"Don't feed the bums" sticker on glass door - inside - of South Coast Surf Shop.
Our roving reporter has discovered the source of the ‘don’t feed the bums’ stickers that have mysteriously appeared on municipal signs and a couple local store windows lately around OB.
After roaming up and down Newport Avenue this morning (6/10/10), our reporter found only two of the controversial yellow and black stickers – both on South Coast Surf Shop windows and doors.
When we called South Coast about them, Bobby told me “someone” put them up, and that actually the Black was selling them. The Black? The iconic hippie store – the store that has been on Newport for – what 40 years now?
Ellie, who has worked at The Black for 20 years, confirmed for me that yes, indeed, the sticker is sold at their store. How much, I asked. $2.50 was the answer.
Wow, I thought. After all these years, what a cultural turn-around. Here 40 years ago, it was the Black’s customers – the hippies, the young people and street people of yesteryear – who were being harassed. Now, in a dramatic, ironic, and retrograde turnabout, The Black is now selling anti-homeless stickers.
And then Ellie told me why.
The bums are way outta control. The new homeless people, not the older street people, just the punk rock homeless who beg aggressively. They don’t have to be homeless. They’re trust-fund runaways. They think it’s cool to be dirty and beg. And then they come into our store and buy something with a credit card.
“I know alotta of the older OB homeless,” she said, “and they’re not these kids.” Ellie even shared a rumor that a BBQ grill had been found on some business’ roof recently, being used by homeless.
So there it was: class distinctions among the homeless. Merchants riled up against the new homeless, the “trust-fund runaways.” Yet, even though the stickers are being sold, we have only found one business displaying them (1 business with 2 shops). And we have found the source of the new, pricey stickers. And I guess The Black can’t be liable for any of the stickers being stuck on public signs, now can they.
The homeless, whether the new homeless or the older regulars, they’re still with us. There’s those who want to feed them and those who don’t want to and don’t want you feeding them either. “Welcome to Ocean Beach,” as the sticker says.
{ 64 comments… read them below or add one }
I pondered whether to put “The Black” into the headline. Giving them attention like that is almost advertising, I thought, but it’s negative too, so maybe it’s balanced out. Maybe there’ll be a rush to buy the stickers now.
“And then they come into our store and buy something with a credit card. ”
Actually it looks like 40 years later The Black’s customers are still being harassed, but now it’s The Black doing the harassing?
LOL. I guess we just blew any potential advertising by The Black. Did you know that the original Black used to take out like full page ads in the original OB Rag? I went into the store last Fall and talked to the owner about getting an ad. He could have cared less. No sense of history with that dude, I thought, despite the banner that has been hanging outside proclaiming 40 years of “hipness” or something like that.
What a shocker! I’m an Obecian living abroad (in Australia) and that is just plain wrong. When I read the article I couldn’t believe The Black is selling anti-homeless stickers. Every other year or so when I go back and visit OB it’s becoming more like PB or MB.
I won’t be shopping at The Black anymore when I visit OB in the future.
I have witnessed several local business owners and employees of those businesses getting into it with homeless peeps. If you boycotted all of them you wouldn’t be doing much shopping on newport.Don’t go for a burger,they shoo homeless away.they don’t even let them eat from their dumpster!Don’t get coffee,they ask homeless to not loiter in front of their storefronts and call the police when they do.Nothing is as it was 40 years ago.Yes, landlords of newport have raised rents.In turn the shop owners feel more financial pressure and look at the homeless in front of their place as a detrement to their bottom line.I haven’t spoken with one local business owner who doesn’t have a problem with homeless people. Any Newport shop owners want to chime in?
Wish they’d have stuck with “U.S. out of O.B.” Pretty lame…
Uh…..Non-sequiter……. but can’t you make OBR tshirts in 3x?
Our alley between Cape May, Brighton– Between Abbott and the beach has been an odd magnet for folks homeless and otherwise. As the only alley that ends at the sand in the warzone I have found the old skool homeless and new school folks to be usually quite polite and have never stolen anything, did graffiti or been disrespectful to my MRS. etc. They do act a bit piggish though with their discarded butts (that close to our sacred beach) and their intrinsic laziness of having to relieve themselves on my trash cans or car tires when public restrooms are a few thousand yards away. Pretty much those folks are self absorbed and feel they live the free life. Whatever, it’s OB. I bargained for that when I migrated from Serra Mesa 20 years ago. These stinkos are a fabric and a flavor! OB wouldn’t be the same without em.
Thanks, bro. The homeless are like the canary in the coal mine. When they go, it’s time for all of us to leave – GENTRIFICATION has arrived. So, allow the homeless, young and old, to be YOUR WARNING SIGN my friends. If someday, you don’t see any, start packin’ ’cause OB is over.
Based on what Kenloc posted, it’s pretty pointless to boycott all business that have issues with the homeless. Though I’m not a business owner I understand their perspective. In this economy it’s tough to stay afloat so maybe we need to be understanding of them (business owners) putting a higher priority on their bottom line to the needs of the homeless.
Yeah, it’s a tough economy – worst since the Depression. Ummm … could this be why there’s so many homeless here …. hmmm… just wonderin.
Why can’t we be compassionate for both the businesses and the homeless? Why is it one or the other?
Not saying we can’t have compassion for both. As to the homeless situation there are many many reasons and not just the economy. This much I can say. If I were a business owner and a bunch of homeless people were congregating in the front and scaring away potential customers that would be a concern.
Boycott people for careing? Every homeless person is going to be different. There is a big difference between the old school homeless and the new school homeless. When I see the Can-Guy at 5:30am; I say good morning. I make sure I always wash out all my recycling for him. For him. We have had a problem in our neighborhood with the homeless rainbows sending one person in to rent an apartment; saying they would be living there alone, and then 10-20-30-40-50 different people moving in and out in the middle of the night; night after night, month after month. They are not nice. It creates a creepy environment. They don’t want to work. They hang out doing meth and drinking every day. It’s not healthy. We have a big problem. They are not just cute little zoo animals or nice pets to collect. They are not just youth having a good time. They are people that have given up on society and do not care about us. I heard one of them one day talking about how they run scams on Senior Citizens. Then laughing because he thought he was just taking from the old and giving to the new. Look around dude. Those seniors built the lace you are squatting in and the roads you are pan handling on. You can care till the cow come home about a person, but if they don’t care about themselves, nothing you do will change that. We have a huge problem in this country with corporations taking a huge majority of the resources in business. Things have gotten so bad people are becoming cold to homeless. Do you want to enable someone to fail ongoingly in life or how do we cultivate caring and contribution in our community? Complaining and finger pointing is just another problem on the pile. What do they want? Why won’t they make an effort for themselves? I saw a young squatter that looked barely 16 and she looked like an old dried up drunk woman at the end of the bar and she looked all crazy in her eyes; like a wild animal. How are we supposed to uplift these people to care? I have been a teacher and social servant for over 25 years and I know enabling never makes a difference; inspiring a person to care about themselves and want to take care of themselves, letting them know they matter. We treat each other like we don’t matter. So every nasty word we spew, remembers that is a seed that is being sowed. Hating people for caring about OB isn’t pretty. OB is becoming a stinky mess. What tourist wants to visit this place; other than the ones that just come to party? What makes us great is our live and let live attitude. But that live and let live attitude does not extend to people that consistently disrespect us. There comes a time when people have had enough of being used and taken advantage of. Have you listened to the Police scanner in our OB? It’s a drunk tank over here. How much time have any of you really spent with homeless? You don’t even ask them what they want. You want for them. Were is their power in that? Were is the freedom in force?
That is all.
Odd, how the new anti-homeless sticker shown in the picture above was placed a bit higher than the “SD loves Haiti” flyer. Why, if SDians can “love” Hatians, can’t they love those right here in their own neighborhood(s) that need help with water, food, and basic shelter? Is it because we can’t see Haitians from our comfortable patios that we’re willing to send our monies there? Why is it that we can seem to manage our own communities needs, yet seem incredibly willing to fling money at an issue so far away that we can’t see, smell, touch, or be ‘inconvienced’ by it? When will this country, our City, this community, (read you) begin taking care of its own?
I agree that there are “class differences” in the homeless population. There has been ever since I can remember . There are many varied reasons people are homeless. Some by choice in order to freely travel and see America sans walls (youth hostels abound for these travelers). Some by circumstance; layed off while already heavily in debt and/or one paycheck away from the same fate with no family or friends to help them out. Some too burdened by medical costs to afford both rent and medical treatment. Some are homeless due to undiagnosed, untreated, or unmanaged mental illness. Some due to alcohol/drug abuse (trust me when I say this one leads to insanity or death by its very consuming nature). Some, just working out their bad karma. Most simply need a hand up ~ not a hand out.
There are resources out there for those who want to get off the streets, just not in OB. Not one scrap of information is available to refer someone wanting to get off the streets as to where to go to do so. I turn to the OB Local Business Directory. Page 9 lists Homeless Services (619) 533-6525. Wouldn’t you know it. It goes straight to voice mail and the mailbox is full. I can’t get through to a live person or even leave a message. Okay, down a bit further on the page it lists San Diego Rescue Mission (619) 687-3720. Chris Barbara answered the phone and offered the following:
~~ Men can come in to the shelter only on Mondays between 9am-11am at 120 Elm Street (cross street is First) in downtown SD. Needing to ask the obvious, seeing as it’s Friday, I inquired as to what a man could do between now and then. He said that they would simply have to wait till Monday morning to go there for any assistance. What’s three more nights on the streets, right?
~~ Women and children have a seperate facility. That number is (619) 819-1844 and assistance is available between 7pm-7am, otherwise a message can be left on this non-full voice mailbox during the day.
~~ Anyone in an abusive situation can get immediate assistance anytime day/night by calling 9-1-1. No one should suffer physical or emotional abuse in silence.
According to the latest figures Mr. Barbara gathered at a recent conference on the homeless population, there are currently 5000 homeless in San Diego. FIVE THOUSAND INDIVIDUALS. Staggering to imagine.
Yet, imagine for a moment what this many people could accomplish if they organized and worked together toward a common goal. They could move mountains…
…yet according to the latest hate stickers rearing their ugly heads, just don’t move them to/through OB. Heartless bastards.
Right on, sistah! Thanks so much for pulling this together. Why don’t you print this up as an article.
I second that, Sunshine – thanks much for your research, which does seem like it could turn into a very interesting article.
Maybe someone will actually read this and take advantage of it. If it works for one person, maybe he/she will spread the word. One can only hope.
I recall — many years ago — when “The Black” sold bumper stickers engaging what many would call “civil disobedience” with their messages of “We’re Not Against the Soldiers. We’re Against the War,” “Make Love Not War,” “What if they gave a war and nobody came!,” and one of my criptic favorites: In ’63 we got the Byrd, in ’69 we got the Dick.”
If they (The Black) understand it or not, there are high expectations in regard to their store and their offerings. . .
BOYCOTT THE BLACK UNTIL THEY REMOVE THE STICKERS OF HATE. Okay, I’m ready to boycott the Black. I’m already boycotting ARCO so what’s one more business not to use.
Good point Sunshine! Having that sticker next to the Haiti relief sign just screams hypocrisy. I think we all know there are certain agressive homeless youth that are causing problems. But why waste all that time printing glossy stickers to demonize ALL homeless? I could easily make stickers saying, ” Welcome to OB, now don’t shop at the Black they’re all a bunch of whiney douchebags.” Well, we all know that’s not true. Only a few of the employees there are douchebags. A few of them are really nice and I enjoy talking to them. Same goes for the homeless population. When you marginalize an entire group of people for the acts of a few, you end up looking like a fascist. I’m not gonna boycott the Black or anything, but I think their frustration is manifesting itself in a very negative way.
“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”
~Mahatma Gandhi
Bump up (jon and Lane, my new keyboard does not have a “bump up” symbol)
Jon,
Well said as always. We must get together as soon as I’m back.
This is my dream for the situation. While I don’t care for manner less behavior, I love all the homeless people anyway. I don’t want them to be uncomfortable. And they are not all manner less. Those darn squeaky wheels.
My dream would be 1) Ask all the homeless people what it is they want. If they could have anything they want and there life could be anything they want what would it be? Or are they happy with how things are going. It’s painful to watch society fight all the time and use words that feel sick. It’s painful to watch all the blame and the false faces and secret motives. OB seems like a unique place were people truly do care a lot. Even if they get mean about their caring. I believe the necessary skills are in OB to organize a prosperous community. What skills do we have here? What do we want day in day out? Everyone not just the homeless or not just us. What kind of little world do we want to live in? I always think a heavy data IT mind would be great at putting together a social plan. Creating a smooth operating system. Identify all the needs and all those that can fill the needs or based on the level of the quality of life we want to live. Plan for quality. Planning for piles of cash is moldy and limiting.
Some of my social service work is with homeless shelters and with drop in centers. I’ve taught all the variety of programs there are for the participants to be compliant with the program and I could clearly see that enabling and judging never made a difference. Asking what is important to them, making arts, making food, going on nature outing, talking. In this day and age and location I think a meditation class would be wonderful for those that could or would be in that state of mind. Where they are in there mind is far from were someone else is. Getting them to care for themselves and seeing their own value give them meaning to build their life. The enabling and putting up with the status quo line never ends. That line stands eternal.
Alpha project started back up.
How do you help a person help themselves for them and not for you? How do we make a quality life together? How do we harness our resources?
I want to see the homeless people in homes and happy and healthy. I want to see people happy.
That is really all this time. :)
Lots of questions, with very few real answers in this issue. Four or Five months ago this issue was being discussed in depth with many different opinions and ideas being expressed. I go to Ocean Beach everyday and have seen no changes despite the fact many say they want to help the homeless. Maybe I missed the outreach.
If anything more homeless are on the wall and in the parking lot. I see drugs , drugs and more drugs, I was at the seawall last night and saw a new guy to town duck down behind the wall and smoke crack in a pipe. I was approached by a guy selling he wanted to know if i needed a ” nugget” …..This might be the reason why the intolerance from the community…
i’m just thinking….
The production and distribution of the sticker represents a growing frustration by people in OB for elements of the homeless community who degrade everyone elses quality of life. Tolerance is one thing, but the business and homeowners in proximity to Newport are tired of those elements making life miserable for others – at some point you have to say “stop”. The sticker is a non-violent expression of frustration, perhaps a rally point for an otherwise silent majority who are tired of having to put up with the actions of a few. Planting flowers along Newport will not appease those homeless and stop them from urinating in our streets and alleys.
charley, maybe you’re new to this issue in conversation, but apparently not in reality. okay, this blog had this exact discussion a few months back, and it would be good for any new readers or commenters to check out the past discussions on this here blog.
in fact a bunch of homeless and their supporters went to the town council a while ago, and you know what their number one complaint was? lack of public restrooms! perhaps there wouldn’t be piss and crap in your alley if there were decent public restrooms in this neighborhood. they aren’t. and guess what – has anyone done anything about it? i mean has anyone done anything about this??? no! it’s the same situation as it was before – no restrooms, more crap. and don’t forget, a lot of the drunks and college kids who come to the newport bars piss and crap in our alleys too. in fact, many residents and homeowners have had more problems with the middle class drunks than with the homeless.
so, get it together ob.
I live 1/2 block from public restrooms and still see homeless peeing in the alley./to far to stumble i guess
Can’t help but to ask. If you cant find a restroom what do you do? Pee in the corner or crap on the cliffs? Thats what animals do they have no self control.
You can’t blame “the man” or the City or whatever else it’s called personal responibility.
If you live in OB , drink all night and use the streets for a restroom on the way home at 3 am you are a pig. If you are homeless and use the streets as a restroom at 3pm you are also a pig.
I do remember something about a bunch of the travlers went to the town council….there was a big out pouring of support for them….they need this they need that we all are going to help…get them services, open our homes, give them a hand up, be their friends, be a mentor, all this chatter about help. I just wonder after that what was done ?? I DO NOT remember any follow up being posted or discussed on this web page. Other than the Monday feedings at the beach which have a 20 year history. It just seems people will defend the urban tumbleweeds with all the PC words, but at the end of the day …nobody does nuthin. Except to defend them when others get fed up…..
dont plant flowers.they just get puked on(
first of all, there have always been and always will be “tumbleweeds” in OB. some of them create problems, use drugs and are “unattractive”.
this sticker that the Black is selling does nothing to address the situation. all it does is promote hate and intolerance. while it is true that many small business owners have issues with the homeless and sometime behave poorly, i think that the Black needs to be made an example of.
Say no to hate. And say no to the Black.
(BTW Frank, the original owners who supported the OBRag sold the Black many years ago)
(Ed: there was a rumor that OBMA was selling them but Denny Knox has confirmed that they don’t.) No, we don’t sell that sticker and never have.
sorry denny. i figured my source was reliable. b u s t e d!
That statement was on my FB page…it was a joke to the person who asked the question on my wall. Not intended to be posted as a fact…..IT WAS HUMOR between a friend of mine and myself.
jim grant.
We just called Denny to personally apologize on behalf of the OB Rag and she said, “We would never sell something like that! We don’t do anything negative.” We told her we love her.
I think it’s unbelievable that locals can have so much hate and be so cruel. Some of the things I heard of locals doing, and getting away with, just shocked and disgusted me. One guy was spit on and called a troll, but the only reason why he was in SD was because he had to get a brain surgery, and he finally found a doctor that could preform it at UCSD. Another kid was harassed and when he turned around and said fuck you the local attacked him. He slammed his face into the concrete multiple times chipping and knocking out his front teeth. The poor kid was in so much pain. All he could do was self medicate with weed and alcohol, but can you blame him?
The homeless may aggressively pan handle from time to time, but I have seen more violence coming from the locals. I mean hell, I watched “hells angels” constantly kick a homeless man over and over right in front of l rodeo at about 4pm. What kind of imagine does that give the family with the little girl that was walking by.
hells angels are ob locals?
They’re more prevalent than Mongols.
Well considering I see them many times a week in OB and he yelled at the guy “You’re f*cking with hells angels”, and they proudly display their patches on there jackets, I’d say yes.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
It’s so sad to see people judge others that they don’t know. It’s causes so much destruction. If people would just spend the same amount of energy trying to have compassion and understanding as they do trying to justify why it’s ok to degrade their fellow human beings we would be much better off.
We’ve all seen oil gushing out into the gulf poisoning our birds and fish. We can see the devastation first hand. It’s on every station. Can’t you see the same thing spewing from your lips and flowing from your fingers as you type. It’s poisoning our streets, community and our lives.
I pray that none of the judges ever have children or family that needs help. I pray that they never need a helping hand. Karma has a way of judging the judges.
Every time I hear someone tell me the difference between a young homeless and an old homeless citizen. I am reminded of people I’ve known who try to explain why there is a difference between black people and, well I’m sure you know what comes next.
My Grandfather worked hard his entire life. During the depression however, he was very poor and had to find food any way he could. The thought of someone treating him the way that some of our homeless are treated makes me want to cry.
The difference between “old homeless people” and young homeless people”.What we are referring to is the homeless that are here year round and the come and goes.There is a difference between them.Boston James and John and the bunch know whats cool to do and what isn’t.We have conversations from time to time.i give them money when i have extra though they never ask.I give them leftovers when we have some.I don’t do this for the “come and goes” or “young homeless”because they are the ones i see steal car covers,write graffitti,shit and piss behind dumpsters,etc.I was walking behind 2 of them the other day listening to their conversation about the heroin they just did. I think all the locals know the “old homeless”,by name or not,and feel comfortable with them because we know their tendencies.That’s the difference.It isn’t hate, it’s common sense.
Boston James has been arrested numerous times for assault. He spent 3 months for assaulting a police officer and punched his best friend Jimbo in the face who later died of unrelated circumstances. I know these people. I’ve also known young homeless people throughout my life. I’ve walked with them and I shake their hands after a conversation. They are me and I am them. Your common sense seems to be nothing more than common ignorance.
obsteven, with your comment and response here, you’ve said it all, and said it eloquently, as well. Many thanks.
calling folks ignorant is eloquent?
Thank you for the kind words Shane.
sad that Jimbo died.All the more reason to help these folks get off the streets.Sorry you feel that peeps who have issues with homeless people are ignorant.must be nice to be so enlightened.I notice these message boards becoming a “I am more tolerant and enlightened than you”forum.Please Obsteven, tell us ignorant obecians more of your great stories of walking with the downtrodden.
Kenloc,
I’ve personally worked with the homeless several times. I would be happy to go with you to the Neil Good Day Center sometime so that you can become more familiar with the wide variety of reasons why people become homeless. I am currently on tour, but will be back in mid July. I copied the following from Wikipedia for your benefit. I really wasn’t trying to make a personal attack, I just don’t think that your information is correct.
Ignorance is where someone or something is uninformed. This should not be confused with being unintelligent, as one’s level of intelligence and level of education or general awareness are not the same. The word “ignorant” is an adjective describing a person in the state of being unaware. The term may be used specifically (e.g. “One can be an expert in math, and totally ignorant of history.”) or generally (e.g. “an ignorant person.”)—although the second use is used less as a descriptive and more as an imprecise personal insult.
I hope that this helps.
yes it helps alot.you went to being arrogant.I don’t work with the homeless but i do live amongst them in a spot where I have constant contact with them.you can’t deny the destruction they cause our community.even they can’t.I speak with them about it all the time.Sorry to see James in jail again cuz he used to keep all the newbies away from my place.my point is I do feel for these people.I like to see noone destroy themselves the way they do.but why should I or anyone else have to deal with someone elses self destruction? My compassion is saved for ones who want help but can’t get it.Most of the homeless in ob don’t want help dude.Ask em yourself
Arrogance was not my intention. I’m trying to use the English language to communicate with you. I like to take the high road on situations like this. We have different opinions. That’s it.
agreed…
So much misinformation in these posts that I don’t know where to start. Only thing that can be certain is that everyone agrees that the stickers are at a minimum in poor taste and providing some enterprise to at least the Black allthough the true source isn’t clear. Perhaps the sticker is misguided alltogether and should have read “Don’t feed the trust fund fake homeless punks”. Maybe that would be more effective at shooeing off the real culprits.
@Sunshine — Great comment – what could 5000 people do if they banned together and did something. Certainly a lot! However, these people don’t choose that path. They live a lifestyle that is dependent on the rest of us hard-working tax-paying citizens who are vested in the community through the thousands of dollars each year that we provide our City in order to provide us with a minimal level of service expected by this majority. So….the question here is How do we make these persons inclusive of the solution and vested/franchised into the system that most of us participate at a level commensurate with their ability to access the same services? Are you suggesting pay toilets??? That works in Europe and other locations. Maybe we should put some into the community plan?
I think your real grief is that the City of SD hasn’t made a solution for the social problem of homelessness more of an issue. I would agree with you there. Dont’ forget though…OB isn’t incorporated, so a community solution isn’t tenable without funding and resources from City of SD — and then….who would manage such a program??? Please send the name of the person to your Councilmember and Mayor. You might want to check out programs in Denver and Chicago that have actually be successful in improving social services while reducing homelessness, drug use and crime. SD might be suited to incorporate a similar program.
@Bodysurfer — Not quite a true statement. Plans are being provided by City of SD to completely replace the Brighton Street comfort station as we speak. This was a combined group of Mainstreet, Town Council and Planning Group people driving this solution. Also…not sure exactly where you are getting your “more crap” data. That might need some validation.
Also…of all of those above who purport to be so concerned…Please volunteer the use of your home or business location as the next homeless center of OB and then ask your neighbors if it is OK. I’m sure that you might find that people are really willing to comment so heartfelt and meaningful… but really aren’t willing to do anything about it. There are 25,000 people that live in OB. Do you think that if we took a poll that 13,501 people would say to locate the next homeless center in OB? I doubt it. Besides, DE-centralized social services are not successful. Get in tune with what is going on at City hall people….they are discussing the location of a permanent homeless center as we speak.
Here is a link to a story on pay toilets…..enjoy.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/a-pay-toilet-opens-no-need-to-hold-everything/
Lots of defending going on…
Meanwhile…they are purchasing their 40 oz beer from Newport Farms with that buck you gave them. Hard to help someone when they cant help themselves.
Don’t give them money.give them food if you have it.give them old clothes.but don’t fuel their fire.Go to newport farms at 7 am when they open and watch em line up at the door.same folks are eating out of hodads dumpster at noon.sad
I don’t have a problem with that sticker, but I also think that it’s sentiment makes about as much sense as the blanket statement, “feed the homeless” too. With the exception of Lane, because of my day gig of walking dogs, I deal with more of these people in one day than most of you do in an entire month. Each one of these folks has their own unique set of circumstances and therefore their own unique way of getting back on their feet, if that’s what they truly want.
To prove my point here’s how the last 3 people have asked me for money. I was on Newport 2 days ago and this guy with a huge dogs asked me for $2.50. I said, “I didn’t have it” but offered to give his dog some treats. He accepted my offer. The next day I saw him walking on Newport with 2 dogs.
Then there’s this guy with long brown hair, a grey beard and a big hooked nose who walks around OB shouting obscenities all of the time. The other day he asked me for any spare change. I wish I would have know about that “change comes from within” line but instead I politely said, “I didn’t have any” to which he backed up a few steps into the street and began cursing at me at the top of his lungs.
Then, I’m in a local eatery the other day and this guy comes up to me just reeking of alcohol and tells me he hasn’t eaten in 3 days. He obviously has the presence of mind to buy the booze so why should I give him money that I worked hard for? He hit up 2 other people in the restaurant and they turned him down too.
Finally, we have a Veteran sleeping in our parking lot under a pick-up truck that continues to resist getting help. I’ve talked to him ‘til I’m blue in the face about all of the programs that the VA has to offer him, and how that would help get him back on his feet, but he’d rather start off every day with a bottle of Vodka and 2 tall Coors 40’s than go get his life together, so yeah…if it sounds like I’m being a hard-ass then so be it.
If someone wants and/or needs help and wants to get it together then I’m all for it. But if someone want to come to OB because it’s an easy place to be a bum, a tweaker and/or a drunk and sponge off good hearted folks while they steal their belongings, then I don’t have much sympathy for them, and I would have no problem displaying one of those stickers prominently.
The Black ROCKS and ARCO has the cheapest gas in town, and I’m not boycotting either one!
/\/\/\/\/\/\
THIS
Well said dude
I’m not cold hearted Frank, and I’m sorry that you can’t see past your own feelings to see the way things truly are here in 2010 OB. I have an abundance of compassion for those who want help or to get their lives back together. I have none for people who destroy my town and steal honest hard working peoples possessions.
That said, if you want to personally do something about the homeless Vet living under the pick-up truck in my parking lot, then by all means do so, actions speak louder than words, “dude”
As far as free PR, I have no idea what you’re talking about, but if you want to talk about all of the free content that I’ve given you over this past year + then I’m all ears….
Dave, I actually took down my nasty response. I was feeling groggy plus somewhat raw with all the negative responses I’m reading about the homeless in OB. So, I apologize about that. I know you have compassion most of the time in your heart and I’m sorry for getting back at ya like that. See what I did? I took my reaction to just one of your nasty comments and unfeeling remarks and responded as if that’s the only thing you’ve ever said. I don’t mean that. You’ve said some great things over this past year. What I just did to you I believe is a reflection of what some OBceans are doing to homeless. They (you here?) are castigating the entire group called “homeless” for the behavior of a few.
BTW, we did give you some free PR for an entire week by posting info about you and your band playing at Tio Leos. Probably somebody showed up to see you guys ’cause they read it here on the Rag.
Part of my point is that the homeless “problem” is a community-wide and societal-wide issue and needs to be dealt with on those levels. We blame the homeless for their homelessness and associated problems/issues without facing the real reasons they are homeless in the first place.
I hope we can smoke a peace pipe between us, dude. I mean it.
The greatest challenge in life might just be showing tolerance towards the intolerant.
a greater challenge is picking up human shit with a bag like I pick up my dogs shit without puking.If your available after tour steven you can come to the my house and help me pick it up when it happens next time.My intolerance for you ends when I have to pick up your shit and trash.
I’ve too had to clean human feces that was dropped in front of my truck. It is not fun. I will happily come over any time Ken. Will you go to a shelter with me? It is unfortunate that you feel so defensive when you are presented a different opinion than yours. I am not your enemy Ken. I am one of your neighbors and hopefully some day we can shake hands instead of shaking fists.
Noone is shaking fists bro.Didn’t get defensive about your opinion either.no,I don’t need a lesson on why people are homeless.I’ve spoken with many of them and the reasons vary.I was simply addressing your statement regarding old homeless and new homeless and how calling someone “new homeless” is somehow equated to calling a black man the “n” word.I was trying to explain why they are treated different by locals.I never said one group has a cleaner police record than another.Just that they are familiar faces that don’t usually harrass people.You pointed out that James has been arrested numerous times.Mostly for failures to appear on drunk in public charges.He and Jimbo used to fight alot.I’m sure some of the “new homeless”have records and fight occasionally as well.Anyway,you are entitled to your opinion as I am entitled to mine.Perhaps we can have a beer someday and discuss it further.Peace
errr …tolerance for you.haha.ranting tooo fast
BLeSSeD aRe thE FoLKs whO caN BLeSS thE LeSSbLeSSed,,,,
wow! At least everyone is passionate about their idealism. To make a sticker which says do not Feed “anyone” whomever it may be is inhumane and distasteful. Yes do not give them money and do not give them alcohol sure, but food and water is a basic need which every human, no matter who or what they represent, deserves. I feel shamed by this sticker.