Triggering causes # 375,894 in Merica

[No. 1 son]

Just in time for the spring cleaning season. Hopefully we'll be able to avoid some of the social implications of this by being made aware. 

[bobathon]

Seems a bit overthought.

[Dave's Not Here Man]

Larry, the National Review is a fine example of the FAKE NEWS you hear so much about these days. Read that "story" again and tell how far you get before red flags start jumping out at you. I got to "reportedly said" and followed along up until it was obvious the "journalist" was leaving out some inconvenient context. And yes, I apply the same litmus test to "people familiar with the situation" at CNN.

[No. 1 son]

I do know that Seattle as well as a lot of urban areas has a huge homeless problem. Seattle times thinks so too. You're right, hard to know what to believe anymore. I would have ruled this out of bounds 20 years ago, not anymore. This is a different time we live in.

[bobathon]

I don't think excess feces is so shocking, nor do I think it was the clickbait driver of your first source. Not following any more of it, myself, just remember: both sides, pro-poop and anti-poop, do it.

[No. 1 son]

Homeless problems continue to define Merica.

Quote from the Times article

"Compared to other gatherings, the folks at Muscatel Meadows — as the park is sometimes called — are actually a “pretty docile group,” Hendrickson said.

“Sometimes there will be yelling and drinking,” she said, “but they’re not intimidating to me.”


Some committee members expressed concern about addressing the symptoms of the area’s problems without getting to the cause. Councilmember Larry Gossett said he didn’t like the idea of power-washing the sidewalks because it brought back images of the use of hoses against civil-rights activists.

Another council member, Claudia Balducci, suggested that the county consider using social-service employees in partnership with police. "


I do believe that as a politician you need to keep all doors open. What ever that encompasses. How that addresses the pooping issues remains unclear to me.

[bobathon]

Some countries even have public restrooms, as if it's some kind of actual public need. Some countries are working on better ways to deal with homelessness and such. Not us, though, fuck allayall moochers, we need to make things more comfy for the already comfortable.

[Dave's Not Here Man]

FTR Other countries also have slum cities with rivers of human waste and other very unfortunate situations. 

[bobathon]

Yep, there sure are lots of other countries.

[minx]

I think that when you get down to it, the real issue here is why so many people are homeless.
Yes, some of them 'like' to be on the street, or have mental illness or addiction issues, but more and more, the homeless are people who simply got caught by circumstances - a sick kid, unexpected job layoff, car repair that was more expensive than budgeted for, ect.

Cities have always been way expensive in terms of the cost of living, but more and more so are the suburbs. Check out the price of rent in the majority of northern VA - $2500 + utilities seems to be the norm for an apartment, and that's not in the 'good' sections of town. Last year there was an article about an initiative in KG to help people obtain 'affordable' housing. The group had worked with a developer to set aside some units for people like teachers, police and firefighters, so they would be able to buy a house - the set aside was $100k less than normal asking price - in other words, their houses would be $200k instead of $300k. I don't want to fault the developer or the group - that is a significant savings, and would definitely make a difference to those families, but since when is $200k considered affordable in KG???

And I believe that Larry can tell you stories about public toilets that will age you several years just listening to them. He has seen things that no man should see....