Do you think L.A should post signs like this? (Simi Valley: how much, neighborhood)

[jm1982]

This was a sign I remember seeing in Savannah,GA , and it got my attention because I had never seen them before.
Do you think L.A should post these ?

Yes or No? and Why or Why Not?

[majoun]

They should, but it wouldn't mean anything considering how much the city of LA and the LAPD coddle the homeless.
(It's interesting how the LAPD have changed through the years if you think about it - from the most brutal, violent, corrupt, and nasty department west of New Orleans to the most ultra-PC department in the US. From one extreme to another)

[jm1982]

Yeah true. I can imagine the signs would be very controversial in L.A and deemed "Anti Homeless" or inhuman.

I don't see what is wrong with the city standing up against aggressive panhandling though.

The problem now is that that people just don't even bother reporting stuff most of the time, because they know the attitude is.."well he/she is homeless...what can you do about it.."

Personally I think these signs would cut down on the activity. It's gotten to the point where you can barely go anywhere without being hit up for money , "Excuse me Sir ...can I ask you a question".. You always know where that's going to lead.

People will say , "Well putting up the signs won't work" ...but the signs combined with a city government and LAPD that enforces the laws would work.

I would 100% support "kicking out" the homeless that are being a problem...just like kicking out the nonhomeless that are causing problems in a neighborhood.

It's just weird this idea is so 'controversial'. In other cities it's the norm that they don't tolerate nonsense. It just isn't acceptable.

[MItoBH]

I voted Yes.

On a visit to LA a couple years ago, I saw a sign in Malibu that prohibited panhandling and some smaller text was the monetary fine information.

Panhandling is not free speech, it's begging and there are services available for people in need.

[pinguina]

Huge difference between being "physically threatened" and being "asked for money." I don't think anyone needs a sign to call 911 for the first, and you would probably get laughed at if you called 911 for the second.

It does make me uncomfortable when I'm followed/aggressively targeted for whatever spare change I have, but I don't mind being asked. The problem is, the people who tend to be violent/aggressive are mentally ill and putting up those signs won't teach them anything.

Where do you propose we "kick out" the homeless population to? What many people on the streets need is mental health treatment, and no one wants to pay up for that.

[LuvSouthOC]

Originally Posted by pinguina

Huge difference between being "physically threatened" and being "asked for money." I don't think anyone needs a sign to call 911 for the first, and you would probably get laughed at if you called 911 for the second.

It does make me uncomfortable when I'm followed/aggressively targeted for whatever spare change I have, but I don't mind being asked. The problem is, the people who tend to be violent/aggressive are mentally ill and putting up those signs won't teach them anything.

Where do you propose we "kick out" the homeless population to? What many people on the streets need is mental health treatment, and no one wants to pay up for that.

<Raises hand> Raise my taxes and do this please. Just be sure to get the job done, ok?

[IM90046]

Wow, I'm the lone no vote?
We do not need to waste money and time, by cluttering the streetscape with more signs.
These signs won't discourage homelessness and who really wants to waste their time calling the cops if asked for a quarter.

[pinguina]

Originally Posted by LuvSouthOC

<Raises hand> Raise my taxes and do this please. Just be sure to get the job done, ok?

Hey, I'm in your camp! The biggest problems are 1) even with money, implementing a successful/efficient program, and 2) the unwillingness of most people to pay up to solve problems that they're constantly complaining about.

[Gurbie]

Originally Posted by jm1982

This was a sign I remember seeing in Savannah,GA , and it got my attention because I had never seen them before.
Do you think L.A should post these ?

Yes or No? and Why or Why Not?

You mean, the City of LA? They'd have to pass an ordinance first, and I don't see that happening. Maybe out in one of the more uptight satellites, like Simi Valley, maybe.

There are several 1st Amendment challenges to laws like Savannah's, making their way through the courts.

I've seen similar signs in some areas, discouraging people from "contributing to the problem of homelessness" by giving money to panhandlers. But the ones I saw were not posted by local governments. They were distributed by some "Council of Churches", and taped to shop windows. Not very Christian of them.

[jm1982]

Originally Posted by IM90046

Wow, I'm the lone no vote?
We do not need to waste money and time, by cluttering the streetscape with more signs.
These signs won't discourage homelessness and who really wants to waste their time calling the cops if asked for a quarter.

Waste of time and money? I don't think so.

What I think is a waste of time and money is spending literally millions on creating and maintaining parks or other resources and then basically letting the homeless take over. To the point where working tax paying citizens avoid those places specifically because of the homeless issues. Litter, pee, poop, being accosted , hit up for money, homeless drinking in public not caring , etc etc

I think a simple reminder that there ARE laws and they WILL be enforced is a good investment.