Elmira's Homeless Problem Superthread

[Ann 396]

1 hour ago, Elizabeth Whitehouse said:

  Research shows that very, very few people fail to turn up in front of the judge.

 

I disagree with that research, at least for this area.  I was a Court Clerk for 17+ years and the number of Arrest Warrants and  Bench Warrants issued for failure to appear was unbelievable and a PITA.   Often, warrants were issued more than once for the same individuals even if bail was posted.  The defendants didn’t care if bail was revoked, it usually wasn’t their money being forfeited for failure to appear.

 

[Elizabeth Whitehouse 22]

On 8/4/2024 at 10:58 AM, Ann said:

I disagree with that research, at least for this area.  I was a Court Clerk for 17+ years and the number of Arrest Warrants and  Bench Warrants issued for failure to appear was unbelievable and a PITA.   Often, warrants were issued more than once for the same individuals even if bail was posted.  The defendants didn’t care if bail was revoked, it usually wasn’t their money being forfeited for failure to appear.

 

You obviously know more about local conditions than I do. How do the homeless fit into that picture?

[Ann 396]

8 hours ago, Elizabeth Whitehouse said:

You obviously know more about local conditions than I do. How do the homeless fit into that picture?

They didn’t.  During the years I worked,  there was just one homeless case that stands out because it involved an elderly gentleman.  When he was arrested he was issued an appearance ticket and he actually appeared.  

Homelessness, 10 to 15 years ago, was not as prevalent as it is today.  

 

 

 

 

[Pvt Snowball 39]

On 8/3/2024 at 10:12 PM, Elizabeth Whitehouse said:

I have addressed this issue elsewhere, but I can say it again.

I did not offer incarcerating the homeless as a solution; but I did say that if a person vandalizes public property they should be arrested whether they are homeless or not.

Bail was established to make sure that people turned up in court. But it had become the situation that if you could not make bail, you languished in jail until your court appearance - weeks, months, even years later. Our recent Governors have felt this was an injustice. Their reforms have limited incarceration while waiting trial for petty crimes. And not every person arrested is "back on the street in a few hours". Those who commit more serious crimes, or who a threat to society, are locked up.

And how long should they spend time in jail?

[Buddy14904 16]

Punishment is supposed to fit the crime. Vandalism and trashing property ought to be sentenced to clean up and community service. Jail time should only be if they refuse.

As for shelters and dormitories. Those are TEMPORARY solutions, not meant to be perpetual housing. While staying there short term everyone ought to be required to apply for longer term state programs and enroll in substance abuse and job search help. 

[Chris 2,984]

Here is the resolution:

[Twin Tiers Living 461]

 

[Adam 484]

interesting he brings up England and "wandering Laws"....the only ones that have the Right to be on MY PRIVATE PROPERTY is me and mine there fella.

these two he interviewed there's either some tweeking going on or imminent need for mental health and them saying their camp is clean, if thats the one hes filming, someone better donate a dictionary.

 

[Chris 2,984]

Ya gotta love that, “They’re trying to control us,” mentality in regards to programs and shelters and then citing a curfew as an example. If that were me filming, I’d have asked for a tour of their camp since they insist it’s not like the others.

My question now is, do the homeless move their encampments to Southport or do they start going out into the hills? If it’s the latter they’re going to find the reception is a little different than they’re used to.

[Hal 528]

The fella on the right is tweaking or really worried he left his willie somewhere !! Last time a group tried the “ walk across “ thing here the bees even took exception to it … specially the young fella in shorts , but he wasn’t tweaking LOL .

[Chris 2,984]

 

 

[MsKreed 1,498]

Several people who'd attended the Council meeting went to the County Legislature meeting afterward and some spoke during Public Comments.  

From the sounds of it, what they heard at City Hall was lot of the sentiment of Mr. Brinn post above..... "the County doesn't care about the city". 

However.... no city officials themselves presented any Public Comments to the Legislature to raise concerns or offer solutions that they think the Legislature could address.

I suppose it's possible some may have during the past several months without live streaming. But, I'm not sure I've ever heard any of them speak at county meetings in the past. Certainly not about homelessness.

If Brinn, et al have raised the homeless issue to the County, you'd think they'd be relaying that publicly when it occurs.  Otherwise, it just seems like political theater to tell constituents at tonight's meeting  the County "refuses" do anything. 

[Chris 2,984]

So they tabled the resolution, presumably because the majority of the people of Elmira were against it?

Then I don’t want to hear any more complaining. 

[Twin Tiers Living 461]

Quote

 

During public comment, which lasted for nearly an hour, community members filled the courthouse and stepped up to the microphone one after the other, pleading with the city to stop the law from moving forward.

“I just want to say that if you vote to criminalize homelessness, shame on you,” said Elmira resident Tanisha Logan-Lattimore. “We are all just one paycheck, one natural disaster away from being homeless. So what if that was you?”

“We can do a better job,” said Linda Couchon of Catholic Charities of Chemung/Schuyler counties. “There is no cure. It's complex, you know, there's no right or wrong. But I do feel criminalization is a punishment for people who don't have power.”

Council Member Gary Brinn, who co-sponsored the law with Elmira Mayor Daniel Mandell, said public safety is the city’s only tool to address homelessness. He criticized Chemung County, where Elmira is located, for “sitting on cash reserves” and not doing its part to help the city.

Brinn challenged the crowd to take their passion to the county legislature.

 

Source

[Adam 484]

8 hours ago, Twin Tiers Living said:

Source

meanwhile theres folks posting images of the dear homeless pooping or urinating in their yards, 

[Hal 528]

1 hour ago, Adam said:

meanwhile theres folks posting images of the dear homeless pooping or urinating in their yards, 

Butt , butt they need our help … right up till the time these poor misused , downtrodden creatures start their shenanigans on the properties of the Mr and Mrs Feelgoods of this area ! Then comes the bitching and screaming …

[Hal 528]

Not that I feel the need to explain myself on the Homeless problem here in Elmira but prompted by a FB post I would like to just give what insight I can . 
Elmira is in no way unique in having a homeless population and it’s not something new but has grown over the past dozen years ( or so ) . But we all know this as fact of course . For myself , I do not harbor any ill will for the homeless but in the same breath I will not enable them either . Disclaimer; this does not included those that genuinely need Psychiatric help . 
Haven’t we all helped a person down on their luck , i’m sure we have , but when it becomes expected thats where I draw the line ! Then it becomes enabling them to continue with that lifestyle and they get to actually like not having to work , pay rent , obey Laws etc. . No , you actually do them and the Public a disservice by delivering food and supplies to where they bed down , as we all know someone needs to clean up after them because they just walk away from the mess , to go about their carefree day . 
Now , of course we are not without compassion… here comes the but , but imagine if we all could just walk away from life’s responsibilities, we could you know , The Creator gave us choices ! But the majority's of us have made the choice to live lives that make us productive citizens not drains on society or that person that urinates and or defecates on public ,or worse yet private property . 
Let me “land the plane “ here . 
There are adequate Services in the area shelters , medical help , places to get a meal or even God forbid , work ! All thats needed is for the homeless to pull themselves up , expend some effort  open the doors of said services and get back to the realities of life . But they instead have and are making the Choice to continue that lifestyle as I have made my choice not to support or enable them to do so , if this makes me appear Heartless and none caring then you really don’t know me and I will Own the title … 
 

[MsKreed 1,498]

On 8/10/2024 at 11:37 AM, Twin Tiers Living said:

 

My brain is trying very hard to UN-see the guy with his hand in his pants furiously scratching/rubbing his junk. 

For anyone who wants to keep pushing the narrative that enforcement or treatment allegedly takes away the "dignity" of those in the encampments.....we seriously need to find some accepted definition of "dignity", mKay?

 

 

I'm not saying for sure he's tweaking. But an uncontrolled behavior like that has to be a sign of some physical condition or parasite, or some mental or substance issue. Whichever it is, professional help is warranted.

(Otherwise, if someone argues that handling his genitals like that in public is a "choice".....then it's simply public lewdness that's subject to criminal charges). 

Edited August 17 by MsKreed

[Hal 528]

4 hours ago, MsKreed said:

My brain is trying very hard to UN-see the guy with his hand in his pants furiously scratching/rubbing his junk. 

 

I had some difficulty watching this as well … if this guy has a sister she was at Weis last week and man , now she Was tweaking ! Eesh ! 

[Pvt Snowball 39]

7 hours ago, Hal said:

Remember the last time the City couldn’t handle a problem they created ( namely the Arena ) … and the County ( all of us ) bailed them out by hanging the boondoggle ( Arena ) around the County’s neck , our Collective Necks !? 
No , this is the City’s problem not the County’s , pass the Resolution and get on with the roundup ! 

You remember last time someone thought is was a good idea to roundup people was a disaster think about that for a min history showed it wasn't a good idea then.the fact that the city and county are linked makes it a everyone problem but I could be wrong 😭 

Edited August 18 by Pvt Snowball

[Hal 528]

20 minutes ago, Pvt Snowball said:

You remember last time someone thought is was a good idea to roundup people was a disaster think about that for a min history showed it wasn't a gois idea then.

Well Sir , when YOU come up with a better , workable Plan just jump right in ! The Context … again quit cherrypicking , read and respond to the context ! 

[Pvt Snowball 39]

How about we take a part of land and build a community for them weather it be in town order out skirts build these little tiny homes which are affordable teach them how to care for these homes you can pay them for doing light maintenance work while they are there show them how to  taking care of the area get them hooked up with mental services have security so that they are safe a d people can't bother them there are options which both the city and county can take on i got solutions for days 

[Beekeeper 27]

I was surprised he shared he had lived there for 8 years...What do these people do in the winter?

[Chris 2,984]

Quote

 

ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- Elmira City Councilmember Gary Brinn is asking for stronger cooperation between the City of Elmira and Chemung County after a recent City Council meeting about encampments and the unsheltered. In a letter dated August 18th, Brinn admitted that he had unfairly criticized the County during the August 12th City Hall meeting.

"We had a resolution presented to ban camping in the city," says Councilmember Brinn (D-4). "It's primarily designed to help us not only clear the encampments which taxpayers would like to see cleared, but also to help us get people into treatment for mental illness, for addiction. Right now there is a bed available for everyone who wants a bed in the City of Elmira. We'd like to try to help folks get off the streets. "

 

WENY News

[Chris 2,984]

13 hours ago, Beekeeper said:

I was surprised he shared he had lived there for 8 years...What do these people do in the winter?

A lot of them are "homeless" by choice. When winter comes I Imagine they find someone to stay with.