Even after living in Oregon, off and on, for 30 years, I still tend to drive through a few towns there without looking right or left. One of these is Grants Pass, which has, as the Oregon Encyclopedia delicately puts it,
a troubled social history, with outbreaks of religious intolerance and white supremacist activity. The Ku Klux Klan was active throughout Oregon in the 1920s, with an estimated Grants Pass membership in the hundreds. The Klan had a short-lived resurgence in Grants Pass in the 1980s and 1990s, and the area was targeted for an Aryan Nationsā organizing drive, canceled after an anti-racism protest in the city drew 1,500 marchers in 1995. Militia activity spilled over into Grants Pass as well, most recently involving demonstrations by the Oath Keepers group.
Whatever its image may be, the city in 2024 bids fair to become the nationwide face of non-hospitality. Today, it will come before the Supreme Court to defend an āanti-campingā law designed (in the words of one of its sponsors) āto make it uncomfortable enough for [homeless people] in our city so they will want to move on down the road.ā
If discomfort was their aim, the āanti-campingā ordinancesā authors achieved it. It is currently unlawful in Grants Pass to be anywhere in public with ābedding, sleeping bag, or other material used for bedding.ā āCampersā donāt need to erect tents or shelters; merely holding a blanket violates the law. There can be no sleeping in public parks or other public property, and cars cannot be parked for more than two hours in public parks after midnight. No one can sleep in āany pedestrian or vehicular entrance to public or private property abutting a public sidewalk.ā Anyone found ācampingā or sleeping can be āimmediately removedā from the premises and subject to a fine of $75 (for merely sleeping) or $295 (for ācampingā). These fines are bolstered by hefty ācollection feesā if not paid promptly. Though the fines are ācivil,ā a homeless person with two unpaid fines may be subject to an āexclusion orderāāand may be fined and jailed for violating that order.
Homeless people in Grants Pass might try to find somewhere to shelter legally on a chilly night, but that quest is problematic. The city doesnāt maintain public shelters; it has a āsobering centerā where intoxicated people can sober up, a temporary shelter for homeless youths, and a āwarming centerā that operates only on nights that fall below freezing (and doesnāt feature beds). Meanwhile, a church-supported āGospel Rescue Missionā allows homeless individuals to stayāif they agree to work six days a week at shelter-assigned jobs, not to seek other employment while staying there, and not to smoke, drink, or engage in āintimate relationships.ā Women may stay at the Mission with their children; men may not bring their children with them. Residents must also attend Christian services twice each weekday and once on Sunday.
Thereās only so many times you can step on a human turd in the middle of the sidewalk downtown before you agree with Grantās Pass.
Removed by mod
Removed, civility.
How many homeless people are you inviting to live in your home bro?
Human turd on sidewalk (homelessness) is a symptom of a larger problem, making poor people illegal will make the problem worse.
so, if I lose my job and my house, I should go to jailā¦?
No, if youāre roaming the streets on drugs, you should go to jail.
But if make illegal, problem go away, yes? Tahtās how law works? We should make sick and hungry people illegal next. Bam, just solved illness AND world hunger.
First they came for the Homeless. And I did not speak out Because I was not a Homeless . Then they came for the Sick . And I did not speak out Because I was not a Sick. Then they came for the Mentally Ill. And I did not speak out Because I was not a Mentally Ill. Then they came for the Trans. And I did not speak out Because I was not a Trans. Then they came for me. And there was no one left To speak out for me.
Typical liberal/Democrat reply. āLetās just keep complaining, and offer NO answers!ā Forced intervention is the only way to get those off the streets that donāt want to go, and donāt want to get off drugs. Sorry, but the days of āletās just try and help them by giving them space!ā are over.
Hereās a solution, tax the rich.
Canāt you watch where you step?
AGREED! We should do absolutely NOTHING about the Mental Health aspect that causes things like Turds on Sidewalks and Mass School Shootings and instead put your Neighbors in PRISON for the Crime of EXISTING!
Here we goā¦ do you REALLY think those people roaming around are just going to voluntarily commit themselves to a mental health facility? Most of them are on drugs, they want ZERO help. Forced intervention is the only way to get them off the streets. But, liberals/Democrats will disagree with that and weāll just keep going in circles, and NOTHING gets done.
Shitting on the sidewalk should be illegal. I donāt think sleeping should be illegalā¦ What are homeless people supposed to do, never go to sleep? Thatās literally impossible
And this is why nothing is getting done in California. Liberals/Democrats want the homeless to be able to sleep/live anywhere theyā¦who cares? Meanwhile, a homeless lady literally just overdosed and died in front of a Walgreenās where I live. But yet, those poor homeless!
I donāt think they should overdose and die either. I support trying to prevent that from happening.
And I wouldnāt say homeless people should necessarily be able to sleep ANYWHERE, but they should be allowed to sleep somewhere.
If they arenāt allowed to sleep in public, what are they supposed to do, trespass and sleep on someoneās private property? That seems worse to me.
Maybe the carrot is better than the stick. Maybe honey is better than vinegar.