San Francisco auditorium uses chain saws nightly to disperse homeless

[Onkel Neal]

Haha, this is great.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/02...ess/?hpt=hp_c3

Between 20 and 40 homeless had been hanging out and sleeping at Civic Center Park, and according to the newspaper, it was a source of frustration for police, the mayor, the city Recreation and Parks Commission and the concert promotion outfit, Another Planet Entertainment, which operates the auditorium. To combat this scourge, Another Planet began using the building's outside speakers to blare a cacophony of the world's most jarring noises - chainsaws, motorcycles, jackhammers, an aircraft carrier alarm - in hopes of shooing the homeless off of its stoop.

Don't get me wrong, I understand that homeless need a place to stay and I sympathize with that. I just never accepted that they can camp out wherever they want in public places with their crap and beggary. Never understood why anyone would want to, either. If I'm homeless, I'm looking for a less public place so people won't stare at me or throw things at me.

Quality of life citations?

The whiff of urine in the street, the drunk on the sidewalk, and the aggressive panhandler are constant reminders that San Francisco can't seem to get a handle on the challenge of deadbeats who loiter on the city's sidewalks. If we forget, we're reminded by tourists who came to what they thought was a world-class city.
"How can you expect people to pay to come into a city that is awash in fifth and slime?" one wrote me last year. "No thank you. I will stay as far away from the city as possible."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...A5T.DTL&ao=all

Quality of life citations?

Town regularly scrubs up the homeless to make it more pleasant visually for the tourists, there is little they can do about the proffesional beggars who swarm in though.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Tribesman

Town regularly scrubs up the homeless to make it more pleasant visually for the tourists, there is little they can do about the proffesional beggars who swarm in though.

Baltimore scrubs up the homeless for the tourist dollars. As far as professional beggers, here in my county, a law was passed stating there will be a fine of $500 and some jail time for begging. The day the law was enacted was the last day I had seen a professional begger in the county. It was a needed law because the beggers were getting overly aggressive and demanding of money. Some getting physical. I watched one professional begger years ago clock out at 5 pm in his beggers spot and drive off in his shiny Ford LTD.

As far as professional beggers, here in my county, a law was passed stating there will be a fine of $500 and some jail time for begging.

Laws are only as good as the level of enforcement, some days the guards round them all up somedays they don't.
Though they are pretty good and quick if people or a business complain about it.

[Jimbuna]

I must admit to having a high tolerance threshold for them unless ordered to clear out a specific area in the city.

The thing that struck me was the fact they usually smoked and had a pet/companion in attendance which usually looked well groomed.....two things that cost money

[the_tyrant]

A few years back, I once read that a marketing consultant for microsoft quite his job to become a begger. He started begging in beijing's busiest district (where at least a million people pass through a day).
After a while for learning the ropes, he made more per month than he did as a consultant.

[Stealhead]

I tend not to trust any beggar mainly due to the fact that in most areas there is more than one charity around that will give them what they need I live in a very rural county in FL and there are at least 4 or 5 places to get shelter and/or food.That simple fact tells me that most beggars are complete or partial lairs either they are full of it or they are laying about what they really want your money for (drugs or booze).Most every homeless/street person knows the ropes in the area they are in so they can get help when needed but they can not get help to buy drugs or alcohol so if they are asking for help it stands to reason they are not usually needing the money for a good reason.

I sometimes for the sake of entertainment if some guy asks me for money and has some story about that or the other In stead of money I will say "How about I take to that restaurant over yonder and buy you a meal?" I have offered this many times over the years and only twice did the person say yes.

Another good test is to ask them if they know where the local homeless shelter/food bank is if they say no they are very likely lying.

Homeless persons is a tricky issue because you do not want them just anywhere and they can easily be the victims of crimes when just out on the street or be tempted to commit crime themselves not to mention the public health issues.I think a good portion of them in the US are migrant they flock towards the places that are most friendly.

[Platapus]

The title of this thread is a bit misleading, don't you think?

In any case, instead of sounds of chainsaws, why not simply broadcast political speeches? That would clear me out in double time!!

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Tribesman

Laws are only as good as the level of enforcement, some days the guards round them all up somedays they don't.
Though they are pretty good and quick if people or a business complain about it.

The enforcement has been very good. I can say with certainty the problem has been resolved.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

I must admit to having a high tolerance threshold for them unless ordered to clear out a specific area in the city.

The thing that struck me was the fact they usually smoked and had a pet/companion in attendance which usually looked well groomed.....two things that cost money

Jim, these are the professional beggers. I witnessed a professional begger. He worked his spot. At 1700 he mentally punched out his time clock for the day and drove off in his shiny Ford LTD. Begging was and is a form of supplemental income.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Jim, these are the professional beggers. I witnessed a professional begger. He worked his spot. At 1700 he mentally punched out his time clock for the day and drove off in his shiny Ford LTD. Begging was and is a form of supplemental income.

Oh I know what you meant Chris but I've honestly not witnessed that in my area...now London (training videos) is another world entirely.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Don't get me wrong, I understand that homeless need a place to stay and I sympathize with that. I just never accepted that they can camp out wherever they want in public places with their crap and beggary. Never understood why anyone would want to, either. If I'm homeless, I'm looking for a less public place so people won't stare at me or throw things at me.

Quality of life citations?

When I was homeless I stayed at the Rescue Mission and got into the Shelter as fast as I could. Four hundred roommates, sure, but a roof, a bed, security and people who were willing to go out and do stuff, including work

[AVGWarhawk]

Honestly Jim, I was flabbergasted as I watched him drive off in his car! In my area the begging was prevalent at almost all major intersections. These folks were getting very aggressive and indignant. I give the county police 100% credit for handling the issue and continued enforcement of the law concerning begging.

Baltimore city is another story. There is a really neat trick the folks in Baltimore do. At a stop light a kid or adult will run out with a bucket and squeegee. They clean your windshield fully expecting money. Now keep in mind the drivers do not ask to have the windshield cleaned. If money is not handed over the car is spit on or hit with the squeegee.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Honestly Jim, I was flabbergasted as I watched him drive off in his car! In my area the begging was prevalent at almost all major intersections. These folks were getting very aggressive and indignant. I give the county police 100% credit for handling the issue and continued enforcement of the law concerning begging.

Baltimore city is another story. There is a really neat trick the folks in Baltimore do. At a stop light a kid or adult will run out with a bucket and squeegee. They clean your windshield fully expecting money. Now keep in mind the drivers do not ask to have the windshield cleaned. If money is not handed over the car is spit on or hit with the squeegee.

Had that happen to me in the UK down south...I lowered my window and informed them I wouldn't be paying for a service I hadn't asked for and luckily (I suppose) they moved on to the next vehicle.

Pretty lucky I suppose because if they'd attempted to damage my car the buna short fuse would more than likely have been ignited and I'd have ended up in police custody...a busmans holiday one could say