Editor:
It is obvious that many people are concerned and angry concerning the amount of loitering and crime in relation to the homeless population in Humboldt County (“The Pitchfork and the Mouse,” Oct. 22). Many feel that the amount of transients and “tweakers” in the area are creating more crime and are a danger to the law abiding citizens who live here. These worries are not unfounded. It is true that drug abuse is rampant in the homeless population and crime is related to these issues.
To combat this apparent increase in crime, Facebook groups have been formed and protests have been held to let it be known that crime and dereliction will not be tolerated. Signs reading “honk if you hate tweakers GTFO” and “get the scum off our streets” are commonplace at these gatherings. While I realize the frustrations voiced at these forums are partially just people venting, the sentiments behind their comments are dangerous.
The quest for clean, safe streets is by all means a just cause; however the route these people are taking to reach their ultimate goal is troubling. It seems that they just want the transients and homeless people to go away. They want them to be homeless somewhere else, anywhere else; just not here. They do not want to help these people; they want to forget about them. They choose to disregard the core causes of homelessness and drug abuse, such as rampant poverty and, to a much greater extent, mental illness. We need to help these people, not just sweep them under the rug. These problems will never be solved until we stop them at their source.
Chad Friefeld, Arcata
Editor:
A recurring theme in Linda Stansberry’s cover story, “The Pitchfork and the Mouse,” is that people need to restrain themselves on social media. She quotes a psychotherapist who claims that social media “can contribute to a lack of judgment and critical thinking …” and that “being online comes with a culture of immediacy.” Isn’t that the exact description of someone who’s intoxicated or high on drugs?
Yet law-abiding people using social media (on their own dime) are the ones being asked to exercise restraint. Meanwhile chronic alcoholics and drug users are to be treated with respect.
What’s wrong with this picture?
Susan Dodd, Eureka
Editor:
Is it any surprise that aggressiveness goes up and maturity goes down when social media is involved? This isn’t brain surgery, people. There’s very little accountability when it comes to attacking someone in the virtual world, so of course folks are going to let their nasty side show. If you can’t take the heat, then get off the playground.
I hope that it never becomes illegal to be a dirty underhanded little brat on Facebook, because then we’ll know that political correctness has gone entirely too far.
On to the other topic of the article, vigilante neighborhood watch groups; more power to ’em. It’s better than the government’s strong-arm men (the cops), who have no clue what’s going on in our neighborhoods, coming in from the outside to mediate our conflicts. Every community has the right to define who it wants to exclude. The NCJ seems to favor indulging drugs and crime at the expense of hardworking folks that want to protect their homes and families.
Life isn’t a love fest where we all accept each other, that’s unrealistic hippy hogwash. Maybe you folks would prefer that there was no such thing as conflict, unpopular speech, discrimination, exclusion, unpleasant discourse and witch hunts, but that’s because you support a far greater evil: state-mandated niceness and conformity. I prefer to retain my freedom, thanks.
Janelle Andersen, Eureka
This article appears in The Ripple Effect.
In response to the Editor, specifically this statement: “Every community has the right to define who it wants to exclude.”
Hello my name is Toby Nixon founder of Homeless Advocacy & Action Coalition. A Nationwide grassroots organization to End the Criminalization of the homeless.
They also tried this with segregation… A community cannot simply kick out the poor. Homeless people have the same right to travel, to live and decide where they live according to the fourteenth amendment of the Constitution. Telling people to leave, taking their stuff and disenfranchisement is illegal. You have no legal authority in law to exclude anyone for being poor.
We have the right not be abused or harassed by anyone. And that includes these groups. Not to mention Gang Stalking or gaslighting that occurs by these groups we are currently investigating and shaming for stealing property from homeless people, making false police reports and violence perpetrated by these people.
You cannot continue characterizing the homeless as all criminals, drug addicts and crazies. From a Journalistic perspective it’s unethical behavior. From a legal perspective it’s defamatory. When I ran for city council of Arcata, you accused me of elections fraud, because I got Homeless people to vote. Well, the federal court decision was that homeless people can vote in the district they are in. That homeless people have the right to go to anyplace they want and become a citizen. That being a citizen has nothing to do with owning property that you constantly elude to.
Perhaps you forgot about the five men who attacked me outside Don’s donuts and were severely injured in the process, with concussions and broken arms. They said they would kill me if I didn’t leave. Your wrag printed this libellous piece depicting me as attacker, not the victim. You encouraged this violence, like you are doing right now. The court dismissed their assault case and their civil case for recompense for medical expenses. Well, what can I say, when you attack in a pack and get beaten up, you are not the victim, you are the aggressor.
Perhaps you forgot how the College of the Redwoods didn’t want me to go to school there, because of my lack of Housing. Guess what? The Judge ordered my enrollment, I was paid my out of state fees back and the CR police officers who had enforced this policy were ordered to stay 200 feet from my person.
You expounded upon my inherent stupidity and natural unintellent nature, which was obvious to you because I was Homeless. Again a prominent showing of prejudice and hate for the homeless.
Now, I am a National Science Foundation Award Scholarship winner for excellence in science and math. I speak four languages. I am a published author. I am an award winning essayist and I have live streaming technology to record the abuse received by the homeless. For my group of nearly 1000 Activists in our organization.
The tide is turning against you. The Department of Justice has issued a few letters of interest about the unnecessary and foul treatment of the homeless. It has also made requirements for communities reciving HUD money (1.9 billion in grants), that’s you Eureka, contingent upon a response to how you are decreasing the criminalization of the homeless. Obama has ordered over 500 million dollars in specific grants to go to homeless Housing.
We are currently investigating and shaming the 90 minute surprise cleanup by Eureka Community Watch. We have their own photos and statements to use against them. The eviction process is not legal, a three day advance notice is required and storage of personal belongings was decided in the state supreme Court in 2012.
We will be watching for abuses and we will encourage the homeless to sue for rights abuses and harassment. You will be hearing from us a lot more. We will stop the abuse of the homeless, even if I have to fight every homeless hater in the entire country.
You are on the wrong side of history.
I noticed that the article was editied since I wrote my response. I’ve already saved it as a screenshot before I sent my response.