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The main library in my hometown is very nice but it smells terrible. The smell is from the many homeless and mentally ill people who arrive at the Library at opening time and sit there all day looking at books and magazines. Most of them are well mannered and just want to go to a place outside of the bad weather.
According to law, the Libraries can not exclude homeless people if they are not disruptive. But some Library systems believe that if a person smells terrible (body odor), that they should be kicked out of the building.
Advocates for the homeless say that Library staff will use that excuse to kick all homeless out and that it is impossible to have a standard for smelling OK.
What should be done with well behaved but smelly homeless at the Library?
This is a real problem, as homeless people have nothing to loose by sueing people and, like lottery players, it's the only way they see to become wealthy. The libraries have been targeted because by kicking out the homeless, they're infringing on their First Amendment right to gather ideas from the library's books, periodicals and newspapers. However, juries are finally getting tired of this legal abuse and realizing children use libraries and are uncomfortable with the "stalker" looking people lingering around, and that a library is not a lounge or shelter for the homeless.
Last edited by ESFP; 10-06-2008 at 07:47 AM..
Reason: Spelling error, oops!
This is a real problem, as homeless people have nothing to loose by sueing people and, like lottery players, it's the only way they see to become wealthy. The libraries have been targeted because by kicking out the homeless, they're infringing on their First Amendment right to gather ideas from the library's books, periodicals and newspapers. However, juries are finally getting tired of this legal abuse and realizing children use libraries and are uncomfortable with the "stalker" looking people lingering around, and that a library is not a lounge or shelter for the homeless.
It is true that libraries are neither "lounges", nor homeless shelters, but the fact that the homeless may appear less "well to do" than others does not mean that they are "stalkers", nor any other variety of criminal. Yes, this is a problem, and, perhaps, one that might have a relatively "low cost" solution. How about at least one space, in each town, for public showers and restrooms, so that people like this can attend to personal hygene. I once lived in a small town in east central Arizona that had just such a facility, and it was both well used and much appreciated.
I would not encourage homelessness. Any city that does so is just asking for more of them. The one thing I appreciate about winter coming is that the bums have to go further south unless they are hardcore. The best solution is to give them a free bus ride to California.
It is true that libraries are neither "lounges", nor homeless shelters, but the fact that the homeless may appear less "well to do" than others does not mean that they are "stalkers", nor any other variety of criminal. Yes, this is a problem, and, perhaps, one that might have a relatively "low cost" solution. How about at least one space, in each town, for public showers and restrooms, so that people like this can attend to personal hygene. I once lived in a small town in east central Arizona that had just such a facility, and it was both well used and much appreciated.
I think this is a great idea. And I like that at least one person pointed out that being homeless is no indicator of criminality. If fact, the homeless certainly do not want to attract police attention.
The city should build a separate bathroom with a shower, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and soap. When homeless people wander in and they are not clean they should be escorted into this bathroom.
how the hell is this thread in the great debates forum? this has nothing to do with great debates; it belongs in the political forum.
you seem to be having a blast posting all of these irrelevant threads to this forum, despite the fact that the large majority of them have nothing to do with any kind of great debate.
how the hell is this thread in the great debates forum? this has nothing to do with great debates; it belongs in the political forum.
you seem to be having a blast posting all of these irrelevant threads to this forum, despite the fact that the large majority of them have nothing to do with any kind of great debate.
aaron out.
I was wondering the same thing...just report it to the mod.
And the assumption that the homeless smell or that those with homes do not smell is patently wrong.
We have a neighborhood activist that smells like a cat pan. She had a big issue with too many cats. No one would ever want to sit next to her for more than a couple of minutes. She was neither broke nor homeless. It was not pleasant but it was just her.
The dangerous ones around here are not the homeless men or women. It is the kids in gangs.
how the hell is this thread in the great debates forum? this has nothing to do with great debates; it belongs in the political forum.
you seem to be having a blast posting all of these irrelevant threads to this forum, despite the fact that the large majority of them have nothing to do with any kind of great debate.
aaron out.
I assumed debate forum was the place to put items that were of controversy up for discussion. The op is exactly that.
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