St Louis Homeless and Panhandlers

shimmy · PostJan 21, 2008#10512008-01-21T22:26+00:00

I was flipping through channels and landed on cnn where a story about a chainsaw attack caught my interest. I don't know if the moderators will find this relevent or not, but it sure is interesting.

Homeless man attacks 2 with chainsaw in mid-Mo.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

01/21/2008

UPDATED, 8:51 a.m.

NEW BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Two men were in serious condition this morning after a resident at a homeless shelter attacked them with a chain saw on Saturday.

The Callaway County Sheriff's Office said Matthew Watkins, 28, was charged with four counts each of first-degree assault and armed criminal action for the attack at the Mid-America Care Center. The homeless shelter, affiliated with New Life Evangelistic Center, is connected with Christian television station KNLJ, run by the Rev. Larry Rice.

Rest: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... enDocument

migueltejada · PostJan 22, 2008#10522008-01-22T02:16+00:00

^What, NLEC doesn't get anything?

considering the list of recipients - that's not an unreasonable question:

Peter & Paul Community Services: $2,740,940

The Salvation Army: $878,011

Queen of Peace Center: $599,565

St. Patrick Center: $304,723

Catholic Family Services: $173,370

YWCA Metro St. Louis

Without knowing too much about these individual groups - they're all christian based, and no doubt espouse their beliefs upon any of the "misguided" or "wayward souls" that manage to find their way to these organizations' doorsteps. I can only assume that this is part and parcel of the faith-based programs that W pushed for years ago. I also remember reading a story that only Xtian programs got money - jewish, muslim, buddhist, hindu, etc. programs were all but ignored. I know for a fact that there's a jewish organization that runs homeless programs - where's their cut?

hugh ferriss · PostJan 23, 2008#10532008-01-23T23:40+00:00

<I>USA Today</I> has an article on initiatives in various cities to curtail panhandling in their downtown areas:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/200 ... ndle_N.htm

chrisindowntown · PostFeb 13, 2008#10542008-02-13T13:42+00:00

According to the Post this morning, a man was stabbed to death at NLEC last evening. Very sad, as well as frightening.

juiceinkirkwood · PostFeb 13, 2008#10552008-02-13T13:46+00:00

^^ The article I just read said "extremely critical," which yeah probably means the same thing.

stldtfan · PostFeb 13, 2008#10562008-02-13T13:59+00:00

It is a sad day that the homeless are used as tools for Rice's empire. If these same homeless people were guided to managed care centers, they would have a better chance to break out of this sorry state.

debaliviere · PostFeb 13, 2008#10572008-02-13T14:13+00:00

Juice13610 wrote:^^ The article I just read said "extremely critical," which yeah probably means the same thing.

They said on the news this morning that he died.

Larry, care to comment?

bprop · PostFeb 13, 2008#10582008-02-13T15:04+00:00

DeBaliviere wrote:
Juice13610 wrote:^^ The article I just read said "extremely critical," which yeah probably means the same thing.

They said on the news this morning that he died.

Larry, care to comment?

Maybe he's too busy lording over his "empire"

chrisindowntown · PostFeb 13, 2008#10592008-02-13T18:33+00:00

Updated article states the killers bloody jacket was found at 14th and Washington. this sucks. That's a block from my home. Petty crime in my hood is fine, but none of us signed up for this sh*t.

zink · PostFeb 13, 2008#10602008-02-13T19:03+00:00

Ouch,

So when is it time we want security cameras posted on the corners of washington ave and Locust?

Some people might not want it because of "Big Brother," but IMO i am all for it. I dont agree with having Big Brother in my own house or in my cell phone, but for public safety I am all for it outside.

PostFeb 13, 2008#10612008-02-13T19:10+00:00

UPDATE:

They caught the guy.

At least that is good to know.

stlcardsblues1989 · PostFeb 13, 2008#10622008-02-13T20:39+00:00

Wow. I'm glad they caught him.

the central scrutinizer · PostFeb 13, 2008#10632008-02-13T21:51+00:00

Rice blamed the attacks in New Bloomfield -- and Tuesday night's murder -- in part on society's mounting anger and the government cutbacks in mental health care.

Yep. Make absolutely sure you don't blame the perpetrator.

publiceye · PostFeb 13, 2008#10642008-02-13T22:04+00:00

It would not hurt to check in and make sure your alderpeep is supporting the proposed panhandling ordinance.

doug · PostFeb 13, 2008#10652008-02-13T22:44+00:00

The way to address the problem is not to further punish the homeless through ordinances, but to punish Larry Rice. These people need opportunity for entry back into the economy, which is something Mr. Rice does not provide. That would reduce his number of homeless thus his own political power. Larry Rice and the LRA operate in a similar manner. They blame the constraints, when in fact they have the ability to make improvements. Yet such improvements would be their end. A reduction in the number of homeless, or abandoned buildings, could be the undoing of both institutions and those who head them.

steve · PostFeb 14, 2008#10662008-02-14T00:32+00:00

Actually, it was my fault. Sorry about that.

downtown2007 · PostFeb 14, 2008#10672008-02-14T02:31+00:00

The homeless have the option to get back on their feet by enrolling in a good establishment like The St Patricks Center but they choose not to. So by choosing to crack down on panhandleing is a decision based on their lack of choice.

zink · PostFeb 14, 2008#10682008-02-14T04:01+00:00

I do not know much about this "Rice" fella, but anyone who is helping out the homeless on that type of scale cant be a "bad" person with his evil "empire."

According to the Post Dispatch, he was "sleeping on his couch when he heard sirens." What no king size bed for him?

MattnSTL · PostFeb 14, 2008#10692008-02-14T04:03+00:00

You have to actually be helping the homeless, not just using them as pawns.

irocktheparty2000 · PostFeb 14, 2008#10702008-02-14T04:16+00:00

Channel 4 news just reported a second stabbing this evening at the NLEC. The guy was not critically injured but a second stabbing in as many nights. They commented on continued development and housing prices on that block possibly being effected and interviewed a couple of residents from Terra Cotta. Then went on to comment on the fact that there has been 61 vehicle thefts and/or break-ins in parking garages and streets of downtown since January and now have 40 officers from the crime suppression unit working the downtown area.

framer · PostFeb 14, 2008#10712008-02-14T05:57+00:00

Where's Charles Bronson when you need him?

throatybeard · PostFeb 14, 2008#10722008-02-14T14:32+00:00

Framer wrote:Where's Charles Bronson when you need him?

the central scrutinizer · PostFeb 14, 2008#10732008-02-14T14:43+00:00

This could actually be good news for downtown. Enough stabbings at that place and the city will shut it down.

thewayofthearch · PostFeb 14, 2008#10742008-02-14T16:02+00:00

Not to be morbid, but as i drove by yeasterday evening on my way home I had the exact same thought:

Will they be able to shut this place down with this incident and the one in central Missouri? Can/will the state get involved?

And now another one. Yikes. And here's hoping.

innov8ion · PostFeb 15, 2008#10752008-02-15T12:35+00:00

Rice blamed the attacks in New Bloomfield -- and Tuesday night's murder -- in part on society's mounting anger and the government cutbacks in mental health care.

Why so much strife in the houses of Rice? This is no accident. I see this as more of a rather unfortunate karmic warning to him. One can only use the homeless so much before they strike back. I think he should up the security at NLEC because he could potentially be in danger from those he uses to further his own interests. Not only that, but he is putting the homeless in danger due to his false-motives and poor security. For everyone's sake, I hope he sees the truth sooner rather than later.

St Louis Homeless and Panhandlers

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