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April 24, 2007
Maybe It's Time To Look For Solutions
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| I've noticed a couple of homeless camps
along the bike path I take to work. The one shown above has been slowly
getting improved over the last few weeks. Recently there has been a news story and editorial on the success the police have had patrolling the new downtown Plaza. The police arrested a homeless guy wanted for sexual assault, another guy for packing a concealed knife, and still others on various warrants. As I read those articles patting the Chico Police and local officials on the back for getting serious at the Plaza a couple of things came to mind. First, it's not like the "bad guys" showed up after the Plaza was built. They've been downtown for quite some time, and a number of people complained about the homeless problem long before the Plaza was finished. I have to wonder why it took a $4.1 million Plaza to get patrols allocated. Second, if patrolling the Plaza is a good thing, then why isn't patrolling all of downtown? Didn't this same problem exist at Children's Park just last year? The camp above is close to low income apartments and a trailer park. There are always kids playing on the nearby railroad tracks. In all likelyhood the shanty above is the abode of some harmless fellow. But if the police are finding hardened criminals at the Plaza should they be concerned about the rest of Chico's homeless population? If they're not concerned should they let us know why? It seems like local politicians could put as much effort into solving the homeless problem as some of the other efforts they get engaged in. If they put as much effort into the issue as our local homeless advocates do, we might find some unique solutions. |
Posted by Lon at April 24, 2007 12:00 AM