‘Are They Supposed To Kill Themselves…?’: Sotomayor Lays Into Lawyer In Major Homelessness Case

During oral arguments in the City of Grants Pass v. Johnson on Monday, Justices Amy Coney Barret & Sonia Sotomayor questioned the attorney for the city of Grants Pass, Oregon about sleeping restrictions for homeless people.
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[@bapam2]

People just can't imagine themselves homeless. ZERO empathy, we have a nation of sociopathic selfish people.

[@TiffanyTeaLeaves]

It’s truly gruesome

[@billgraham861]

@@TiffanyTeaLeaves and didn't just happen naturally, it's a set up in the edujamacation (socialization) system. read "the underground history of american education" if you like to learn.😃

[@nedhill1242]

I have met homeless people. I have met people on the street asking for money. It’s overwhelmingly by choice. This is not an economic issue. It’s mostly drug and alcohol addiction and most of these people have somewhere they could be family friends, etc. but they choose the drugs of alcohol. And when you enable that behavior, you make the problem worse not better. Why do you only see this extremely progressive cities? Because they enable it and people are getting rich off the same way people get rich racism which was all dead back in the 1980s. Obama said this country back in terms of race relations. His policies because of his rhetoric.Michael has written a couple of books about this talk about how progressive policies destroy cities and homelessness is overwhelmingly mental health, drugs, and alcohol. And he was a radical of his life. But he woke up.

[@TiffanyTeaLeaves]

@@nedhill1242 these aren’t facts, these are your individual observations, not backed up with any actual statistics. People NEED to stop putting their own opinions above the actual research from sheer ego laziness. THIS is literally the problem, not the drug addicts YOU incorrectly claim are purposeful. Addicts are addicts because they have untreated health issues unsolvable until YOU and other republicans get your act together and vote for universal healthcare. YOU make it so unemployed people don’t have access to the same quality of healthcare as employed people, with jobs good enough to offer healthcare. Sir, it’s the UNEMPLOYED who NEED to get back to work or risk homelessness. Medicaid doesn’t give access to high quality mental healthcare. It provides access to nurse practitioners, totally under qualified for the rare and severe diagnoses which are severe enough to lead a person to homelessness. But if you believe anyone chooses homelessness you are simply calloused as well as uneducated on homelessness. No surprise, it takes an effort to become educated on causes and effects of homelessness. It’s not something people know instinctively like drawing breath, or beating your own heart. I am happy to educate you on each and every point, and back it all up with research, but THAT IS YOUR CIVIC DUTY! As an American! Be patriotic and do your civic duty! Stop spouting off about your totally uneducated opinions collected from republican entertainment media with the word news in it. Having the word news in an entertainment program doesn’t make it news. I learned how to conduct research correctly in college, where did you learn to conduct research, did you seek out research abstracts? Did you compare research abstracts? If not, your opinion was gathered from nothing but propaganda swirling around social media or television. Homeless people gather in cities because those are the places they lost their jobs and were unable to be reemployed because that’s where they struggled to get well enough to land a new job. Lucky for you, you don’t require a specialist in order to keep your job, or land a new one. If you did you would know all of this because it would be your lived experience and you’d not need college to learn it. So, use your fortune to be part of the solution, instead of part of the problem. Cheers

[@graterdeddly9527]

One can be homeless anywhere, why do the homeless choose to occupy public parks, sidewalks and other areas where citizens travel and want to enjoy-they are welcome to escape beyond the city limits and be as homeless as they like. A certain modicum of responsibility is not too much to ask, and one is to not become a public nuisance and infringe on the rights of others. Living on a sidewalk or in a public park degrades others’ rights - that is what is at issue.

[@Thelongmanable]

*_Sad they had to go to the Supreme Court to get a ruling on this!!! THEY SHOUKD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES!!!! PURE EVIL!!!_*

[@DaTooch_e]

what's sad is the SCOTUS took the case to begin with. Conservatives are evil.

[@dr.davidenglish778]

It's Grants Pass Oregon. That place is a joke.

[@luistorres6956]

What do you mean by that ​@@dr.davidenglish778

[@joevartanian4246]

Ahhhhhh!

[@thomassenbart]

Yes, the homeless are evil.

[@rr7firefly]

Judge Sotomayor showed that there are sane human beings looking at the basic problems -- she clearly showed that Grants Pass, Oregon is genuinely heartless in its zero tolerance of homeless people. We may not want our neighborhoods ruined with encampments but we must still avoid extreme measures. Thank you, Judge Sotomayor for calling this out.

[@benaravensfan]

If anybody there claims to be good Christians, I would hate to see them when they have to answer to St. Peter at the pearly gates for their attitude and behavior towards the homeless.

[@rockonmadonna]

If we do not want homelessness folks in our streets and parks, we need to reinstate the equivalent of FDR’s max wage, pass strictly limited publicly funded elections through an amendment ratified by 2/3s of the states, prohibit Congress from buying and selling stocks during their service, redirect foreign war funding to housing, health research and care, and education, and the like. If not, we should shut up.

[@orionhauk2968]

So if a mother puts a blanket on her baby that fell asleep in a carriage in the park, is it the baby or the mother who's in violation?

[@HappyGouldianFinch-cl3sw]

Yes

[@markcalhoun8219]

The baby is a criminal and the mother is an accessory to a crime, 30 days dungeon.

[@jaguarotacoa7538]

Yes. All of the above. Minimum of five years for the baby. Court adjourned. 👩‍⚖🔨

[@rockonmadonna]

“Let the baby die if the alternative is raising my taxes!” think the “pro-lifers.”

[@bcbock]

What next? Ban sleeping in public while wearing warm clothing?

[@jeremydalejon]

Such a a lame response.

[@JoelUldrych-kh2sc]

I usually don't support Sotomayor, but gosh she's very correct on this one. The most basic human rights must not be assaulted.

[@sh0t0kan]

So I guess they can set up shop in front of your house.

[@eddiemunster8634]

Basic necessities like sleep are a given, but you do not have a right to sleep on city streets paid for by taxpayers if you are not a contributing member of society. Go out and live in the woods and forage off the land like we did 20,000 years ago

[@chavvy9074]

⁠@@eddiemunster8634”if you are not a contributing member of society” all people are contributing members of society, everybody pays taxes in some way or another. You actually also don’t have to be a taxpayer to exist in public, children, elderly, and disabled people exist.

[@sebastionhawk5565]

I AGREE! I am 100% MAGA and fully support Trump. And, in my opinion, it is DISGUSTING how our republic of USA does not have enough shelter for homeless people. I do not care who they are, or whether or not they are a citizen or a LEGAL immigrant. But, we should be able to have at LEAST a small shelter within EVERY COUNTY that could house ANY homeless person. With economies of scale, and, WITHOUT corruption within such a program, small, separate, but, linear and conjoined shelters, that are about 60 sq ft, 10 x 6, with a sink and toilet, with radiant heat in the flooring could be supplied. There are well less than 30 million homeless, and, each individual structure on the average could be built for less than 10,000 USD. With airport-style water supply, and radiant heat in the flooring, utilities would be minimal. The cost for construction, 25% each from the federal govt, state, county and individual municipalities would amount to less than 300 Billion USD. The investment would solve massive problems of logistics, public safety and suffering. How much has been earmarked and "spent" on "infrastructure projects," within the last 2 decades, where the money went to salaries, political consultant/marketing contractors, and, even social programs such as DEI? How much have we spent on re-building infrastructure in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places? And, we cannot even commit to less than a few hundred billion USD to execute such a plan? FOR SHAME! Where is the TRUE compassion of the socialistic - globalist establishment? THEY HAVE NONE! And, imagine all of the construction jobs that would be created...And, the ones who need it the most are our homeless VETERANS and homeless mentally ill.

[@chavvy9074]

@@sebastionhawk5565 how are government funds spent on DEI?

[@jaguarotacoa7538]

My mom has been laid off several times, and after those several times when trying to find work, the savings eventually run out, and her and us as five children had ended up homeless each and every time, first living in shelters, then when the shelter director tells us to leave after they've reached capacity (because YES, they do reach capacity) end up living in our minivan until she COULD find work and continue to pay rent in an actual home. Any family of ours lived across the country, so we couldn't stay with them. My sister has recently also been homeless sleeping in her car due to not having enough to pay rent. This changed when Veterans Affairs finally paid her anything after eighteen years (her service ended in 2006), and they're now paying her rent, rather than giving her a paycheck. Apparently, where she lives, they're now criminalizing sleeping in cars, and she's been ticketed several times and almost jailed because of it. So, my question is, if we as a family had been jailed for sleeping in our van back in the day, would only our mom be sent to prison and us kids sent to CPS, or will us kids be sent to juvenile for our crime? I would like the Supreme Court to clear this up for cities everywhere just in case single parents with kids out there should ever find themselves struggling to buy diapers, let alone food, just because of something out of their control (people being laid off by the thousands for no apparent reason) 🥰😻 mwah. MWAH. Stay fabulous and housed, CEOs of America 💅💖💖💖

[@davidhandyman7571]

All the money sent to foreign countries would be better spent helping Americans. It the Federal government was serious, and the States were serious about caring for the homeless and the veterans, it could be done very quickly. Instead, they just make life harder for those who need a hand up.

[@MikeJohnson-nj1ry]

When housing is so expensive people who work can't afford housing what do you expect? When we put the mentally ill on the states what did you think would happen? When there is no drug treatment would are the addicted expected to do?

[@chetpomeroy1399]

When massive hedge funds buy up the available supply of rental properties, they artificially inflate rents because there is no real competition for tenants. Conversely, individuals and local business that buy such properties must *compete* with each other to fill their vacancies. It is *competition* that builds better mouse traps. Secondly, the mentally ill and those addicted to mind-altering substances (who are also mentally ill) require court-ordered institutionalization until they can demonstrate that they can provide for themselves. I believe *both* solutions outlined above would go a long way toward effectively addressing the homeless problem.

[@graterdeddly9527]

They are expected to stop taking drugs. Illegal and bad for you - personal responsibility is part of being a citizen.

[@chetpomeroy1399]

@@graterdeddly9527 Drug addiction is a type of mental illness, and requires inpatient treatment and commitment to a state psychiatric hospital until the committed can demonstrate they can take care of themselves.

[@bcastillo179]

Damn youre a genius. If only someone could implement your ​wonderful solutions of "personal accountability" so they homeless could personally conjure up some homes. @@graterdeddly9527

[@donnasloane9031]

SOTOMAYOR has actual emphathy...I now trust her other policies.

[@teresalegler2777]

Heartless! Not allowing a person to have a blanket? Really?

[@jeremydalejon]

Is that what you took from that? Did your parents have any kids that lived?

[@wolfman122970]

@@jeremydalejon Well, they had at least one that lived unless she is posting this from the afterlife.

[@jeremydalejon]

@@wolfman122970 Touché.

[@citizenjustice-el9pe]

I know 2 older people who committed suicide, because they were about to become homeless. Truth.

[@thomassenbart]

Yup, that is horrible.

[@mikebreidenbach9549]

You should have taken them into your home.

[@Breggrouse]

@@mikebreidenbach9549…or continue raising the concern on social media and voting strategically.

[@ownonephone5920]

Work with people in transition, and homeless 5 days a week. I hear people admit they are drug or alcohol addicted and will not be allowed in a homeless shelter, their Addiction is a priority over shelter. For those of us who prioritize shelter and are not addicted to drugs or alcohol, their situation is not relatable for us/very hard to imagine 'Instead of a warm comfy bed, I'm going to sleep on the sidewalk tonight'. Also, Theft in the shelters is another problem (Identity Theft is on the rise) another reason people say they wont go to a shelter. People with Service Animals, shelters do not allow pets.

[@dr.davidenglish778]

In terms of transition it should be a step program where those that have addictions problems get basic needs met. As they start to improve, more services are provided. I've seen the mini-houses that can be built inexpensively where the person would have their own place and many of these could be fit on one lot. The people with service dogs have to have some accomodation under the ADA.

[@linusa2996]

look up Finland's housing first program which put housing the person as the priority and fixing the drug addiction second and regression is not reason for kicking them out of their housing

[@dr.davidenglish778]

@@linusa2996 I agree the US should be looking at what other countries do and finding the best solution. Unfortunately too many people are thrown in prison and rot there for the rest of their lives.

[@LoveLee-jz1tj]

I stayed at a homeless shelter and the director stole my belongings WHILE I WAS AT WORK.

[@sc100ott]

Excellent observations. So what is the solution for these people who cannot or will not go to a shelter? If we just “tolerate” the drugs and prostitution, does that not make it more difficult for anyone in the shelter who is trying to climb out of their situation?

[@workaholic5318]

Prior to the environmental laws beginning with land use planning in Oregon, and continuing on with the Spotted Owl protection ultimately limiting the timber industry and beginning the downward spiral toward poverty, which these people are being impacted by and drug use encouraged by the misery and hopelessness caused by that.

[@DixonYamouf]

Explain how we have the biggest surplus budget in 2023 but you claim the timer industry's failure or decline has put all of oregon into a less revenue spiral. That might affect the timber industry but so will hemp

[@dr.davidenglish778]

There have been plenty of industries that have replaced cutting timber. In fact private land can still have trees cut from it. It is only the national forests that are protected. As Dixon said, industries like hemp are providing an alternative means of creating jobs. People have to retrain to have a chance at a good job.

[@edwardabrams4972]

Let mercy and kindness ALWAYS be shown to the poor❤😢

[@HappyBump-ts2gw]

Even when they harass us every day?

[@bt6202]

@@HappyBump-ts2gwat any moment in time. You or I, could be right there with them.

[@thomassenbart]

It's not about poverty but a lifestyle.

[@solomongrundy1467]

​@thomassenbart Who would choose to live on the streets than be in a home? Most people are homeless because of circumstances beyond their control. If I did become homeless I'd prefer to live in a van, not on the street. It's less conspicuous.

[@thomassenbart]

@@solomongrundy1467 Yes, that is how normal people think but it is not true for most homeless folk for many reasons, paranoia, mental illness, drug addiction, 'freedom', etc...

[@xentaatnex8261]

I get it, not in my back yard.

[@candykane4271]

Not in Sotomayor’s backyard!!

[@michaelanderson2881]

And why should they? If you didn't cause the problem, it's immoral and despicable that the problem should be visited on you.

[@billgraham861]

@@michaelanderson2881 you, on the other hand, do sound like a problem generator, michael

[@michaelanderson2881]

@@billgraham861 Cool. Which ones?

[@mikecohen2400]

Hats Off!!! To Justice Sotomayor she hit the nail right on the head, the Grants Pass law Denies shelter, even to the point of criminalizing the wearing of a blanket to protect one from the elements, it is evil, as well as unconstitutional.

[@chetpomeroy1399]

I've heard that Grants Pass, Oregon has a shelter that's only half-full. At least some of the homeless of Grants Pass could go there. Police should have the option of either 1.) Offering a homeless person a ride to a shelter, or; 2.) Jail.

[@thomassenbart]

You can't live in public spaces out of doors. Compassion is not a facet of law. It is a facet of morality or religion.

[@blueyedevil3479]

What constitutional provision, does this violate?

[@DiakosDelvin]

@@chetpomeroy1399 It's half full because it's rules means 80% of homeless aren't allowed in, you can't be an addict, alcoholic, mentally ill, have children or pets.

[@chetpomeroy1399]

@@DiakosDelvin So, you're sayin that the shelter I mentioned does not have psychiatric and/or mental-health treatment programs. If this is the case, is sounds to me like the State of Oregon needs to reopen their state psychiatric hospitals and expand their capacities *immediately.* Court-ordered commitment to state psychiatric hospitals would be for the good of the mentally ill and substance-addicted *as well as* society. They can remain in commitment until they can demonstrate that they can take care of themselves.

[@seanrhone5306]

"That's not our intent", but it's sure what's is going to happen.

[@yadayada752]

Really exposes the problems with homelessness!

[@rachelengstrom9120]

The Supreme Court Court has one job. They only exist to decide if a law or action is constitutional or not. Making homelessness a crime, in and of itself, is clearly unconstitutional.

[@thomassenbart]

That is not the issue, and no one is really saying that being homeless is a crime. The issue is about living in public spaces without authorization, fouling those places and making them unusable by the public in general and indulging in illegal drugs and alcohol and preying upon each other without end.

[@rachelengstrom9120]

@@thomassenbart all of the issues that you have stated are things that are already against the law. The reason this case is before the supreme court is because the city ordinances that make it illegal to sleep anywhere in the city, making it essentially illegal to be unhoused. Is it cruel and unusual to jail and fine those who have no choice but to sleep in public spaces? That is the question before the court.

[@maryhensley2597]

Drug use ok anywhere, illegal to be drunk on the street?

[@jeepernj99]

Apparently that’s ok. So is feces, puke, and drug paraphernalia.

[@chetpomeroy1399]

Decades ago, states had mental hospitals dedicated toward those who were committed mentally ill and cannot take care of themselves, including those who are addicted to mind-altering substances. From an economic standpoint, hedge funds buying up the available supply of real estate and driving the prices up *is not* capitalism; but rather, individuals and local businesses buying those properties and *competing* with each other for tenants.

[@seanm3226]

Leftists essentially eliminated mental hospitals. Because the mentally ill have “rights” as well., you know.

[@candykane4271]

When I was kid, I took bus downtown to work and the situation was alcoholics with the same debri on the street. Over 40 years it was cleaned up and made quite pleasant. The past 10 years it went down hill and today I CAN’T take grandchildren downtown even to a museum because the homeless and weirdos are in the museum …they sneak in. It’s utterly ridiculous what tax payers are expected to live with and support.

[@richardkeen5828]

This is what the war on poor people looks like. There is no war on poverty in America.

[@publius5464]

Poverty won.

[@kmg501]

The war on drugs was a disaster, be careful what you wish for. Also we have had a War On Poverty, it was started by the Lyndon B. Johnson administration and it to was a disaster that led to a massive and very costly expansion of government and a wrecking of private charities.

[@fishgutz4272]

​@@kmg501 LBJ's plan was to increase poverty and increase the permanent dependent class, thus growing the permanent Democrat base.

[@kmg501]

@@fishgutz4272 Agreed, he was a vile person.

[@ottohesslein3230]

Slaves not residing in a plantation barracks must be dealt with in criminal court.

[@user-pd9kl5lm2w]

Thank you.

[@ez2u1]

Who owns this land “the people” or the government!

[@archonjubael]

Another great clip from Forbes. Wow, and the comments… eye opening.

[@rabbitears8665]

The Supreme Court has a big building. Bring them there.

[@michaelwojcicki3624]

If a person is of right mind, that person shall have a responsibility to themselves and society. Societal responsibility would not allow free range tenting.

[@stphinkle]

The problem here is that this supreme court case is the result of being a SYMPTOM of poor policies in the USA. The problems are as follows: * Lack of Affordable housing that the POOREST people in a city afford. We have let all these developers build housing around the USA for the millionaires and upper middle class luxury units, but none for the people who are POOR. THIS HAS TO CHANGE. If you price the poorest out, where are they supposed to live or sleep? Sending them to neighboring towns, jail, or a shelter with not enough capacity for them all only ADDS to this problem. WE NEED TO INSTEAD MAKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AVAILABLE IN EVERY ZIP CODE FOR EVERY INCOME LEVEL, NOT JUST THE CITY SLUM AREAS. * We have let the cost of living skyrocket in the USA to a level that real wages have not kept up with. People are being squeezed out of their homes and apartments left and right as costs rise. IT IS TIME TO CHANGE POLICIES SO REAL WAGES CAN RISE IN THIS COUNTRY TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF DISPOSABLE INCOME AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO BE LESS SQUEEZED. * We have built a system that excludes a significant portion of the public for even qualifying for housing by the use of tenant screening companies. This includes those with no rental history, bad rental history, been to housing court, bad credit, those with charge offs or bad debts that are unrelated such as credit cards, auto loans, etc, those with bankruptcies, those with foreclosures, those with short sales, those that have been sued, those that owe money to previous landlords, those that have been evicted, those with criminal records, those with credit scores in the 300-600 range, those that have spottier employment, those that are newly self employed, those unemployed, those with little money, those that work under the table, etc. IT IS TIME TO START MAKING THIS POPULATION ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR HOUSING AGAIN BY LANDLORDS. * The rise of private equity, hedge funds, and others that own housing. This makes it more about profit than quality of life for people. We should go back to individuals owning homes and condos, making them affordable and not allowing big companies to own most of the homes and apartments in the USA. * Cities need to provide housing for the homeless and the poorest people to go to if they want them off the streets. They could easily solve this problem by allowing them temporary housing in vacant apartments, vacant homes, foreclosed homes, and having some at rent prices that are a 20% or less of the poorest workers monthly income and kept them at that level. I would also allow unused spaces in commercial, educational, and other buildings be converted to temporary homeless housing. * We need life coaching, counseling, educational programs, career training programs, substance abuse programs, and others to work and give guidance for homeless to turn their lives around and get stability in society. IT IS TIME FOR CITIES TO LISTEN TO HOMELESS PEOPLE AND ALLOW HOMELESS ADVOCATES TO HAVE SERIOUS SEATS AT THE POLICY MAKING TABLES.

[@jeepernj99]

Not realistic at all. Those unused spaces would quickly turn into hazmat areas with feces, puke, and drug paraphernalia. A place to do drugs. Homeless people don’t help themselves with the way they destroy property. Sad but true.

[@stphinkle]

@@jeepernj99 That is why if we had homes for them and ability to have some stability in their lives, and worked with them and listened to them and developed plans to turn their lives around it would help. I think they turned to that culture because we marginilized them and priced them out of a lot of the housing in cities. CRIMINALIZATION OF HOMELESS WILL ONLY MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE. WE HAVE TO INSTEAD ADDRESS THE POLICY CAUSES THAT LEAD TO IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

[@jeremydalejon]

Nope. These are drugs addicts who choose this lifestyle and that's a fact Slick.

[@markjaycox7524]

I've been homeless, but I had and sometimes slept in my vehicle. I knew many (most) homeless people who didn't have a vehicle. The Salvation Army (used to?) handed out blankets & homemade quilts (very nice, heavy quilts), because... Minnesota November -March! Even in a vehicle, sometimes with no money for gas, it's damn cold in January - for those either prevented from (certain prior criminal history, prior Shelter disruptive behavior, or being drunk, barred some from the Shelter) or simply Choosing to NOT utilize the Shelter. Even though the Shelter was available, there were (warmer Winter) nights I chose to sleep in my car over sleeping in a bunkhouse with 30 other guys snoring, coughing, and the constant whirring of someone's CPAP macine. I knew homeless people who successfully 'camped, in Winter, in Minnesota - some, only during warmer periods, and one who refused Shelter every day of the year! With that said, there needs to be a reasonable public safety policy (the homeless person's Safety!) that allows authorities to force someone into shelter, rather than allow them to potentially die in the elements. I believe reasonable and fair policies/Laws can be put in place that can deal with the reality of homelessness, and still respect the freedoms & Rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

[@mathiasbartl903]

I'd like to point out that sleeping itself is involuntary.

[@edward8972]

I can’t fucking believe this court is arguing to take away a homeless person’s blanket!!! What the actual fuck?! 🥴🤬

[@godsdozer]

can we put them all in sotomayor's yard? Oh wait, there is a reason I live far from an urban environment............

[@DaTooch_e]

Can we fix the root cause of the problem instead of making criminals out of people who sleep.

[@maryhensley2597]

​In my city legalized drugs, addiction and anti social behavior!

[@linusa2996]

@@maryhensley2597 That has nothing to do with the case here. Here the case is about making it illegal to sleep in public with a blanket. It would still be legal to sleep in public, as long as you don't have anything other than the clothes you are wearing. As the judge said, the policy is "just die"

[@chavvy9074]

Isn’t she from the Bronx? And presumably lives in DC?

[@chavvy9074]

@@maryhensley2597plenty of drugs are legal. You can’t make a mental state and condition illegal?

[@candykane4271]

I’m sure Sotomayor would love them to have them at her house. I’m positive she could house at lease 10 homeless, even feed them well.

[@Jeff-wc9xp]

Good thing the native Americans did not have such ordinances when the settlers, I mean the homeless, showed up from Europe.

[@exwp20001]

Thought she was talking about Israel for a second.

[@blueyedevil3479]

To hell with a blanket… I’d use a sleeping bag then… 🤣

[@dr.davidenglish778]

The fact that Grants Pass Oregon passed this law REALLY does not surprise me. What an awful crappy town. Yes, I can say that because I grew up there.

[@HappyBump-ts2gw]

I guess not everyone who grew up there likes being harassed and robbed by the tent people every single day.

[@noneyabizz8337]

It's the "compassion" which partially creates this problem...

[@flpanhead]

The other half is stupidity.

[@chavvy9074]

Being kind to people causes problems? Interesting.

[@noneyabizz8337]

@@chavvy9074 enabling is a new concept to you?

[@chavvy9074]

@@noneyabizz8337 “enabling” is a neutral word. I don’t think that being enabled is inherently a problem, so you’ll have to be more specific. Compassion - sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. Explain how that causes problems?

[@noneyabizz8337]

@@chavvy9074 I have to explain to you how providing a cushy existence for these people creates more of it? Sounds like you need to do some research. Maybe start with gov officials on the west who are now realizing how these "aide" programs create a draw.

[@scalylayde8751]

If they think it’s a health concern for people to be sleeping on the street, they should make sure they all have housing.

[@kitkakitteh]

She should lead by example- after November, of course 😂

[@dreday3939]

There's no sound

[@silverpurkat]

This is deep about human compassion that most of our law makers are heartless and clueless about. Things happen to people. It’s not like they said to themselves as children that their career is to be homeless, staving and have problems. This is were instead of making laws like this the government should be creating options and housing for them. Yes easier said than done but you can’t take away a person’s right to exist.

[@Lisarata]

In saying it that way, what's going to happen is some are going to say of others, "they want them to die" and the invective is fed.

[@Felipe-js1wl]

Well it couldn't hurt.

[@denysolleik9896]

Comments are disabled for this video.

[@poonyaTara]

I've fallen asleep in a tree outside a movie theatre before while waiting for my family to come out. (I'd skipped the movie to visit a friend hospitalized nearby.) Would that have been illegal there? Also, the only time I've ever been homeless was when I'd chosen to be homeless because not paying for rent had been my best option for saving enough money to fund my jewelry business. Would that now be illegal as well?

[@Tolkienlady]

THAT'S what all this sounds like. Bc one grave to dump 1000 is easier to dig than one home is to build. I know that sounds gruesome but it's EXACTLYwhat it seems all these heartless towns care about.

[@markcalhoun8219]

They just want to run all the homeless out of town and make it someone else's problem. They don't even want to spend money on a mass grave.

[@user-tv4oc5ox9h]

As a person who owns a home, am I allowed in a park after dark when the city ordinances clearly state that the park closes at dusk?

[@nfbconnect]

So homeless ppl should just go straight to jail, which they'll never get out of bc it costs money to get out of jail.

[@HiCon37]

@@nfbconnect No, get a job and find somewhere to live. Personal responsibility isn't something they can't do, they just don't want to. Everyone has to be their own supporter, not be relying on the state to hold you up your whole life. Get a job, get 6 months of housing from the state. Fail a drug test and it gets taken away. Stop treating these people like children and start actually fixing the problem.

[@linusa2996]

@@HiCon37 You know there are homeless people who have jobs. As to failing a drug test, so they become homeless again, then what? Jail them? Jail which will cost 3-4 times per day what it would have cost to provide housing. good economics there, guaranteeing that the program fails

[@karencrawford7260]

Allowing the homeless to set up a tent anywhere enables them. Restrictions should be applied to where they can set up a tent or sleep. They have to build more homeless shelters and fix the issues within the existing shelters, so there's no excuse to not go there.

[@chavvy9074]

@@karencrawford7260we should all be “enabled” to exist in public.

[@stevemt3238]

The wants of a few outweigh the needs of the many.

[@lillian-annmonk-whitingare8879]

May I ask a question if someone has been kidnapped or assaulted and has no means to contact anyone and someone offers them yes a blanket or an oversized coat that obviously is too big for them are you going to take them to jail first because they're doing or wearing something you don't want and then ask them why 💔😞😳

[@earlphilbrook6075]

Such stupidity. Where did people sleep before houses were built?

[@seanm3226]

Actually they always sought to build shelter for themselves.

[@tedmockrish6037]

And the cities etc that don’t want homeless don’t allow for low income housing or no income housing

[@spankyssurprise1361]

Develops some land in the desert or on a island and send them there.

[@noneyabiz8225]

I wanna hear what Linus from Peanuts has to say about it!

[@linusa2996]

He would have given them a blanket.

[@zen_XIII]

​@@linusa2996🤦‍♂️😂😂😂

[@sadwingsraging3044]

Make Asylums Great Again

[@lorab1912]

I opted for Western State Hospital over King County Jail isolation cell... It took weeks & weeks to wear me down. I was told jail is protective custody then after Al Gore told me in court I could go home if I took pills. My leg went thru deck of my 4th rental property since 2004. Ya... see we were right at age 46 jail then on crutches for 6 weeks. Ben Carson HUD vice president. .. takes a Realtor to understand this Bullshit not a brain surgeon. Chemical Lobotomy for Lora. Not progress? Ask Rose Kennedy.

[@cjsmiles64]

Public places are not for private use

[@chavvy9074]

Lmfao explain this in depth.

[@jeepernj99]

We’ll said CJ

[@chavvy9074]

@@jeepernj99 can you explain what she’s saying please?

[@furtim1]

You cannot hijack a public area (sidewalks, roads, parks, courthouses, cemeteries, etc.) to your own personal use, beyond their intended public use to the exclusion of all others. The comments against this standard are just inane. "How mean!" Meanwhile, these same nimby folks would surely have something to say if one or 15 people (homeless or not) started setting up tents and shanty towns on their front yard. They wouldn't ask stupid questions like "what does it mean to not use someone else's area as your own?" It is called stealing, squatting, annexation, or trespass. Seriously, now, imagine coming home one day and there is a guy sleeping under a blanket on your front porch or on your roof. Do you or do you not interfere with that? If you do interfere, even to ask him to leave, you are acknowledging the absence of his claim to just occupy a space. If you think that you wouldn't, make it 2 people or 3 or 10. Imagine not being able to back your own car out of the driveway because of all the people and their debris. That is what this law is working to prevent, but in parks and streets. Just because you aren't having to deal with this doesn't mean entire cities (thousands of people) are not having to step over sleeping people when they get off the subway or run people over in their driveway that are "just sleeping" on the sidewalk in front of their home. @@chavvy9074

[@easyyog1185]

What Would Do on Your Own Private Property, HOA? - Move Along, enforce Trespass. good grief.

[@julianlayton9081]

Shut blabbering lawyer down, we think is not law

[@GeneralSpanky]

Sleeping? Or taking a nap for an hour or two. If they setup a camp W/fire & shelter then they or living in that space.

[@JazzBuff23]

Our Founders did not give the Federal Government, Congress, or the President any Right or Authority to get involved with any issue like homelessness. Therefore, the Tenth Amendment kicks in and the States and the People decide. The State should allow each city or town to handle this with local solutions including local charity. Some on this court are shedding tears that should not be shed. Our country must have standards, rules and laws, but not made by the federal government. We need to cut the federal government by about ninety percent and allow the States and People to govern themselves as our Founders envisioned in our Constitution.

[@chavvy9074]

Yes they did, “welfare of the union”. “Standards, rules, and laws” to criminalize people existing?

[@soonahero]

8th amendment cruel and unusual punishment

[@JCB576]

Besides the fact that some states may lack funding to provide for the poorest of the poor or simply don't want to. Where are you going to put these people? If you watch the case this is pointed out by conservative justice kavenaugh. If you put these homeless people in prisons they will not be better off when they come out. This would create a endless cycle of suffering for homeless people, ramp up the prison cost, increase taxes (because you gotta somehow pay for the extra prison spaces) etc etc

[@soonahero]

@@JCB576 the public will be better off while they’re in. Also in prison they receive nutritious food, literature, lodging, medical care, and access to exercise. Far better to pay for prisons than them annoy the public

[@candykane4271]

@@soonaheroand get clean of the drugs and alcohol

[@SWOBIZ]

No one should be allowed to sleep in the streets. They they should all be allowed to live in Justice Sotomayor's house.

[@JazzBuff23]

Please don't get me wrong in my posts below. As a society, we do have the responsibility to solve the problem. My point is our Founders wanted that solution to be made by the People and not imposed on the People by the Federal Government.

[@janibeg3247]

Sotomayor has a couch - they can sleep there.

[@toplarry]

Thank God for COMMUNITY STANDARDS.

[@branchingoutnurseries4403]

whats wrong with not wanting homeless people versus encouraging them?

[@crimony3054]

Most towns had "Hoovervilles" in the Great Depression. Anyone who was disturbing others and had nowhere else to go would be deposited there.

[@sebastionhawk5565]

I am 100% MAGA and fully support Trump. And, in my opinion, it is DISGUSTING how our republic of USA does not have enough shelter for homeless people. I do not care who they are, or whether or not they are a citizen or a LEGAL immigrant. But, we should be able to have at LEAST a small shelter within EVERY COUNTY that could house ANY homeless person. With economies of scale, and, WITHOUT corruption within such a program, small, separate, but, linear and conjoined shelters, that are about 60 sq ft, 10 x 6, with a sink and toilet, with radiant heat in the flooring could be supplied. There are well less than 30 million homeless, and, each individual structure on the average could be built for less than 10,000 USD. With airport-style water supply, and radiant heat in the flooring, utilities would be minimal. The cost for construction, 25% each from the federal govt, state, county and individual municipalities would amount to less than 300 Billion USD. The investment would solve massive problems of logistics, public safety and suffering. How much has been earmarked and "spent" on "infrastructure projects," within the last 2 decades, where the money went to salaries, political consultant/marketing contractors, and, even social programs such as DEI? How much have we spent on re-building infrastructure in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places? And, we cannot even commit to less than a few hundred billion USD to execute such a plan? FOR SHAME! Where is the TRUE compassion of the socialistic - globalist establishment? THEY HAVE NONE!

[@chetpomeroy1399]

There is a problem when massive hedge funds buy up the available supply of rental properties, artificially propping up the rents and holding down the vacancy rates. This *is not* capitalism. Conversely, individuals and local businesses owning rental properties must *compete* for tenants, enabling market forces to determine rents, which is *true* capitalism. The mentally ill and those addicted to mind-altering substances *require* court-ordered institutionalization until they can personally demonstrate that they can take care of themselves. The several states have plenty of revenue to fund such a program. Everything suggested here would go a long way towards effectively addressing the homeless problem.

[@sc100ott]

Here’s part of why it isn’t done. 1) Housing regulation-what you are proposing doesn’t meet current housing codes, in many instances. 2) NIMBYism. A lot of people talk about good game, but almost nobody wants a substantial population, of the types of people that these programs serve, their homes. 3). Real Estate-you either need to spend inordinate money just to acquire the property where the homeless tend to gather, or confiscate it from land owners-some call it “justice”, others call it “theft”. 4). It has been tried in many places, and failed for various reasons. The south side of Chicago used to have dozens of large apartment buildings for low income residents. They are all gone now. Why? 5) Difficult balance between incentive and corruption. Government has to pay reasonable prices to get the work done, but big government invariably overpays those who are politically aligned with the decision makers, or are suckered by unreasonable job bids, and the work doesn’t get done.

[@sebastionhawk5565]

@@sc100ott yes; I do know about the not- in my -backyard conundrum. And, yes, the projects in the south side of Chi town have been failures. And, no, current housing codes do not allow for such small dwellings. However, it could be done, by purchasing vacant land, far from suburbia. And, we are not talking about massive projects. I live just outside of chitown, and, have seen the projects being transformed into ruins since the 70s, when I was a child. We would only need to provide 20,000 units for a city such as chicago, and, they would not need to be massive projects. And, yes, the codes would have to have variances attached to them. If I was homeless, I would be thankful to have 60 sq ft with a roof over my head, a toilet, sink and a heated floor for winter. The people are not going away, and, it is not good for public safety or the safety of the homeless to keep doing things as we have been. Most of those people in the projects were not homeless. Many had jobs.They were merely given free housing as a means of "reparations..."...and, they did not appreciate it, and, they destroyed it, year by year...

[@billgraham861]

why aren't we giving any consideration to population control? do you think this not going to get a lot worse?

[@chetpomeroy1399]

@@billgraham861 Actually, populations are beginning to *decline.* The boomers are beginning to die off and there were very few born in replacing them.

[@peterdangelo5882]

Of course not - you just cannot camp or live in the park. It is pretty simple actually.

[@DaTooch_e]

To a simpleton maybe. It's about just sleeping with a blanket. It has way more broader implications.

[@noneyabizz8337]

​@DaTooch_e ....way more broader Calls someone else a simpleton. And what's worse, some people liked the comment.

[@chavvy9074]

@@noneyabizz8337because people aren’t caught up in your nitpicking about wordage and acknowledge that the argument does have broader implications. Or more broadly implications, whichever semantics you prefer,

[@peterdangelo5882]

@@noneyabizz8337 It is very simple - simple indeed. The law will be upheld by this court based on the questions they were asking. If you listened to the whole argument you would see. They all agree you cannot criminalize homelessness or drug user status - so long as no one is allowed to live in the park the law is fine and will be upheld - it is not cruel and unusual under the 8th Amendment. That is the issue, not whether everyone in country should have a home, they should. Different issue. California now realizes they spent 24 billion to help homeless and it did nothing, not even it sure it made to the people who needed it. Great government indeed.

[@aleydasosa1134]

All the want is money, not for the homeless. They wanted to help illigals after they got the money no one knows where money go. ONG. 😡

[@johnbaker7322]

If they are on the street more likely than not that is already what they are doing, self destructing to death. Being processed by cops can help them find help and will also hopefully limit access to drugs that might be literally killing them. There are worse things that can happen to a homeless person than being given food and a roof in a jail and a chance to dry out.

[@johnjames6620]

Will Sotomayer be happy if the homeless slept on her verge or around the entrance to her local shop? I think the answer may be for certain spaces to be designated for homeless and for others not to be. But then, which spaces?

[@giovannigiorgio5040]

Move to soutborder mexico will shelter all...

[@MrJoker-]

CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT! To be an elected official, you should have to walk with the homeless once a month, maybe then the narcissistic attitudes would fade.

[@lainecolley1414]

Sleeping with a bkanket was made illegal in ~1931 @~ The Preamble and Declaration are not legally viable. Goddamn where

[@lainecolley1414]

#corinthian #pediment #Ipest

[@joeryanstrialbook2005]

Not a bad idea

[@donnasloane9031]

We should hand out WAG BAGS like we do needles.....WAG BAGS are also expensive.....we could also hand out those mitalic survival blankets...I think they are fireproof.....

[@stewartsmith1947]

I am sure that they do not live in their neighborhoods !

[@notanomad9320]

Sleeping with a blanket on the sidewalk where you hinder someone's right to pass should be illegal. Same with people who block roads in protest.

[@h2s142]

Federal government owns a ton of nevada that is totally empty.

[@linusa2996]

Mostly because you can't live in those areas without a large amount of effort and resources and money to build the needed infrastructure like drinkable water, roads.

[@chetpomeroy1399]

Ceding all that land to the federal government by the Nevada Territorial Government was likely a condition of being admitted to the Union. Arizona and New Mexico have the same situation.

[@DoggosAndJiuJitsu]

This is the equivalent of me wasting my money on toys and then the tax payers being required to pay my mortgage. “Well he doesn’t have the (blank) so it’s your responsibility.”

[@pacospete4299]

this ..... THIS is what a " Nation under Judgement " looks like ......... REMEMBER this come NOVEMBER !!!

[@JamesPetroff]

"When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God." Leviticus 23:22

[@user-ww5mj4mx3b]

no but feel free to do yourself if you want to help this nation

[@carlossummers4992]

🎯💛❓

[@crimony3054]

It's illegal to do all sorts of things in public areas. The city can prohibit dogs, bikes, amplified sound, glass bottles, even sleeping. During Covid, they arrested people for walking on the beach. As for the homeless, they can always choose a shelter bed or sleep in some public area where it isn't illegal to sleep. Skid Row and Hoovervilles exist not just to keep the rest of the city pleasant, but to have the homeless in an area that is easy to reach with free food and clothing.

[@heysianpopnley5198]

So when the shelters all reach capacity (yes that happens) and when it's illegal to sleep in public period, where do they go? Where can they sleep?

[@crimony3054]

@@heysianpopnley5198 Hooverville. It's illegal to be there too, but the cops won't roust you. Until there's someplace else where you can go. You're not bothering anyone and it's cheaper to care for you there than in a jail cell. And if someone has some extra food or something, then they can donate it there too. America has been through this before, not just with the Great Depression but with the Bonus Army too.

[@kicnbac]

If I was homeless, I would set up a little place outside of town to sleep.

[@DiakosDelvin]

with no access to water, food or toilets.

[@ryanprentice6921]

Grants Pass is pretty much run by billy-bobs. It's become a refuge for right leaning California retirees who want to leave their Blue paradise and move somewhere that used to be cheap and buy a nice house and own guns. There's not one public shelter in the city. There is a gospel mission but it requires compulsory church attendance and various other strings to stay there. With the influx of CA money over the last few decades it's become largely unaffordable for many who live and work there as wages are pretty depressed for locals.

[@bretttobin9632]

How about building a new city? Ukraine has taken close to 100 BILLION, new city thousands of jobs

[@georgewilson4245]

Bad news for the PUTIN/TRUMP Communist Ruling Party. The Ukraine Military Aid Bill package includes air defense and artillery ammunition, Bradley fighting vehicles, demolition weaponry and long-range ATACMS, or Army Tactical Missile Systems. Which means most of the aid money goes to US arm manufacturing. A Win-Win. A win for democracy and a win for US industrial sector.

[@Zedeezia]

I have been saying this no aid to Israel or Ukraine and build new cities. It would be a great project for Americas future. We need to worry about our future not a place on the other side of the world most Americans couldn't locate on a map.

[@AdNauseamart]

Sorry we could’ve built a couple but we’re busy giving $2 trillion to the riches t ppl you complain about

[@thomassenbart]

No, it is not the job of the state to provide housing.

[@thomassenbart]

@@Zedeezia I say people take responsibility for their own lives, obey the laws and get off the public streets, making them drug scenes, filthy and unpassable.

[@almires6945]

How about sending them to Mexico…you know call it fair trade?

[@goosecouple]

"Don't worry. Millions of new I'll.legals will improve the homelessness crisis. Thanks to Dem voters for the open border."

[@IAbulldogs]

Not they will not along Biden is in power they will get housings and everything for free.

[@icu4life240]

All that money spent and still no wall. The red states of Texas is putting illegals on busses and shipping throughout the US. These people should be detained at the border. Both parties have failed the American people

[@bretttobin9632]

they are highly skilled I'm sure

[@linusa2996]

Lets hear your solution

[@tbd-5160]

That's a moronical statement. America is an open border country. Let the Canadians in.

[@graterdeddly9527]

This is a good reason to find Sotomayor lacking as a justice."Are they supposed to kill themselves?" It’s obvious which way she intends to vote, and her questions do not revolve around the legal aspects but the emotional ones - which is not what the law is designed to be. Empathy is quite wonderful and admirable but the law must use reason and logic-passing feel good legislation enacted into law invariably ends in disaster. The city wants to ban the activity of sleeping on public property-this is not unreasonable and prevents irresponsible individuals from infringing on the rights of citizens who simply want to enjoy the public spaces for their designated purposes.

[@ryansupak3639]

I feel like the titles to these videos, while admittedly click-grabbing, add fuel to the fire of polarization in America (which I used to call "partisanship", but it's devolved way beyond that now). What I hear isn't anyone "laying into" anyone else, but a respectful and nuanced discussion on a very complex subject, for which there aren't easy answers. Please, for the sake of our country and for democracy generally: please resist the urge to keep adding fuel to this fire.

[@ceegee9064]

Given the content of the excerpt, the title of this video is accurately descriptive. Don't blame the video titles, blame the justices stoking the fire with hyperbolic language for their own end.

[@user-jq1uk7hf2p]

Nobody is looking to the root causes of homelessness. Some large part can be attributed to personal choices, but the majority is now being caused by skyrocketing rents and property values. This hike is cause, mostly by corporate investment groups buying up residential properties, trailer parks, and apartments. This is also a reason why nobody can afford to buy homes anymore.

[@furtim1]

True. This was a strange effect of the internet, making it easy and costless for people all over the world (including foreign governments) to purchase up properties in the US. It doesn't help that the money supply tripled under Trump and Biden, while output flatlined. It also doesn't help that housing demands are booming thanks to open border policies letting in people FAR more quickly than we can build homes. Meanwhile, interest rates are relatively up, making people with 3.5% mortgages from 10 years ago not well incentivized to sell, squeezing supply further.

[@user-jq1uk7hf2p]

@@furtim1 Exactly. And since biden has taken office, not blaming, just pointing out the timing, homelessness has risen at roughly the same rates as the rate of those purchases.

[@lindabondperry]

Sottomayor 🙏

[@jameskerrigan2997]

They are supposed to camp in the judges yard.

[@ev1193]

If all municipalities forbid sleeping in the open, move to BLM land.

[@40ouncemind]

Y’all all really don’t understand the point she’s getting at. You’re not smart enough to get to that conclusion. I feel for your offspring

[@donjames7316]

That was just a dumb rethorical question by sotomayer an attempt at being sarcastic. It’s really simple, it puts everyone in danger with homeless people setting up camp anywhere they choose especially in parks. It should be illegal, period.

[@mothernature8893]

If they are in jail, they aren't sleeping on the streets. Allowing an addict to camp out and do drugs is "enabling." At least in jail, they can't use...include mandatory locked down rehab. The mentally ill should be in a psychiatric facility or group home...they need supervision and mandatory medications. These 2 groups account for about 90% of the homeless and they don't need options, they need a controlled environment, something most of them strongly dislike. Shelters do nothing to change the trajectory of most of these people either. The physically disabled and elderly need housing. No one should be camping on the streets. People who are suffering temporary homelessness due to unfortunate circumstances should be assisted by the state. Importing the homeless from other countries is absolute insanity!

[@linusa2996]

@@mothernature8893 And yet every year, you folks vote against public health spending

[@chavvy9074]

@@mothernature8893you’re advocating violating people’s rights in more ways than one

[@chavvy9074]

What such danger that disappears if they don’t do what you’re complaining about?

[@chetpomeroy1399]

@@mothernature8893 The economic factor in this equation shouldn't be ignored. When massive hedge funds inflate the market by buying up the available supply of rental real estate, artificially driving up rents, this *is not* capitalism, as there is no real competition for tenants. Individuals and local businesses buying those properties and competing for tenants to fill their vacancies would constitute a *true* free market.

[@johnboylong40]

The Justice doesn’t have to step over these people on her way to work so she doesn’t have to worry about it. It’s the taxpaying peasants that have to deal with it or be labeled heartless. Trump posed tent cities with showers, bathrooms, health and social services etc and he was pounded as a monster.

[@stonecoldmunchin]

Sotomeyer, shut up and let her answer your question for once...

[@TiffanyTeaLeaves]

Erm, she would not be interrupting if the question was being answered. She’s interrupting because a statement is being made instead of answering the justices question.

[@stonecoldmunchin]

@@TiffanyTeaLeaves Soto was testyfing and nothing more.