Addressing the issue of people who are homeless does not have a simple solution. You can jail them, but that is only a temporary solution. They are easy to denigrate as the problem since they are visible, but I guarantee you that removing them will only put a small dent, if any, in the crime problem.
We should have LAPD, a council office deputy and outreach professionals from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to come to a meeting to discuss strategies to effectively address the problem.
I was driving down Fuller Ave. near Oakwood and a transient with a huge shopping cart tried to ram my car as I drove passed him/her (it looked like a him but I cannot be certain). I swerved to avoid the ramming but it definitely shook me up. I didn't think it was worth calling the police over at the time but, while I don't think that the transients in the area are causing major crimes, I am concerned about the mental health aspect of the transient population. If an individual is not medicated for a condition like schizophrenia, there can be a tendency for violence and generally volatile, delusional behavior. A few days later I was at the Bagel Broker during the daylight and saw the same shopping cart parked on the street corner. The person sitting with it was definitely ranting and raving to him/herself and it became clear to me how very sad a situation it was. While I am very glad to have avoided danger to myself or my vehicle, I realize that this person did not have malicious intent, but rather was completely delusional.
The key word here is SOME - of course some homeless are troubled people who need a hand - but SOME transients/homeless are drug addicts who steal to get money to buy their next fix.... we have seen that many times around here. Who do you think is stealing things out of your cars and from your yards?
My teenage daughter was at a stop light on Melrose and Fairfax when a transient approached her door handle and tried to open it. Cars were going the opposite direction or she would have went through the light. When the attempt failed the man then tried the back latch of her SUV. In frustration the man then walked around my daughter's car and hit the hood with his fist very hard...I hate to think what could have of happened to my daughter if that man would have opened her door...Yes I feel some transients can be a danger.
Comments
The Homeless
Addressing the issue of people who are homeless does not have a simple solution. You can jail them, but that is only a temporary solution. They are easy to denigrate as the problem since they are visible, but I guarantee you that removing them will only put a small dent, if any, in the crime problem.
We should have LAPD, a council office deputy and outreach professionals from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to come to a meeting to discuss strategies to effectively address the problem.
Mark
We must address the issue of mental health.
I was driving down Fuller Ave. near Oakwood and a transient with a huge shopping cart tried to ram my car as I drove passed him/her (it looked like a him but I cannot be certain). I swerved to avoid the ramming but it definitely shook me up. I didn't think it was worth calling the police over at the time but, while I don't think that the transients in the area are causing major crimes, I am concerned about the mental health aspect of the transient population. If an individual is not medicated for a condition like schizophrenia, there can be a tendency for violence and generally volatile, delusional behavior. A few days later I was at the Bagel Broker during the daylight and saw the same shopping cart parked on the street corner. The person sitting with it was definitely ranting and raving to him/herself and it became clear to me how very sad a situation it was. While I am very glad to have avoided danger to myself or my vehicle, I realize that this person did not have malicious intent, but rather was completely delusional.
SOME transients do commit crimes
The key word here is SOME - of course some homeless are troubled people who need a hand - but SOME transients/homeless are drug addicts who steal to get money to buy their next fix.... we have seen that many times around here. Who do you think is stealing things out of your cars and from your yards?
Transients
My teenage daughter was at a stop light on Melrose and Fairfax when a transient approached her door handle and tried to open it. Cars were going the opposite direction or she would have went through the light. When the attempt failed the man then tried the back latch of her SUV. In frustration the man then walked around my daughter's car and hit the hood with his fist very hard...I hate to think what could have of happened to my daughter if that man would have opened her door...Yes I feel some transients can be a danger.