The Dead Horse

[downtownjag]

What is the best way for a concerned downtown resident to voice his/her feelings to the city on the issue of the homeless downtown?  I realize what I am writing has been said before, many times.  Every single day I see the waste that is our downtown public space such as hemming plaza and the riverwalk overrun by the homeless population.  The city has beautiful public space but it is monopolized by people with nothing to do.  I can't stress how many times I have had visitors, even residents of Jacksonville, visit me downtown to see the sites and fall in love; only to be run off by bums and parking tickets.  I have read simple and effective solutions to the problem on this website; namely the way Orlando fixed their problem.  I could go on and on but would rather do so with an elected official who evidently does not know this or hasn't had the help necessary to make changes.  The new courthouse, Laura Street improvements, and Bay Street improvements will be great if people feel safe, and quite frankly, are not grossed out when they come down here.  Anyways, like I mentioned before, who can I tell besides Downtown Vision?  Thanks in advance.

[jbm32206]

They congregate there because that's where the places are that feed them, and where they can also get a place to sleep...and basically, there's not much the city will do

[Basstacular]

Is that you Chip? 

[thelakelander]

I'm justing getting back in from Orlando.  If you think the homeless situation is bad here, check out that city.  Mickey does a good job of hiding his skeletons behind freshly manicured landscaping, tourist attractions and neon lights.  However, if you head about three blocks west of I-4 downtown (Central Blvd @ Terry Avenue), it turns into an "I am Legend" night scene (in broad daylight).  Its a really depressing sight.

[sheclown]

It is likely to get worse.  One way to deal with it is... to thank God you aren't one of them.

[hillary supporter]

Perhaps the only reason they are preceived as a problem is because they are the only real residents of downtown.  if jax had a stronger residential presence downtown, there would be a minimal impact on our perception of the problem.

[chipwich]

Is that you Chip? 

uh, nope can't say that it is.

I don't know who to go to in terms of the homeless downtown.  Either way, whoever is set up to  deal with them, I hope it is done in a constructive way.

It is easy to be mad at the homeless.  They are a nuisance and some are even dangerous. But we should remember many have just fallen on bad times and need a helping hand.  Other cities, find ways to try and hide them, I hope our city finds a way to help them out off the street through education, employment opportunities, and for those who need it, substance abuse rehabilitation.  I imagine this problem will only get worse as the economy gets a bit worse. 

I for one, refuse to give money to the homeless downtown because I don't want them to get used to hand-outs and pan-handling.  The City Rescue Mission, Clara White and Salzbaucher Center do a great job in helping the homeless.  I feel donating to those charities may be a bit more helpful than giving directly to pan-handlers.

[downtownjag]

Stephendare, thanks for the response.  Who does the successor of Wanda Lanier work for?  Is it a government entity?  And Ale Castro, again, a gov agency?  Thanks for the invite, I will email you, I would love to attend the meetings.

[downtownjag]

Perhaps the only reason they are preceived as a problem is because they are the only real residents of downtown.  if jax had a stronger residential presence downtown, there would be a minimal impact on our perception of the problem.

What an irritating and uneducated statement. 

[sheclown]

and day labor is drying up.

[chipwich]

I wasn't aware of homeless shelter policies.  It's pretty ridiculous that their policies may actually be hindering the homeless from turning around their lives. 

Perhaps a few simple changes in their rules could go a long way to helping get many back on their feet.  It's tough out there and I imagine many of these people could use all of the help they can get.

[02roadking]

Meeting Notice

Next Sheriff's Advisory Council (ShAdCo) Meeting

January 6, 2009   
Mark Your Calendar!

The next meeting of the Sheriff's Advisory Council (ShAdCo) is scheduled for Wednesday, January 21 at 9:30 a.m. at the Modis Building, 1 Independent Dr., 2nd Floor, Conference Room A.

The Sheriff's Advisory Council is a forum for citizens to have direct communication with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office to address public safety issues in Jacksonville neighborhoods.

If you are interested in attending this meeting, please RSVP via email to info@downtownjacksonville.org.

[Shwaz]

Umm what "city" doesn't have homeless or even a lot of homeless?

It's warm here and downtown is the perfect place to set up camp. Plenty of parks and business people to panhandle + shelters - army/ navy surplus - public parks and missions. Easy access to to drugs and all the bodegas with the very best choices of malt liquor.

The rest of Jax is suburban sprawl. They're not going to migrate to subdivisions and start sleeping in culdesacs.

Just ignore them or

Rent an old school bus
Make a sign that reads "free newports, colt 45 and moon pies"
Collect as many as possible
Drive them to Atlanta and drop them off.

[Tripoli1711]

Shwaz.. thats not a bad idea.  Only trouble is if I saw it I'd probably hop on, trade my newports for someone's moon pies and find myself in Atlanta before I knew it.

[Shwaz]

Only trouble is if I saw it I'd probably hop on

me too - I'd take my girlfriend and we could visit the Aqurium and maybe Six Flags. Pocket a couple moon pies for lunch... then hitch are way back at the end of the weekend.

It'd be pretty cheap all around.