25933 replies to this topic

[A Girl is No one]

^But until you solve the underlying problem of why people are compelled to ingest deadly chemicals nothing will change. You could erase all illegal drugs and addicts will just switch to huffing gasoline or what have you.

Hmmmm....These substances are designed to be addictive. The best way to deal with the issue is to make the drugs unavailable (we know that’s not possible) and stigmatize their use to deter people from taking that first step I down that path, but apparently that’s a big no-no nowadays.
People will always be facing hardships through life, there is absolutely nothing we can do about it. We have to educate people that seeking relief through drugs is a terrible option. IMO. I have seen way too many « good intentions » contribute the most towards exacerbating social issues and I think it’s time we change strategy again.
Rant over. 😁

[kitty surprise]

“It’s also closer to downtown services for people who use drugs, he said.”

In my honest opinion this is the root cause of this whole homeless debate.

This guy is off his rocker.

He is advocating the support of convenience of an industry that has killed people young and old. The drug industry is the root cause of homelessness. It’s the root cause of crime.

Stop giving these assholes credibility.

^^^ This!!

[spanky123]

^But until you solve the underlying problem of why people are compelled to ingest deadly chemicals nothing will change. You could erase all illegal drugs and addicts will just switch to huffing gasoline or what have you. 

 

I say this having lost good friends to drugs and not without passion - at some point you have to let people make their own decisions. If they are going to huff gasoline then that is their choice. Lets make sure we have resources to support them if they ever decide to quit but encouraging the behavior hoping for a change isn't helping.

[rmpeers]

“It’s also closer to downtown services for people who use drugs, he said.”

In my honest opinion this is the root cause of this whole homeless debate.

This guy is off his rocker.

He is advocating the support of convenience of an industry that has killed people young and old. The drug industry is the root cause of homelessness. It’s the root cause of crime.

Stop giving these assholes credibility.

Come on, we wouldn't want to make it inconvenient for people to use drugs.

[rmpeers]

I note that the message from some groups on twitter re the BHP motion seems to be "where will the campers go?" Didn't the province already provide more than enough places to to live?

Are these "advocates" just terrified of the problem getting fixed?

[Sparky]

These “advocates” haven’t the faintest idea what they are advocating for.

These hard core miscontents don’t want “housing”. They want the freedom to live as they please...bump whatever will go up their arm...and bang on the drum all day...with somebody else’s money.

[LJ]

If we stop providing all the "services" that drug users need maybe we could encourage them to move elsewhere.

 

If the only service provided is rehab we may make a dent in this problem.

[spanky123]

These “advocates” haven’t the faintest idea what they are advocating for.

 

"I am afraid that there is a certain class of problem solvers who don't want the patient to get well, because as long as the disease holds out they have not only an easy means of making a living, but also an easy medium through which to make themselves prominent before the public." — Booker T. Washington

[rmpeers]

I am also concerned, once BHP is back to normal, what will happen to all the people who spent their time posting scenic photos of the park on social media and telling everyone how safe it was? How will they fill their days?

[Greg]

I am also concerned, once BHP is back to normal, what will happen to all the people who spent their time posting scenic photos of the park on social media and telling everyone how safe it was? How will they fill their days?

 

I'm looking forward to the photo essays of the Rock Bay murals...

[Sparky]

3 Bylaw Officers giving a Hobo the heave ho at Topaz Park today at about 11:30

 

[zoomer]

Going around downtown this weekend I noticed hardly any panhandlers, only a few people sitting with their gear on the sidewalk - it was quiet and serene as I’ve seen it in about a decade! Ok, there was a couple screamers too, perhaps mental illness or drugs.. and the occasional drugged out person stumbling around. Do I expect it to last.. no, I guess not. Unless all provinces and cities have the same consistency in service we will continue to draw newcomers, not to mention the weather draw factor.

[Tom Braybrook]

3 Bylaw Officers giving a Hobo the heave ho at Topaz Park today at about 11:30

 

just to be clear  hobo --> tramp --> bum

 

A hobo is a migrant worker or homeless vagrant, especially one who is impoverished. Unlike a "tramp", who works only when forced to, and a "bum", who does not work at all, a "hobo" is a traveling worker.

 

 

 H. L. Mencken, in his The American Language (4th ed., 1937), wrote:

 

Tramps and hobos are commonly lumped together, but see themselves as sharply differentiated. A hobo or bo is simply a migrant laborer; he may take some longish holidays, but sooner or later he returns to work. Lower than either is the bum, who neither works nor travels, save when impelled to motion by the police

[Sparky]

I thought it was an abbreviation of homeless boy.

[JimV]

Downtown is improving but there’s a long way to go.  I think the scarcity of panhandlers is mostly due to the great reduction in pedestrian traffic down there.  Driving down Pandora I saw dozens of street people hanging around on the boulevard and in front of Our Place.  It wasn’t that long ago that the music school in the old church was a nice destination.  Now it’s got a metal fence around it and looks besieged.  
 

Turning north from Dallas to Douglas I also noticed nine ratty looking RVs that definitely look occupied parked along Douglas.  There are others on Dallas and probably a few more in the BHP parking lot.  I’m not sure how these fit into the great scheme to “house the homeless.”  Maybe the next step will be to build a free RV park for them.

[Sparky]

I didn’t see any motor homes or vans in the park yesterday.

[Mike K.]

Panhandling is now common at busy intersections.

[Sparky]

^ Which is against the Safe Streets Act...

 

...(5)A person commits an offence if the person, while on a roadway, solicits a person who is in or on a stopped, standing or parked vehicle.

 

https://www.bclaws.g...075_01#section3

[Mike K.]

Yes, and police have a whack-a-mole approach to it but as soon as one guy gets told to leave, another guy pops up. The panhandling extends well into Saanich now and I've seen it on the West Shore.

[Matt R.]

Yes, and police have a whack-a-mole approach to it but as soon as one guy gets told to leave, another guy pops up. The panhandling extends well into Saanich now and I've seen it on the West Shore.

Half of those panhandlers are cops anyways. Put the phone down.

Matt.