by Darnell Boyd
Why are the police writing tickets and taking tents when there aren’t enough shelter beds and apartments to put people in? The tent takers are exposing the homeless folks to the elements. We all know what happens when unhoused people are exposed to cold air, cold rain, and a hot sun: they get sick and have to go to the emergency room. Those who are elderly will not survive that long out there, and the city has to pick up the tab and charge it to the taxpayers. My suggestion is just to leave the damn tents alone. Help find them housing first, be humane about this situation and stop treating people without shelter worse than dogs. The same compassion that you show to your family? Show it to strangers, and your neighbors, and cut that Not In My Backyard stuff out! When will we learn from our mistakes?