TGM

Yup, they come in, do "G_d's work" then leave. What cracks me up is that all of these groups are so focused on hunger, when it's conflict resolution skills/needs that really need to be taught/met. That being said, even though I lived near the squalor I was opposed to the city feeding ordinance. While I hated to see the trash and the clueless volunteers contributing to it I was opposed to giving the city the power to further regulate who can and who cannot feed the "homeless". The city has existing laws they choose not to enforce. Make do with those before you ask for even more power.

I'm still hoping that they'll include arms and a face like the signs depict, as a play against the stereotype undertones they subtly depict.

Most don't really care how the surrounding communities feel about their operations. Those that do engage do so only for the purpose of identifying the key "trouble makers". Any sort of compromise will consist of "we'll take it under advisement", "we'll look into it", or a volunteer commitment to the community they have no plans on keeping. Cloudbreak had promised Midtown 80 hours of volunteer work a month from its residents at the Days Inn. I guess they must count all the panhandling that occurs outside their location as part of that 80 hours.

I belive the correct term in a high-density environment like Midtown is: "Townhomeless" "Midriseless" is also appropriate. Downtown prefers the term "Loftless" to call attention to its historic buildings. In Upper Kirby and the Galleria the term is "Highriseless", "Condoless", or "Penthouseless" In the HAHC controlled sections of the Heights, you must first present your idea of what you feel your home should look like before you can call yourself homeless.

Zuccotti park?

Must be wine-related. http://www.kctv5.com/story/19134939/police-respond-to-two-separate-walmart-bomb-threats

Yes, but the untold story is that Sam Walton in a Galt-like move visited the steel mill and convinced the owner to quit and join him up in the Ozarks.

Sunnyside would be happy to have these. Quit moaning.

So the new meme should be that Wal-Mart closed down an American Steel Mill and built a store that imports steel bicycles made by Chinese kids beaten twice daily.

Houston has had a net positive influx from other cities and it is growing faster based on the poor economy. The personal observation is the number of cars with out of state plates parked outside of places like Pacesetters, and the various bunkhouses in Midtown. Same here. No one is going to freeze in this city. If the forecast even gets close to 32F you know it's going to be the Channel 2 BIG STORY featuring the usual shots of blanket loading, command centers, sand checks, and over the top pleas to stay off the freeways!

Like any other job in the world when your boss has weak knees you know he or she may not always have your back depending on the issue and resulting media attention. Because of law enforcement apathy, pressure from homeless groups, and Houstons economy, we have become a sanctuary city for the homeless.

Honestly I think a good portion of the problem is that HPD pales in comparison to Austin, Dallas, Phoenix, etc PD. There are issues, some serious in Austin, but I have never experienced the "why are you wasting my time with this" attitude the I get from HPD. We do have some good officers in Houston, and when I do find them and talk to them I find that they are usually working towards a different career. (law school is usually what I hear the most) The other problem is that spineless leaders have been so bullied by homeless groups that they're afraid to act. So these leaders sit stunned and try to convince everyone that not asking the homeless to leave is the same as being compassionate. Now if you happen to object and suggest the homeless move elsewhere they say "well you oppose having your taxes raised to house them" Damn straight I oppose it! I don't go to work to pay for someone else's home. "But they just need to get back on their feet" Yeah, and the first thing they do when back on their feet is look for a place to sit.

I did not realize it was a brownfield, which now makes me want to support them even more. Brownfields are the liability hot potato that no one wants to face risks on. Can't really build homes on them, forget community gardens or parks, shopping centers are pretty much it.

Pretty much the reason I left. I purchased in 2000, and I figure I must have made at least one call per day to HPD, Precinct 5, or Metro PD for the next 12 years. Adjusting for vacation and a few severe weather days that's over 4000 calls for the aforementioned issues and they (MMD, Tirz, CoH) continue to keep their heads in the sand about this. But don't ever complain to the MMD, they don't really want to hear it, much too busy building parks the homeless will enjoy.

Will the HAHC mandate that the new bridge be constructed using only vintage material and engineering methods? Sure, they don't actually have a say in the matter, but you know..

When the "always behind on their taxes" organization known as Cloudbreak was attempting to convert the old Days Inn property on Main to an SRO for homeless vets only (at the time) local community members contacted Metro as this was across from their Wheeler station. Metro passed on weighing in on it. It turns out that one of the people behind the Houston end of the project was married to the then Metro CEO's daughter and had skin in the game to put it lightly. This same person is now running for the Harris County Constable Precinct 1 seat. This person is Alan Rosen.

It must be part of their diverse neighbor initiatives, because a neighborhood without disorder is a boring neighborhood.

I would be curious what percentage of property in Midtown is exempt from taxation given the ever increasing number of charities and non-profits that are drawn to the area. Actually I'm not all that curious, I saw the writing on the wall when multiple charities and agencies made plans to move or expand their presense in Midtown and decided it was the time to cash in and leave. Many of these agencies do good work for those willing to change their lives, I just think that Midtown has crossed the tipping point as more see Midtown as the de facto zone.

So it appears that they have also purchased land on Fannin and Elgin for their Meals on Wheels distribution center. Does anyone know if this is the Midtown Spa parking lot or the property on the other side of Elgin? http://www.chron.com/business/sarnoff/article/Sarnoff-Ministry-makes-Midtown-move-3706540.php

If Shelia is serious about saving the row houses (long after the mics and cameras are gone) then she needs to whip out her checkbook and match any funds raised to preserve the homes. The one they featured looks halfway decent.

Which is why I bristle when people refer to a neighborhood as having been a _____ neighborhood until the ______ started moving in. Stupid, and even more so when it comes from the mouths of those that are merely renting rather than owning. That being said, when a politician actively attempts to preserve or restore a neighborhood based on the race they feel it belongs to, how should we label their actions? http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/housing/Land-Rush.html Which is why the Victorian elitists should be required to remove their multi-zoned A/C systems before they are allowed to rule on others architectural tastes.

Please, let's avoid "common knowledge" argument as you are seeking to modify what you previously stated as difficult, to now simply not available. Single, childless men can get "welfare" if they demonstrate a physical or mental condition that prevents them from working. The term "welfare" is used for a variety of public assistance avenues. Nowhere have I stated that it is easy for a man to receive WIC benefits. We have a greater number of people on "welfare". Those on disability have increased to record levels. Unemployment benefits now extend to 93 weeks for 22+ states, and many choose to ride it to the end. These are just a few of the stories I found regarding men that were caught gaming the system. http://www.sunjournal.com/news/lewiston-auburn/2012/05/08/lewiston-man-sentenced-jail-public-assistance-frau/1192898 http://poststar.com/news/blotter/queensbury-man-charged-in-welfare-fraud-case/article_ee1d5e8e-74f0-11e1-b737-001871e3ce6c.html http://poststar.com/news/blotter/greenwich-man-charged-in-welfare-fraud-case/article_533aef8e-7e60-11e1-8ed9-001a4bcf887a.html http://bangordailynews.com/2012/04/26/news/portland/north-berwick-man-accused-of-lying-to-get-welfare/ http://news.pioneergroup.com/bigrapidsnews/2012/06/26/welfare-fraud-case-could-head-to-trial-in-july/ http://dailyfreeman.com/articles/2012/03/03/blotter/doc4f517cfc35cbe501293608.txt?webredirect=false&refresh=no http://poststar.com/news/blotter/cambridge-man-charged-in-welfare-fraud-case/article_10775be6-5ed6-11e1-a5d5-001871e3ce6c.html http://www.wrta.com/pages/12858126.php? http://the390.com/geneva-man-charged-with-welfare-fraud/ http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120712/LOCAL07/307129938/-1/local11 http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/target-11-investigates-local-welfare-fraud/nMjc5/

Understood, but their logic is wrong. No one is trying to push them out. If you receive an offer for your home, you can accept or reject it. If your house does not meet code, and the city wants to tear it down it's not the developers fault, it's yours for choosing not to maintain it. If you owe back taxes that's also not the developers fault, it's yours for assuming you could ignore them. This sort of reminds me of the folks that blamed Metro for hitting light rail while turning left off of Main. It's always been illegal, it's just that the "enforcement" today is far less forgiving. Agreed. The problem is that there is a misplaced perception that new construction and developers is driving out long time residents. No one is forcing someone to sell a mortgage-free, well-maintained property, that is current on taxes, and other similar obligations. What puzzles me is the perception that they are being forced out by developers when it's the city and county they owe money to. Yes, property taxes do rise, but it is the government, not the private sector that makes valuation judgements. Older residents have an over-65 exemption, and I would love to see and would support further tax exemptions for houses deemed to represent significant cultural or historical value, that are lived in and maintained by a family for several generations.

100% agree. The only way to preserve is through action not inaction. I remember 5 or more years ago the very topic of the streets was on the evening news. I had (falsely) assumed that these streets had been restored and protected, but apparently that is not the case. This is pathetic. The church is private property, the streets public. Taxpayer monies should be spent on revitalizing a historic public street, rather than a private building. While both are prime examples of what happens when you defer maintainence, the onus is on the city for letting the brick streets fall into this state of disrepair. In essence, local government is the proverbial slumlord of the streets.