Los Angeles, Echo Park, has been having some exciting protests. Even though I'm a bit away, the helicopters are passing overhead all night in my 'hood.

Over the past year, since covid started, the homeless population in that park has exploded. The tent city started expanded, and now there are children sleeping there. I'm lead to understand that cleaning areas and showers have been set up. I've passed by it a few times, about a month ago, and it was wild to see. I hear it got even worse, which seems impossible.

The city decided to clean it out, which includes displacing the homeless. For those who aren't from the area, it may seem like a gentrification issue, but it's not that at all. The surrounding area of Echo Park is dangerous, so if you're hearing that narrative, it's false (I used to live in that area, and I've known quite a few others who have).

Apparently, there has been an uptick in violence, stolen packages from doorsteps, and more drug use. People seem quite divided on this issue.

That's my take on the whole situation. I obviously feel for the homeless population, especially the children, who I'm sure are getting excellent remote schooling.

Hopefully that's balanced. I'm not taking sides, though I have a deep disdain for social media activists, and wish they would use their energy for actionable solutions instead of photo ops.

the vaccine is 100% in preventing serious covid

the only solution is to stop all drug and alcohol use in the homeless camps period.
then take the able body people and give them a job so they can be proud and advance themselves. and help them get housing as long as they work.
those that wont give no option to live on public property.
the mentally ill need medical help and confinement if violent.
most of the non mentally ill homeless i have seen are there by choice.

this is the exact same thing everyone else has to do in life.

Homelessness is a complex problem, and I don't have any answers. LA already has high unemployment under normal times. Many people are now deemed "nonessential," and now there are tons of families sleeping outside. The same protestors screaming about the situation are screaming "mask up and stay home." I don't know, it doesn't make sense to me, but then again, you gotta get them social media likes.

fwiw, most of the gov't homeless services require drug rehab and similar things. As I understand it, single mothers with children get priority, then however it goes from there, but obviously, more things could be done.

Echo Park isn't the first park this situation has happened.

its all over in the big liberal cities. they tend to go there as thats where they get the best handouts. that tells me something.

everyone should have an option of a paying job they can live off. if they dont take it well thats their choice to live the way they want, but without help.

I meant I reach seven days since second vaccine today, not teach.

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I have heard all sorts of theories when you reach full vaccination after the second shot (10 days, 14 days, 28 days) etc. But I also heard 14 days after the first shot you are pretty much good to go? I just hope most opt in and things get rolling again. I know they are for me

Where do they camp? Around the lake?

Is it Friday?

Yeah, it's impossible to find photos to do justice to what you would actually see, but this is what I found on the interwebs:





Just consider this and multiply it by 3, then see a bunch of homeless children playing on a swing set, and you get the idea. It's awful and anyone that sees it or visits the park can't help but talk about it. Last I seen Echo Park, there would be tents on the other side of the lake as well, pretty much abut to each other.

There are a ton of homeless in my area as well. Some of the encampments spill into the street, blocking off the bike lanes.

Thanks, I haven't been there since the 60s, and was trying to picture it. It seems they could move them over to the stadium and they'd at least have some access to plumbing.

Isn't there another reservoir near there with a fence around it?

they live for free on the water while the people that are paying high rents or taxes and mortgages are living next to the roads. and the people living in squalor, i mean the tax payers bring those on the water front free food and things and give them money.
who are the suckers.
our own rich john lives on the waterfront but i think he pays for that privilege. and worked hard his 20 hours a week for 8 months a year for the good life.

Ray,

I work thirty weeks, three days a week. But I rent now, so I can afford to live by the water. Certainly couldn't own a place here.

But I will say I've been lucky. I know tons of people with Ph.D.s and Master's degrees who can't get full time jobs. Without a little luck, things could have been much worse.

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ive always wished you the best of luck. you are one of the good ones john.

Today, I had a doctor's appointment with my cardiologist, a woman. I was sitting in the examining room, and when she entered, I stood up to say hello. She said that I made her day and that no one stands up anymore.

Don't men stand up when a woman enters a room? Or am I just too old-fashioned?

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It's called toxic masculinity nowadays

There is Silver Lake, which is the nearest reservoir. McArthur Park (and lake) is closer to Echo Park. I'm pretty sure there are fences, but then again, we are talking about LA where everything is fenced off. I haven't been to the reservoir for a while.

The city does set out hand-cleaning stations and outhouses like you would see on a construction site. I'm not sure what else there is, but possibly, some outdoor showers as well. I could be wrong, but I think a lot of the homeless services are closed right now.

I think they are planning to open up the convention center as an emergency shelter as well. Of course, so many businesses are now permanently shut down that it's impossible to say what the next solution is.

I personally don't lay all of this on liberal policies. I think so much of it is about keeping up with optics. When you stick your finger to the wind of social media, which is mostly people sitting in their cocoons, the city feels undue pressure to keep up the optics.

The surrounding neighborhoods aren't all that nice and certainly are not wealthy. I don't think there are many home owners in that area, at least not outside of the hills. I don't think the people who live within viewing distance of the lakes are keen on the situation. The protesters tend to be from other areas.

john if you stand up for a woman when she enters it is acknowledging that they are in a different class than you are. it has always been wrong but was in fashion years back for you old fogies. just like opening the door of the car for them. of course they like it.
just like if you bow down for the king.
i treat everyone equal in life and equal to how they treat me as well.
except for anyone that smokes near me. then i move away from them immediately.

Yeah Ray, those homeless sure are taking advantage of the system, aren't they?

I am old-fashioned. I let women get on and off elevators first, stuff like that. I can tell you my doc was pleasantly surprised I stood for her.

Last woman I took to dinner a few weeks ago just waited while I opened doors for her. I like that.

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My students were shocked when we looked up how much a family of four need to make to live above the poverty line. And it's not like at a community college I'm teaching the wealthy.

One friend may be right. There's a revolution coming.

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The Methodists gave my brother a home, square meals, and medical attention. Nobody else did. He was sleeping on the tube and in church crypts. We need more of their Christian spirit, I say.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley

A good American. I live on a Peabody estate.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Peabody

its great some people help out and make life better for others.
as long as they do it for those that will uplift themselves in the near future and not for those that just take it and keep asking for more.

yea dom. anyone camping in the parks, doing hard drugs and taking govt. handouts are gaming the system even if they look pitiful to an outsider. they are living their life as they choose.

anyone should be able to get short term help and a job. those that wont should get nothing.
those that arent capable of being in society and functioning without being violent or hurting the way others live, should be taken out of it and taken care of by the govt.