urbanSTL

I don't understand how giving people food is against the law. I mean, I'm impartial on this debate really, I just don't see how that could be justified. Not argueing for or against it, just trying to see how that would be done.

Shimmy wrote:I don't understand how giving people food is against the law. I mean, I'm impartial on this debate really, I just don't see how that could be justified. Not argueing for or against it, just trying to see how that would be done.

It most likely violates health codes, for one. Food is available for the homeless at specified downtown locations. No one starves.

That would make sense.

This thread concerns Lucas Park. Eliminating the homeless from Lucas Park is something constructive that we should strive for. Therefore, I will continue to participate in this thread.

You are not participating, you are simply lobbing hand grenades. The OP expressly stated his intent to not duplicate the complaintfest on the homeless thread but instead focus on constructive solutions. I agree that eliminating homelessNESS is something we should all strive for. I am well aware from previous posts that you would love to eliminate the homeless.



I hear that there are no dirty homeless or hippies in Ladue...



[/quote]

^ If this is truly your mission, then why are you calling him a close-minded elitist and tossing hand grenades back at him? Seems a bit hypocritical to me.

when biking (and taking photos saturday) I saw a few signs in windows of businesses and I jotted the site down and went to it when I got home.

www.littledeviant.com



it has a harmless game where you kill the 'sheeple' in the city.

<i>

<b>Re:Message from Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett 2007/06/20 08:36</b>

What a great challenge…thanks. It would be great to get a dialogue going about the challenges of our diverse socio-economic Downtown population. The newest Downtown residents are dealing with some of the same challenges other gentrified neighborhoods such as Soulard and Lafayette Square faced twenty years ago.



EVERYONE, including our homeless citizens, WANTS TO BE SAFE. Let’s work on this together, somehow – this is what we need to talk about. While there are some scary and dangerous people out there, not all of them are homeless, and not all of the homeless are a threat.



There are 1700 homeless people Downtown. Many of them have a mental illness or a disability. Most of them work at some kind of job. They sell beer at the ball park or clean it up after games, clean your office building, cook at restaurants we all enjoy, and stand on street corners waving advertising signs. At night a fraction of them sleep in a bed in shelters like Rev. Larry Rice’s or at Soulard’s Peter & Paul. The rest are on the street, sleeping in doorways, under vehicles, among shrubbery, on benches – anywhere. But don’t be fooled, they don’t sleep very well. The same people who scare the Loft residents also prey upon the homeless.



The City of St. Louis’ Department of Human Services coordinates the Homeless Services Network, a community-based process that provides programs for the wide ranging needs of people who live on the street. I am very proud of my city to have so many caring people at the dozens of agencies that provide services such as hot meals, shelter, clothing and counseling.



One of the newest services of the network is a 24 hour drop in center initiated by the St. Louis Office for Developmental Disabilities Resources and opening July 1 at the edge of Downtown.



The Horizon Club offers showers, bathrooms, laundry, lounge, coffee, snacks, lockers, computers, video games, movies, and transitional housing. Information is available about where to go for emergency shelters, food, clothes, employment sources, health and medical services, and more. Classes are planned on Literacy, Resumes, and Interview Skills. Art, chess, poetry, music, gardening and computer clubs are forming. Nurses from Grace Hill Health Services visit weekly, as does a substance abuse counselor.



Those of us working and volunteering at the Horizon Club have found ourselves getting to know our participants as individuals. When we encounter one of them on the street or in some of our Downtown public places, it’s like greeting a neighbor.



Get to know your Downtown homeless neighbors. Come by and visit the Horizon Club at 202 23rd Street. Volunteer opportunities are available.



For more information call Candace Ulrich (314) 249-5415.



P.S. Donations of socks and underwear is very much appreciated. We can also use towels, soap, shampoo and all personal care products. </i>



<b>http://dslra.org/component/option,com_f ... ,10/#10</b>

- No one is going to help turn Lucas Park into more of a flop house than it already is. Installing showers and bathroom in this public park would only attract more homeless and create a bigger problem for downtown residents, businesses and visitors.



- The homeless don't go hungry. It stands to reason, because they can afford alcohol, cigarettes and drugs.



- Rice a cooperating force? Uh, tell that to the homeless people he's rejected because they weren't black enough or wouldn't market for him by being a nuisance downtown to raise his image.



- If you want to help, read the 10 year plan and help to meet its goals through sanctioned agencies: http://stlcin.missouri.org/release/getp ... m?Auto=933



- The Bryant Park idea rocks! Imagine the mark the Mayor could create if he could turn this idea into fruition. There would be a lot of thankful people, and property values around this area would increase.

johnny sunshine wrote:<i>

<b>Re:Message from Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett 2007/06/20 08:36</b>

What a great challenge…thanks. It would be great to get a dialogue going about the challenges of our diverse socio-economic Downtown population.

Dear Kacie:



I stopped reading at this point. "Dialogue", "challenges", "diverse socio-economic". All politician double-speak. Real people don't use these buzzwords, Kacie. You come across as a pompous beauocratic fool.



Signed,



TCS

Sincerely, Bryant Park is an excellent model - I love that park. Will the Rockefellers kick in the funds for Lucas Park, too? Not being smart, but is there foundation offering the money to turn Lucas Park into a Bryant Park? And if they do, won't the problem just move to the other side of the library?

"Sunken Gardens"



Interesting how grand visions and places fade over time.



Neglect and lack of reasonable oversight can really be devastating, especially when they reach some scale.

Their park is completely privately funded. On their website it says "Did you know As a New Yorker, none of your tax money goes to Bryant Park. The Park is entirely financed by private money: you get it for free."

Does that mean that everyone abuses it because they don't pay for it?



Seriously, though - it is an interesting case study. However, I don't really see how any of the things Bryant Park does could not be done by the City with political will and monetary backing. It seems that there are some very large pockets or at least some mega fund raising occurring there, something Lucas Park could use in abundance.



As for rules, it seems to me that most of the big problems everyone complains about are already against posted rules / ordinances. Lack of money and will for enforcement and manpower seems to be the issue.



Private security or hiring of off-duty police seems like something that the CID could be used for. Maybe instead of the not-so-useful CID guides.



I did notice that Bryant Park provides bathrooms. I am sure that they are well maintained and monitored, which makes all the difference.

CS, good answer, I would love it if the Danforths stepped up for Lucas Park. It makes since he is Episcopalian and Christ Church Cathedral is in view of the park.



But, until they step up, all ideas should be considered, even Johnny Sunshine & others.



When my dog was a puppy about 15 years ago, I lived on Lafayette Square. It seems like the neighbors adopted the park, cultivated flower gardens at their own expense, and maintained them. Also, plenty of activities were planned in the park. So dogwalkers, flower gardeners, joggers, street people, etc. mingled. Downtown dwellers should take a similar approach. Join Johnny Sunshine and others to use the park, establish flower gardens, maybe even give different buildings different sections of the park to landscape and maintain. I don't know the answer, just throwing out ideas.

bab wrote:I did notice that Bryant Park provides bathrooms. I am sure that they are well maintained and monitored, which makes all the difference.

That's not a bathroom. It's a $200,000 comfort station. A far cry from the port-a-potties people are calling for in Lucas Park. Ref: http://www.bryantpark.org/park-manageme ... 06-nyt.php

The big issue discussed in another thread was that the city lost an ACLU lawsuit brought on behalf of vagrants. Since that time, the city apparently has a "hands off" policy making it difficult to address most of the problems. Privitizing many of the city's small and pocket parks would be one way to side-step some legal issues.



Most of the care and feeding of public park areas in Soulard are also done by resident volunteers.