GROVER BEACH: Police Clear Out the Homeless, but You Can Help!

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Update 2/1/2016:
Today I spoke with Police Chief Peters of the Grover Beach Police Department. He had previously sent me an email about the situation with the homeless camp at the Grover Beach Train Station site. Chief Peters and I spoke for about 20 minutes. Chief Peters is keenly aware of the fact that the homeless are not just going to "go away", and that it is futile to needlessly cite them for "living in the bushes". However, there is a public nuisance aspect of this that is not going away either.

One thing Police Chief Peters told me really struck home: the lack of cohesiveness he observed between all the parties involved with homelessness and affordable housing issues (note: I am paraphrasing what he said). And I agree. That’s one of the reasons I largely eschew involvement in any group, and do my own homeless outreach - it’s the only way I know, with my limited time and money, that I can be sure I am “doing some good”. 

Also, I have changed my point of view to support all organizations, groups, movements and projects that even “attempt” to move the ball forward on homelessness and affordable housing issues, whether I agree with them (or like them) or not. That means sometimes holding my nose and support people and causes that I have a hard time accepting. An example would be my support of the new Homeless Services Center in SLO, an approach that I do not really like, but I support anyways. I support the “full court press” on homeless issues, so that also includes tangential issues, such as supporting the new private Templeton Mental Health facility. With limited resources, we need to work together to do the most good. 

I left the Chief with this final thought: when a homeless camp is dispersed, we need an answer to the homeless person's question: Where can I legally go to exist?

WAAG'S WORLD: Thunderbird Petroglyph Project

November 30, 2018: 

I really do NOT like meetings, yet I go to them ALL THE TIME. To pass the time, I have learned to re-draw American Indian petroglyphs (rock art chiseled into a volcanic rock surface, revealing a much lighter color below the "patina" on the surface) that I have photographed. (I can concentrate better on the meeting discussion while I am drawing).

I feel that I can bring out some of the beauty that is often obscured due to deterioration of the rock surface. I hope you enjoy them in the spirit for which they were intended - reflection of beauty and thought from another time. Peace.

NATION: Why does Our Government Exempt Itself from It's Own Laws?

I've wanted to write on this topic for years. I have worked for an employment law firm since 1998, and am amazed at how often our wonderful new employment laws were directed exclusively at private employers and not at the government itself. 

Most often, the reason those who enacted the laws (i.e., our elected representatives) gave for NOT applying it to their own employees was because the laws would be "too burdensome" for them, yet somehow, would not be too burdensome for private employers.  

The second most common reason the laws did not apply to them was simply because they would NEVER behave in the manner that the law was designed to prevent. Frankly, I'm amazed that the media never picks up on this completely hypocritical "let them eat cake" approach taken by those who write our laws.

This post will simply compile a list of recently enacted laws that apply to us (private employers) and not to them (the government). Let the fun begin. We will see if anyone cares, or is it just "business as usual".

Above: Blog posts are boring without a photo. Above is my son catching his first albacore. Bravo! (click to enlarge).

NATION: Homeless vs. Transient / Vagrant / Bum - What's the Difference?

****Update 3/1/2016: Merriam-Webster defines a vagrant as a person who has no place to live and no job and who asks people for money (in other words, a homeless begger).  The word "vagrant" joins "transient" as a clue to the point of view of the communicator. Unless you know that the person is homeless, does not have a job, and begs for a living, calling them a "vagrant" demonstrates a lack of empathy for the plight of the homeless.

It is interesting to note that I recently read that it is not "politically correct" to say anything negative about a homeless person. This is a "new one" to me, but okay, I'll play: there are "good" homeless people and "bad" homeless people, just like everything else (good Catholic Priests vs. bad Catholic Priests; good lawyers vs. bad lawyers, etc.). I see no problem with factual statements about homeless people that are negative. However, generalizing about the homeless as bums, transients and vagrants without knowing anything about them is prejudicial and just wrong.

*****Original Article 12/25/2015: You can read more about the difference between a Homeless Person and a Transient person by clicking here. The article was written by a transient who does not consider himself to be homeless.

Let's make a few distinctions here: HOMELESS vs. TRANSIENT. A homeless person is someone who was previously housed, and through undesirable circumstances, they have become homeless. A homeless person may have their issues, like everybody else, but they want to get back into housing. Note that many homeless people in SLO county work full or part time, and still cannot afford our expensive local housing. 

The HOMELESS most often feel shame for being homeless, and certainly do not advertise their state of affairs by panhandling or standing on a street corner waving one of those cardboard signs. They would sooner die of shame than work a corner asking for a handout, or aggressively panhandle spare change. 

On the other hand, a TRANSIENT is someone who has chosen the homeless lifestyle. More often than not, when you meet them, they tell you they are just passing through, although it is also true that many have chosen to stay in one place for an extended period of time. Though it is true that a TRANSIENT may technically be HOMELESS, they themselves do not consider themselves to be homeless, but simply don't have a permanent address. 

In general, TRANSIENT and VAGRANT terms are more pejorative term when compared with HOMELESS PERSON. In fact, one of the signs that a person or group has a negative point of view towards the homeless is when they refer to ALL homeless people as TRANSIENTS, or my other favorite, VAGRANTS. Another favorite of the "hate the homeless crowd" is simply BUMS. Our San Luis Obispo Police Department loves to refer to our homeless population as TRANSIENTS, thus tipping their hand to how they feel about them. Check out this link to this youtube video of SLO Police Chief Gessell where he talks about how they are dealing with the TRANSIENTS. The commentator in the youtube video interview uses the term TRANSIENT as well. Police are considered community leaders, and when they use the pejorative term TRANSIENT then others feel they can use them as well.

Click Here to go back to "Tim Waag Blog" Home Page! 

LOCAL: Yes, We Are Criminalizing Homelessness

Sitting on a Park Bench for more than an hour is a Crime? Really?
Chapter 9.40
PUBLIC BENCHES
Sections:
9.40.010 Infraction established.
9.40.010 Infraction established.
It shall be an infraction for any person to sit, lay, or remain upon any public bench for any continuous period of time in excess of one hour, or for any period of time in excess of three hours in any twenty-four-hour period; or to arrange one’s personal property on or in front of any portion of any public bench in a manner that obstructs or precludes the use of the bench by another person. (Ord. 1491 § 2, 2006)

Above (click to enlarge): Photo of the actual ticket received, with the name of the person covered up. Note the address as "General Delivery", meaning a homeless person with no address. This is not right!

Yes, we are criminalizing homelessness. A group of homeless each got a ticket like this one because he and others were sitting at the picnic table at Meadow Park in SLO during broad daylight, apparently for "more than an hour". I have attended picnics at that very same table (for more than an hour) and never got ticketed. Gee, are they discriminating against the homeless?

Was this written with the homeless in mind? "or to arrange one’s personal property on or in front of any portion of any public bench in a manner that obstructs or precludes the use of the bench by another person."

NATION: US Government Subjugation of Indian Tribes Must Stop!

Casinos have brought some positive financial results to a small number of Indian tribes. However, most tribes remain poor - indeed, the poorest by far of all the ethnic groups in America. For more information on this subject, click on this US News and World Report article from November 2014. Here is a quote from this article:

“American Indians suffer from a variety of problems somewhat similar to African Americans,” says Algernon Austin, author of a 2013 Economic Policy Institute (EPI) report on Native American unemployment. “You have lower levels of education [and] continued racial discrimination in the labor market. Some of my work for EPI showed that … improving education attainment of American Indians would likely produce a significant increase in their employment rates.”

Many of us remain convinced that it is the intention of U. S. Government policy to weaken tribal sovereignty and diminish their economic independence. Here's more proof of that belief: In 2004, in a case involving the San Manual Band of Mission Indians, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) reversed 70 years of prior rulings and held that tribal governments - UNLIKE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS - were subject to the NLRB. This ruling meant that tribal businesses would be regulated like private businesses - a clear blow to tribal sovereignty.

Above: Blog posts are boring without photos! Above is Mark and I with one of our Supai Tribe member friends, during a recent visit. The Supai Tribe has managed to preserve it's tribal language and runs a wonderful tourist business at their Grand Canyon National Park tribal reservation location. They still have their challenges, but have a history for fighting for control of their native tribal lands. You can read more about visiting by clicking here.

LOCAL: Templeton Residents Oppose Needed Mental Health Facility

*****UPDATE 3/7/2016: Hello to Mental Wellness supporters in SLO County,

Transitions-Mental Health Association needs your help to ensure that the most vulnerable members of our community are able to get the mental health treatment they need in San Luis Obispo County!

We are reaching out to you regarding the behavioral health hospital being proposed for Templeton, across the street from Twin Cities Hospital.  The SLO County Planning Commission has approved this project unanimously after two hearings with much public comment.  However, there is a very vocal opposition group of Templeton area folks called “Concerned Citizens Preventing Unintended Consequences” which is pushing back very strongly against this project being built in their town.  They have filed an appeal , hence the matter will be decided by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, March 15 at 9am.  

While we are happy to have such a facility ANYWHERE in SLO County, the reality is this is the ONLY project being proposed.  If we lose this project, the long passed over need for mental health treatment beds in our county will be set back years.  

We are calling on medical doctors, psychologists, therapists, counselors, nurses, mental health advocates, teachers/professors, persons living with mental illness, your families, and anyone affected by mental illness – we need your help!

Our County Supervisors must hear the voices of those who see the obvious need.  (If you are a professional who has sent patients out of our county for hospitalization, your voice is especially potent.)

There are many ways to get involved and show your support for this important facility:

·        SPREAD THE WORD and forward this email to someone who supports the cause.

·        SIGN THE PETITION and submit to the project developers by Friday, March 11.

·        WRITE A LETTER or EMAIL in support of this facility and send it to the County Supervisors or your local newspaper.  Feel free to use the form letter we’ve attached, or write your own. 

·        CALL your County Supervisor and let them know you support the Templeton behavioral health hospital and encourage them to approve the project.

·        ATTEND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING AND SPEAK during public comment.  The agenda will posted on the county  website by Wed, March 9.  Check here.

Board of Supervisors’ meeting is Tuesday, March 15 starting at 9am

Corner of Santa Rosa and Monterey Streets, first floor

Please arrive early to submit a Public Comment speaker’s request and/or get a seat.

We’ve attached all the forms and contact info you need to show support:

·        Petition, Project Fact Sheet, and Contact info for Supervisors and local papers, from developers Harvey and Melanie Billig (retired Templeton Ophthalmologist  and former SLO Mayor).

·        A sample letter idea from TMHA.

·        A link to the public comment card here: “Board Appearance Request Form”.  You can print this out in advance and submit at the meeting.  We’ve been told by one Supervisors office that they plan to honor all speaking requests. You have 3 minutes to speak.  

We thank you for your timely consideration of this important issue.  

- Jill Bolster-White, President and CEO, Transitions-Mental Health Association

*****ORIGINAL ARTICLE: 10/13/2015: A proposed 91 bed mental health hospital in Templeton is being strongly opposed. You can read more about it in the Tribune by clicking here. 

Once again, NIMBYism is destroying what is needed for the "common good". Currently there is only a single 16 bed mental health facility to serve the entire county of San Luis Obispo. However, if you have private insurance, like most do in SLO County, then you cannot use that facility. It's only for the low income on Medi-Cal and the like. Instead, you have to travel out of county. Because of this, many skip mental health services altogether...that can't be healthy, can it?

Above: CHP Rescue Helicopter, which came to the rescue of one of our hikers, who fell and cut his head open and could not hike out. Has nothing to do with mental health, except that we call these hikes "Death Marches", which means we might be a little crazy!