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Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion
Is it just me, or are there way more bums around the shorth north this summer?
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rus
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SusanB wrote >>
Rus, you probably weren't born yet but I remember during the Reagan years most of the Public Health Mental Homes were shut down and the folks were tossed out on to the street.Don't forget that back then mental health institutions had a very bad reputation as warehouses for societies rejects. Shutting them down was seen as a means to improve conditions for the mentally ill.
Seem to also recall Regan was running California back then, not President yet.
But hey, if you want to blame republicans for everything while giving democrats a pass, feel free. Just don't expect non-partisans to take you seriously, especially after the past two years with democrats controlling two branches of government and still blaming republicans.
Posted 1 year ago # -
misskitty
Columbus
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Don't forget that back then mental health institutions had a very bad reputation as warehouses for societies rejects.
This was my understanding as well. It was a way to hide them from society and honestly I have heard some sick stories about some of those places.
So were they effective and helpful? Not for the mentally illPosted 1 year ago # -
Andrew Hall
Dennison Place (The Circles)
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Oak wrote >>
This was actually a topic of discussion at the SNBA (Short North Business Association) meeting this week. A lot of the merchants were commenting on the increase in the number of homeless, panhandlers and agressive panhandling that they see going on. Officer Steve (the neighborhood liason officer) said that due to the redistricting, the number of officers working the Short North had been reduced and he said that people are testing the thresholds of the new system to see what they could get away with. He also said there was a HUGE uptick in car break-in's last month as well.Either Steve is engaging in a little CYA or the expected trends following the redistricting are occurring. I will refrain from expletives about the City while waiting to see if this is a blip or the real trend.
A.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Coy
Discovery District
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About a month ago I was at an event at Global Gallery in the ShoNO, and we ended up hanging out at The Short North Tavern afterward.
Since I had to repeatedly go back to my truck to feed the meter, I ended up passing by a cracked/methed out dude on the stoop of what was that "Take Two" place maybe?
He had a very young, emaciated kitten on the stoop with him, and was using it as an opener to ask for money. She was spralled out, hot, tired, and exhausted.
I was sickened by it, and couldn't relax back at the bar, so I stopped by on my way home to see what was up. I figured i'd give him the benefit of the doubt.me: "so...this is your kitty?"
Crackhead "yeah"
me"you're takin good care of her, huh?"
CH: "tryin to get some money to feed her with..."
Me".... so... is she for sale?"
CH: "....maybe...."
me "oh yeah? How much you sellin her for?"
CH: (tentatively) "20."Now, this guy had fried so many brain cells he actually looked like he had caused brain damage. He wasn't developmentaly challenged, just totally effed up from drugs.
There was no way that he was going to use any money given to him to take care of the kitten. No Way.
I pulled out a twenty, and, i swear to God, the second it hit his hands he disappeared into a puff of smoke. I don't know where he went, but he was gone... fast.
The kitten was covered in fleas... I mean covered. But very lovable. She doubled in size in a week or two. Just got her fixed, and she's pretty great... Trouble is her name.So, it ended up good for one kitty (and one Crackhead, too, probably), but it probably would have not been so good had someone not gotten her away from him. I'm not happy I fed his habit, but felt I had to do something. I've since seen him on Broad down in OTE, totally hammered, mid day...
I've put up with these folks for quite awhile, including numerous dudes walking into Global Gallery and harrassing/exposing themselves when my fiancee is there working alone over the past 4 years.
Or the guy that sweats you if you use a public lot, and gives the impression he's going to mess your car up if you don't give him money. SCREW THAT GUY.I've got to say... it's getting more and more desparate, unsafe, and from my point of view...old. I'm sick of it.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Coy
Discovery District
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misskitty wrote >>
The camps are still alive and well. I don't mind homeless peoples I find when I get to having discussions with some we get along better then normal people and I do. lol
There is a difference between homeless and a money bum. I dislike money bums and wall shitters.+1
Should make clear that these are the folks I am refering to in my previous posts... money bum and drugged out. Homeless folks are often another story.Posted 1 year ago # -
EmZeeGee
Clintonville
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It seems there have been more homeless people around Clintonville too. In particular, there's a guy who is often standing off to the side, like a statue on a lawn or in the park, very still and silent. I haven't seen him asking for money; he's just observing. I'm a little frightened of him, but mostly fascinated.
Coy, that is a darling kitty.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Core_Models
Columbus
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rustbelt wrote >>
I have noticed a few people who ask for money at the highway exits getting tickets this summer.
Yeah - apparently run-of-the-mill panhandlers get tickets.
But if, like yesterday, you're a firefighter standing in the middle of a street or intersection with a boot in hand to solicit money, you're OK.
I don't see any real difference between the two.Yeah, a dude asking for money to buy a 40 and guys who risk their lives every day to save strangers asking for money to help kids with Muscular Dystrophy is like identical really.
Also, the 10 year old kid knocking at your door with a Unicef box is a lot like a burglar.
Posted 1 year ago # -
alexs
Limestone bluffs of the Scioto
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Gary Royer continues to work on the former encampment on River Street in Franklinton. He has groomed the ground by the square foot and has filled at least a thousand bags with trash. He has been hounding the city, and ODOT (who owns the land) to remove trash and brush, with mixed results. I've gone back a few times to help, and dig out the honeysuckle that provides cover. I plan to seed grass once ODOT is done scraping around. I've been taking pictures all along, and it could all go into a slideshow.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Twixlen
Westgate, Columbus
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@Roy --- it's so awesome that you have the kitty now... It's a +1 for humanity.
@Core - I've had youngish kids come to my door, with a bag of random candy that I know is on sale at Walgreens, in a Walgreens bag, and try to tell me that they are selling candy for ___________. I generally keep up on what the local school kids are selling, and believe me, they never go door to door... it just isn't done anymore.
As for the homeless situation - Miss Kitty nailed it. And the solutions are far from simple. It does seem that it's an issue that is becoming more and more prominent - which unfortunately means we become more and more numb to it.
People are homeless for so many reasons - but so much of it ties to mental illness that is difficult to impossible to treat without locking folks up on a full time basis. They can get in the system, and get their meds, but they won't take them - and nothing anyone says or does will make them understand or care that it's necessary to take their meds every day. They'd rather live their lives on their own terms, and I have a measure of respect for that.
I'm hearing of more and more vets becoming homeless - and I remember stories of an uncle coming back from Vietnam being unable to live indoors. He just couldn't get over feeling trapped while he was inside.
The panhandlers can get the bottom of my shoe on their nuts. I tend to pull on my "Fuck Off" suit when I see them, and rarely get bothered. I wonder what percentage of those folks are self-medicating mentally ill people? For some, they are so friggin' far gone - about all they have is the drive to get a few bucks to score another hit.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Core_Models
Columbus
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@Core - I've had youngish kids come to my door, with a bag of random candy that I know is on sale at Walgreens, in a Walgreens bag, and try to tell me that they are selling candy for ___________. I generally keep up on what the local school kids are selling, and believe me, they never go door to door... it just isn't done anymore.
1. Some schools and particularly programs within schools do still sell door to door, although yes...I would say most don't and its probably a good idea they don't.
2. If some kid has that kind of chutzpa and business mind at 12 I'm buying his candy with a smile.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Coy
Discovery District
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myliftkk wrote >>
@coy - Just curious, but have you ever seen the guy with another kitten?Thankfully, no.
I was really worried that I was just enabling, but I still felt like I had to get that kitten away from him...
Now, if I did see him with another kitten, I'd just take the next one...Posted 1 year ago # -
richweb7
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I've also noticed homeless people becoming more aggressive in the past year. Recently my friends and I were eating dinner at the outside cafe area of Plantain Cafe when a homeless guy came up and interrupted our conversation to ask us for money. I said, "I'm sorry man, we're eating dinner." He said "don't speak for everyone."
A few weeks ago I was eating dinner by myself on one of those picnic benches outside the North Market and a guy sat next to me and started telling me one of those BS stories about how he needed money for a bus or to get gas for his car with his kids stuck in the backseat or something... I told him I couldn't help him and he moved on to the next table.
These days I find it's hard to walk 100 yards anywhere in the downtown/short north area without getting hassled like this.
Posted 1 year ago #
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