Littlepage: We need to clear downtown of hobos

[Kay]

I'm with the Sheriff on this one.  He's not talking about the temporarily homeless who need help getting back on their feet.  I don't think it makes me a Nazi for thinking this particular population should go where they won't disturb others.

[Garden guy]

Great..please explain exactly how many of the millions that fbc is sitting on goes to help the city and it's homeless and destitute?....how many drug programs..job programs...how many homeless are now being employeed by FBC...you guys are the richest in the city...you should have programs...are those programs known to the homeless?...i go down 2 days a week to deliver food and i've never met anyone from FBC on the streets...are they there?

they give pretty heavily, actually, and they have a pretty substantial charity program.  John Allen Harrett and Trey Brunson spend many evenings quietly walking the streets ministering to the needs of the homeless.  I don't think Trey wants that advertised, because its supposed to be part of his mission and he doesnt want the attention as 'the preacher's son' to detract from the work itself, but Im actually proud of him for doing the Christian thing.

In fact, in some ways they do more than others.  For example (and Chris can back me up here) our system isnt really set up for people who have no chance of working long term.  Once you 'exhaust' a preset allotted share of services, you can't get them again---so many days allowed at the Salvation Army, so many days allowed at Sulzbacher, so many rent assistances, so many food bank trips etc..  Its really only set up for people who are having temporary problems.

Everyone else is just SOL.

One such case was a woman who had lost her trailer after having it robbed and being savagely beaten by her crack addicted son.  She was left for dead and attacked by dogs who savaged her legs.  Treated at the emergency room at shands and told to go forth.

There isnt a lot of therapy or treatment available, and so she ended up getting staff infection over her lower body and the skin peeled off and began bleeding.

When John found her she was sleeping in urine soaked clothes (bladder infection and continence problems) and dying.

He and Trey took her in, John got her cleaned up and found shelter, got her shands card, testified so that she could get food stamps, Trey got her clothes, they built her into the life of the Church by involving her in the choir programs despite the complaints about the 'homeless lady' from the young kids.  John personally drove her to her appointments all over the city to get her employment, and made her part of his life.  It took a year but she is back to functional status now, and improving.

The Church has paid her rent several times through the benevolence fund, and without the additional food that they provide at almost every function and service, she wouldnt have been able to make it on the food stamps.

Shes in a program that employs disabled senior citizens.  20 hours a week and a small pay check, and is a completely different person than the wreckage that John and Trey found over a year ago.

So, yes, Garden Guy, First Baptist does do outreach and they do help take care of the homeless.

When was the last time that you did the same as either John or Trey?

The last time was yesterday..i bring about 200 lbs of produce out of my garden every other week and give it out....i also give about 50 pb&j twice a week....i also have a nice deal with a bakery...so i give out sweets when i can...

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I'll go on record as saying that I'm all for the detention center to be moved out of downtown.  It's in a premier spot and does nothing but devalue the area around it. 

Why Trail Ridge?  Doesn't the city own a nice, large parcel of land out on Lanie Rd?  I think it even has its own correction center on-site.   There are several acres that could be used as a 'holding' area for those charged under typical 'transient' crimes.  Our own little Tent Town, if you will, based off of the model in Arizona.

After being arrested, they are taken to the high-rise on the river for holding, then shipped with the routine busses that leave DCJ to MCC.  Processed, held, tried and released all out at MCC.    They only have a 3 mile walk to 295.

[duvaldude08]

If Im not mistaken, the P Farm is located DEEEPP in the Northside in the middle of now where. Thats is where the Jail should be located.

[duvaldude08]

If Im not mistaken, the P Farm is located DEEEPP in the Northside in the middle of now where. Thats is where the Jail should be located.

are you sure that you really want men and women completely powerless under lock and key before they have actually been tried for a crime out in the middle of nowhere, far away from anyone noticing what might be happening to them?

humm... I didnt spin it that way Stephen. Good Point!

[simms3]

Truths:

1) Churches, including FBC, do/give the most to help our poor and indigent downtown population.

2) This is not a Republican or Democrat issue, quit trying to make it one.

3) "Hoboes" are in downtowns of every major city and that is where they need to be to access clustered support services.

4) Downtown is not suffering because of the homeless, it is suffering because of poor leadership and unintelligent planners.

5) People don't come downtown not because there are homeless people and a perception of crime, but because there is nothing for them to do or see there.

6) Ronald Littlepage is a well known Democrat, once again, quit trying to make this a partisan issue.  He actually did not form an opinion as he normally does.  He simply reported on discussions being had and agreed that having the discussion was progress for the issue.

7) New York, DC, and San Francisco have some of the densest and most present "hobo" populations of any city in the world.  In San Fran it is so bad that people always comment on it.  Somehow this does not stop any of these cities from being world class, vibrant centers of commerce and cosmopolitan life.  It also does not diminish the insane numbers of tourists and visitors each gets.

[Ralph W]

According to JSO, the jail needs to be in the vicinity of the courthouse to facilitate secure, short distance transportation of prisoners for their court dates. This, in addition to the cost of transportation, as well as easy accessibility for lawyers shuttling back and forth, is a reason to keep all the offenders close until such time they receive their marching orders for incarceration. Then they can be buried at the landfill.

Seems like if they really want to free up that expensive land near the river for development and taxation they need to consider moving the Sheriffs office and the jail to the vacant land west? of the new courthouse. Use Monroe St., all of it, as a dedicated, secure corridor for law enforcement purposes only. There are only a few more buildings in that area that need to be razed  for this to happen.

[tufsu1]

Simply stated, we've done enough clearing of things downtown...buidlings, people, vitality...no more clearing!

[hillary supporter]

"City Councilman Don Redman was in attendance, and he suggested putting the facility on city-owned property at the Trail Ridge Landfill.

Whatever site was selected, you can bet there would be protests from people who don't want downtown's problems dumped into their neighborhood."

Isnt this the guy that wanted to pray with the UNF professor in a city council meeting? Hes nuttier than 99% of the "hobos"!
And he wants a facility at Trail Ridge? Just for THEM?
IS THIS A JOKE? WHOS PAYING FOR THIS?  US, THE TAXPAYERS OF JACKSONVILLE?
NO NO NO...... The City is BROKE!!!!

[Rynjny]

I agree with the sheriff..homeless people are one of the main reason that I don't want to go to downtown...also anybody else see the homeless guy sitting in front of everbank field every sunday when the jags play?? why can't they tell him to go away??

[RiversideLoki]

I agree with the sheriff..homeless people are one of the main reason that I don't want to go to downtown...also anybody else see the homeless guy sitting in front of everbank field every sunday when the jags play?? why can't they tell him to go away??

Dude, stop talking about Jack Del Rio like that!

[Rynjny]

I agree with the sheriff..homeless people are one of the main reason that I don't want to go to downtown...also anybody else see the homeless guy sitting in front of everbank field every sunday when the jags play?? why can't they tell him to go away??

Dude, stop talking about Jack Del Rio like that!

LOLLLLLLL

[Noone]

I'm with the Sheriff on this one.  He's not talking about the temporarily homeless who need help getting back on their feet.  I don't think it makes me a Nazi for thinking this particular population should go where they won't disturb others.

I also support  Sheriff Rutherford on this. I was there when he gave a presentation to the Board members of Downtown Vision. There will be many components to the puzzle. The discussions are happening and I'd like to participate and possibly be involved in Making it Happen. I'm looking at this in terms of positive benefits. Obviously its not working.   

[strider]

I'm with the Sheriff on this one.  He's not talking about the temporarily homeless who need help getting back on their feet.  I don't think it makes me a Nazi for thinking this particular population should go where they won't disturb others.

I also support  Sheriff Rutherford on this. I was there when he gave a presentation to the Board members of Downtown Vision. There will be many components to the puzzle. The discussions are happening and I'd like to participate and possibly be involved in Making it Happen. I'm looking at this in terms of positive benefits. Obviously its not working.   

Relocation camps have been used to either hide away or eliminate people "society" doesn't like or want to see for hundreds if not thousands of years.  Each and every time, regardless of the time period, regardless of the initial reason, they become a huge black mark in the history books.  Certainly it makes sense to have Jacksonville continue it's downward spiral into the blackness as this city has consistently done the right thing to end up NOT a prosperous and progressive place to live.   

When smart and supposedly intelligent people fail to see where the real issues lie, there is little hope for the future.

[Noone]

I'm with the Sheriff on this one.  He's not talking about the temporarily homeless who need help getting back on their feet.  I don't think it makes me a Nazi for thinking this particular population should go where they won't disturb others.

I also support  Sheriff Rutherford on this. I was there when he gave a presentation to the Board members of Downtown Vision. There will be many components to the puzzle. The discussions are happening and I'd like to participate and possibly be involved in Making it Happen. I'm looking at this in terms of positive benefits. Obviously its not working.   

people fail to see where the real issues lie,

What are they? Just two or three.