Anonymous
03/02/2023 09:11
Subject: The street beggars are out of control
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I pass through Union Station twice a day and walk up Mass. Ave seven blocks for work. I'm out and about around Gallery Place for lunch. While I've seen greater numbers of homeless individuals, these pearl-clutching stories of rampant "out of control" behavior amount to nothing more than hyperbole. They definitely remain the exception instead of the norm.
It really depends on the area. It was out of control at McPherson until they cleared the homeless encampment last week. It’s really a different pattern of homelessness than what I’ve seen in 30 years of living here. It’s like we still have the old homeless problem but there’s a few new things layered on top, one of which is the large encampments and one of which is the organized panhandlers.
Things definitely feel different now. Not only are the numbers up, but the substance abuse is more visible. The aggressiveness is more visible. There is an air of hopelessness about it all.
Part of the problem is the types of drugs that are now available.
Anonymous
03/02/2023 09:00
Subject: The street beggars are out of control
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I pass through Union Station twice a day and walk up Mass. Ave seven blocks for work. I'm out and about around Gallery Place for lunch. While I've seen greater numbers of homeless individuals, these pearl-clutching stories of rampant "out of control" behavior amount to nothing more than hyperbole. They definitely remain the exception instead of the norm.
Lying prone on the street is out of control behavior. The fact that you don't recognize that is super sad
By your standard, “out of control” behavior has been occurring for decades.
If your child were lying face down in their own filth in a bus stop and refusing shelter, I'm pretty sure you'd think they're out of control. And that's the least of what we see, but by your admission you see it every day and are not concerned enough to call in a wellness check or feel unease over their situation.
I feel unease about the situation such people are in; I don't feel unease for myself in proximity to them, however.
I understand what you are saying, that you do not feel your personal safety is threatened. However, the fact that you do not view chronic homelessness generally as out of control behavior or feel unease over what you have observed are greater numbers is odd. Even if you do not feel personally threatened, I am sure you are capable of understanding that many of us have observed erratic behavior, that some people's daily business takes them on routes where they are harrassed by panhandlers, and that there was a spate of random killings of mostly young women in the past five years in DC by homeless. Just because it hasn't happened to you, or someone you know, I would urge you to understand two things--seeing homeless as someone's child and being concerned by their welfare, and seeing an uptick in mentally ill folks without any services on our streets is not "pearl clutching". I hope you can bring yourself to this realization and be part of the solution. For example, calling in a wellness check for some of the folks you pass every day who are no doubt in great distress.
Yes, thanks for the lecture -- I have never used the phrase "pearl clutching" and I frequently make calls to D.C. homeless service lines on behalf of people who appear to be in distress.
Unfortunately, many people (especially on here) who are fortunate enough to be housed and mentally healthy view increased homelessness primarily as a problem for themselves, and all too often, an aesthetic problem. It is in fact a problem primarily for the people who are living on the streets without getting (for whatever reason) the services they need.
That's not to dismiss actual harassment, and everyone has their own comfort level with interactions in the world. But I also don't personally consider myself to have been harassed when people ask me to give them money, even if it's verbally aggressive at times. Speaking only for myself, I am not a victim of D.C.'s homelessness situation.
Anonymous
03/02/2023 05:10
Subject: Re:The street beggars are out of control
And I sad "chronic homelessness" referring to those who refuse housing and services; I'm sure they are among the crowd you pass by Union Station every day. FWIW, that's exactly where a very well educated mentally ill friend of my mother's who slid into homelessness was murdered in the 70s.
Try this number sometime:
Homeless Outreach Teams provide crisis assessment and interventions to homeless persons who may be experiencing a mental health crisis whether on the streets or in homeless shelters. (202) 673-9124 (General) (888) 793-4357 (24-Hour Helpline)
Try this number sometime:
Homeless Outreach Teams provide crisis assessment and interventions to homeless persons who may be experiencing a mental health crisis whether on the streets or in homeless shelters. (202) 673-9124 (General) (888) 793-4357 (24-Hour Helpline)
Anonymous
03/02/2023 05:07
Subject: The street beggars are out of control
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I pass through Union Station twice a day and walk up Mass. Ave seven blocks for work. I'm out and about around Gallery Place for lunch. While I've seen greater numbers of homeless individuals, these pearl-clutching stories of rampant "out of control" behavior amount to nothing more than hyperbole. They definitely remain the exception instead of the norm.
Lying prone on the street is out of control behavior. The fact that you don't recognize that is super sad
By your standard, “out of control” behavior has been occurring for decades.
If your child were lying face down in their own filth in a bus stop and refusing shelter, I'm pretty sure you'd think they're out of control. And that's the least of what we see, but by your admission you see it every day and are not concerned enough to call in a wellness check or feel unease over their situation.
I feel unease about the situation such people are in; I don't feel unease for myself in proximity to them, however.
I understand what you are saying, that you do not feel your personal safety is threatened. However, the fact that you do not view chronic homelessness generally as out of control behavior or feel unease over what you have observed are greater numbers is odd. Even if you do not feel personally threatened, I am sure you are capable of understanding that many of us have observed erratic behavior, that some people's daily business takes them on routes where they are harrassed by panhandlers, and that there was a spate of random killings of mostly young women in the past five years in DC by homeless. Just because it hasn't happened to you, or someone you know, I would urge you to understand two things--seeing homeless as someone's child and being concerned by their welfare, and seeing an uptick in mentally ill folks without any services on our streets is not "pearl clutching". I hope you can bring yourself to this realization and be part of the solution. For example, calling in a wellness check for some of the folks you pass every day who are no doubt in great distress.
Anonymous
03/02/2023 00:14
Subject: Re:The street beggars are out of control
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Okay I know we’re all just here to hate on each other and humanity but I have a real question.
Around 2021 I noticed an uptick in my neighborhood (Rte 1 cooridor) of kind of, I guess semi-sophisticated begging scams? There were a couple guys with fake cancer kid signs at intersections, some pretend buskers at the grocery store with kids, another guy selling pamphlets of some kind. I don’t know if they were connected but it kind of seemed like maybe and then they all just sort of vanished. It is weird! Where did they come from? Where did they go? I hope the kids are okay. I got so mad seeing the kids being used like that.
Many street beggars are used by organized gangs to raise funds.
Years ago there was a group busted in NYC that was using immigrants to pan handle on the subway in a trafficking situation. They had been brought to the Us by smugglers under glass pretenses and then the smugglers took their passports and beat them if they didn’t bring back sufficient money, and threatened their family in the old country. It was a major FBI investigation and it was awful — the group was very well known and pretty much everyone had seen the people and never had any idea; many many people had given money.
Anonymous
03/01/2023 22:19
Subject: The street beggars are out of control
It used to just be the affluent beggar asking for money. Now it’s Elyse and lots of random people.
Anonymous
03/01/2023 21:43
Subject: The street beggars are out of control
I’ve noticed families now begging. There was one near Giant in Vienna today. Reminded me of my South American home country.
Anonymous
03/01/2023 17:05
Subject: The street beggars are out of control
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Biden economy and every important issue is in the crapper.
You are correct. He doesn't even acknowledge any of our current problems thus issues are compounding rapidly.
Wrong. Boring, and wrong.
I will wait for you to post links of any video's of Biden recently addressing inflation, crime, the border and homelessness.
Good luck!
And don't forget the housing shortages!!!
“Housing shortages” is only a problem in democratic run cities
Housing shortages are only a problem in places where there is demand for housing (i.e., people want to live there). Weird how that works.
Anonymous
03/01/2023 16:51
Subject: Re:The street beggars are out of control
Anonymous wrote:
Many street beggars are used by organized gangs to raise funds.
Anonymous
03/01/2023 14:20
Subject: The street beggars are out of control
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yea, this thread is the most pearl clutching I've seen on DCUM in a while, and that's saying a lot.
Maybe it's because the problem is getting worse. There is definitely a change - I recently saw a women urinating in the middle of the day in the middle of a busy street.
And the guy who is living on the 3-foot median in the middle of a very busy road whose belongings keep blowing into the street hitting cars ... seriously dangerous. One day I watched his lawn chair blow into moving traffic. Sometimes he's sleeping and I worry he's going to roll over into a moving car. And a block away an older man who is not exactly stable on his feet walks between the moving cars on a 4 lane road. He's going to get hit. It is really scary to try to maneuver past these guys.
Anonymous
03/01/2023 14:17
Subject: The street beggars are out of control
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Biden economy and every important issue is in the crapper.
You are correct. He doesn't even acknowledge any of our current problems thus issues are compounding rapidly.
Wrong. Boring, and wrong.
I will wait for you to post links of any video's of Biden recently addressing inflation, crime, the border and homelessness.
Good luck!
And don't forget the housing shortages!!!
“Housing shortages” is only a problem in democratic run cities
Not so, I'm looking out of state in a more rural and conservative area. There is no inventory.
“No inventory” that fits your specifications.
Anonymous
03/01/2023 14:16
Subject: Re:The street beggars are out of control
Anonymous wrote:Okay I know we’re all just here to hate on each other and humanity but I have a real question.
Around 2021 I noticed an uptick in my neighborhood (Rte 1 cooridor) of kind of, I guess semi-sophisticated begging scams? There were a couple guys with fake cancer kid signs at intersections, some pretend buskers at the grocery store with kids, another guy selling pamphlets of some kind. I don’t know if they were connected but it kind of seemed like maybe and then they all just sort of vanished. It is weird! Where did they come from? Where did they go? I hope the kids are okay. I got so mad seeing the kids being used like that.
Many street beggars are used by organized gangs to raise funds.
Anonymous
03/01/2023 14:15
Subject: Re:The street beggars are out of control
Okay I know we’re all just here to hate on each other and humanity but I have a real question.
Around 2021 I noticed an uptick in my neighborhood (Rte 1 cooridor) of kind of, I guess semi-sophisticated begging scams? There were a couple guys with fake cancer kid signs at intersections, some pretend buskers at the grocery store with kids, another guy selling pamphlets of some kind. I don’t know if they were connected but it kind of seemed like maybe and then they all just sort of vanished. It is weird! Where did they come from? Where did they go? I hope the kids are okay. I got so mad seeing the kids being used like that.
Around 2021 I noticed an uptick in my neighborhood (Rte 1 cooridor) of kind of, I guess semi-sophisticated begging scams? There were a couple guys with fake cancer kid signs at intersections, some pretend buskers at the grocery store with kids, another guy selling pamphlets of some kind. I don’t know if they were connected but it kind of seemed like maybe and then they all just sort of vanished. It is weird! Where did they come from? Where did they go? I hope the kids are okay. I got so mad seeing the kids being used like that.
Anonymous
03/01/2023 14:11
Subject: The street beggars are out of control
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I pass through Union Station twice a day and walk up Mass. Ave seven blocks for work. I'm out and about around Gallery Place for lunch. While I've seen greater numbers of homeless individuals, these pearl-clutching stories of rampant "out of control" behavior amount to nothing more than hyperbole. They definitely remain the exception instead of the norm.
Lying prone on the street is out of control behavior. The fact that you don't recognize that is super sad
By your standard, “out of control” behavior has been occurring for decades.
If your child were lying face down in their own filth in a bus stop and refusing shelter, I'm pretty sure you'd think they're out of control. And that's the least of what we see, but by your admission you see it every day and are not concerned enough to call in a wellness check or feel unease over their situation.
I feel unease about the situation such people are in; I don't feel unease for myself in proximity to them, however.
Anonymous
03/01/2023 13:02
Subject: The street beggars are out of control
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Biden economy and every important issue is in the crapper.
You are correct. He doesn't even acknowledge any of our current problems thus issues are compounding rapidly.
Wrong. Boring, and wrong.
I will wait for you to post links of any video's of Biden recently addressing inflation, crime, the border and homelessness.
Good luck!
And don't forget the housing shortages!!!
“Housing shortages” is only a problem in democratic run cities
Not so, I'm looking out of state in a more rural and conservative area. There is no inventory.