{"id":322,"date":"2015-11-09T00:37:28","date_gmt":"2015-11-09T00:37:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pearlsofwisdom.guru\/?p=322"},"modified":"2016-08-11T03:59:46","modified_gmt":"2016-08-11T03:59:46","slug":"the-nyc-homeless-problem-what-is-the-remedy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pearlsofwisdom.guru\/?p=322","title":{"rendered":"THE NYC HOMELESS PROBLEM- WHAT IS THE REMEDY?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Homeless\"<\/a>\"Homeless<\/a><\/p>\n

As Bill de Blasio continues to dismantle the NYC education system, to escalate his power struggle with Gov. Cuomo, and promote his relationship with Al Sharpton, it is not difficult to establish that de Blasio is not the sharpest tack in the box.\u00a0 The truth is that if an astute individual were to become Mayor of New York City and evaluate de Blasio\u2019s performance over the past year, de Blasio would be hard pressed to elicit an appointment as dogcatcher.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Currently, Bill has been all over the NY Times over the issue of \u201chomelessness\u201d in NYC.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (Note: there is an article in the NY Times 9-23-2015, emphasizing that L.A.\u2019s homeless problem is just as extreme.)<\/em> This blog is to attempt to explain to Bill exactly why he will not solve this problem.\u00a0\u00a0 I am hopeful that one of his staff members will read it and explain it to him.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For starters, there is no generic \u201chomeless\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0 The \u201chomeless problem\u201d in NYC is a conglomeration of families and individuals with different reasons why they are homeless.\u00a0 Therefore any successful approach has to have multiple solutions to resolve these issues.\u00a0\u00a0 There is one guarantee:\u00a0 the \u201chomeless problem\u201d will never totally be resolved because it does not lend itself to successful resolution.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Homelessness Categories<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Mentally ill:<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    First, there are degrees of mental illness. There are many people with milder forms of mental illness that are extremely intelligent, perform high level jobs and have occasional setbacks.\u00a0\u00a0 These individuals take their medications religiously, understanding the ramifications if they do not.\u00a0 We work with them; they are our friends; and they can function normally in society.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Those individuals with more severe degrees of mental illness are a challenge to society.\u00a0 There really is no place for them in the community.\u00a0 Sorry to offend all the psychiatrists; psychologists; clinical social workers; and counselors in America, but there is no cure for \u201cmental illness\u201d.\u00a0 For these individuals, the symptoms may be treated, the disease may be dormant for short periods, the individual may appear to be fine.\u00a0 Do not be deceased; it is a mirage.\u00a0 Pedophiles will always be pedophiles; sex addicts will always be sex addicts (it doesn\u2019t matter how much saltpeter that the U.S. produces).\u00a0 Individuals who perform cruel acts upon animals or humans are incurable.\u00a0\u00a0 These individuals must be removed from society.\u00a0 To someone who has a relative who has mental illness, these are harsh words; words that could easily be misconstrued as uncaring.\u00a0 But sometimes the truth has to be spoken.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The mentally ill fall into two categories: passive & destructive.\u00a0 The passive mentally ill go through their lives in a harmless, if unproductive fashion.\u00a0 Sometimes, their families care for them until the family members no longer are willing to sacrifice their own lives for their mentally ill relative.\u00a0 Inevitably, these individuals wind up on the street.\u00a0\u00a0 These individuals might be cared for in a passive, enclosed setting, with basic food, shelter, medical care provided.\u00a0\u00a0 The problem is that our broken legal system states that they \u201chave rights\u201d, that they are legally competent, and they can pretty much do what they want, e.g. Robert Durst.\u00a0 My solution is to put the judges away to protect us all.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The destructive mentally ill are a major problem.\u00a0 We lack the resources to build new mental hospitals, where we could \u201cincarcerate them\u201d.\u00a0 The annual costs to care for them are astronomical as the caregivers must have safety features in the environment to protect them from violent outbursts at any time.\u00a0\u00a0 In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, radical measures were utilized to deal with this group, but now we are more \u201ccivilized\u201d. Answer: any realistic solution is unconscionable in a \u201ccivilized society\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u00a0 \u00a02. \u00a0 \u00a0Mentally Challenged:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    These individuals are classified as \u201cslow\u201d. They barely function, assume low level jobs, i.e. the classic McDonald\u2019s lifetime employee, dishing out burgers and working the counter.\u00a0 They never earn enough to survive in NYC and often wind up on the soup line or in a homeless shelter.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u00a0 3. \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Physically Disabled<\/strong><\/p>\n

    As much as we would like to believe that current programs to assist the handicapped are effective, there are cases where they do not work. It is uncommon, but these individuals do comprise a small percentage of the homeless.<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Language Barriers<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      For fear of being called racist or ethnicist, we are reluctant to state publicly that \u201cthe inability to speak English\u201d may be a barrier to regular employment. With the major influx of Hispanics to NYC, this problem is decreasing, but it still exists. In the early 1900\u2019s, immigrants understood that speaking English was necessary.\u00a0 Today, immigrants are not anxious to assimilate and often isolate themselves in communities with individuals with similar backgrounds. However, when entering the job market, there remain barriers and prejudice.<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. The Disenfranchised<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        \u00a0 \u00a0(a) In 2008, families were deprived of their homes through unethical bankers, creating a major national crisis.\u00a0 This situation continues and until these families can recover, they may wind up on the homeless line.<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \u00a0 (b) The NYC Housing Authority has always attempted to dispose of individuals that are \u201cundesirables\u201d and those that are in \u201crent-controlled\u201d housing in order to increase profits by renting to new higher-paying tenants.\u00a0\u00a0 This will always be the case. Without government intervention, the NYC real estate market, if left to its own devices, would exclude the vast majority of low income families.<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. The Indolent \u2013 Squeegeemen (or women)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Big Shock! Not everyone wants to work! There are people that are content to nickel and dime it through life.\u00a0 Bloomberg got rid of the squeegies, but not the individuals who were wielding these weapons.<\/strong><\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Drug Addicts & Alcoholics<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Part of the urban crisis.\u00a0 Too profitable to ever disappear.\u00a0 We should not be surprised if several of our eminent politicians even have a hand in the perpetuation of this tragedy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

              \n
            1. Illegal Alien Status<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Nobody wants to hear about this one as it is currently politically incorrect. \u00a0But there are people in the U.S. illegally who cannot get jobs and the system supports them.\u00a0 The INS has family members sign documents guaranteeing support, but there is no real enforcement.\u00a0 Currently, deporting these individuals is not fashionable.<\/strong><\/p>\n

                \n
              1. Divergent:<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                This group incorporates radical individuals who do not want to fit into the system. They do not want to work, denounce capitalism, but feel entitled to free handouts.\u00a0 Imprisoning them is senseless as it gives them free food and housing at taxpayers\u2019 expense.\u00a0 So we leave them on the streets.<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  \n
                1. Too many children!<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  Families insist upon producing more children than they can afford.\u00a0 Because of our deference to religious influence in America, words like \u201csterilization\u201d or \u201cchild limitation laws\u201d or even \u201cbirth control\u201d are not politically correct.\u00a0 I mean we would not want the Pope to have a heart attack, would we? Maybe the words \u201cintelligent design\u201d should be detoured from \u201ccreationism\u201d to family planning.<\/strong><\/p>\n

                    \n
                  1. Welfare Players:<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                    There are too many individuals that have learned to play the welfare game. By using multiple subterfuges, they are able to access food stamps, various welfare programs, Medicare & Medicaid.\u00a0 Some of these people barely get by, but they prefer living on the street to actually getting a job.<\/strong><\/p>\n

                      \n
                    1. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Street Musicians, Magicians & Artists<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      A lovely group of talented individuals who simply cannot make a living at their craft.\u00a0 Some of them cannot relate to a normal 9-5 job, choosing rather to live off whatever money is thrown in a hat.\u00a0 At least this group entertains the public, even if they sometimes wind up at the soup kitchen.<\/strong><\/p>\n

                      ====================================================================================<\/strong><\/p>\n

                      I\u2019m certain that a few other characterizations may have been eliminated from this conversation unintentionally.\u00a0 The reality of the \u201chomeless\u201d problem in New York City and\/or other urban centers is that there is no realistic solution to this problem.\u00a0\u00a0 Arresting \u201cvagrants\u201d only costs money, supporting these individuals in our prisons.\u00a0 By and large, homeless shelters are vile places, with never enough space for the needy, with sanitation non-existent, with food in scarce quantities, and no privacy for anyone.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There will never be enough money allocated to accommodate the NYC homeless population and, under any circumstances, it is grotesquely unfair for the \u201cworking public\u201d to continue to support the homeless in a capitalistic society.<\/strong><\/p>\n

                      It would be wonderful if private foundations, overpaid professional athletes,\u00a0 and undertaxed hedge fund managers would contribute more substantially to solving this problem, but let\u2019s not hold our breath.<\/strong><\/p>\n

                      So, Mr. de Blasio, while you are contemplating your Presidential run in 2020, perhaps you should consider that your rhetoric on solving the NYC homeless problem may not be the optimal path to that goal.\u00a0 But Good Luck! \u00a0Most probably, the homeless will all vote for you!\u00a0 But if common sense rules, the rest of the public will put you back on the scrap heap!<\/strong><\/p>\n

                      \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

                       <\/p>\n

                       <\/p>\n

                       <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                      As Bill de Blasio continues to dismantle the NYC education system, to escalate his power struggle with Gov. Cuomo, and promote his relationship with Al Sharpton, it is not difficult to establish that de Blasio is not the sharpest tack in the box.\u00a0 The truth is that if an astute individual were to become Mayor […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pearlsofwisdom.guru\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/322"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pearlsofwisdom.guru\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pearlsofwisdom.guru\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pearlsofwisdom.guru\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pearlsofwisdom.guru\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=322"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/pearlsofwisdom.guru\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/322\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":334,"href":"https:\/\/pearlsofwisdom.guru\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/322\/revisions\/334"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pearlsofwisdom.guru\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=322"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pearlsofwisdom.guru\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=322"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pearlsofwisdom.guru\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=322"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}