Comments on: Hangtown Haven revisited

By: Danna God's Child

Danna God's Child — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 16:33:01 +0000

After reading all of the negative (and few positive) comments, my heart broke for the way society has become desensitized. We will all stand before one God one day. Where is the compassion? The empathy? So many folks seem so hard and angry, I just don’t get it. The homeless are people, we are all people. Just because I have a roof over my head doesn’t make me any different then them. I never realized I live in a community of snobs and uncaring people. It breaks my heart.

By: Bummed Out

Bummed Out — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 15:22:09 +0000

ATTENTION!! There will be a Neighborhood Chat to discuss the topic of Hangtown Haven and it’s validity on Monday, Oct. 15th from 6-8pm at the Placerville Town Hall. Be there if you care about the future of our town!! Keep the letters coming in. This meeting is needed because “they” (City Council) need our input on the issue since they shoved this camp down our throats without our opinion in the first place. See you there!

By: Dan Hicks

Dan Hicks — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:42:58 +0000

As of just a few months ago, California continued to have one of the highest underemployment rates in the country, at 20%. That means 1 out of 5 Californians can’t find as much work as they’d like. (Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2012/07/30/which-states-have-worst-underemployment/) California was hit hard by the Great Recession. Certainly self-reliance is a virtue. But so is compassion for people who suffer pure bad luck.

Hangton Haven is being called a “handout.” But, from what I read in this story, it aims to be a safe place to sleep and take care of some other necessities. It’s even on privately owned land, with work donated by private individuals. No money is changing hands, much less taxpayer money. I suspect some people here are letting prejudice and fear of People Who Are Different override other values — like freedom and neighborliness — that folks in the foothills usually hold dear.

By: Pissed Off!!

Pissed Off!! — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 03:57:18 +0000

Hey “Once Was”
I was homeless myself back in the early 80′s after leaving here only to end up in L.A. I blamed everybody but myself. I finally got tired of nowhere to sleep, pulled my head out of my ass, got off of my “pity potty” because I had nowhere to turn other than look at myself. Things were not handed to me, and had I had a handout like the “Hangtown Haven,” I would probably never have gotten off the streets. A long story short, I now own a home here, and pay my fair share of taxes. I have no sympathy for people who expect everybody else to fund, and feed their lazy freeloading ways. Trust me, there is a way out, and it’s not from hand outs!

By: Once Was

Once Was — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 01:42:06 +0000

It seems that many people making these comments have not been homeless before. I on the other hand have. I would’ve loved to have a legal place to sleep back then. If it weren’t for the assistance of those around me, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Many of these people sound like they’ve recently became homeless. Just because they’ve lost their home, doesn’t mean they lost their phone or computer. Wifi is free in some areas. They have facilities to dispose of their waste. Now what if they didn’t? Then I would be worried more about the creek. I live not even a mile from Hangtown Haven. Yes, I see everybody walking around. I saw the Haven come alive, and it makes me happy. Now previous Placerville renters/homeowners have a safe place to go. I’m not bothered by them, they rarely ask for anything from me. If anything most of them are very respectful to me. That’s probably because I treat them with respect. Maybe that’s a lesson many of the posters should learn. Have some empathy.

By: Reality

Reality — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:44:16 +0000

I understand all of your frustrations, but what do you suppose we do about the homeless? They have to sleep somewhere. It’s a reality in our community. I wonder how many of them are able to get back onto their feet because of this camp.

By: Chuck Holland

Chuck Holland — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:14:27 +0000

If I only had an ex-wife. That’s funny stuff Mouzer.

By: Mouzer

Mouzer — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 22:58:19 +0000

Taking a drive through Placerville just disgusts me. What a town of teen tweekers, homeless, and losers. It amazes me that they always still have money for cigs. Maybe Chuck Holland needs to open a business for dummies class called “Any dummy can Raise $85,000.00″! Just grow, smoke and sell marijuana and save to open a business! At least that’s what his ex-wife testified…..oh! and there is that informant that’s involved – Just turn that stash into cash!!!

By: Ex Cheese Head

Ex Cheese Head — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 20:39:57 +0000

Thanks for the information Bummed Out, letters are written, I’m one voice and I want to be heard. This camp has got to go!! Temporary use permit is for temporary use…period.

By: Bummed Out

Bummed Out — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:10:36 +0000

Concerned Citizens,

If you disagree with the Hangtown Haven then I urge you to write your letter of opposition before the end of the month (October) and mail or drop it off to: City of Placerville, California
3101 Center Street
Placerville, Ca 95667

Dear Cleve Morris, Placerville City Manager
Dear Art Edwards, City Project Coordinator

The “haven” is on a TUP (Temporary Use Permit) and goes back up for review at the end of October. Just because it is there does not mean it has to stay. Ask the city for a copy of the ‘Staff Report-Homeless.pdf’ and shelter rezoning.pdf

By: Seriously?!

Seriously?! — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:52:47 +0000

You’ve got to be kidding me “…a place to charge phones or computers.” Seriously?!! If you can afford wi-fi service for your computer and a cell phone then you can move on! This camp is turning the east end of Placerville into a filthy place. Has anyone considered the environmental impact it is having on Hangtown Creek? This stinks!!! I am with you Chuck Holland. Let us know where we can sign on the line to get this camp abolished!

By: Underserved Taxpayer

Underserved Taxpayer — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:51:10 +0000

I am on the fence with this issue. On the one hand if I had a relative that was mentally ill I would be glad they were relatively safe in a camp like this. Certainly our counties mental health system is underfunded and over worked.

But if the camp were in my neighborhood I am uncertain how I would feel. I do know these folks are our children, brothers and sisters and most have issues coping with society. What are the alternatives? Jail. Lock them all up in a home? With the money the county charges for a building permit there would be no money left to build any kind of a shelter.

I say as long as they are following the rules and not making any trouble let them stay.

What other realistic options are there?

By: Chuck Holland

Chuck Holland — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:19:43 +0000

Dan, the city would hold the responsibility for kicking people off the rock you describe. There are people in our community, and from our community that need assistance. The city’s answer to this is Hangtown Haven. Pick the group that can get along with each other the best and and lock them up in a dirt lot on Broadway. For every person residing at the Haven, there are two more wandering the streets. Any day of the week you can drive up Broadway and see the mass of people walking the roads heading to the Upper Room for meals. Creating camps and having a high tolerance for homelessness is slowly turning Placrville into a safe haven city like San Francisco has been for years. Do we really want that? Should we allow the city to turn eastern Placerville into our “tenderloin” district? There’s no doubt Placerville has a homeless problem, but there is no reason to escalate the problem at the expense of east Placerville residents, businesses, and property owners. The city needs to find a better solution and remove it’s self from the homeless destination map. Other organizations have been very successful sheltering and housing local people with legitimate needs. The Center has a shelter for battered women, New Morning houses youths in need of shelter. Using those models, a useful system to assist those with legitimate needs could be developed.

By: Dan Hicks

Dan Hicks — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 11:56:01 +0000

Many of these comments reveal the Catch-22 faced by many homeless folks: They’re required to be stable, gainfully employed, and law-abiding if they’re going to fit in; but at the same time they’re harassed by the police and so constantly on the move, stereotyped as lazy and unreliable, and denied legal opportunities to get by.

When you’re stuck down in the mud, you need a sturdy rock to stand on. That rock’s going to get dirty as you try to climb out. That’s no reason for those of us up on dry land to kick people off the rock.

By: cookie65

cookie65 — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 11:26:28 +0000

This time of year anyone can get hired in the grape vineyards, but why do that when everything is free.

By: White Flower Girl

White Flower Girl — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 04:14:14 +0000

if the city manager and the chief of police had anything of substance between their legs they would stand up and take care of the homeless problem. There is know room in Placerville for more free loaders. Arrest them, ticket them, run them out of the illegal camps and return our parks to the tax paying people. Chief, you have a couple of dead weight administrators under your roof. send them out and make them find a cure to the problem, not just give us lip service. Mr. city manager, stop writing sob story recommendation letters to the counsel advocating for a homeless camp. the taxpayers don’t want it.

By: Pissed Off!

Pissed Off! — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 02:54:21 +0000

This CRAP has to stop!! Can’t even walk across the Coloma St. Bridge without being asked for cigarettes, or money. They should call the downtown parking garage “Hangtown Haven.” That’s just one part of town. Everywhere I go, these losers are hanging out in every nook and crannie. It’s like a fast growing Cancer spreading through out our streets.

By: Foaming at the Mouth

Foaming at the Mouth — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 01:42:19 +0000

That’s what I’m talking’ about! The posters around here never disappoint.

By: Fed Up in Hangtown

Fed Up in Hangtown — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 22:53:02 +0000

What a JOKE!! The TRUTH is that the police are there ever day busting up the place. Just drive by and you will see for yourself. This is the worst thing that has happened to our community in a long, long time! Just what our quaint town needed – a bunch of sex offenders, drug addicts and alike roaming our streets at all hours of the day/night. What about a safe passage for our upstanding community members and our children? One more thing negative thing to drop our home values. GO AWAY you freeloaders!!

By: Bill Moore

Bill Moore — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 21:49:12 +0000

And how do you intend on accomodating the hords that will come from Sacramento, San Francisco, or Reno when they hear about all the freebies in Placerville? Have you ever heard of working for a living. Everyday you can find an article or news story about businesses beggging for employees in the Dakotas. They are hiring huge amounts of people and still need alot more. Ever heard of moving to find a job? I guess they dont have to when the generous people of Ca. give food, shelter and medical care away all at the tax payers expence. I come to Placerville to visit my daughter and we always stop for either groceries or something. Well that has stopped. We wont be spending anymore of our money in Placerville.

By: Tired of free loaders

Tired of free loaders — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 18:47:19 +0000

A lesson in irony.

The Food Stamp Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is proud to be distributing the greatest amount of free meals and food stamps ever.

Meanwhile, the National Park Service, administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, asks us to “Please Do Not Feed the Animals.”

Their stated reason for the policy is because the animals will grow dependent on handouts and will not learn to take care of themselves.

Here endeth the lesson.

By: WasteOTime

WasteOTime — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 18:38:10 +0000

Maybe if the loser with all the tats put that money towards rent instead, he might still be in a house instead of squatting.

By: Justice Insider

Justice Insider — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 15:40:08 +0000

interesting they put a sex offender in the picture for this article.

By: Foaming at the Mouth

Foaming at the Mouth — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 05:43:06 +0000

What? Not one comment about what a bad thing this is? Buncha commies…