Some people in Indy are wringing their hands over what to do about three dozen or so of the "homeless" who have built themselves a ramshackle village under a railroad bridge in downtown Indianapolis. "Issue of bridge people defies easy solution," the headline says, and one person attending a "summit" about the problem said "you can't just kick them out" but they should at least "be required to clean up after themselves." Most solutions, the group concluded, are complex. "Substance-abuse counseling, transitional housing and job training will require a coordinated effort over the long term."
That's a whole lot of sympathy for a group that isn't exactly going out of its way to earn it.
Campi said many residents feel empathy for the homeless, but they are also angry and frustrated by the squalor and sometimes rude, drunken behavior of the camp dwellers.
"A lot of people are scared of what's over there," he said.
The homeless live in tents on the sidewalk and loiter in the street. Their garbage is strewn over a large swath of the area.
Tina LaGrotte, owner of the Milano Inn, said her employees park near the bridge and are often intimidated by the homeless.
Campi said many residents feel empathy for the homeless, but they are also angry and frustrated by the squalor and sometimes rude, drunken behavior of the camp dwellers.
"A lot of people are scared of what's over there," he said.
The homeless live in tents on the sidewalk and loiter in the street. Their garbage is strewn over a large swath of the area.
Tina LaGrotte, owner of the Milano Inn, said her employees park near the bridge and are often intimidated by the homeless.
The story does point out that there are shelters these people could go to. But they prefer not to, thank you very much.
The homeless at the camp said they prefer the bridge to shelters because the shelters have rules, including those against alcohol. But the camp can get unruly; recently a man was beaten by five other bridge people.
Can't have no stinkin' rules, by God. That cramps a man's style. And a place with no rules "can get unruly"? Who knew? The most bizarre part of the story acknowledged that, although "the bridge people bore responsibility for keeping their camp clean," they were not the only ones with a duty.
. . . they agreed that the good Samaritans who drop off food, blankets and clothing at the homeless camp should help, too, along with CSX railroad and the city.
People who enable drunken bums to take over part of a city and live in squalor while they harass and intimidate anyone who comes near are not "good Samaritans." They're morons. Tell the morons to stay home and mind their own business. That would be one part of a "simple solution." So would giving the bums a choice: shelter or jail. No, an attempt to bring back vagrancy laws is not required. But neither is looking the other way while all kinds of other laws are broken.
