call the police (non-emergency) or am i over-reacting? (and possibly paranoid)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go head, but it is probably some unfortunate homeless person.

Yes. They have to be somewhere, you know?

As someone posted above, its nearing hypothermia temperatures and it may not be safe for ANYONE to be sleeping outside tonight, and the police can offer services in that case.

Yes, wouldn't that be wonderful if the authorities could round up ALL the indigent and homeless people in the DC area and offer them warm, comfortable beds and hot meals for the rest of the winter?

You're right, it's always better to write off other humans because of an unwillingness to allocate social resources to help everyone.

[Anonymous]

I agree with others-glad you called. Even if it is someone homeless, as others have said, we are hitting a very cold spell and at least the police could urge the person to go to a shelter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go head, but it is probably some unfortunate homeless person.

Yes. They have to be somewhere, you know?

As someone posted above, its nearing hypothermia temperatures and it may not be safe for ANYONE to be sleeping outside tonight, and the police can offer services in that case.

Yes, wouldn't that be wonderful if the authorities could round up ALL the indigent and homeless people in the DC area and offer them warm, comfortable beds and hot meals for the rest of the winter?

You're right, it's always better to write off other humans because of an unwillingness to allocate social resources to help everyone.

Go ahead and call. By all means try to help. But it's naive to think that that's what will make the tent "go away."

[Anonymous]

Go ahead and call. By all means try to help. But it's naive to think that that's what will make the tent "go away."

Then you, my friend from Seattle, apparently, do not know Bethesda. At all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Go ahead and call. By all means try to help. But it's naive to think that that's what will make the tent "go away."

Then you, my friend from Seattle, apparently, do not know Bethesda. At all.

Oh, you silly Bethesdan. I'm not from Seattle. I'm your neighbor right next door. You know, from DC... *gasp*. Lived here since '94. Our tents tend to stick around.

I'll leave you to clutch your pearls.

[Anonymous]

I live in DC too and I like it that way.

Doesn't mean that Bethesdans aren't wildly successful at overthrowing anything that is yucky, dirty, out of place or smells like cut-through traffic.

[Anonymous]

OP here: well, truly, the best outcome would be that it is a harmless person who is camping for whatever reason, but the worry that the tent is something malicious is what sent me to call.

a young woman was assaulted within a mile of that location and the attacker still hasn't been found. isn't it better to have an abundance of caution?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Go ahead and call. By all means try to help. But it's naive to think that that's what will make the tent "go away."

Then you, my friend from Seattle, apparently, do not know Bethesda. At all.

Oh, you silly Bethesdan. I'm not from Seattle. I'm your neighbor right next door. You know, from DC... *gasp*. Lived here since '94. Our tents tend to stick around.

I'll leave you to clutch your pearls.

You seem like a jerk.

[Anonymous]

Homeless people have a right to be on public property. The notion that the police will step in and provide social services is ludicrous.

And how would you like to be rousted out of your bed in the middle of the night or on a cold day and offered "social services." Which is essentially what you are insisting should be done here.

The notion that the homeless do not know it is cold is also quite far-fetched.

[Anonymous]

Homeless does not mean criminal.
Also, I've spent a lot of nights outdoors in sub-zero temperatures. The presumed homeless person is safer and more secure in a tent than in a shelter. If you can't sleep on or in your belongings in a shelter they will get stolen. Or maybe that person has a pet to care for that will get taken away if they get whisked off to a shelter. Or perhaps they are there because it is close to some day-labor they are doing and won't be able to get to their job if they are forced out. If the person has a tent and the wherewithal to set up in a location that is near people, but still slightly out of harm's way, then he/she likely has the mental capacity to keep warm without someone calling the hypothermia hotline.
There are thousands of scenarios you are not imagining due to your limited experiences. Do you care and want to make a difference? Grab a friend or two or five and drop off a clean blanket you don't use anymore. While you are at it, throw in a tube of toothpaste, a gallon of water, a couple of cans of food with pop-tops, a tub of peanut butter and a copy of the hypothermia hotline phone number. Say "early Merry Christmas/ Happy Hannukkuh" and leave. If the person is there you will have a very quick idea of whether you should place the call to 311 or not. Regardless, you've given him or her a little bit of dignity and you've dug yourself out of your own prejudice.

And before anyone jumps all over me for suggesting any of this: I was homeless on two separate occasions as a teen and have spent the past few decades quietly working with homeless people on both coasts and the southwest desert mountains.

[Anonymous]

Homeless people have a right to be on public property.

Don't parks close at dusk?

[Anonymous]

What would the police offer other than a jail cell if they don't leave? LOL @ acting like they will do anything but tell them to leave and maybe point in the direction of the shelter that is probably full anf 5 miles away.

[Anonymous]

All of this pussy footing around. What OP and others are really concerned about is that there is a homeless person making their home - rent and tax free - in Bethesda. Call non-emergency, OP, but be honest about why it's a concern: you don't want homeless people in your neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Homeless people have a right to be on public property.

Don't parks close at dusk?

Yes, and they will be given a ticket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Homeless does not mean criminal.
Also, I've spent a lot of nights outdoors in sub-zero temperatures. The presumed homeless person is safer and more secure in a tent than in a shelter. If you can't sleep on or in your belongings in a shelter they will get stolen. Or maybe that person has a pet to care for that will get taken away if they get whisked off to a shelter. Or perhaps they are there because it is close to some day-labor they are doing and won't be able to get to their job if they are forced out. If the person has a tent and the wherewithal to set up in a location that is near people, but still slightly out of harm's way, then he/she likely has the mental capacity to keep warm without someone calling the hypothermia hotline.
There are thousands of scenarios you are not imagining due to your limited experiences. Do you care and want to make a difference? Grab a friend or two or five and drop off a clean blanket you don't use anymore. While you are at it, throw in a tube of toothpaste, a gallon of water, a couple of cans of food with pop-tops, a tub of peanut butter and a copy of the hypothermia hotline phone number. Say "early Merry Christmas/ Happy Hannukkuh" and leave. If the person is there you will have a very quick idea of whether you should place the call to 311 or not. Regardless, you've given him or her a little bit of dignity and you've dug yourself out of your own prejudice.

And before anyone jumps all over me for suggesting any of this: I was homeless on two separate occasions as a teen and have spent the past few decades quietly working with homeless people on both coasts and the southwest desert mountains.

I agree 100%. If something isn't harming you or others, leave it alone. This is a tough world for many people. This person may have *finally* found a little slice of land to secretly put up a tent (because he/she has no other options). They probably have no other place to go. I'd live in a tent before a shelter. Leave it alone, or drop off some supplies and a map of shelters.