Downtown Atlanta is scary! So many homeless and mentally ill (money, peachtree)

[coolyfett]

Originally Posted by RZaakir

First off, there is a distinction between panhandling, being homeless, and being unemployed. If you are a GSU student then there are a number of people that serve your food, clean your bathrooms, and sweep up your classrooms that are homeless but just as hard working (maybe even more so) as you or anyone you know. Many of those same people have probably asked you for change on the street for a ride home or a little food and you've self-righteously assumed that they were worthless and lazy.

Transitioning out of homelessness is hard. For the majority of people it requires much more than will. These people lack lot of those things that you take for granted like your socialization, your support network, your primary education, your literacy, and your mental health. Please get over yourselves.

The homeless are concentrated downtown because the amenities for the homeless are concentrated almost exclusively downtown. Contrary to what was expressed before there actually are a lot of job opportunities for homeless people downtown because of the large number of hotels and event facilities that require cleaning or cooking which is the line of work that they tend to participate in.

Instead of looking down your nose at the homeless you should get to know them. Do some volunteering and listen to their stories and I guarantee you that you'll lose those ignorant attitudes. I suggest Samaritan House but there are plenty of other places you can go.

No doubt man. I feel ya, if it was one or two every trip downtown I doubt it would be an issue. It can be annoying but people are saying bums are scary which I don't really get. Most of them are skinny and weak (maybe due to lack of actually eating), I play chess a lot down at Woodruff, sometimes you over hear how some of those cats got in their situations. Some of em got jail records and can't get a legit gig, so they roam trying not to go back to prison. Some cats got habits they can't shake. Another thing I hear is a lot of them ain't even from Atlanta.....I know there are agents for these folks so I don't feel bad when I tell em all I got is a credit card and breeze card. I don't think I am better than them. I just wish they knew its not the average joes responsibility to help them. Especially the ones that have all four limbs working.

rep point dropped on ya.

[FromCLTtoATL]

You know, the whole premise of this thread is weird from the get-go.

I once went to SF and unwisely prebooked a hotel at the edge of the Tenderloin. Not a very nice part of town, to put it mildly. WELL GUESS WHAT? I didn't keep my ace down there the whole visit, exploring every single negative facet of the Tenderloin, so I could complain about the whole city later. I looked over as much of the city as I could see in a week and realized if I ever go back, I'll stay in a different part. I had a WONDERFUL time in SF, because I didn't FOCUS my entire trip on where I had booked a room. And even the Tenderloin had its charms. Even not-so-good neighborhoods have their selling points. (In my case, a GREAT Chinese restaurant in the Tenderloin).

So Dumb-Dumb, did you ever venture over to Decatur? It's six miles from where you stayed and very nice. Or Midtown? Or Emory U.? Or Grant Park? Or Inman Park? Or the MLK Museum/Grave Site/Complex? Or East Atlanta Village? Or Virginia Highlands?

[coolyfett]

Deacon already mentioned all of that stuff and the OP disregarded it. A visitor being so passionate about letting the city know how scary the city they so called visited is a lil strange to many of us. And I am not an Atl defender, but I can tell the fakes. Uncle Greg must be ill or something....he normally chimes in on these topics.

[FromCLTtoATL]

Originally Posted by coolyfett

Deacon already mentioned all of that stuff and the OP disregarded it. A visitor being so passionate about letting the city know how scary the city they so called visited is a lil strange to many of us. And I am not an Atl defender, but I can tell the fakes. Uncle Greg must be ill or something....he normally chimes in on these topics.

I agree. Something was off about this from the start. We were dumb-dumbs for taking the bait. (And I'm no fan of downtown Atlanta myself, but it ain't that bad).

[95g atl]

I felt the same way when i first flew into Atlanta. But once you get out of the inner city area, most places are night and day difference. Also, I find that we rarely, if ever, venture to downtown....if we do, it is usually just "driving past" on the interstate to get to the airport.

Next time you get to Atlanta, rent a car and drive 15-30 minutes north. Go into Roswell, Alpharetta, Suwanee, or Cumming...you will see beautiful neighborhoods and communities. We ventured 30 miles north of Atlanta for this very reason.

Remember, many big cities have issues with homeless or mentally ill. My personal experiences are from both East and West coast. San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Newark, Philadelphia, NYC, etc. Pretty much the same kind of people everywhere.....

[Nasuba]

Originally Posted by BringBackCobain

You refuse to acknowledge or entertain other's viewpoints this whole thread, and on this whole forum, if they contradict with what you think is true. Theres a word for that - ignorance.

I have heard from multiple people that panhandlers are a problem at GSU. Its almost like saying the sky is blue. Contrary to your opinion, most people dont like being harassed by people looking for change. Fine if you enjoy that sort of thing, but don't expect normal people to.

In addition, panhandlers are criminals, and criminals need to be dealt with properly. Excusing criminal behavior just because they are human beings is not only idiotic, but dangerous.

Not everyone shares the same opinion as you, and they should not be attacked or lamblasted for stating thier view. You do not know everything, so respect other people's experiences and opinions. Atlanta is not perfect - no city is - and it is okay for people to point out its shortcomings. Someone already said this, but your responses make me suspicious that you are employed by the city or some other promotional organization.

I do believe deacon may be employed by Georgia State..he sounds just like my incept guide during incept. I have two cousins who are the reason I am at this school and we all have been harassed going to aderhold(mostly in woodruff park which is where most students have to walk through to get to the building). In all of those cases the Police officers do NOTHING but sit around and laugh amongst themselves

[Sandy Springs Rep.]

Originally Posted by suprascooby22

I find the Democrats that have allowed this city to be infested with every bum, criminal and welfare leach around while doing NOTHING for the average citizen to be what is truly frightening! Nothing but a bunch of race-baiting good for nothings! God I hope Clark Howard runs for Mayor!!

You are the most stereotypical, knee-jerk, uninformed, NIMBY suburbanite I've ever seen.

[DeaconJ]

Originally Posted by Nasuba

I do believe deacon may be employed by Georgia State..he sounds just like my incept guide during incept. I have two cousins who are the reason I am at this school and we all have been harassed going to aderhold(mostly in woodruff park which is where most students have to walk through to get to the building). In all of those cases the Police officers do NOTHING but sit around and laugh amongst themselves

Nope...Deacon IS a graduate of Georgia State, not an employee. When I read posts that are harshly critical of anything, and they arejust for the sole purpose of criticizing without real merit or factual information, then I'm usually compelled to respond.

How many times have you reported the lack of professionalism shown by GSU police? It's very simple - an online form is available - and it's really the only way to change what you perceive to be a lack of security on your college campus. If it's really a problem, then let someone know.

When I was a student at GSU and had classes in the Fairlie-Poplar area, I never used Woodruff Park as a cut-through. It doesn't seem to be a real short cut to me...it may be, but if it is uncomfortable for you and you feel a lack of safety in the park, go ahead and use Decatur Street and then turn up Peachtree Street to get to Aderhold. It's about 30 seconds longer and worth it if the situation is as bad as you say.

[AcidSnake]

There's not much the GSU Police can do about the park anyways. It's all about jurisdiction. Woodruff Park is maintained by the City of Alanta who in turn cedes that responsibilty over to the Atlanta Ambassador Force. The homeless & mentally ill issue is something I think will take more than Atlanta to solve. Unless we Georgians want to get on board with a progressive mental health structure similar to those in other enlightened advanced western nations, I guess we will just have to suck it up. Oh well...

[Brillemeister]

Something unexpected:

I am a 19-year-old, white male, and I have had far better experiences on Lee Street in the West End that on Peachtree in Downtown. Guess why.