00Comments on Salem Breakfast on Bikes: City Council, November 18th - On the Hobo Element, Purity, and DangerSalem Breakfast on Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15618055627843335993noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post-27179876265837739842019-11-18T23:41:59.948-08:002019-11-18T23:41:59.948-08:00Astute of SBOB to see that the propaganda is about...Astute of SBOB to see that the propaganda is about making other humans less human and 'dirty'. Too many people buy into that 'trash talk.' Salem has a serious problem with the unhoused. Talking about a few people who make problems downtown is a sad way to ignore the real issue of not enough affordable housing, or social services, or compassion for others.<br /><br />My fear is that this law, if passed, will just create the illusion of doing something. It will make criminals of some poor people. It will waste precious money. But most of all it will continue the unproductive and costly practice of pushing people from place to place without any real help. And it will gain some elected representatives some votes with the haters.<br /><br />The City Councilors who call themselves 'progressive' are at serious risk of losing any credibility if they fall prey to this propaganda and hatefulness. Salem citizens that I talk to want real solutions. True they do not want to have the poor people living on the street in front of their house or someone in a car or motor home living at their curb. They do not want them camping by a local creek or in a patch of brambles. But what they also do not want them to be sent packing every other week to someone else's street. What they truly want is housing or shelters or something humane where these poor people can go. They want treatment programs so people who have mental health issues can get care. They want drug and alcohol treatment programs where people can get better.<br /><br />If the City cared they would put out real data about the unhoused. They would not put forth the drivel and useless self-praise that is on their webpage. They would stop patting themselves on the back for the things they do or take credit for what others are doing and get to work educating the public about who the unhoused really are, and then engage people in a real dialogue about solutions that we all can contribute to making happen.<br /><br />Homelessness is a huge issue. It deserves some serious discussion by the community. Passing a useless law does not make us safer. It just prolongs the agony and puts off finding real solutions for these people who live among us and are our neighbors!Susann Kaltwassernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post-72003989363832355382019-11-18T17:37:23.633-08:002019-11-18T17:37:23.633-08:00T.S. Eliot wrote that “The historical sense involv...T.S. Eliot wrote that “The historical sense involves a perception, not only of the pastness of the past, but of its presence.” This community is very fortunate in SBOB's sense of history. <br /> Sarah Owenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10670638467098084500noreply@blogger.com