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The root of the problem is the homeless, how do you really fix addicts/mentally unstable people? At some point almost all mental hospitals closed, these people had to go somewhere. I don’t think there really is an answer to this. Your weather and policies allowing it is the real base problem, SF is a full time vacation to all the countries homeless.
We have to ask the question why we have so many mentally ill people in this country.
The most important part of any economy is the bottom of the pyramid, where the poor majority does most of the work. As driving becomes less affordable, public transportation must increase, or we don't have an economy anymore.
Buses became more practical for me when bike racks were added. Most racks hold two bikes, which is sometimes not enough for morning commuters. Most routes here are hourly, so the waiting can be unpleasant in cold and wet weather.
A lot of it is drug abuse related and we're a rich country so people can live off of govt. support and family etc.
In the past or in other countries they'd have died of exposure, malnutrition, prison trauma and so forth.
Parents are quick to take their kids to the doctor and the doctor is quick to prescribe something.
That's a huge problem, that was never really an option before recent times.
I believe kids are over prescribed to treat natural behavior ~ like boys and young men being hyper, rambunctious, rough housing on the playground etc. Schools are largely operated by women and they don't understand the natural growth and development of boys.
A lot of it is drug abuse related and we're a rich country so people can live off of govt. support and family etc.
In the past or in other countries they'd have died of exposure, malnutrition, prison trauma and so forth.
So how do we reconcile with the fact we have many that believe in the freedom to do whatever they want to their own bodies, but by allowing those to do so, it creates a societal burden and a safety issue for those around drug abusers?
Do we outlaw drugs altogether like they do in China, Singapore, Indonesia, etc. and live in a relatively harmonious society with certain restrictions?
Or do we allow this libertarian, free lifestyle and deal with the negative consequences associated with drug use?
Far from dead.....the people who run California have grit and determination, BART ain't
going to do anything but grow.
Look as the horribly-corrupt botchjob known as CA-HSR.....if that pathetic mess
is still surviving, BART has not-a-thing to worry about.
BART is child's play compared to San Diego's ambitious plans. Assuming this becomes a reality, we'll spend $177 billion and still be left with atrocious traffic and a transit system that 5% of the population will use.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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We have the same situation here in the Seattle area with King Count Metro and Sound Transit buses and the Light Rail. Not only is ridership way down, but the crime on the buses is way up, and there is a shortage of bus drivers. For the few that still take the bus it's unreliable, with many routes being cancelled every day. Meanwhile the light rain system expansion is costing us a lot on our taxes (property, sales, and car licensing) and is of course, behind schedule and over budget. The anticipated ridership to help pay for it in the future is in serious doubt. The existing stations are not hospitable, with trash, homeless people and crime. Even the Seattle highway 99 tunnel project is in deep financial trouble with the drop off in traffic with work from home.
One good thing about BART, now there may be parking spaces available at the stations, unlike when we were there.
So how do we reconcile with the fact we have many that believe in the freedom to do whatever they want to their own bodies, but by allowing those to do so, it creates a societal burden and a safety issue for those around drug abusers?
Do we outlaw drugs altogether like they do in China, Singapore, Indonesia, etc. and live in a relatively harmonious society with certain restrictions?
Or do we allow this libertarian, free lifestyle and deal with the negative consequences associated with drug use?
The drug genie is out of the box in this country so to speak so outlawing drugs is just not going to happen.
I think that we need more PR campaigns like the faces of meth ads etc.
For those that are a danger to society we need to enforce laws, but the homeless migrate to places that are:
1. Warmer
2. Accepting\supporting of them
I've seen homeless in FL but the police kinda keep them in-line in the town I was at. Kind of a "don't cause trouble and we'll leave you be".
I think other parts of the country don't police like that and you get more violent and aggressive homeless\druggies there.
Also in some parts of the country, a homeless druggie attacking a soccer mom in the grocery parking lot can more likely end up shot dead and those stories don't make national news.
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