Bus Stop Benches Near Disneyland Being Removed To Prevent Homeless From Using Them

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WhatInThe

SF VIP
Bus stop benches are being removed near Disneyland In Anaheim California to help prevent the homeless from sleeping on them.

http://www.ocregister.com/2017/07/0...ps-anaheim-removes-benches-around-disneyland/

Many homeless just sleeping on the floor now. Also noted it is an inconvenience to tourists and the elderly along with people waiting to use those buses.

I'd bet plenty of Disneyland employees use these stops as well.

This brings ups several issues including Disney's cozy relationship with Anaheim including a recent 30 year tax break that is supposed to enable Disney spending money on Anaheim. Apparently not on homeless issues.

http://abc7.com/business/anaheim-city-council-extends-disneyland-tax-break/834948/

Also it's ironic that Disney recently displaced or laid off 100s of US IT workers replacing them with foreign workers. And last year laid off 250 in California. In a sense one could say Disney is perpetuating or enabling the very issues they seem to want nothing to do with.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/26/...ed-to-replace-us-workers-with-immigrants.html

http://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...-interactive-layoffs-20160914-snap-story.html

Find it hard to believe they can't find a different type of bench/seat or add seating so even if someone is hanging out actual bus riders have a place to sit
 

WhatInThe said:
I'd bet plenty of Disneyland employees use these stops as well.
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I can't speak to what it's like in California, but I tried riding the bus back and forth to work in Central Florida for a while. Most of the people using the bus were poor schmucks working low wage jobs who could not afford a car. The service was horrendous. They had one hour headways and the buses generally ran anywhere from 30-45 minutes behind schedule. I met people that were spending a full two hours each way commuting to the next town over that was 15 miles away. As for benches they were for the most part out in the open where you were either exposed to the hot blazing Florida sun or the "cow pissing on a flat rock" thunderstorms. In addition I have seen benches that were almost obscured by three foot high weeds in the summer. And all the while the RWNJ's were complaining that the bus service wasn't "paying for itself". Bottom line, the people that were using the bus were poor and the Right Wing dominated local government's did not give a crap about them.
 
I have lived in various areas of Florida, the ridership varied greatly, Tampa, Kissimmee, Sarasota, I found every type of commuter. Some bus stations have drive to ride stops, where some free parking is offered to encourage more ridership. The reasons for not driving are as varied as it's ridership, bu,t I agree more often than not in many areas it's people who are on the poorer end who make more use of public transit.

I preferred riding in Sarasota on the particular line I rode in some areas more so than others, but.

BRB, I'll have to get back to this, surprise visitor came to my door lose my train of thought.
 

Well, In MY opinion; Bus stop benches are for people waiting for their bus.

Not for some homeless person. They could sleep elsewhere, in the nice grassy park, in a vacant doorway
for their safety etc.
 
IMO the benches should stay and the loiterers should be advised to move along.

bb2e07ee922ee8a6601bcde36eec78b8.jpg
 
Unfortunately this seems to be the American way.. Don't try to fix the basic problem, just try to make it someone else's problem. In this case, making the unfortunates uncomfortable enough will encourage their move to a less affluent community. Typical 'not in my backyard' mentality.
 
"Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses? Let them go there."

It's the American Way.
 
Trade said:
"Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses? Let them go there."

It's the American Way.
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I have no problem if the homeless use the benches as they are intended to be used.

In my city we have shelters for the homeless, various soup kitchens that don't ask too many questions, vans that drive around offering homeless people food, personal items and a ride to a shelter. The newest service for the homeless is a drop in center with free laundry equipment.

If a homeless person is determined to live on the streets away from the shelters then they should be just as determined to do it in a way that does not infringe on the rights of others in their community.

If that makes me cold and heartless then I'm cold and heartless.
 
Aunt Bea said:
I have no problem if the homeless use the benches as they are intended to be used.

In my city we have shelters for the homeless, various soup kitchens that don't ask too many questions, vans that drive around offering homeless people food, personal items and a ride to a shelter. The newest service for the homeless is a drop in center with free laundry equipment.

If a homeless person is determined to live on the streets away from the shelters then they should be just as determined to do it in a way that does not infringe on the rights of others in their community.

If that makes me cold and heartless then I'm cold and heartless.
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One of the most common preconceptions people have when someone says they’re homeless or about to become homeless is that anyone can just show up at a shelter and be housed. Nothing could be further from the truth. From my experience, service providers will gladly tell you all about their programs and what they have to offer and how many people they’ve helped but there’s a side to them they all too often do not mention.
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Continue reading.
 
Yes it's sad that they keep removing bus stop benches, they've removed them many a place where I used to wait for a bus, it's a great inconvenience, especially for those who have pain or other issues standing for lengthy times. It makes little sense, but, seems they don't care much about the riders when it comes to this issue. Punish the people who frequent the bus service to avoid the loiters. Oh and they do this sort of thing in all neighborhoods, not just the more affluent.

It makes little difference, removing these benches, the homeless will find other areas to convene in till the cause of the issue is worked on, not just placing band aides over the problems. Not all the homeless are people who aren't working or out committing crimes, housing is becoming more of a luxury than a given for many considering the increase in the cost of housing has risen over the recent years. And the low-cost housing availability to what many working class can afford is limited even when working second and third jobs, some still are having a difficult time especially when gentrification is the latest trend in many neighborhoods. Gentrification is one of the other reasons with moving the benches even in some of the poorer neighborhoods I'm thinking, maybe not, but, some areas are being scouted for building projects for more higher income housing. I'm watching this happen right now in a few neighborhoods in the city I live in I've seen it happen in other areas/states as well.

I've mostly lived in the burbs and middle of the line income neighborhoods, but, I've witnessed a lot happen to various areas, for the better worse. Moving the poor out to move in the more fortunate isn't the solution that's for sure, the town that does that is just asking for trouble if they don't have a plan which includes housing for the poorer population other than busing them to another area. Imagine that, county workers who give bus tickets or actually drive their homeless to other counties to get rid of them in hopes of cleaning up their town. Yep, they do this sort of thing.
 
Trade said:
Continue reading.
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I read the article and maybe I'm not getting it but it sounds like the writer threw up more obstacles for herself than the shelters did.

It is true that all of the shelters in my community have intake requirements except for one and they are all temporary shelters that offer assistance with transitioning to permanent housing in the community. One thing I am absolutely sure of is if you need a place to spend the night in my community all you need to do is talk to a policeman or one of the outreach workers that roams the community every night and be prepared to follow the rules. I'm not sure what happens if you walk in off the street for the first time.
 
Aunt Bea said:
I read the article and maybe I'm not getting it but it sounds like the writer threw up more obstacles for herself than the shelters did.

It is true that all of the shelters in my community have intake requirements except for one and they are all temporary shelters that offer assistance with transitioning to permanent housing in the community. One thing I am absolutely sure of is if you need a place to spend the night in my community all you need to do is talk to a policeman or one of the outreach workers that roams the community every night and be prepared to follow the rules. I'm not sure what happens if you walk in off the street for the first time.
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I'm just glad I'm not poor because from what I can tell, it sucks.
 
Aunt Bea said:
I have no problem if the homeless use the benches as they are intended to be used.

In my city we have shelters for the homeless, various soup kitchens that don't ask too many questions, vans that drive around offering homeless people food, personal items and a ride to a shelter. The newest service for the homeless is a drop in center with free laundry equipment.

If a homeless person is determined to live on the streets away from the shelters then they should be just as determined to do it in a way that does not infringe on the rights of others in their community.

If that makes me cold and heartless then I'm cold and heartless.
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In my experience, both as a therapist working with homeless, and as a former unwillingly homeless person myself, all the goodwill available falls far short of the problem. Too many people, not enough services, as for being willing to be on the

streets, perhaps some are, either from mental illness/substance abuse scrambled thoughts, or in the case of many single women and mothers with kids, fear for their safety. These shelters which can only accommodate a fraction of the street population, are often terrifying places where the innocent become

prey. In my book, either all of us matter, or none of us do. Many people are only a couple of paychecks away from homelessness. To be able to pull oneself up by the bootstraps, you gotta have boots. As I 've posted in the past, had someone had not


felt compassion for a throw away teenage girl, living in a cardboard box on the streets of Vancouver, I'd be dead, or worse. Yeah, there is a lot worse out there than death. I have seen it.
 
Trade said:
I'm just glad I'm not poor because from what I can tell, it sucks.
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It does. It corrodes the soul from within. Imagine the added burden of being blamed for your situation, when, so often, it is a matter of circumstance rather than character. It is often easier to rationalise another's misfortune when it is completely alien to one's own experience.
 
WhatInThe said:
Not only are they removing benches that affect Anaheim's homeless those benches might be serving as a bed for Disney employees. Protest about the homelessness of Disneyland employees saying many have salaries that can't even buy housing in the area.

http://www.wesh.com/article/disneyl...-low-wages-and-employee-homelessness/10320783
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It's sort of what I was referring to when I say many can't afford the housing prices, I can't say so much it's just what the employers pay, it's more often that housing and general area cost of living are skyrocketing at paces not ever seen before in some areas. They are not keeping up with the population growth in the area, but, they are building more higher income and luxury housing.
 
AprilT said:
It's sort of what I was referring to when I say many can't afford the housing prices, I can't say so much it's just what the employers pay, it's more often that housing and general area cost of living are skyrocketing at paces not ever seen before in some areas. They are not keeping up with the population growth in the area, but, they are building more higher income and luxury housing.
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Tourist areas have become brutal when it comes to housing. Decades ago just a few blocks away from the beach in a resort town prices and rents would drop significantly now the entire area/town etc seem to get prime pricing because of a zip code rather than physical location. But resort town thrive off those lower paying jobs, those jobs keep everything running day in day out which exactly why they should make sure the pay keeps crucial and good employees there a long time.
 
WhatInThe said:
Tourist areas have become brutal when it comes to housing. Decades ago just a few blocks away from the beach in a resort town prices and rents would drop significantly now the entire area/town etc seem to get prime pricing because of a zip code rather than physical location. But resort town thrive off those lower paying jobs, those jobs keep everything running day in day out which exactly why they should make sure the pay keeps crucial and good employees there a long time.
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For sure it's partly why I left the last area, I lived in, Sarasota, Fl. I could probably have stayed another year or two, but at the rate my rent was going up each year, I thought it best to move and find more affordable housing while I was still able to. Mostly, I enjoyed the area I lived in, though at times I hated it for it's many superficial qualities as well. There were many reasons I rationalize and came to the reason for leaving. Witnessing what was happening to others, I figured I could be not long from not affording the area soon enough. I stayed in my complex six years. Not but a few minutes from Siesta Key Beach, beautiful beach beautiful area.

I'm looking at a lot of growth hitting this area, can't say it isn't needed, to some degree, I hope with the growth it won't just bring in new people to take over the jobs being imported with all the growth I also just hope the poorest won't be pushed out. I'll likely be long dust spread wherever before it gets to the level of me not affording the area. Presently, I living near where many of my family are buried. I find a good deal of humor in that thought, my daughter could just toss my ashes over the fence and Ill be right at home with family :D
 
I visited a nice tourist hotel at a resort place.

They removed all the furniture in the lobby because the drunks would come in and take over.

i can't blame the hotel for doing that because it's a real problem trying to deal with a drunk person.

As for benches for the bus.? Put a sign on it. For bus riders only. I'm sure that would work.:cool:
 
For the same reason, many office buildings have been keeping the homeless out of their rest rooms by keeping them locked, except for the chosen few who are priveleged to use a key. Many doctors' offices do the same thing now; the reason you have to pick up a key at the receptionist's desk is to prevent the homeless from using the restrooms.

OTOH, should the people who work as janitors have to clean up the mess made by the homeless? Many of the people who are truly desparate are mentally ill, alcoholic, drug addicted, etc. Should the people needing to use a restroom have to deal with frightening people who are just hanging out in there?

Not an easy one to answer. But probably, all things considered, it's better to just keep the restrooms locked.

Public benches are another matter. Sleeping on a bench is really not a criminal activity. But... what if a disabled or elderly person needs to wait for a bus? Should they have to stand because of the sleepers? (Though now, it sounds as if everyone is standing!)
 
WhatInThe said:
Not only are they removing benches that affect Anaheim's homeless those benches might be serving as a bed for Disney employees. Protest about the homelessness of Disneyland employees saying many have salaries that can't even buy housing in the area.

http://www.wesh.com/article/disneyl...-low-wages-and-employee-homelessness/10320783
Click to expand...

The median price for housing in Orange County, Calif. is $795,000. Link .

I can only speculate as to what type of job a person would have to have, to be able to afford a house in that price range. Investment broker? Bank manager?

At my highest income, it would take 3 months [gross] income just to pay the annual property tax on such a house.
 
I can't imagine why the average person would stay and struggle in an area like that.

I read that the city of Palo Alto had commissioned a study to look into subsidized housing for people making six figure incomes.

Next they will be building these Japanese style sleeping pods for the worker bees to sleep in.

Japan-Capsule-Hotel-Solution-2.jpg
 

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