Wow, it's been one heck of a week. My Letter to the Editor was published in the Chico Enterprise-Record on 11/24/06. (http://www.chicoer.com/fastsearchresults/ci_4713568) On Monday, while I was contacted by Linda Watkins-Bennett from KHSL news and asked if she could interview me as a Chico citizen opposed to a homeless camp. The news was doing a series on Life In The Streets.
Tuesday afternoon, I met Linda at the KHSL building and we did a short interview. I answered several questions on camera about why I thought a homeless camp would not be a good idea and problems I thought would be associated with it.
They aired the homeless camp story that evening and I was cut down to one line and a short prelude by Linda. This is what the transcript reads:
But residents like Adrian Leung don't like the idea. He says attempts at camps in places like Sacramento don't work. and he's worried that the homeless who are being driven out of bigger cities like San Francisco, will re-locate here because of the camp.
Holcombe disagrees. "it's been proven time and time shelters don't draw people to the community. They serve people already here and if nothing else, successfully reduce homelessness by connecting to services over time,"
Notice Holcombe says "SHELTERS" not camps. Nice politician's play on words to confuse the audience. Yeah, shelters serve the people already here...but be assured, if you build a camp, they will come. And once it's established, and proves that it is not successful, good luck on getting it disbanded.
I sent in a rebuttal/clarification letter immediately to KNVN/KHSL and the Chico Enterprise-Record which they printed on 12/02/06 - (http://www.chicoer.com/fastsearchresults/ci_4759538). I also contacted Butte County Supervisors Josiassen and Dolan concerning a proposed site at 1525 Dayton Road. The both replied quickly and were very receptive to my concerns. I won't be posting their replies but I can be contacted at ajleung@comcast.net for information regarding their thoughts.
Ah, the battle continues...
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Thursday, November 23, 2006
A Little Common Sense on the Road
Oh man, I could go on and on about the nuisances on the roads of Chico. Here's a few to start the list:
1. When you are merging onto the freeway, the traffic on the freeway is moving at 60-65 MPH. You are a traffic hazard if you try to merge at 35 MPH. Also, stopping at the top of the on ramp and waiting to you have adequate clearance is not an option!
2. Also on the topic on freeway onramps, if you are making a right onto the freeway onramp, your traffic sign says "YIELD", not "MERGE". You are to wait until all the cars that have the right of way have cleared. Do not try to squeeze in!
3. It's common knowledge that traffic lights turn green after a short time being red. When it turns green, that means you can and should proceed. I surely hope that you weren't caught by surprise when it turned green because that was what you were sitting there waiting for.
4. The curb weight of a sedan is about 3000 lbs. Moving at 35 MPH creates a pretty sizable moving projectile. Driving while talking on a cell phone reduces your concentration. So basically with this huge moving projectile, you are willing to take a chance just to chat with your mom, sorority sister, drinking buddy, etc? And now they have talking GPS systems built in to further distract you from concentrating on one of the most important daily tasks? That's quite a risk you're willing to take. Don't take that risk on me or my family!
5. When you see an emergency vehicle responding to a call (lights and sirens), you need to pull to the right. That doesn't mean stop right where you are in the middle of the road, try to outrun the emergency vehicle, pull to the right and creep along slowly, or go ahead and make that turn to get out of the way. It means pull to the right and stop! How would you like it if you delayed that emergency vehice if they were responding to your loved ones?
6. If you are driving too slow, you are as much of a traffic hazard as someone who is driving too fast. Also, you have 3 mirrors on your car for a reason, they're not just decoration.
1. When you are merging onto the freeway, the traffic on the freeway is moving at 60-65 MPH. You are a traffic hazard if you try to merge at 35 MPH. Also, stopping at the top of the on ramp and waiting to you have adequate clearance is not an option!
2. Also on the topic on freeway onramps, if you are making a right onto the freeway onramp, your traffic sign says "YIELD", not "MERGE". You are to wait until all the cars that have the right of way have cleared. Do not try to squeeze in!
3. It's common knowledge that traffic lights turn green after a short time being red. When it turns green, that means you can and should proceed. I surely hope that you weren't caught by surprise when it turned green because that was what you were sitting there waiting for.
4. The curb weight of a sedan is about 3000 lbs. Moving at 35 MPH creates a pretty sizable moving projectile. Driving while talking on a cell phone reduces your concentration. So basically with this huge moving projectile, you are willing to take a chance just to chat with your mom, sorority sister, drinking buddy, etc? And now they have talking GPS systems built in to further distract you from concentrating on one of the most important daily tasks? That's quite a risk you're willing to take. Don't take that risk on me or my family!
5. When you see an emergency vehicle responding to a call (lights and sirens), you need to pull to the right. That doesn't mean stop right where you are in the middle of the road, try to outrun the emergency vehicle, pull to the right and creep along slowly, or go ahead and make that turn to get out of the way. It means pull to the right and stop! How would you like it if you delayed that emergency vehice if they were responding to your loved ones?
6. If you are driving too slow, you are as much of a traffic hazard as someone who is driving too fast. Also, you have 3 mirrors on your car for a reason, they're not just decoration.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Welfare Office
Just heard this one today and thought it was appropriate for the subject at hand:
A guy walks into the local welfare office, marches straight up to the counter and says, "Hi ... you know, I just hate drawing welfare......I'd really rather have a job."
The social worker behind the counter says, "Your timing is just excellent. We just got a job opening from a very wealthy old man who wants a chauffeur and bodyguard for his beautiful nymphomaniac daughter. You'll have to drive around in his Mercedes, but he'll supply all of your clothes. Because of the long hours, meals will be provided.
You'll be expected to escort her on her overseas holiday trips. You will have to satisfy her sexual urges. You'll be provided a two bedroom apartment above the garage. The starting salary will be $300,000 per year."
The guy, wide eyed, says, "You're bullshitting me!"
The social worker says, "Yeah, well .. you started it."
A guy walks into the local welfare office, marches straight up to the counter and says, "Hi ... you know, I just hate drawing welfare......I'd really rather have a job."
The social worker behind the counter says, "Your timing is just excellent. We just got a job opening from a very wealthy old man who wants a chauffeur and bodyguard for his beautiful nymphomaniac daughter. You'll have to drive around in his Mercedes, but he'll supply all of your clothes. Because of the long hours, meals will be provided.
You'll be expected to escort her on her overseas holiday trips. You will have to satisfy her sexual urges. You'll be provided a two bedroom apartment above the garage. The starting salary will be $300,000 per year."
The guy, wide eyed, says, "You're bullshitting me!"
The social worker says, "Yeah, well .. you started it."
Thursday, November 09, 2006
My Next Life
I just figured out what I want to be in my next life - a homeless person in Chico. The Jesus Center will provide me with free meals and showers. The Torres Shelter will give me free housing 6 out 12 months and now I heard Andy Holcombe and the Greater Chico Homeless Task Force want to establish a homeless campground. I understand that, without regard to Supervisor Jane Dolan's opposition due to agricultural zoning, Robert Seals of the Serenity Center has posted his Universal Life Church community center sign on the corner of McIntosh and Dayton Roads and has set up homeless squatting grounds on his leased land. I'm sure he has taken into consideration the concerns of 200-plus households in that neighborhood.
For entertainment, I can spend my days hanging out in Children's Playground scaring kids away. Afterwards, I can wander over to Ringel Park and make lewd comments to high school and college girls. For lunch, with the money I've solicited from the generous Chicoans, I can head over to 7-11 for some adult beverages. Of course if I've enjoyed too much of my "lunch", I won't be able to use the Jesus Center, the Torres Center, or any homeless campground because of their rules about being intoxicated. But no matter, I can get a bath in the "dancing fish" tub at City Hall or a shower at the fountain in the City Plaza.
Chico is such an inviting place for the homeless. When they establish the homeless camp, I'll invite homeless from all over the country to Chico.
Okay, I understand this is all very sarcastic and cynical but this is actually how some of the homeless in Chico spend their days. Did anyone notice the photo from the front page of October 18, 2006's Chico Enterprise-Record depicting several homeless people (with their lunch sack) in Children's Park. The Halloween theme of giving back Halloween to the children should also apply here. Give Children's Playground back the children, Community Park back to the community, etc.
For entertainment, I can spend my days hanging out in Children's Playground scaring kids away. Afterwards, I can wander over to Ringel Park and make lewd comments to high school and college girls. For lunch, with the money I've solicited from the generous Chicoans, I can head over to 7-11 for some adult beverages. Of course if I've enjoyed too much of my "lunch", I won't be able to use the Jesus Center, the Torres Center, or any homeless campground because of their rules about being intoxicated. But no matter, I can get a bath in the "dancing fish" tub at City Hall or a shower at the fountain in the City Plaza.
Chico is such an inviting place for the homeless. When they establish the homeless camp, I'll invite homeless from all over the country to Chico.
Okay, I understand this is all very sarcastic and cynical but this is actually how some of the homeless in Chico spend their days. Did anyone notice the photo from the front page of October 18, 2006's Chico Enterprise-Record depicting several homeless people (with their lunch sack) in Children's Park. The Halloween theme of giving back Halloween to the children should also apply here. Give Children's Playground back the children, Community Park back to the community, etc.
Establishing a homeless camp in Chico does not solve the problem - it will only serve to make it a larger problem.
Homeless Camps - Not The Solution
I attended the October 21st Greater Chico Homeless Task Force meeting. The meeting held at the Jesus Center from 11am to 1pm, was neither at a neutral site nor convenient for the community typically working during that time.
Establishing a homeless camp in Chico will just invite more homeless to Chico. Most of the homeless are that way because something (whether it be bad luck, mental illness or addictions - statistics report that 66% suffer from mental illness and a drug/alcohol addiction) keeps them from wanting to or capable of being part of mainstream society with ethical and common sense rules and structure. That appears to be why some of the homeless choose not to use the Torres Shelter. If a campground were to be established, when social structure emerges, we will still be left with all the homeless, including those that journeyed to Chico for the campground, back into the homeless encampments under the bridge, in alleys, community parks, etc. The problem will only get worse. I’m reminded of a quote from the movie Field of Dreams - "if you build it, they will come." Those that have remained in Portland's Dignity City are still a minority of Portland's homeless. The majority returned to or move onto other illegal squatting grounds.
An article in SFGate that says that there are fewer homeless in San Francisco but other neighboring counties are reporting higher numbers. San Francisco's mayor, Gavin Newsom, developed policies of cutting cash assistance to vagrants and has aggressively moved them into housing with counseling services (termed the "Care Not Cash" program). Thereby, the homeless are not getting cash to support their addictions, they leave...interesting...and predictable. Maybe the Greater Chico Homeless Task Force can learn something from this and not try to re-invent the wheel.
There was an interesting point about how the Butte County Humane Shelter receives $17,000 a month to house animals but the Torres Center only receives $8500 a year to house humans. Did the thought ever come to mind that animals are incapable of finding a home on their own while humans, top of the food chain and evolution ladder, should be expected to find a home?
Numerous homeless persons attending the meeting spoke on why they should have a homeless camp. Nearly every one prefaced with some story of how they became homeless. After a number of stories, it became more and more evident that these were all excuses, some reason to hide, psychological crutches as to why they cannot become a contributing member of society. You cannot help someone that does not want to be helped.
My belief is, for the good of "Greater Chico", we need to make this an undesirable place for homeless. An internet article I read concerning the homeless in Chico states that it is well-known that the cities of Oroville, Redding, Chico, and San Francisco are desirable places for the homeless. (http://www.norcalblogs.com/buying/archives/2006/09/on_a_homeless_c.html) For those that truly want to be helped, we need to provide access to services and establish a detoxification center. It's not a matter of making a more even playing field between the haves and the have nots as Robert Seals puts it, because many of the "haves" are people that are willing to do something with their lives.
Educating my fellow Chico citizens on the negative aspects of having a homeless camp in the Chico area and urging more non-homeless folks to make a presence at the meetings of the Greater Chico Homeless Task Force will be one of my goals. We cannot let Andy Holcombe and the homeless decide the fate of Chico.
Establishing a homeless camp in Chico will just invite more homeless to Chico. Most of the homeless are that way because something (whether it be bad luck, mental illness or addictions - statistics report that 66% suffer from mental illness and a drug/alcohol addiction) keeps them from wanting to or capable of being part of mainstream society with ethical and common sense rules and structure. That appears to be why some of the homeless choose not to use the Torres Shelter. If a campground were to be established, when social structure emerges, we will still be left with all the homeless, including those that journeyed to Chico for the campground, back into the homeless encampments under the bridge, in alleys, community parks, etc. The problem will only get worse. I’m reminded of a quote from the movie Field of Dreams - "if you build it, they will come." Those that have remained in Portland's Dignity City are still a minority of Portland's homeless. The majority returned to or move onto other illegal squatting grounds.
An article in SFGate that says that there are fewer homeless in San Francisco but other neighboring counties are reporting higher numbers. San Francisco's mayor, Gavin Newsom, developed policies of cutting cash assistance to vagrants and has aggressively moved them into housing with counseling services (termed the "Care Not Cash" program). Thereby, the homeless are not getting cash to support their addictions, they leave...interesting...and predictable. Maybe the Greater Chico Homeless Task Force can learn something from this and not try to re-invent the wheel.
There was an interesting point about how the Butte County Humane Shelter receives $17,000 a month to house animals but the Torres Center only receives $8500 a year to house humans. Did the thought ever come to mind that animals are incapable of finding a home on their own while humans, top of the food chain and evolution ladder, should be expected to find a home?
Numerous homeless persons attending the meeting spoke on why they should have a homeless camp. Nearly every one prefaced with some story of how they became homeless. After a number of stories, it became more and more evident that these were all excuses, some reason to hide, psychological crutches as to why they cannot become a contributing member of society. You cannot help someone that does not want to be helped.
My belief is, for the good of "Greater Chico", we need to make this an undesirable place for homeless. An internet article I read concerning the homeless in Chico states that it is well-known that the cities of Oroville, Redding, Chico, and San Francisco are desirable places for the homeless. (http://www.norcalblogs.com/buying/archives/2006/09/on_a_homeless_c.html) For those that truly want to be helped, we need to provide access to services and establish a detoxification center. It's not a matter of making a more even playing field between the haves and the have nots as Robert Seals puts it, because many of the "haves" are people that are willing to do something with their lives.
Educating my fellow Chico citizens on the negative aspects of having a homeless camp in the Chico area and urging more non-homeless folks to make a presence at the meetings of the Greater Chico Homeless Task Force will be one of my goals. We cannot let Andy Holcombe and the homeless decide the fate of Chico.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)