Comments on: Don’t Ask, Don’t Give http://www.bloglanta.com/archives/101 For fans of everything ITP Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:42:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Amber http://www.bloglanta.com/archives/101#comment-249 Amber Sun, 31 Jul 2005 23:12:24 +0000 http://www.bloglanta.com/archives/101#comment-249 I tend to agree with Henry and Matt here. People who want to enjoy downtown shouldn't have to worry about being harassed/assaulted by panhandlers. Of course, you can't just magically make all homeless people disappear - but if the city would put adequate effort into shelters, rehab programs, etc. then the problem might start to wane. (I am not being Bitchy McBitcherson here; I really don't know how much time, effort, or money the city of Atlanta puts into dealing with the problem of homelessness. Just speaking in general terms.) I tend to agree with Henry and Matt here. People who want to enjoy downtown shouldn’t have to worry about being harassed/assaulted by panhandlers. Of course, you can’t just magically make all homeless people disappear - but if the city would put adequate effort into shelters, rehab programs, etc. then the problem might start to wane. (I am not being Bitchy McBitcherson here; I really don’t know how much time, effort, or money the city of Atlanta puts into dealing with the problem of homelessness. Just speaking in general terms.)

]]> By: Matt http://www.bloglanta.com/archives/101#comment-248 Matt Sun, 31 Jul 2005 20:35:41 +0000 http://www.bloglanta.com/archives/101#comment-248 It's one thing when people are truly destitute and cannot afford to buy food or shelter. (This isn't 19th century London as nobody starves on the streets of ATL.) It's quite another when they panhandle to buy drugs or booze. I'm sure mental illness is a factor in the majority of homeless issues but you cannot force someone to seek treatment. I find it really odd how some are trying to turn this into a free speech issue when it's really a harrassment issue. It’s one thing when people are truly destitute and cannot afford to buy food or shelter. (This isn’t 19th century London as nobody starves on the streets of ATL.)

It’s quite another when they panhandle to buy drugs or booze. I’m sure mental illness is a factor in the majority of homeless issues but you cannot force someone to seek treatment. I find it really odd how some are trying to turn this into a free speech issue when it’s really a harrassment issue.

]]> By: Henry http://www.bloglanta.com/archives/101#comment-247 Henry Sat, 30 Jul 2005 19:08:48 +0000 http://www.bloglanta.com/archives/101#comment-247 I think that aggressive panhandling is something that will have to be brought to heel. It is stupid that people who wish to enjoy what downtown has to offer have to put up with harrasment from a bunch of damn bums. I would also like to point out that the "homeless" advocates have ulterior motives in insisting that the bums be permitted to use, say, Woodruff Park as their own personal campground. The "homeless" advocates feel that "haves" should not be permitted to enjoy any aspect of their lives as long as "have nots" are having a hard go of things. For that reason, the "haves" must be continually inflicted by the presence of the "have nots". Has a neat little socialistic bent to it, doesn't it? I hope the city council will eventually show they have the balls to solve the problem. I will also be glad to see the day when Atlanta gets away from "WWMLKD" (What Would Martin Luther King Do) as its basis for solving every damn problem. I think that aggressive panhandling is something that will have to be brought to heel. It is stupid that people who wish to enjoy what downtown has to offer have to put up with harrasment from a bunch of damn bums. I would also like to point out that the “homeless” advocates have ulterior motives in insisting that the bums be permitted to use, say, Woodruff Park as their own personal campground. The “homeless” advocates feel that “haves” should not be permitted to enjoy any aspect of their lives as long as “have nots” are having a hard go of things. For that reason, the “haves” must be continually inflicted by the presence of the “have nots”. Has a neat little socialistic bent to it, doesn’t it? I hope the city council will eventually show they have the balls to solve the problem. I will also be glad to see the day when Atlanta gets away from “WWMLKD” (What Would Martin Luther King Do) as its basis for solving every damn problem.

]]> By: Chris http://www.bloglanta.com/archives/101#comment-246 Chris Mon, 25 Jul 2005 21:34:37 +0000 http://www.bloglanta.com/archives/101#comment-246 Gloom and Doom maybe? Just seems that if you want to get folks from the suburbs to see this change then they need some action. The real test will be once the Aquarium opens and people stick around. Gloom and Doom maybe? Just seems that if you want to get folks from the suburbs to see this change then they need some action. The real test will be once the Aquarium opens and people stick around.

]]> By: Joe http://www.bloglanta.com/archives/101#comment-245 Joe Sat, 23 Jul 2005 04:18:43 +0000 http://www.bloglanta.com/archives/101#comment-245 No kidding. I can't accept that. Anyone who says "nothing will change" doesn't see the changes, even after they happen. Just from watching downtown over the past five years, I think it's pretty safe to say that a lot has changed, and the changes will continue. No kidding. I can’t accept that. Anyone who says “nothing will change” doesn’t see the changes, even after they happen. Just from watching downtown over the past five years, I think it’s pretty safe to say that a lot has changed, and the changes will continue.

]]> By: Amber http://www.bloglanta.com/archives/101#comment-244 Amber Sat, 23 Jul 2005 04:04:12 +0000 http://www.bloglanta.com/archives/101#comment-244 Wow. Gloom and doom, anyone? Wow. Gloom and doom, anyone?

]]> By: Chris http://www.bloglanta.com/archives/101#comment-243 Chris Fri, 22 Jul 2005 20:52:28 +0000 http://www.bloglanta.com/archives/101#comment-243 Atlanta will never change. No one cares. It is the have and have nots and the have nots are everywhere.... Atlanta will never change. No one cares. It is the have and have nots and the have nots are everywhere….

]]> By: Amber http://www.bloglanta.com/archives/101#comment-242 Amber Fri, 22 Jul 2005 19:21:29 +0000 http://www.bloglanta.com/archives/101#comment-242 There's free speech, and then there's assault. Let's not conflate the two. There’s free speech, and then there’s assault. Let’s not conflate the two.

]]> By: duane http://www.bloglanta.com/archives/101#comment-241 duane Fri, 22 Jul 2005 18:06:03 +0000 http://www.bloglanta.com/archives/101#comment-241 Do you work for the ACLU? They could use some more people working for this cause! Do you work for the ACLU? They could use some more people working for this cause!

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