Graceada Park residents need to step up!

So recently the homeless activities have been toned down a bit at Enslen Park. It has come to my attention that home owners bordering Enslen Park have been fed up and the message has been delivered to the "residents". So because of this, when a "resident" decides to drink, they have taken their binge to Graceada Park because it is "easier to get away with" apparently. So when the homeless want to get their drink on, they move across the street. The phrase uttered is "nobody hassles us over here. So we respect that of the Enslen folks." Really? That is only a second hand comment, but nonetheless it explains why there have not been any issues at Enslen Park.

Common folk are just scared

As the cities "Blue Ribbon" committee gets going with homeless issues here in the city there are a couple of things to know. We all know there is much vandalism, drunkenness, drugs etc., but much of this is created by vandals, and not necessarily from the homeless.

The mainstay homeless folks at Enslen Park are not trouble makers although they do have their issues mainly just the arguing, fighting, and cussing that goes on. People that hate the "homeless haters" and those who are trying to help out just don't understand. Yes, these homeless "residents" are mostly harmless but that is because I see it everyday. Yes, they have every right to visit the park (all day? Maybe not, but..) because they lounge around all day, the families that come out just don't because they are afraid of these folks. If they knew that it is ok to do your family thing then maybe more family activities would happen. How are they to know? They just don't so the parks are over run by the homeless.

Having a central location for all the homeless to inhabit is not going to work, because most seclude themselves with like folk where they feel comfortable. Because of this they cannot all be hoarded to one central location. You can give these regulars the "Taj Mahal"but they are not going to go.

What was discussed at the committee meeting was the fact that so many "groups" often have feedings at area local parks. These homeless folks get fed. So maybe taking away all the feedings will eliminate the homeless. Maybe so, maybe not. If outside feedings are outlawed it will be difficult to police. There are so many of them. Maybe coordinating all of the groups is the best option, but it would be a difficult task to find all of these groups whether they are government funded groups, or the church groups (which there are so many of).

Homeless Blue Ribbon committee meeting

I attended the Blue Ribbon committee last night on homelessness in Modesto. I just wanted to see what is going on. At least there is some discussion and some passion, but a lot still needs to be done in coming to some solutions.

It was insightful to listen to that of Julie Hannon and Steve Lumpkin of the city Parks department. Seems as they have a good pulse on what is going on with the issues, particularly the vandalism issues.

Would have been nice to see Mike Moridian there and for Muratore to be able to stay a bit longer. Good luck to the group.

Blue Ribbon Committee starts

Modesto's Blue Ribbon Committee on homelessness issues begins tonight. I just want to wish the committee good luck and give hope that this issue can be tackled effectively with care and good thought. This blog chronicled the issues at Enslen Park with the homeless but has sort of transitioned to that of vagrancy. The problems started with the homeless and their issues and again as time has passed I have learned that most of the "residents" take care of issues in-house but are left to deal with the more dangerous vagrants that feel these city parks are theirs to mess up. I am only knowledgable on what happens at Enslen park, and not the others like Tower and Ralston Parks from what I read. Maybe it is more of a homeless issue at those and other city parks. Whatever the case, I hope fair solutions can be accomplished.

Woops

So one of three things happened here to this light pole at Elk Park.

1) A big storm came and knocked it over

2) The pole just fell due to old age and being weathered

3) A Meth attic needed the copper wiring.

I those #3.

Carmen, a little "off base"

Thanks Carmen for your blog show and discussing this blog. I believe it was from January 22nd show. I was not put into good graces by you and your guest, Emerson? I was one of "those homeless hater guys" to paraphrase. That's fine, label me as you choose. It is your forum. Just wanted to let you know the real truth, is that I am not a "hater", just disgusted by what I see everyday across the street at Enslen Park. Of course you and your cohort would not know because you live in your little enclave somewhere away from the parks. You have not bothered to discuss the other issues, arrests, stabbings, fights, drugs, and drunkenness that goes on in these parks that I blog about. I have come along way since 2008 in the homeless plight realizing that most of the issues are that of vagrants and not really of the homeless. My issue with the "Do-Gooders" is that they should organize their efforts in feeding the homeless (and also stick around to clean up the messes) and I think that is what is behind Muratore's committee. I am not wanting to be on this committee, and this Blog has nothing to do with Murratore or Moridian, it just mine. I am not into politics, but you have now in doctored me into them I guess. My little effort is being a part of the College Area Neighborhood Alliance on the Homeless/Transient committee and reporting the issues at the parks. Anybody who does not believe that there are issues, come spend a summer at my house.

Hotel Enslen: College Area Neighborhood Association

Hotel Enslen: College Area Neighborhood Association

College Area Neighborhood Association

So there has been the development of the College Area Neighborhood Alliance (or Association) which among the different committees has the Transient/homeless committee. What to do with the abundance of homeless people in the college area parks and streets is the focus. It is a huge issue and there is no "fix it" answer for now. At least there is an awareness of the situation. Hopefully as CANA progresses I can chronicle what is happening. The first thing I want to point out, is that half of the problems in the parks with the homeless are not the homeless folks causing them. Homeless breeds vagrancy. So there are two components here: Homeless and Vagrancy. The majority of the problems are the vagrants who cause the drama and issues. What I mean by vagrants are the wanderers or folks looking to cause trouble and mischief who have no gumption to abide by the laws. These vagrants just try to enclave themselves into the homeless population and then point at the homeless when it comes to crimes. So my initial thought as I move forward in the Homeless committee is to stress that it is the vagrancy that is the main problem and that is what needs to be rid of first.

http://www.modbee.com/opinion/national/story/1054467.html?story_link=email_msg

http://www.modbee.com/opinion/national/story/1054467.html?story_link=email_msg

Modesto police arrest homeless man in Enslen Park stabbing - Local - Modbee.com

It was only a matter of time......Modesto police arrest homeless man in Enslen Park stabbing - Local - Modbee.com

Tower Park Closure

Well, it's been awhile since I have last posted. The fact of the matter is that recently, the "residents" have moved more to Graceada and Elk Parks during the summer time out of my view of Enslen Park. They move around in groups to wherever they feel comfortable. Lately however, the "residents" have seem to have moved back to Enslen. I have noticed a whole new "clientele".

As reported in the Bee today, Tower Park, which is a homeless haven, will be closing within the year. These folks will be moving to other parks, and the closest parks are Graceada and Enslen. This is going to be a nightmare. The crime and filth will now be in our neighborhoods like we have never seen before.

Nothing really came of the bathroom closures (I think the city actually kept them open). So what could have been "doom and gloom" never really materialized. Now we have the Tower Park watch to be concerned with possibly.

A note from a "visitor" to the parks

This was an email from back in August sent to me by a visitor to the park....

We were walking by Graceada Park yesterday. There are a group of young ladies who regularly practice cheerleading on the southwest corner of the park. They look to be about 9-12 years and are supervised by some adult ladies. As we entered the park from the southeast corner, a strong blast of marijuana smoke hit us. There was a small group of scruffy looking characters with bicycles, smoking marijuana and drinking beer. These were not kids; they were 25-40 year olds. They shot us hostile, defiant looks. We ignored them and kept on walking. When we got to the southwest corner, an argument broke out among these people. An extremely loud stream of the most vulgar obscenities erupted from them. A fat man and a skinny lady squared off, with both of them screaming obscene epithets at each other, at top volume. The children stopped their activities, turned around and started staring. The ladies in charge gathered the children up, herding them to the southwest end of the park. The ladies looked very distressed; the children had saucer eyes.

A very wide strong man was sitting in his car near the children. He got out of the car with an unhappy look on his face. He started walking across the park, towards the arguers. When he got about half way across the park, the arguers and their friends took notice of him. The obscenities stopped instantly. The wide man continued on towards them, turning his hat backwards. The fat man got on his bicycle and furiously pedaled away. A few other bicyclists followed him. The rest of the group headed for the amphitheater. There were more scruffy looking characters in the amphitheater. The wide man directed his attention towards the amphitheater. All of the scruffy people started exiting the amphitheater using the north exits. They exited with purpose, sort of like when a show ends. They then tried to blend in with the people in the playground area. Calm returned to the park. The children returned to their activities. I wish there were more people like the wide fellow