Solving the homeless problem

Did The Simpsons already do it?

(Austin, Texas or US border? Picture from this link)

This tweet from Austin, Texas hit home:

Savanah Hernandez @sav_says_

Welcome to Austin, TEXAS. It didn’t used to be like this.

I lived in Austin. Its been liberal, but it was weird liberal - Leslie the almost naked guy on 6th street (he still alive?), the “Keep Austin Weird” 5K with people in costumes. Fun liberalism, not the current brand of homeless encampments and street violence:

Wrong clip. You should watch anyway because peak It’s Always Sunny was a pantheon show. Back to Austin:

The funniest video is this Austin realtor, who apparently does not want you to move to Austin:

Congrats to San Francisco. A Leo DiCaprio standing ovation meme. What a ridiculous group of people. “Cannot STAND all the poop and junkies on the street, let’s move somewhere else then turn that place into the same thing!”

What do we do about the nationwide homeless problem?

My jurisdiction has a homeless problem, surprise surprise! I almost fought one a few weeks ago.

I pulled into my work parking garage around 5:30 am, mentally preparing for 6 AM BJJ. I hear muffled yelling and looked right. There he was, standing with a bag and looking at me.

Normally I’d ignore the person staring at me but I was tired and preparing for combat. Maybe I’d just beat the shit out of this guy as a warm up. Never done that before but I was tired, cranky, and wearing a black, dirty GII.

I stepped out of the car and loudly said, “CAN I HELP YOU” while staring him down.

He made a muffled noise, then turned around and walked upstairs.

I felt cool for two seconds until realizing I was trying to fight a homeless guy in MY WORK PARKING GARAGE.

BUM FIGHTS is a thing of the past, KONG.

What options are there?

Honorable mention: have Sam Smith dress like a pig and see what happens

1. Change the laws

This is the best option. California’s issues include the LPS act, which many have criticized as being THE problem with California homeless problem.

Local and legal, as Jesse Kelly says. Run for city counsel, school board, zoning board whatever. YOU can supersede the LPS acts of the world by essentially not allowing homeless people in any areas.

2. Turn them into mailboxes

Hall of Fame Simpsons episode has a point - people will move and work in a clean, beautiful city. Turning people into government property might not be the EXACT answer, but Globex was so successful Homer became the owner of the Denver Broncos. Just saying.

3. Recognizing it is a substance abuse and mental health issue and addressing it properly

My jurisdiction does a decent job of understanding the issue is drugs and mental health, in some order. Judges order mental health and substance abuse evaluations, utilize emergency services, etc.

The problem?

There’s not enough beds.

We have GREAT services, but nowhere to put people…and no way to keep them where they are at. In most cases, you need to change the laws.

Blue states make laws that encourage homelessness and drug use.

You’ve probably heard “don’t fight the fed.”

Don’t fight liberal states driving themselves into the ground.

Flee. Get out.

Do it now while your property has value. These states are hellbent on competing to be the murder capitals of the US.

Go somewhere Red and make it bright red.

If you refuse to leave your blue state, go to a red county and use #1.

Either way, you have options but you are going to need to do something.

Have better ideas? Thoughts? Comment or hit me up on twitter at BowTiedKong.

NAMASTE,

KONG