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A predictable result of the downtown environment created by our lunatic left city council policies. Think we should offer the homeless refuge in our city council members homes.
Whatever happened to regular police foot patrols in the downtown area? Where the officers knew the streets and shop owners of downtown?
Hopefully this starts an anti-tourist crime wave and we can have our town back at last…
Hi – I’d just like to point out the fact that the people who are panhandling or committing crimes are not necessarily homeless people. I’d also like to point out the fact that most people who are homeless are desperately trying to change their situation, and many work more than one job.
Our homeless community is comprised of many people – about 40% are veterans, and at least 39% have a serious mental illness without resources for treatment.
Full disclosure – I work at Homeward Bound where we work very hard every day to end homelessness in our community. We’ve moved over 1240 people into housing, and 89% stay housed. Why – BECA– — USE ALMOST NO ONE WANTS TO BE HOMELESS>
The real problem isn’t the homeless, it’s the transient “vacationer” kids who show up in the spring and go back home when it gets a little chilly. They have no ties to the community and thus nothing to lose by accosting tourists, each other, etc. If you are living here, with or without a permanent address, you don’t make a nuisance of yourself. If we could somehow make Asheville a less desirable vacation panhandling spot these kids would move to greener pastures.
You hit the nail on the head!!! The people (homeless or housed) that are living here are not the problem, it is the “transient visitor”. My family and I frequent Asheville often and love just hanging out at Pritchard Park with the friends that we have made there. Just this past Saturday, we were there enjoying the friendship on a beautiful day when a few loud mouth guys started their foul language and “big” talk. Please don’t judge everyone by a few people’s actions or words.
Yes, great idea! Let’s just move them out of sight. Obviously you have no idea regarding causes of homelessness and clearly do not care for your fellow man. Homelessness is a choice right? Just like homosexuality is a choice too? Grow up and read a book or do some research.
It’s easier to be judgemental than it is to be homeless.
Most of these people don’t do a damn thing to change their situation. Asheville will either fix the problem, or downtown will die.
Downtown is far from “dying”…
in fact it is about to experience a boom even bigger than the past 5 years (or so) with chain retail stores popping up like mushrooms all over town in any space that can find to replace existing businesses…
these chains will simply call up the owner of the buildings and offer them 2 or 3 times what they are currently charging for rent and out the small local businesses will go.
You say this as if the vibrancy of downtown is guaranteed. You couldn’t be farther off the mark.
Perfectly said!!!
Didn’t mean to comment on this post…sorry.
I’ve said this before. They need to clear out all the smelly bums begging for money. They obviously lost their dignity and need rehabilitation and a change of lifestyle to regain it. I embarrassed myself by taking some out-of-town friends downtown only to have them accosted by these beggars. They refuse to go downtown again.
Ditto.
Sadly, I have to agree (and I’m a liberal). I’ve been here a long time- since ’93. Back in the day, especially in the late ’90’s the bums were even worse. They would threaten you. Being a restaurant worker at the time, I had no extra money, hell I could barely afford to live on the “wages” I was getting. I got accosted every day as I walked through downtown to work. The laws against begging occurred in the early 2000’s and it did get somewhat better, at least until lately. Lately it seems the bums have ramped it back up with the drugs and drunks and gotten more hostile again.
I stay clear of town during the summer months, but it’s the tourists, not the homeless, that keep me away.
Wow – really sucks that it put you in an awkward situation with your friends. I feel horrible for you. There should be some sort of support system for people like you who have been inconvenienced by these types.
Until Asheville passes a panhandling ordinance like they did in Key West over a decade ago, it’ll only get worse. We went to Key West in 2000, and literally at every turn bums were begging us for cash and cigarettes. The city council got fed up with them, and now if you’re caught you can get up to 60 days in jail. Last time I went was probably 2008, and there were no beggars to be found anywhere. Much more relaxing town now.
Check your days, Ashe. It’s Wednesday. Unless you’ve gone Minority Report on U.S.
Yesterday was the first day, in the 15 years that I’ve lived here, that I truly felt unsafe walking around downtown in broad daylight. I don’t come to town often anymore and for good reason. Prichard park was so overrun with the sketchiest looking folks I’ve ever seen. One guy totally losing his mind doing karate moves and running around in rush hour traffic. Others harassing passers-by, catcalling, and camping out on every possible surface…not to mention driving scooters on sidewalks. As I walked along, most every doorway and bench along the streets was inhibited by more of the same. I overheard one guy yelling at a tourist to give him the to-go box he happened to be carrying in his arms as they tried to cross the street. People in need, mental illness, and the truly homeless is one thing….but what I witnessed was something else entirely…thugs being intimidating on purpose and scaring off the livelihood of downtown businesses. Next time I stay home…
On Thursday? Is this some minority report?