by Jack
When it comes to the homeless, Chico has a serious conundrum. On the progressive side, we have those who demand we give more. They want more low income houses, more shelters, more medical services, more food, more clothing, more money, and whatever else they can give, bicycles, spare change, etc. There’s never enough when it comes to giving, which often comes in the form of (other people’s) tax money. You notice all the big money comes from taxpayers, not directly from the progressives pockets.
It’s hard to have a rational conversation with this group of givers because they are so emotionally invested. To offer an alternative is to begin the discussion under a cloud of extreme prejudice. But, we need to talk about it, so here goes.
The overwhelming majority of [so-called] homeless are not from our area. They come here because we are a charitable town and living here is good. Bidwell Park, the downtown Plaza park, nearby shelters, so many free things for the local indigents or those just passing through. However, when we are tasked to care for out-of-area homeless, it’s unrealistic and our local resources become severely stressed.
This is what we are currently seeing in Chico. The progressive’s solution is not very creative, they say just give more, build more, until everybody is happy. It’s the politically correct thing to do, but it’s not logical, because we have [finite] resources, not infinite! Its getting us no
where, except further down the rabbit hole.
What happens to our long term Chico needy when the young, able-bodied travelers overwhelm the safety nets and clean us out? Sadly, these poor and helpless must then stand in long line with those pouring into Chico looking to take advantage of our charity. How can our liberals not see this is what’s going on and how wrong it is? Why should they (local poor) lose resources diverted to those living a [lifestyle] of choice? And by [choice] I mean those people that are on the run, prostitutes, druggies, professional travelers, or just plain bums; they are people who have no trouble finding their way to Chico, but they can’t find [a] j-o-b.
The answer to our homeless may not be as difficult as we think, however it will require a multi-prong effort, involving the cooperation of our local shelters, the police, and the community in general. IDEA: We register only those people eligible for assistance and give them an ID card good for 1 year. Otherwise they must wait 1 year before they can apply, unless they have proof of residency that they have been here for at least 3 years. That’s it!
The recipient must have a qualifying Chico ID card or no entry to our shelters and no more free stuff. Just because they arrived here on the freight train is not justification for free stuff. They can just keep on travelling.
We’ve seen the results from trying it the [progressive’s way] and our poor have suffered and so has our community. Now, we have bums bathing in the downtown fountain, turning and park benches into permanent campsites. Petty theft and all sorts of car break-ins have surged. Bike thefts have never been worse. There been a surge in vandalism, a surge in stabbings, and tons of trash dumped in Bidwell Park! Why? Because bums heard about us and they are coming here for whatever they can take, legally or otherwise.
Enough is enough. It’s time to direct our charity to its intended target, so it will not become a liability.
If those progressives don’t feel that there are enough tax $$ being provided for homeless “benefits,” there’s nothing stopping them from opening their OWN wallets or bringing the homeless into their OWN home for an extended stay . . . . .
Having lived in downtown for more than 20 years I’ve observed no change in the number of transient/homeless people in Chico. I have noticed an increase in, what appears to be, methamphetamine use.
Same as it ever was…
Pete, you must not be paying close attention, because the transient population has swelled. The numbers are up over 200% in the last 3 years. You need only look at the people hanging out in the downtown Plaza, steps of the Council Chambers, behind the CARD center. I’ve actively researched this, talked to the bums, investigated bike thefts, etc. It really is much worse. The shelters are at 100% occupancy.
Do you live downtown? I see same people everyday. Not a problem for me. And, btw, you must not have been paying close attention over three years ago when people were hanging out in those same places. I’m in a feisty mood today watch out! Lol
“I’m in a feisty mood today watch out! Lol”
Feisty is good, an indicator of energy and so lets put it to good use.
There are creeks and parks that need continuous clearing, trash removed, stolen bike parts that need recovery. fesses and urine washed from alleys and sides of building. So lets put that energy to use, and get out there and clean, lord knows the city would benefit from less debris and a good scrubbing would be a good thing also.
Even a once a year clean up of Comanche creek is not enough these past years. The last I one I noted had more trash bins and uncounted bags of waste then the year prior, all from the banks of the creek and in the creek itself.
Business along its banks have the need to install bars on the their windows. The Post Office forced in locking its doors in the evening hours at the PO box annex next to the park, none of this speaks to the positive results of helping people break a cycle, it just means we have more people of a criminal nature willing to break in”,
As Jack puts it ‘Enough is enough. It’s time to direct our charity to its intended target, so it will not become a liability’ charity is intended to help people willing to help themselves, not just put out a free lunch sign, and then feel all warm and fuzzy inside because you made the sign.
Chico has done a lot to help the areas homeless, but those who have really been helped get off the cycle of poverty are not the ones causing the problems, and all this current misdirected “Shotgun” heartfelt charity is causing a swelling of more violence and filth,
Chico is not helping anyone by allowing people to maintain a criminal and slothful lifestyle. Nor does it seem Chico gets any kind of thankful effort from those they are trying to assist , because there is never enough when your intent is to just take, just more expectations of easy pickings from a city that offers entitlements that other cities won’t and don’t reward them for their sloth and filth.