homeless begging bums- Bobo the Hobo-pick up Red Courtesy phone

[Tucker]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x254198

The Straight Story Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Sun Jan-23-11 03:02 AM
Original message
Officials hope to realign sidewalk benches so pedestrians can avoid encounters with the homeless
   
Santa Barbara seeks to turn the tables on the homeless

Officials hope to realign sidewalk benches so that pedestrians can avoid encounters with the homeless. Some say the money would be better spent on aiding the needy.

...


Cities have tried many ways to move panhandlers and vagrants out of prime shopping districts, but Santa Barbara believes it has a new angle — 90 degrees.

Using $50,000 in redevelopment funds, the city is planning to turn 14 benches perpendicular to the State Street storefronts they now face. The idea is to make it more difficult for beggars to establish contact with passersby, officials said.

"They'll be sitting with their backs to half the people coming and going on the sidewalk," said Marck Aguilar, a supervisor for the city's redevelopment agency. "They'll have half the potential contacts with the public. It might not be financially beneficial for them."

To discourage prolonged stays, Aguilar said, workers will also remove the backs from several benches on a two-block stretch of the city's most vibrant commercial thoroughfare. If the pilot program succeeds, it may be extended the length of the street, where crowds of students and well-heeled tourists from around the world amble into upscale stores and restaurants.

The idea, which originated with the Santa Barbara Downtown Organization, a business group, has again focused attention on Santa Barbara's efforts to deal with its sizable homeless population.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-santa-barbara-b...

How dare the city make it harder for the bums to beg for money. Don't they know that the bums need the cash to donate to the quarterly fundraisers to keep Der Skimmer in vacation money.

zaj (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Sun Jan-23-11 03:14 AM
Response to Original message
1. What % of the homeless panhandlers are drug addicts or alcoholics?
   
This story doesn't really bother me at all. I almost never give panhandlers money. I will offer to buy them food often, and a lot of time that just pisses them off.

My sense is that they are a large (if not majority) % of them. I don't have a lot of sympathy.

Just wait until Bobo the Hobo, who's homeless, reads this. You're gonna get it.

Dappleganger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Sun Jan-23-11 03:16 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. I'm sorry you feel that way.
   
I'm sorry to see these kinds of comments on a democratic forum.

STFU.

zaj (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Sun Jan-23-11 03:20 AM
Response to Reply #2
4. That's why I asked if there is any data...
   
I don't doubt for a minute that there are plenty of homeless people who aren't capable of working and can't find work, can't afford a home and need support. I strongly support social safety nets. But when it comes down to aggressive panhandling, my experience isn't needy people, as much as drunk, high people.

Strike two.

LoZoccolo Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Sun Jan-23-11 03:26 AM
Response to Reply #4
7. I felt conflicted about this, so I called about it.
   
I can't remember if it was a charity or just the Chicago city information line, and they said that homeless people should go to a hospital or a police station and they will find food and shelter for them, and that that's what you should tell panhandlers. I've done that when approached by panhandlers and they either just go on to someone else or act like I told them something crazy (without explaining why it's crazy).

  I don't know how to comment on this statement.

Sen. Walter Sobchak (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Sun Jan-23-11 03:33 AM
Response to Reply #2
10. my girlfriend has been assaulted twice by cracked out vagrants
   
While minding her own business in the fine city of San Francisco, my patience has worn thin.

leftstreet Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Sun Jan-23-11 03:17 AM
Response to Reply #1
3. What % of Congress R drug addicts and alcoholics?

Ignored. As it should be. That's not a can of worms you want to open.

Luminous Animal Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Sun Jan-23-11 03:37 AM
Response to Reply #6
11. Me, on the other hand, have no problem giving money to a an addict or alcoholic.
   
There are plenty of addicts and alcoholics that are CEOs, and CFOs, and and so on and so on, and I give them money all of the time when I buy their products.

Nobody expects them to be treated like shit.

Presenting a logical and rational argument is not his strong point.

I'm sure Bobo will be checking in shortly. She has to wait for Micky D's to open and turn on the free wifi.

[VivisMom]

I never thought I'd say this, but zaj has a point. A friend of mine in college once told a panhandler where the closest shelter was, and the guy flipped out. She was lucky she was with a group of people, because there is no doubt in my mind that this cracked out hobo would have hurt her.

[JohnnyReb]

$50,000 to turn 14 benches sideways....huh? What the hell kindda benches ate they? I gotta see those extra large, long, heavy duty benches.

[Doc Savage]

I was with my kids showing them around Boston the same time that the Democrat National Convention was there.  We were walking down toward the public garden and there was a guy about 28 or so just sitting on the sidewalk asking for money.  No wheelchair, no white cane, just a guy that was not hurting for food, or the snapple bottle sitting next to him.  I suggested that he at least try to juggle, or do magic and earn some of that money he was asking for.  Kind of pissed him off but the kids laughed. 

I have no problem with street performers, give them money all the time if I stand and watch, but if someone grows roots on the corner with a hand out day after day, I have a problem with it. 

[DumbAss Tanker]

Sounds like it'll start some great bum fights over who gets the end seats, so they can turn sideways and still annoy the humans...unless the city gets another $100,000 to add arms to the bench ends...

 

[Tucker]

Sounds like it'll start some great bum fights over who gets the end seats, so they can turn sideways and still annoy the humans...unless the city gets another $100,000 to add arms to the bench ends...

 

A hobo cat fight. I picture Bobo and Sapphire Blue, tumbling on the sidewalk. I hope they're not wearing dresses. Thanks for that image. 

[DumbAss Tanker]

A hobo cat fight. I picture Bobo and Sapphire Blue, tumbling on the sidewalk. I hope they're not wearing dresses. Thanks for that image. 

The horror, the horror...

[AllosaursRus]

Luminous Animal Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Sun Jan-23-11 03:37 AM
Response to Reply #6
11. Me, on the other hand, have no problem giving money to a an addict or alcoholic.
  
There are plenty of addicts and alcoholics that are CEOs, and CFOs, and and so on and so on, and I give them money all of the time when I buy their products.

Nobody expects them to be treated like shit.

Ya wanna know what the diff there is, DUmbass? Those CEO's yer talkin' 'bout, earn billions every day manhandlin' employees, banks, and products you could only dream about!

I'm pretty sure most would consider me an alcoholic, since I do a considerable amount of "self medication" for the screws in my back, yet I still manage to support me, "Toots", of course she has her own career and contributes enough to pay utilities and keep me in scotch, 15 horses, mules, and a donkey, plus manage to raise 50 cows a year, put in 80 acres of hay every year, cut upwards of 50 chords of wood every year for the needy, run down some of yer buds indulgin' in illegal drugs, and give 10% of my income to the church! I don't sit outside my local Home Depot with a cup in my hand, keepin' Mad Dog 20/20 in business!

Just what exactly does Bobo do?

FOAD!

ETA:

Just call me Stuperman!

[Evil_Conservative]

11. Me, on the other hand, have no problem giving money to a an addict or alcoholic.

Enabler.

[Revolution]

^  Aiding, and abedding.

Hi Five.

[BlueStateSaint]

I'm pretty sure most would consider me an alcoholic, since I do a considerable amount of "self medication" for the screws in my back, yet I still manage to support me, "Toots", of course she has her own career and contributes enough to pay utilities and keep me in scotch, 15 horses, mules, and a donkey, plus manage to raise 50 cows a year, put in 80 acres of hay every year, cut upwards of 50 chords of wood every year for the needy, run down some of yer buds indulgin' in illegal drugs, and give 10% of my income to the church! I don't sit outside my local Home Depot with a cup in my hand, keepin' Mad Dog 20/20 in business!

Coming from an alcoholic, you're not one.  Do something stupid while under the influence or to get alcohol; then we'll talk.

[Revolution]

Yeah. AS another alcoholic, I'd agree with BSS. I've done plenty of stupid shit under the influence. You don't seem to be an "alchie" in the sense we're thinkin'.

[Chris_]

$50,000 to turn 14 benches sideways....huh? What the hell kindda benches ate they? I gotta see those extra large, long, heavy duty benches.

Union benches.

[GOBUCKS]

If you have a pile of garbage that's attracting rats, you get rid of the garbage. Why doesn't this town get rid of the benches, if they're infested by vermin? If bums and winos congregate there, it's unlikely normal people are using them anyway.

[Chris_]

I've had plenty of experience with alcoholics... when you lie to your boss that your son was killed so you could lay out of work for a week and drink, you're an alcoholic.  When you break into someone else's house while they're at work and the only thing you steal is the beer in their refrigerator, you're an alcoholic.  I've got a few more, but I really don't want to think about it right now.

[Mike B the Cajun]

I'm pretty sure most would consider me an alcoholic...

As an alkie myself, you aren't one... you ain't done near the shit I have and still be alive!!

[AllosaursRus]

I appreciate the back up, but I don't see how ya put away the amount I do and not be an alkie. Nowadays, I can put away a half gallon every three days and really don't get much more than a buzz. Can't remember the last time I was truly drunk. Just doesn't effect me that way anymore. And I drink whiskey! Just because ya ain't stupid on the stuff doesn't give ya a pass. My liver is prolly pickled by now.

That comes from buildin' up an immunity to the stuff. A ****ed up back will tend to do that to ya. Doctors don't make it any easier either. They're so afraid of the DEA, they aren't willin' to stick their neck out any more. So many lowlifes run around doc shoppin' in order to get Codeine or Oxy for recreational use, that the feds have started watchin' the pharmacies for particular scripts.

I've been on one pain killer or another since '98. It seems it gets tougher every year to convince these guys I have a legitimate beef. Even though I've only had two doctors in 15 years, I am still treated like some kind of druggie, even though I'm on a strict daily consumption. That's where my scotch comes in.

The assholes that abuse the stuff, like our ant farm friends at the DUmp, are makin' it downright impossible for those of us who legitimately need it in order to live any kind of normal life. I haven't slept more than 2 hours continuously in better than 6 years and without Codeine, I don't sleep at all! I'm sure some here have probably noticed I haven't logged out for days occasionally.

Right now I have to report to a pain management clinic for an eval or my doc will not renew my next script. I take 1, 7.5/325 HydroCodone every 4 hrs and have been for better than 8 years. Without them, I can't get outa the damn bed! The older I get, the worse it gets. Like I have said before, I need at least another 2 screws and possibly more. Seems like it's a never ending cycle.

My problem is, I let it go too long in the first place. By the time I took it serious, I had damaged the nerves to the point of no return. That's what happens when ya think you're the meanest sumbitch in the valley in construction. All I did was make it worse. Hindsight and all that. Still, I can stand with the best of 'em and will continue to try until they put me in a chair.

Ah well, I've always played the hand that was dealt me, and don't plan to change any time soon. I'll survive, always have, and I've been dealt worse a coupla times. That bitch runnin' over me back in '72 was the worst! What really pisses me off is she totally ****ed my 45 Flathead! Ya know what it would be worth nowadays????????

[BattleHymn]

AllosarusRus,

What happened to your back that required the screws?

I feel for you, man.  Fortunately, I don't have any problems with my back, but when I have the occasional pinched nerve or sore spot, it seems to make everything else miserable-- getting up, walking, just moving your head to look at something! 

[AllosaursRus]

AllosarusRus,

What happened to your back that required the screws?

I feel for you, man.  Fortunately, I don't have any problems with my back, but when I have the occasional pinched nerve or sore spot, it seems to make everything else miserable-- getting up, walking, just moving your head to look at something!  

Well, bein' Mr bad ass, I had a cabinet show up after hours for GodFathers Pizza over in Seattle. The guy convinced me he couldn't wait. It was me and the truck driver. The cabinet weighed right around 1300 lbs. I got under it and put my back into so to speak, and had him drive the truck out from underneath it.

Basically, it crushed my spinal canal down to the point the fluid was only flowin' thru a line the size of a pencil lead around L4 and L5. And the rest is as they say, history.

What is surprising, it never bothered me for over 5 years! It developed scar tissue so I had to have 3 vertebrate fused. That one took 6 stainless steel screws and 2 "Cougar cages", which are carbon fiber wrap arounds with holes in 'em so the bone can grow into them.

I've had 2 other surgeries in order to remove bone spurs and have a cyst removed where they did the original surgery. The nerve damage is what I have to deal with now. Makes it a real bitch to put ones socks on in the mornin'!

I've developed much the same thing in my neck between C3 and C4. They want to put 2 more screws in, but no way I can afford it until I can get on the wife's insurance next year.

ETA:

This is why I'm such a prick to DUmmies. I don't complain, I don't look for handouts, I don't expect anyone to treat me like a victim, yet that's all those asshats can think about! Hell, there are threads over there where they council each other on how to get outa workin', and collect disability on my dime cause they have "depression"! Makes my blood boil!

Did I mention I still consider myself to be the meanest Sumbitch in the valley?

[JLO]

I was with my kids showing them around Boston the same time that the Democrat National Convention was there.  We were walking down toward the public garden and there was a guy about 28 or so just sitting on the sidewalk asking for money.  No wheelchair, no white cane, just a guy that was not hurting for food, or the snapple bottle sitting next to him.  I suggested that he at least try to juggle, or do magic and earn some of that money he was asking for.  Kind of pissed him off but the kids laughed. 

I have no problem with street performers, give them money all the time if I stand and watch, but if someone grows roots on the corner with a hand out day after day, I have a problem with it. 

Sad.

[AllosaursRus]

That's downright pathetic!

[JLO]

Well, bein' Mr bad ass, I had a cabinet show up after hours for GodFathers Pizza over in Seattle. The guy convinced me he couldn't wait. It was me and the truck driver. The cabinet weighed right around 1300 lbs. I got under it and put my back into so to speak, and had him drive the truck out from underneath it.

Basically, it crushed my spinal canal down to the point the fluid was only flowin' thru a line the size of a pencil lead around L4 and L5. And the rest is as they say, history.

What is surprising, it never bothered me for over 5 years! It developed scar tissue so I had to have 3 vertebrate fused. That one took 6 stainless steel screws and 2 "Cougar cages", which are carbon fiber wrap arounds with holes in 'em so the bone can grow into them.

I've had 2 other surgeries in order to remove bone spurs and have a cyst removed where they did the original surgery. The nerve damage is what I have to deal with now. Makes it a real bitch to put ones socks on in the mornin'!

I've developed much the same thing in my neck between C3 and C4. They want to put 2 more screws in, but no way I can afford it until I can get on the wife's insurance next year.

ETA:

This is why I'm such a prick to DUmmies. I don't complain, I don't look for handouts, I don't expect anyone to treat me like a victim, yet that's all those asshats can think about! Hell, there are threads over there where they council each other on how to get outa workin', and collect disability on my dime cause they have "depression"! Makes my blood boil!

Did I mention I still consider myself to be the meanest Sumbitch in the valley?

Holy cow - I thought MY back hurt! 

You deserve and earned the title of "the meanest Sumbitch in the valley" 

My best to ya!

[JohnnyReb]

AllosaursRus: "The Bumper Jack Man".

I had 2 good ol' boys working for me once. They put a "pet" name on every piece of equipment I had and every customer we worked for. We were working for a real estate developer once that had just had back surgery. He was showing us an X-ray of what they had just done to his back. They installed a metal rod with 'hooks' on each end in his back. The rod went from his pelvis bone half way up his back to take the pressure off the deteriorating lower half of his spine. It looked like the bumper jack from a 1930's car. From that day on they called him "The Bumper Jack Man" or "Bumper Jack" for short.

Then there was the woman known as "Rubber Tits"....whole nutter story.... ....the fools made a long day short....

[Mike220]

More than 24 hours and still no Bobo... Hope she's alright. Maybe the Hobo-Signal is out. That or she has to wait for the library to open.

[DefiantSix]

More than 24 hours and still no Bobo... Hope she's alright. Maybe the Hobo-Signal is out. That or she has to wait for the library to open.

Bobo the Hobo doesn't deign to grace us with her missives from so proletariat a place as a library.  Only the hotspots at Starbucks approach the manner in which Bobo would like to become accustomed - on YOUR walkin' around cash, of course.