what ever happens with the mall i hope there is 24hour security and cameras like citygarden . really need it at the west side of the mall starting at 15Th so many drunks hang out there now .just walk by at noon today was full of drunks .not a good look for the city
I used to walk through that section of the mall daily and had friendly relations with the people on the benches. I was, in fact, sort of mugged there only to be rescued by the very same 'drunks' you mention. They occupy the mall. They see what is happening, are generally nice, and occasionally save people from unfortunate events.
The Gateway Mall should be a place for people in addition to sculptures and water-filled crosswalks.
Stop and talk to them. Learn some names. Remember they are people too. Not all people are pretty, but all people should be welcome in public spaces.
Some of my favorite St. Louis people are drunks in our parks. Give them a cigarette, say sorry if you don't have one. They are human beings, too. It only takes a few bad friends and the wrong women and you could be living on the streets as well.
Doug wrote:Some of my favorite St. Louis people are drunks in our parks. Give them a cigarette, say sorry if you don't have one. They are human beings, too. It only takes a few bad friends and the wrong women and you could be living on the streets as well.
Doug wrote:Some of my favorite St. Louis people are drunks in our parks. Give them a cigarette, say sorry if you don't have one. They are human beings, too. It only takes a few bad friends and the wrong women and you could be living on the streets as well.
I'm with Doug on this. I run and walk downtown on a daily basis and have had many interactions with our local "clochards". Many of our street people are really nice human beings that just ran out of options, sometimes just sh*t out of luck. For a man it can take hooking up with "the wrong woman" but of course it can happen vice versa just as well. A little compassion goes a long way. To call Doug a misonygist is simply ridiculous.
The Count wrote:I'm with Doug on this. I run and walk downtown on a daily basis and have had many interactions with our local "clochards". Many of our street people are really nice human beings that just ran out of options, sometimes just sh*t out of luck. For a man it can take hooking up with "the wrong woman" but of course it can happen vice versa just as well. A little compassion goes a long way. To call Doug a misonygist is simply ridiculous.
Between advocating hollering at women for their assets and blaming them for being down and out, it's not ridiculous to ask. Sorry.
lukethedrifter wrote:
Between advocating hollering at women for their assets and blaming them for being down and out, it's not ridiculous to ask. Sorry.
No reason to be sorry. But please, explain.
shadrach wrote:to paraphrase the old saying, 'choose your friends wisely.' And your women.
Are you people off your rocker? The wrong women -- or men -- being those which will take you to the cleaners. You could find some of these at any bar anywhere. The wrong friends, being those that introduce you to these people -- and laugh at your expense. The point is that many are not always very far from being on the street and many explanations exist for why that happens. Maybe their fault or not, don't treat them like subhuman as they could have been your neighbor a year or two ago. Or fought overseas and suffering some trauma. Who knows? I find it somewhat insane that, in this day, people could be callous to the homeless. The economic collapse has shown clearly how markets fail leaving people out of work through no actions of their own, but rather greed and corruption. And yeah recessions have occurred before. So please drop the Reaganite they're bums angle because it no longer has applicability (if it ever did).
I've never gone out of my way to be callous to a homeless person and I've never initiated any negative interaction. That said, I don't appreciate being asked for money while walking down the street and if someone's aggressive about it, won't hesitate to tell someone that.
I've only had a few aggressive panhandlers. But I think this may have to do with your expressions when you interact with them. Usually I will walk closer to them and engage in conversation instead of acting like I want nothing to do with them. If someone is aggressive, yeah, I will do the same thing. Though if you "get in their face" acting like you are not afraid, or that you are on the same level, then it might be different. It's about respect. Act as they are like anyone else.
If we want "bums" off the Gateway Mall then we need USES around the mall which are not office space that becomes vacant at 5PM. If no one else uses the land then well others will move in. NELC also needs to go and we need affordable housing too. It wouldn't be a bad idea to hire these guys for grass cutting of LRA property either. Hell, give them an LRA house so long as they fix it up. I bet quite a few of them have experience with the building trades.
Holy crap...just saw the idea for the mini golf on the Gateway Mall...
That's awesome...hope they include it in the plans...
And, yes, please give Mr. Cassilly some room to play on the Mall...
And, re the homeless discussion...I have no doubt most of them are nice ppl...and many have just struck out...but Im going to be completely honest...For the time being I work in retail mgmt...can be stressful especially when "conversations" about a store issue lead to me becoming the cause of all that is wrong with world...whatever...its part of the job...but when I walk from my car to my place and pass a group of ppl who have just enjoyed another day lounging and enjoying the weather MY BLOOD BOILS...I know that street ppl do not (in the aggregate) have an easy life at all...but these folks have fallen into a cycle of absolute non-productivity that would drive anyone CRAZY...and then some will see me as having done something wrong for having studied in school and worked hard in my career and then enjoying the fruits of my labors...When approached for something by an obviously homeless person I usually respond with a kind but firm no...And have on occassion asked how their day went now that Im home from work where I had to earn money to pay for the free crap and handouts theyve scored that day to get by...
I have worked many years in N St. Louis helping ppl who take steps to help themselves and will never stop lifting a reaching hand...And I know homeless all have a story to tell and many would make me cry...And there are mentally ill...tragic...But there are some who have stopped reaching out for help and they know it. They are the problem.
Anyways...the point to all of this is seriously...is there any way to get these bums to grab a broom, pick up trash, MOVE and do something..if I were mayor I would have all the compassion in the world for these folks BUT I wold not have them just sitting on their butts and causing problems...There has to be a way to expand St. Patricks Center and then require street ppl to work at SOMETHING or else be bussed somewhere else to sit and make up bullsht all day. sheesh lol
Mini-golf --> fences and non-constant use. Skate parks can be used any time. Mini-golf shuts down daily and perhaps seasonally. This is a public space we want people in year round.
^Did you see the proposal? I didn't notice any fences...Not sure that a skate park, mini-golf and a seasonal ice rink wouldn't all fit somewhere on the Mall...
^not sure of the link, but if you read back a few pages in discussion, someone postd a proposed map and digital rendering of the mini-golf idea from the SPACE architect ppl...
