Mayor Dixon to End Homelessness by Hiding the Homeless

Oh wait, but they're still here.

I just read a story on the B site about the homeless folks at the St. Vinny DePaul park downtown. Looks like the city wants to get rid of them, pardon me, relocate them. I know the city has been battling with St, Vinny for a while now about these homeless folks. They are in a very visible part of town which is one of the worst places for the homeless to be (besides anywhere else). To add another blow, city officials are concerned about drug use and prostitution going on under those blue tarps in the park. So what’s the result? No more tarps. The news article (or B’s rendition of it…it was lifted from the Examiner so who knows for sure what really unfolded) articulated the speech to sound like St. Vinny was allowed to let the homeless remain if they gave up their blue tarps. There goes your rain shelter, your sun shade, your last bit of privacy, your last vestige of a home. That’s hardball. The mayor has found a way to make the homeless even more homeless. The Sun said, “ The agreement with the church, which is known for its social activism, didn't come easy. Lawrence(St. Vinny Rev) and his flock have stood firm for years against city officials who complained that the camp of homeless people was an eyesore.” An eyesore. Yes, that’s what the homeless are. An eyesore too close to the Inner Harbor. Oh we’re gonna put ‘em in homes. Don’t you worry. Once you can’t see the homeless anymore then our goals will have been achieved. If they are trying to reach their goal than how come they still allow a 72 yr old woman to live in the park? That’s someone’s grandmother out there.
So is it really the tarps? What if these folks were given clear tarps? Would that solve the situation? Are the tarps really the problem? Or are the tarps drawing too much visible attraction to homeless people. Kinda like the horse stables being the real reason why the Arabbers couldn't’t keep their horses in their stables. And where are they today?
Or did the mayor achieve her goal in eradicating the Arabbers too? Haven’t seen them in my neighborhood all year. I wonder if they’re now homeless too?