Ocean Beach 'bums' test a laid-back community's tolerance

[bijou]

Time was when "beach bum" was a phrase of endearment in laid-back Ocean Beach.

No more.

This normally quiet neighborhood is being torn by a dispute over the recent emergence of a beach subculture of unkempt young males sleeping in doorways, urinating in public places and panhandling aggressively.


The flash point was the appearance of bumper stickers proclaiming: "Welcome To Ocean Beach. Please Don't Feed Our Bums." The stickers — sold at a local landmark business, The Black, better known for the sale of bongs, posters and jewelry — are flying off the shelves and cropping up on shop windows and cars around town.

The community seems split between residents who feel it's about time something was done and those who feel the bumper sticker is crass and out of character with Ocean Beach's traditional tolerance for all manner of idiosyncratic lifestyles.

"It's ironic that it's happening in this community known for its live-and-let-live spirit," said Tony Manolatos, spokesman for San Diego Councilman Kevin Faulconer, who represents Ocean Beach. "That said, they're targeting one kind of homeless: able-bodied white males with laptops and cellphones." ...

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-beach-20100704,0,2949971.story

[vesta111]

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-beach-20100704,0,2949971.story

First we need to define tolerance.  How far people will go to tolerate others.

 We who are the most outspoken about the treatment of the homeless anywhere are the first to call the cop if they awake to find the homeless has pitched tents in our back yard and run extention cords to the electric outlets on the sides of our homes. 

So we go out and politely tell the trespassers to move on and you get an in your face by men and woman with the bad or missing teeth of the meth addicts.

You notice that over night these homeless have pissed on the sides of your home and shit in your flower garden. 

These people pack up and move on only with a dark look and a "You will be sorry" look.

Tolerance has to have a start and stop area.  Do we use the live and live thought when a known child molester moves in down the street.?

How about tolerating a teenager in the neighborhood that is a bully and all the kids in the area are afraid of them.  The kid has some kind of mental problem that gives him, the freedom to do as he wishes and causes 50 other kids a great fear.

To me I tolerate any other life style as long as it does not become a threat to my life style, does not cause me to fear or to have to repair damage to myself. property  and family.

Tolerance goes both ways, why should I tolerate someone that will not tolerate and respect my life style.??

[Revolution]

"Shit on my beach, and I'll beat you down" That should be the new motto.

[Thor]

Ocean Beach USED to be one of the decent beaches in San Diego. It was where the average Joe/ Joette hung out. I used to frequent that beach many years ago.

[Boudicca]

First we need to define tolerance.  How far people will go to tolerate others.

 We who are the most outspoken about the treatment of the homeless anywhere are the first to call the cop if they awake to find the homeless has pitched tents in our back yard and run extention cords to the electric outlets on the sides of our homes. 

So we go out and politely tell the trespassers to move on and you get an in your face by men and woman with the bad or missing teeth of the meth addicts.

You notice that over night these homeless have pissed on the sides of your home and shit in your flower garden. 

These people pack up and move on only with a dark look and a "You will be sorry" look.

Tolerance has to have a start and stop area.  Do we use the live and live thought when a known child molester moves in down the street.?

How about tolerating a teenager in the neighborhood that is a bully and all the kids in the area are afraid of them.  The kid has some kind of mental problem that gives him, the freedom to do as he wishes and causes 50 other kids a great fear.

To me I tolerate any other life style as long as it does not become a threat to my life style, does not cause me to fear or to have to repair damage to myself. property  and family.

Tolerance goes both ways, why should I tolerate someone that will not tolerate and respect my life style.??

This is pretty much a summation of what we Arizonans have to deal with, except instead of beach bums we have illegals traipsing across our borders, urinating and littering. 

[NHSparky]

Ocean Beach USED to be one of the decent beaches in San Diego. It was where the average Joe/ Joette hung out. I used to frequent that beach many years ago.

It was still a pretty good place to hang out and live, even 10-15 years ago.  My apartment in SD was not far from there (Point Loma).  But yeah, the bums were starting to screw it up even then...guess that's what happens when they all get driven out of downtown.

[Eupher]

But these days, San Diego police who patrol Ocean Beach begin their mornings by rousing sleepers from the doorways of businesses.

"If someone is blocking the sidewalk, we like to talk to them," said Sgt. Jack Knish as a colleague talked to a young couple sprawled in front of a Starbucks. "Yesterday, we had someone licking the window with their tongue."

After a polite discussion, the couple moved on to the parking lot next to the beach.

"We're not bums, we're travelers," said Lili Ford, 26. "We travel to Ocean Beach because most of the people are cool, and they help us with money."

There you have it. Windowlickers infesting the neighborhood.

As was noted in a comment to the article, some of these jokers aren't homeless. They're simply cashing in on the generosity (naive, perhaps, or misplaced) of others.

If an entire enclave/city like Ocean Beach wants to join hands and sing Kum Bah Yah in eternal brotherhood, hey, good for them.

I personally think it's disgusting to kowtow and tolerate bums who are capable of providing for themselves and simply decide not to. And it's damn sure enough to keep me out of that area for time eternal.

I won't be buying any bumper stickers in Ocean Beach, Kommiefornia any time soon, no matter what's printed on 'em.

[delilahmused]

Maybe they should just let the Marines do a little amphibious landing training. The bums are kinda like insurgents.

Cindie

[Crazy Horse]

It was still a pretty good place to hang out and live, even 10-15 years ago.  My apartment in SD was not far from there (Point Loma).  But yeah, the bums were starting to screw it up even then...guess that's what happens when they all get driven out of downtown.

I lived in OB about 16 years ago and it was a decent place, but I agree they were already starting to infest