Downtown Library "Visitors" (Sugar Land: sales, sales tax, vehicle)

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by westhou

I don't see anything wrong with homeless people using the library. They are pretty much the only people who can benefit from it. Most of us download books on kindles and stepping into a library is an unnecessary inconvenience. Without the homeless the downtown library would probably be empty.

I use the Kindle app on my phone all the time. I also have 3 books checked out from the library right now in dead tree format. Not all library books are available in Kindle format. I love going to the library, and always see families there. I go to the Downtown library when I am looking for a larger selection that is available in my closest branch. The homeless aren't an issue, because they know if they are disruptive, they will be asked to leave.

[snackdog]

Seems like if the idea is to let stinky homeless people take over and drive away the library patrons who are there for reasons other than to bathe, pee, poop and sleep then we can just box up the books and call it a homeless shelter. Might save some money.

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by snackdog

Seems like if the idea is to let stinky homeless people take over and drive away the library patrons who are there for reasons other than to bathe, pee, poop and sleep then we can just box up the books and call it a homeless shelter. Might save some money.

The library is for all of us, not just the clean, non-homeless. If the patrons Downtown offend you, perhaps a branch library would be a better choice.

[SanJac]

It wasn't always this way. When I was in high school in the late 70s we'd go to the downtown library for research papers. I loved it!

I noticed over the years it's gotten worse....don't have an answer...

[Svensk08]

Originally Posted by SanJac

It wasn't always this way. When I was in high school in the late 70s we'd go to the downtown library for research papers. I loved it!

I noticed over the years it's gotten worse....don't have an answer...

The number of homeless people has increased greatly since then. Also, the library system has probably changed its rules to become more inclusive for all who use it.

[madrone2k]

It's a tough dilemma. A lot of us who like the idea of supporting public libraries also share concern for people who are living on the street, for various reasons. To my mind, the dilemma is that public libraries were not set up to address the social problems that street people have. I think we need to separate those two social goals. It will mean spending more tax money, at least for some time. I think we should face up to that or the problem with just continue to get worse.

[crone]

My son worked at our local library years ago while he was a student. At that the libraries close to elementary schools were after school care/ The kids just came to the library until their moms picked them up.

He did have to scout the rest rooms for the sex instruction books every day.

Malcomb Gladwell provides an interesting discussion of homeless people in a chapter of the book "What the Dog Saw".

His take was that local governments could save a ton of money on services to the homeless if they would just get old motels and turn them into single occupancy rooms. That and putting a person insight to be sure they got the medication needed etc. The town that did it saved 50K a year per person. Many were ale to get jobs and live on their own. Our society doesn't have the will to do it.

[Thoreau424]

Before complaining, one needs to do something about the issue, if that's even possible. If nothing can be done, shut the pie hole. Complaining here won't solve anything.

Maybe the offended library patron should be more focused on checking out the desired books and leaving, rather than hanging out at the library, gawking and scowling at the homeless.

[westhou]

Originally Posted by crone

My son worked at our local library years ago while he was a student. At that the libraries close to elementary schools were after school care/ The kids just came to the library until their moms picked them up.

He did have to scout the rest rooms for the sex instruction books every day.

Malcomb Gladwell provides an interesting discussion of homeless people in a chapter of the book "What the Dog Saw".

His take was that local governments could save a ton of money on services to the homeless if they would just get old motels and turn them into single occupancy rooms. That and putting a person insight to be sure they got the medication needed etc. The town that did it saved 50K a year per person. Many were ale to get jobs and live on their own. Our society doesn't have the will to do it.

Houston has several SROs. One of them is located at 45 north and 610.

[Vicman]

Having to pay some additional taxes to METRO could help install a security force on the light rail.

Speaking of stuff, Mo City is a part of METRO. Why doesn't Sugar Land join?

Originally Posted by SugLandDAd

My children have enjoyed riding the light rail downtown, this was generally done on weekends, and off times weekdays during the summer..... we used to ride it more frequently, but the prevalence of homeless, ticket-less passengers has increased to the point where we don't feel comfortable, after a scary incident last year when a man who was clearly under the influence of something started yelling at my 5 year old, we haven't been back.