Comments on: SPARbage and the troll living under the bridge http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2006/10/24/sparbage-and-the-troll-living-under-the-bridge/ A blog about Downtown Jacksonville, Springfield and other urban neighborhoods Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:49:59 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: clayton bixby http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2006/10/24/sparbage-and-the-troll-living-under-the-bridge/comment-page-1/#comment-5058 clayton bixby Tue, 07 Nov 2006 04:15:56 +0000 http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2006/10/24/sparbage-and-the-troll-living-under-the-bridge/#comment-5058 trash in Jacksonville, particularly in downtown Jacksonville is a tradition. I mean really, what would Jacksonville be without its trash. Its everywhere, every intersection, median, road, park its everywhere... I've come to think of Jacksonville not as the bold new city of the south or where florida begins, but trash city. So keep up the good work Jacksonville, the trash, the broken banners on the light poles, the vagrants and panhandlers, the crime and murder rate, the broken promises and failed developments...... to you I say "you're doing a heck of a job brownie". trash in Jacksonville, particularly in downtown Jacksonville is a tradition. I mean really, what would Jacksonville be without its trash. Its everywhere, every intersection, median, road, park its everywhere… I’ve come to think of Jacksonville not as the bold new city of the south or where florida begins, but trash city. So keep up the good work Jacksonville, the trash, the broken banners on the light poles, the vagrants and panhandlers, the crime and murder rate, the broken promises and failed developments…… to you I say “you’re doing a heck of a job brownie”.

]]> By: PCollins http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2006/10/24/sparbage-and-the-troll-living-under-the-bridge/comment-page-1/#comment-4683 PCollins Wed, 25 Oct 2006 20:05:33 +0000 http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2006/10/24/sparbage-and-the-troll-living-under-the-bridge/#comment-4683 Adam B, I think you and I are on the same page. I have no problem with my money going toward these services as long as the end result and overall plan is to help the homeless back into society. And part of that end result is that some of the numerous homeless shelters throughout the city close their doors for lack of clients. Tax dollars for drug rehab I'm not so sure about, as their choice to start drugs is just that...their choice. And I'm pretty burned out with substance abusers who have entered my world in one way or another over the years. Whereas any one of us (in the middle class anyway) is only 1-2 paychecks away from going out on the streets. Adam B, I think you and I are on the same page.

I have no problem with my money going toward these services as long as the end result and overall plan is to help the homeless back into society. And part of that end result is that some of the numerous homeless shelters throughout the city close their doors for lack of clients.

Tax dollars for drug rehab I’m not so sure about, as their choice to start drugs is just that…their choice. And I’m pretty burned out with substance abusers who have entered my world in one way or another over the years.

Whereas any one of us (in the middle class anyway) is only 1-2 paychecks away from going out on the streets.

]]> By: joeymarchy http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2006/10/24/sparbage-and-the-troll-living-under-the-bridge/comment-page-1/#comment-4680 joeymarchy Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:42:13 +0000 http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2006/10/24/sparbage-and-the-troll-living-under-the-bridge/#comment-4680 The trash under the bridge has been cleaned up. Nice work city! First Coast News interviewed me about it. Check it out at 5:30 (10/25/06) The trash under the bridge has been cleaned up. Nice work city! First Coast News interviewed me about it. Check it out at 5:30 (10/25/06)

]]> By: Adam B http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2006/10/24/sparbage-and-the-troll-living-under-the-bridge/comment-page-1/#comment-4678 Adam B Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:24:03 +0000 http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2006/10/24/sparbage-and-the-troll-living-under-the-bridge/#comment-4678 honestly, i would expect tax dollars to pay for drug rehabilitation, job training, and temporary housing for the homeless and destitute. while it seems like a raw deal, it is necessary to do so if we want any chance to help people out. many cities, such as baltimore, have realized that it's cheaper to provide housing for chronically homeless people than to leave them on the streets, where they have no chance of turning things around and end up costing tax payers more because of medical bills and court costs. honestly, i would expect tax dollars to pay for drug rehabilitation, job training, and temporary housing for the homeless and destitute. while it seems like a raw deal, it is necessary to do so if we want any chance to help people out. many cities, such as baltimore, have realized that it’s cheaper to provide housing for chronically homeless people than to leave them on the streets, where they have no chance of turning things around and end up costing tax payers more because of medical bills and court costs.

]]> By: Does work for food http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2006/10/24/sparbage-and-the-troll-living-under-the-bridge/comment-page-1/#comment-4675 Does work for food Wed, 25 Oct 2006 16:31:55 +0000 http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2006/10/24/sparbage-and-the-troll-living-under-the-bridge/#comment-4675 http://www.goodwilljax.org/work.html Or at least donate to those who put those resources to good use. Job Junction kicks ass http://www.goodwilljax.org/work.html

Or at least donate to those who put those resources to good use. Job Junction kicks ass

]]> By: Grimly Fiendish http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2006/10/24/sparbage-and-the-troll-living-under-the-bridge/comment-page-1/#comment-4672 Grimly Fiendish Wed, 25 Oct 2006 14:44:30 +0000 http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2006/10/24/sparbage-and-the-troll-living-under-the-bridge/#comment-4672 Adam, 1. Are you suggesting that when otherwise capable junkies get themselves addicted to drugs, it is totally acceptible that law-abiding taxpayers should be left to pick up the tab of their rehabilitation? 2. Mental health counseling -- I don't mind my tax dollars being spent to provide resources to those who don't have the means to provide for themselves so I agree with you here. 3. When I worked day labor for a season, I spent the money on housing, showers, and <a href="http://www.kgrocer.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=203" rel="nofollow">Smack Ramen</a> instead of, well, smack. While the alternatives may be unattractive, they are there. It <i>is</i> much easier to beg for money, eat the free food and take the free clothes the suburban churches bring down then crash under a bridge and toss the crap I didn't want on the sidewalk below, though. 4. Job Training -- give a man a fish...blah, blah, blah. If the man ain't willing to fish, then what is the use in teaching him how to? Perhaps if people stopped giving money to panhandlers and the free homeless shelters, free food, and free clothing, disappeared and all that was available were either mental health resources or work-for-board housing we would see a return on a training investment. Nobody has a problem with homeless people who are genuinely in a desparate place and trying to get back on their feet but the vagrants under the bridge have got to go. Adam,

1. Are you suggesting that when otherwise capable junkies get themselves addicted to drugs, it is totally acceptible that law-abiding taxpayers should be left to pick up the tab of their rehabilitation?

2. Mental health counseling — I don’t mind my tax dollars being spent to provide resources to those who don’t have the means to provide for themselves so I agree with you here.

3. When I worked day labor for a season, I spent the money on housing, showers, and Smack Ramen instead of, well, smack. While the alternatives may be unattractive, they are there. It is much easier to beg for money, eat the free food and take the free clothes the suburban churches bring down then crash under a bridge and toss the crap I didn’t want on the sidewalk below, though.

4. Job Training — give a man a fish…blah, blah, blah. If the man ain’t willing to fish, then what is the use in teaching him how to? Perhaps if people stopped giving money to panhandlers and the free homeless shelters, free food, and free clothing, disappeared and all that was available were either mental health resources or work-for-board housing we would see a return on a training investment.

Nobody has a problem with homeless people who are genuinely in a desparate place and trying to get back on their feet but the vagrants under the bridge have got to go.

]]> By: PCollins http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2006/10/24/sparbage-and-the-troll-living-under-the-bridge/comment-page-1/#comment-4671 PCollins Wed, 25 Oct 2006 14:11:46 +0000 http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2006/10/24/sparbage-and-the-troll-living-under-the-bridge/#comment-4671 "Decent drug rehab services, mental health counciling, and job training" Isn't that what River Regions, City Rescue, IM Sulzbacher, Trinity Rescue, Salvation Army, etc provide? With city funding? And don't we all help to fund these places with our monthly donations? And provide clothes on a regular basis? And volunteer our time? I am one of those guys who does all that, and at the same time I am extremely frustrated with the continued and increasing problem. And besides, being homeless does not give you the license to throw crap on the ground. I will agree, however, that we need to provide low income (or no income) housing...a bridge to making it from homelessness to productive member. Because you are correct...not having easy access to a shower or a place to permanently store your stuff would make a regular job difficult. My astuteness comes from seeing the same faces and cleaning up the same places and hearing the same excuses. Phil “Decent drug rehab services, mental health counciling, and job training”

Isn’t that what River Regions, City Rescue, IM Sulzbacher, Trinity Rescue, Salvation Army, etc provide? With city funding?

And don’t we all help to fund these places with our monthly donations?
And provide clothes on a regular basis?
And volunteer our time?
I am one of those guys who does all that, and at the same time I am extremely frustrated with the continued and increasing problem.

And besides, being homeless does not give you the license to throw crap on the ground.

I will agree, however, that we need to provide low income (or no income) housing…a bridge to making it from homelessness to productive member. Because you are correct…not having easy access to a shower or a place to permanently store your stuff would make a regular job difficult.

My astuteness comes from seeing the same faces and cleaning up the same places and hearing the same excuses.

Phil

]]> By: Adam B http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2006/10/24/sparbage-and-the-troll-living-under-the-bridge/comment-page-1/#comment-4670 Adam B Wed, 25 Oct 2006 13:45:22 +0000 http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2006/10/24/sparbage-and-the-troll-living-under-the-bridge/#comment-4670 such astute comments, pcollins. when the city starts providing decent drug rehab services, mental health counciling, and job training, we'll talk. also, when places start hiring people who don't have reliable housing, access to a phone, shower, or new clothes, we'll talk. such astute comments, pcollins. when the city starts providing decent drug rehab services, mental health counciling, and job training, we’ll talk. also, when places start hiring people who don’t have reliable housing, access to a phone, shower, or new clothes, we’ll talk.

]]> By: PCollins http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2006/10/24/sparbage-and-the-troll-living-under-the-bridge/comment-page-1/#comment-4668 PCollins Wed, 25 Oct 2006 13:35:08 +0000 http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2006/10/24/sparbage-and-the-troll-living-under-the-bridge/#comment-4668 David Williams/ARK rocks. We met him when he helped us with the UrbanJax/Springfield litter patrol prior to the banner installation on 8th and Main. RE: using prisoners...I would agree only if the prisoners were used to assist in removing the source of the litter. Just cleaning it up all the time is not a solution. The access to the sleeping nooks needs to be eliminated and people using them need to be reminded of the numerous shelters in the city (beds outnumber our hotel/motel beds), the opportunity to stay there for 7 nights at a time, and their obligation to get off their collective asses and become productive members of society, and not blood sucking leeches. The only excuse for long-term chronic homelessness is mental illness, at which point the city needs to provide better assistance. Phil David Williams/ARK rocks. We met him when he helped us with the UrbanJax/Springfield litter patrol prior to the banner installation on 8th and Main.

RE: using prisoners…I would agree only if the prisoners were used to assist in removing the source of the litter. Just cleaning it up all the time is not a solution. The access to the sleeping nooks needs to be eliminated and people using them need to be reminded of the numerous shelters in the city (beds outnumber our hotel/motel beds), the opportunity to stay there for 7 nights at a time, and their obligation to get off their collective asses and become productive members of society, and not blood sucking leeches.

The only excuse for long-term chronic homelessness is mental illness, at which point the city needs to provide better assistance.

Phil

]]> By: Christine Farley http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2006/10/24/sparbage-and-the-troll-living-under-the-bridge/comment-page-1/#comment-4661 Christine Farley Wed, 25 Oct 2006 03:40:08 +0000 http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2006/10/24/sparbage-and-the-troll-living-under-the-bridge/#comment-4661 The photo under the bridge is a little soul destroying, for me the sight of the silt in the creek is as bad as the garbage. The prison inmates periodically clean the streets, maybe we should contact whoever it is that supervises the program to get them to do under the bridges. If it could be put on a rotation that would be wonderful. Where the creek passes under Liberty, along side those apartments is almost as bad. The stuff is thrown in the water. It is cleaned periodically, but the fisherman and bank sitter get there and it becomes just as bad again, mostly styrofoam. Maybe we should get the city to put garbage cans and post fine signs, there really is no need for the river to be so illtreated. The photo under the bridge is a little soul destroying, for me the sight of the silt in the creek is as bad as the garbage. The prison inmates periodically clean the streets, maybe we should contact whoever it is that supervises the program to get them to do under the bridges. If it could be put on a rotation that would be wonderful.
Where the creek passes under Liberty, along side those apartments is almost as bad. The stuff is thrown in the water. It is cleaned periodically, but the fisherman and bank sitter get there and it becomes just as bad again, mostly styrofoam. Maybe we should get the city to put garbage cans and post fine signs, there really is no need for the river to be so illtreated.

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