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kylejack

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Posts posted by kylejack

  1. I got an answer about Salvation Army charging:

    For those men experiencing homelessness and looking for a place to eat, shower and sleep, our emergency shelter called Red Shield Lodge at the Harbor Light Center is open to receive them. During their stay a the emergency shelter, men have the opportunity to meet with case managers and are encouraged to transition to the Harbor Light program where they will work on the underlying issue that causes their homelessness. 

    Men who choose to stay at the Red Shield Lodge longer than two weeks without entering Harbor Light's rehabilitation program are charged a nominal fee. The purpose of the fee is not to generate revenue, rather it is intended to be an incentive toward rehabilitation and stabilization. Men who participate in the Harbor Light Center rehabilitation program are not charged a fee to participate.

    • Like 1
  2. Does anyone know the actual terms for staying at the salvation army?  I've had a few people approach me asking for money saying that only the first night is free and they need $5/night after that

    That sounds believable. Many of the shelters have a small fee. Still, I think donating the money directly to charities is safer than giving it to someone on the street who is battling a substance abuse problem.

    • Like 1
  3. After reading this, I don't believe that you have been to Chicago.  To suggest that the homeless problem along Main Street in Houston is in anyway similar to the homeless problem along Michigan Ave is ridiculous (hint -- there isn't a problem along the Magnificent Mile unless you include human statues that go home every night).  

    If you'll read my post again, you'll see I never mentioned homeless. Most panhandlers in Houston and elsewhere are not homeless.

    You, like others in this thread, are conflating panhandling with homelessness. Some panhandlers are homeless, but most are not, and it's more about substance abuse than homelessness.

  4. Again, we are talking about completely different things. Public urination is a crime that can be enforced on, panhandling is free speech that cannot. You can't just go down and clear out all the panhandlers. People can only be enforced on when they're actually breaking laws.

    • Like 1
  5. This is what I mean by overblown... people getting paranoid about someone asking for money. Simply tell them no and keep walking, the vast majority leave it at that. The 5% is the type of thing you're referring to, like stealing sodas and harassing people on patios. There's laws against that, and the police enforce when they can.

  6. you're literally out of touch if you dont think theres not a issue. I work in the health care field day in and day out and work with numerous mental health care facilities and own a decent business myself. Theres issues with the homeless/pan handlers that need to be addressed. I am in no way saying lets throw them all in jail or some other bogus, im saying that theres needs to be ways to reform the way we look at them. We need to create more shelters for them so that the ones that really do want want to get help can. As a city we can not continue to look at the homeless people as its not a issue and simply glance past it. Some of these homeless people have serious mental conditions and which law enforcement and others need to be better trained for.

     

    We need to have a better law enforcement presence Main like more bicycle cops and better lightening which the above poster said is being addressed. Im not saying that we need to exterminate the homelss or whatever you're trying to twist my words to, im saying its a PROBLEM ON HAND. We as a city can not stop overlooking it. That stretch on main from bell all the way to rusk is the worst stretch after 8pm and ive had buddys who are cops saying theres always numerous robbery and theft but they simply dont have the resources.

     

    Most of the panhandlers aren't homeless, they're people with homes who have substance abuse problems. Violent crime in Downtown is actually quite rare, probably partly because of all the police cameras in Downtown. It's true that HPD is understaffed right now due to budget problems. We probably have to either fix the pension problems or raise taxes.

  7. I like the activity, but wish there were more dive bars and live music places. My band used to have some fun shows at Dean's and now Dean's is a swanky bar. I think Downtown bars would have more staying power if they made Main like a 6th Street instead of clubs and restaurants opening only to close a couple years later. We need more live music in these places!

    Nightingale Room has some cool shows.

    • Like 2
  8. go to the bell station nd hangout there for couple minutes on any given evening or day and you'll even see what im talking about there. You'll see fights in the parking lot adjacent, you'll see people with legit issues causing havoc at the stations and dont get me started on the "central" station stop. Theres legit people out there who need help who have psy problems, i fully understand that. I own a Medical business and work with a bunch of Psy clinics and partial hospital programs and if they have problems then we need to definitely give them whatever help we can and we're failing as a city by not issueing that help.

     

    BUT im not talking about the people who have schizoaffective, type 1 bipolar or who have manic episodes, im talking about the pill pushers and drug addicts that make up the large portion of main street. It is very very uncomfortable for a family to be walking down those blocks, and yes we all know all downtowns have bums but that part is EXTREMELY BAD. If you want to make Greenstreet a retail hub you gotta tackle the homeless population there. its a simple fact, you think some chick is going spend a thousand dollars at a retail store and wanna be harrased by people the second she walks out? Cmon guys jesus get real with yourselves.

     

    Its a problem that we as a city have just put on the rear mirror and pretend doesnt exist. its time to get real with ourselves

    Go check out the Magnificent Mile in Chicago. Lots of high end stores, and plenty of panhandlers. All cities deal with this problem, and there's no law you can pass to prevent people from asking someone a question on a public sidewalk. We have the First Amendment, after all.

    • Like 1
  9. Do you live downtown?

    I do. Unfortunately, it's not "someone"........

    More often than not on a 10 block walk, I will get asked for money, sometimes 2 or three times on the same walk, day in, and day out. Day after day after day After day after day. Some are passive. Others are quite aggressive. One was pissing on the side of a building at the corner of Lamar and Fannin while asking for money. Another pissing on a garbage can at a bus stop.

    how about riding up behind you on a bike on the sidewalk and then cutting immediately in front of you, stopping, blocking your way, and asking for money. When you way "no", set aside to get around him, and continue to walk he rides along beside you continuing to beg for money. Now add your wife or girlfriend the the equation. Sit on a sidewalk bench or plaza. Enjoy the sun. Any bets on how long it will take before some addict or alcoholic sits down and asks for money. See, they need to get to (name a city) for a job but they have no money. They have the job offer right here in their pocket. Blah, blah, blah.

    Day after day after day.

    Do you live downtown?

    Yes, I lived downtown at St Germain for 7 years until moving to Montrose last year, and I don't own a car, so I was a frequent pedestrian. Every time I would simply say no and keep walking. Almost every single one just went about their business and asked the next person. The few that didn't would just say, "Aw come on man, you can afford it, bla bla bla"

    The fact of the matter is that asking people for money is protected free speech. They're allowed to do it, and the police can't make them leave public property. The only exception is that there's a city ordinance that they can't bug people on patios.

    I'll let you in on a little secret: The best way to get rid of them is to simply say no. Don't say you don't have any spare change, don't say you're in a hurry, just say No. It doesn't provide any opportunity for reply or negotiation. Just one word: No.

    • Like 2
  10. I am really hoping that Greenstreet doesn't turn into little more than an outdoor food court. While there is nothing wrong with this business and I certainly wish them well, downtown needs dry goods/clothing stores more than anything else at this point. I was hopeful that Greenstreet would bring in some clothing merchants: national chains and independents. How about something like a Stag Provisions?

    Anyway, I wish this new waffle place the best. Hopefully the next several leasing announcements are for clothing stores.

    Well, they have BCBG and Forever 21. Lids didn't work out.

  11. I assume it's also illegal to loiter at a convenience store, since they are required to have a "No Loitering" sign up.

    They could be arrested for trespassing if they refused to leave their property, but the public sidewalk is fair game.

  12. You want to revitalize main st...start cracking down on, panhandle, lottering.., and other crap that makes it a uncomfortable place to be..

     

    Loitering is only illegal in Houston for prostitution. Panhandling is protected free speech. As long as they're not bugging people on patios they are allowed to do it.

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