Bench-Warmers Sought to Block Homeless
SAN DIEGO (AP) — A community activist thinks a few couch potatoes, strategically placed on sidewalk benches in an upscale shopping district, will keep transients on their feet and on the move.
Esther Viti, who oversees the donation of public benches for a merchants' association in La Jolla, sent an e-mail to 45 other activists last week asking them to sit in three-hour shifts, no bathroom breaks allowed.
"After all, you MUST OCCUPY THAT BENCH continually for three hours to prevent that homeless person from sitting on that bench," the e-mail said.
Donors weren't happy that transients were sleeping on benches they had provided for the public, Viti said.
The group previously tried installing benches with metal dividers that split the seats. Transients simply began sleeping upright, said Deborah Marengo, president of Promote La Jolla.
No one has offered to sit a shift yet, Viti said. Some potential recruits expressed concern that the bench brigade could provoke retaliation from displaced transients.
In 2006, the Regional Task Force on Homeless estimated the homeless population at 9,600 countywide, which included 4,400 people within the city of San Diego.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Trying To Beat The Homeless At Their Own Game
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Unbelievable... and yet, not surprising how people will utilize (waste) their time. If she would put the exact same energy into helping the homeless, as she is in putting together an ignorant "sit in", maybe she could accomplish something to be proud of, aiding the homeless. Oh my goodness, just when I thought I'd heard it all. Oy. Undoubtedly, someone will find it necessary to give her an award for this stupid idea. A pricey banquet in her honor; champagne, a certificate and probably even a trophy.
ReplyDeleteMaybe if Ms Viti had elected for the cost of Port-o-lets and food for the volunteers she could have recruited some. Of course that would have been in violation of feeding people without a permit and the volunteers might have looked homeless and been told to move along themselves.
ReplyDeleteAnd it kills the purpose of having the benches in the first place - giving people without a place to sit, a place to sit. Of course so long as they are only the people she wants sitting - shoppers.
ReplyDeletewhat is funny is that la jolla is a very uppity part of san diego. even the homeless there have a different look and attitude than those in the inner cities. and what kind of retaliation would there be--sit on the ground?!!this woman apparently needs to get a man or a dog to utilize her time better.
ReplyDeleteThis is riducilous!! People sitting in shifts? Come on. If this lady put more effort into helping the homeless rather than being stupid, life in La Jolla would be better for everyone!! I hate people who think they are better than everyone else.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was hilarious, Kevin. Sounds like the "Ms. Manners of Squatting"..."Do as I say, not as 'they' do".
ReplyDeleteI agree on the retaliation as well. Anyone who'd actually do this couldn't balk about ten homeless men, women, or children circling him or her for those three hours. It'd be a heck of a videoblog opportunity if it were caught too!