[ElDiabloJoe]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

IMHO, yes. I don't really consider invading a home (vacant), urinating and defecating there, leaving trash all around, attracting insects or maybe even Yogi Bear a "low level" crime. Jay walking is a low level crime. Parking illegally is a low level crime. Spitting on the sidewalk is a low level crime. What these people are doing is not low level to my mind.

I agree, these are all crimes. They are the Broken Windows" of which James Q. Wilson wrote about in the criminology theory of the same name. However, society does consider them all to be "low level" because they are misdemeanors, which are inherently low level. Jay walking, illegal parking, spitting on a sidewalk are, as you rightfully pointed out, "Very" low level crimes, and are usually infractions in most jurisdictions, which is a crime level below misdemeanor.

However, misdemeanors are generally considered "Low level" crimes, and non-violent ones at that, which make them low level even for misdemeanors.

If I had it my way, they would all be jailable and finable offenses, however the current societal state of reality and "agenda driven weenies" (I really like that!) is quite different from the utopia I have heard envisioned by some (see my new thread on that separate topic).

[Boston-Sean]

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe

I have been to that library, several times. It's on Glenneyre. I used to park in the adjacent two-story structure for my training runs up to "Top of the World." I would jump into the library pre-run to use their bathroom.

I have seen first-hand that which your librarian friend complained about.

The public single bathrooms in Mass General Hospital have cords hanging that can be pulled to summon help if someone needs it. Pre-covid when anyone could enter and wander around hospitals, MGH had problems with drug addicts using those bathrooms to shoot up. They would wrap the cord around one arm and shoot up in the other. If they happened to overdose and pass out the cord would get pulled and help would be on the way.

And BTW, if you want to see an excellent documentary on what happens when homelessness and drug addiction are ignored watch this from a Seattle news station:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpAi70WWBlw

All that "compassion" ends up killing people.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Love2Swim

You realize, of course, that these people aren not necessarily "illegals", they may be legally eligible for asylum. And fyi, New York City is unique in that it has a law that anyone who does not have a roof over their head can get one through the city-run homeless shelter system. That even applies to the newly arrived asylum seekers. NYC prides itself on a welcoming atmosphere and humanitarian treatment of these newly arrived people, rather than pulling a stunt like you know who, and flying them to Martha's Vineyard.

No comment.
Although I believe I already cited an appropriate term

[Caymus]

Originally Posted by Love2Swim

You realize, of course, that these people aren not necessarily "illegals", they may be legally eligible for asylum. And fyi, New York City is unique in that it has a law that anyone who does not have a roof over their head can get one through the city-run homeless shelter system. That even applies to the newly arrived asylum seekers. NYC prides itself on a welcoming atmosphere and humanitarian treatment of these newly arrived people, rather than pulling a stunt like you know who, and flying them to Martha's Vineyard.

Plenty more at the border. NYC should send their own buses to pick them up. It may reverse the population decline in the city.

[jdulej]

Originally Posted by Boston-Sean

The public single bathrooms in Mass General Hospital have cords hanging that can be pulled to summon help if someone needs it. Pre-covid when anyone could enter and wander around hospitals, MGH had problems with drug addicts using those bathrooms to shoot up. They would wrap the cord around one arm and shoot up in the other. If they happened to overdose and pass out the cord would get pulled and help would be on the way.

And BTW, if you want to see an excellent documentary on what happens when homelessness and drug addiction are ignored watch this from a Seattle news station:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpAi70WWBlw

All that "compassion" ends up killing people.

A very creative use for those cords. Someone was thinking outside the box stoned or not

[LAFwUs]

UPDATE:
I spoke directly with both Community Watch and the Sheriff's dept today regarding this issue and about what I believe is happening on the south end of the villages. Under the premise that "You're either part of the problem or part of the solution."
I realize that there are other areas possibly being impacted, but I can only speak to the areas where I have observed a problem.

The Sheriff's dept is on it, including sending deputies out this afternoon, to try and locate any possible encampments and has added patrols inside the villages. I was reassured that this on their radar and is being dealt with properly as concerns come up.
Wildwood PD is also aware of this issue, but did not speak with them today.
I feel very good about our conversation and it was great to see such fast response!!

Community Watch also responded to me in excellent fashion. I am very appreciative of the time & effort they extended on this issue today.
They have recommended that should anyone see transient/homeless inside the villages, to contact the 24/7 Non-LE number
( 352-793-2621)
The villages as we know, spans multiple counties & several police jurisdictions. CW would be best to determine what agency should be contacted, if that is needed.
LaF

[jdulej]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

The problem is that we have shelters for the homeless but many of them don’t want to go the shelters. And apparently, the government can’t force them to go to shelters because the homeless have rights.

If we had hungry people and they refused to go to food banks, what else can society do to feed them?

So I don’t know how to solve the problem. Maybe someone here has an idea.

There are solutions but they all involve lots and lots of money which would likely mean more and higher taxes. Thats ok with me as long as the solution is well-thought-out. First would be defining buckets to put each person/family in (like mentally ill, prior arrest record, etc). Define and implement a solution for each bucket and provide incentives to reward progress.
Not easy and certainly not cheap but just pushing these people to the next city/county/state does nothing to address the issue

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by LAFwUs

UPDATE:
I spoke directly with both Community Watch and the Sheriff's dept today regarding this issue and about what I believe is happening on the south end of the villages. Under the premise that "You're either part of the problem or part of the solution."
I realize that there are other areas possibly being impacted, but I can only speak to the areas where I have observed a problem.

The Sheriff's dept is on it, including sending deputies out this afternoon, to try and locate any possible encampments and has added patrols inside the villages. I was reassured that this on their radar and is being dealt with properly as concerns come up.
I feel very good about our conversation and it was great to see such fast response!!

Community Watch also responded to me in excellent fashion. I am very appreciative of the time & effort they extended on this issue today.
They have recommended that should anyone see transient/homeless inside the villages, to contact the 24/7 Non-LE number
( 352-793-2621)
The villages as we know, spans multiple counties & several police jurisdictions. CW would be best to determine what agency should be contacted, if that is needed.
LaF

Thank you for going out and getting some real info while the rest of us debated it. Kudos!!!!

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by jdulej

There are solutions but they all involve lots and lots of money which would likely mean more and higher taxes. Thats ok with me as long as the solution is well-thought-out. First would be defining buckets to put each person/family in (like mentally ill, prior arrest record, etc). Define and implement a solution for each bucket and provide incentives to reward progress.
Not easy and certainly not cheap but just pushing these people to the next city/county/state does nothing to address the issue

Maybe not, but I'd take that for now, then tackle the longer-term problem (from elsewhere)

[jimbomaybe]

Originally Posted by jdulej

There are solutions but they all involve lots and lots of money which would likely mean more and higher taxes. Thats ok with me as long as the solution is well-thought-out. First would be defining buckets to put each person/family in (like mentally ill, prior arrest record, etc). Define and implement a solution for each bucket and provide incentives to reward progress.
Not easy and certainly not cheap but just pushing these people to the next city/county/state does nothing to address the issue

From the posts here it would seem the people with the most experience and contact with the "homeless" see little hope in changing them, their mental problems/personality disorders are not reachable, "incentives" ? to my mind not living as they do is all the incentive one would need to do something other, what sort of incentives would you offer for simply taking care of yourself to the extent of not living a feral life ?

[manaboutown]

A friend since college is an engineer who worked for a large corporation his whole career. His grandfather had been a policemen in NYC back in the day, my friend had an interest in police work and so he became a reserve police officer and stuck by it for over 35 years. I guess he did not need much sleep! He wrote a book on policing and the criminal justice system in his community. Anyway, I asked him about the homeless he had encountered. He told me they had chosen the lifestyle, told him they enjoyed sleeping under the stars and did not want to be reformed or change their ways.

ABQ Crime Blues

[Caymus]

Originally Posted by jdulej

There are solutions but they all involve lots and lots of money which would likely mean more and higher taxes. Thats ok with me as long as the solution is well-thought-out. First would be defining buckets to put each person/family in (like mentally ill, prior arrest record, etc). Define and implement a solution for each bucket and provide incentives to reward progress.
Not easy and certainly not cheap but just pushing these people to the next city/county/state does nothing to address the issue

Are you one of the people who left a high tax state for a low tax state?

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Maybe not, but I'd take that for now, then tackle the longer-term problem (from elsewhere)

That's probably how they ended up where they are now. Settling for pushing them out of wherever they are now, and not trying to tackle the actual problem, is like putting your finger in the hole in the dyke.

There comes a point in time where the people with the loudest complaints need to actually SOLVE the problem - or stop complaining.

[jimbomaybe]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

That's probably how they ended up where they are now. Settling for pushing them out of wherever they are now, and not trying to tackle the actual problem, is like putting your finger in the hole in the dyke.

There comes a point in time where the people with the loudest complaints need to actually SOLVE the problem - or stop complaining.

See post 205

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Maybe not, but I'd take that for now, then tackle the longer-term problem (from elsewhere)

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

That's probably how they ended up where they are now. Settling for pushing them out of wherever they are now, and not trying to tackle the actual problem, is like putting your finger in the hole in the dyke.

There comes a point in time where the people with the loudest complaints need to actually SOLVE the problem - or stop complaining.

Let me see if I understand that post. Is it being suggested that the "shuffle them off to Buffalo" game end here, in The Villages, and we harbor them while "tackling the problem"?????

NO THANK YOU!!!!!!

We would attract thousands more for years and years, especially since there is no clear way to solve the issue. Heck, they could be like downtown Seattle and declare their own country.