Seating area at Berkeley BART plaza sparks debate

[@Paul665]

It’s kinda funny for someone to argue this is a seizure of public space when literally homeless put up tents in parks and on sidewalk. Litter needles and human shit, or otherwise make it so unsafe only they can use huge amounts of our public space.

[@Gryphon999]

I see tents at Lake Merritt and wonder "how is this legal"???

[@John-pz6nm]

The Supreme Court has upheld the Ninth Circuit Court that if governments do not provide enough housing and services for homeless people, they have a right to occupy any public space

[@JerseyTee]

Homeless has more rights then tax paying citizens

[@codyswartz945]

Them and squatters in the houses of others.

[@LabelsandLove]

That’s California for you liberal heaven

[@plicketyplunk]

@@LabelsandLove Has nothing much to do with liberal ideology and everything to do with bad government.

[@quietwind6931]

@@plicketyplunk Why do the liberals that live here, keep voting for the same government?

[@John-pz6nm]

Boo hoo NIMBY

[@alihakimi1707]

What’s wrong with having a space without junkies and mentally unstable folks?

[@treasuretrovel3816]

Berkeley has become a dirty, smelly, unsafe city because of the unchecked crime and homelessness. I would never send my kids to UC Berkeley.

[@owlcu]

It's gotten so bad, you'll need 4 cops, one for each corner of your idealistic square.

[@melissagarrido-df8qo]

Unfortunately if small business dont get help, they wills start closing down, like many the Oakland businesses.

[@Wat813]

We don’t want homeless doing drugs & throw humans feces everywhere in the plaza.shut off your politics,let our city be clean. Good job city of Berkeley for keeping clean

[@justinwahip]

More area should do this. Nice space to enjoy local biz. The homeless already have every where else to sprawl out at.

[@mrparkerdan]

“Public” funds are paid for by tax payers, not homeless and criminals. Serve those who pay. 🙄

[@aocleader7950]

Research has shown that 60% of homeless people have full time jobs and just can't afford rent

[@alihakimi1707]

It’s not excluding the unhoused, it’s excluding anyone not buying stuff. I don’t buy stuff usually so I would be just as excluded.

[@zigzag6758]

you mean homeless

[@RXI63]

​@@zigzag6758OP is homeless.

[@wyatt2062]

They said anyone is welcome, despite the signage (so including people who haven't bought anything), but I see that as a recipe for profiling. I've sat here many times in the past waiting for people to get off BART so I also don't think this should be labeled "for customers only" if it's a public sidewalk and space.

[@StevenTorrey]

IT IS A PUBLIC SPACE, THERE SHOULD BE NO RESTRICTIONS ON WHO CAN ENTER. MAKING A PURCHASE AS REQUIREMENT TO ENTER IS A RESTRICTION!

[@plicketyplunk]

Can the average citizen who is paying for goods simply have a small space to drink their coffee in peace? The homeless are probably the most powefu group of individuals in the country so can they let us have a couple of tables and some chairs to eat cinnamon buns? Thanks.

[@bingohhhhhhhhhhhh]

They are in CA and some other states, but not the majority. There is a better life elsewhere. CA is truly the most effed up state in the country, and it's not even close.

[@plicketyplunk]

@@bingohhhhhhhhhhhh I can think of a few other states that would have to duke it out with California for the top spot.

[@cachecow]

That pay for play place you're looking for is called a coffee shop and there are plenty of them. The more expensive the place is, the more "in peace" you can enjoy your coffee in

[@aocleader7950]

It's the businesses responsibility to provide seating for their customers not the city

[@bingohhhhhhhhhhhh]

@@plicketyplunk True there are definitely some very formidable contenders in the effed up state department - OR, WA, WI, IL, NY, PA, MI, et al.

[@donlee.4308]

Some homeless chose to be homeless , take drugs, or had a tough life and most likely those homeless are from out of state.… At least the businesses are contributing to society 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[@lg-ii6pm]

The city if berkeley should open a storefront for the homeless services near there if that’s a need. Let the businesses have some peaceful seating

[@cachecow]

It's got nothing to do with homeless people or "safety", it has to do with the fact that that development was paid for with public funds, but now private companies are the only ones with access to that space? Let the ambassadors help with the homeless people and condition of the plaza, not moving chairs for a private business.

[@danielfiore8865]

First off... the ambassadors are charity with dignity. Useless idiots in uniform. Your money was wasted on the city planners who came up with the idea. Think of it this way...those businesses create tax revenue for the city.

[@MasterVader510]

​@danielfiore8865 relax dude they are public servants doing good work with good will. Let's see what you have to offer to try and better society before passing judgment and seeking to offend those who are actually on the streets doing something about it besides and typing on a keyboard.

[@danielfiore8865]

@@MasterVader510 I'm supposed to play "make believe" for what reason? Respect? What service is being provided?

[@Paul665]

Okay then. When a homeless encampment is set up in our sidewalks and our parks. Where there is rampant drug use, needles in the ground and unsafe conditions making it so only homeless can use public property, you must agree that is an unacceptable seizure of public use.

[@Grant-wn4ep]

Gove that guy an apple. He didn't lose his teeth from neing homeless, it was meth or crack

[@Thunderbyrd.]

Businesses are in business to make money and provide incomes for their employees. Of course they only want customers who do business with them. And, of course they don't want people taking up space to sleep and hang out. I don't blame the businesses at all. The homeless in SF already have the run of the city. They can pitch their tents on any side walks, parks, or any property they want, they even have homeless shelters and free food. So what is wrong with this one business having a a small section of the sidewalk to serve their paying customers.

[@plicketyplunk]

That is what I keep saying. The homeless have a lot of power and the run of their chosen city. It's like a tax paying citizen is a 2nd class citizen.

[@mrcpaddler]

Remember those incidents where protestors and street people would go up to people trying to eat their lunch, and take food right off of their plates? The ones who object to letting someone eat a sandwich in peace are really lost - maybe even evil.

[@SeanMCannon]

I was there about a month ago and it was a S show. There was a homeless guy screaming “hungry!” At people walking by and flinging his eye juice from his gaping head wound at people. As i was walking back some guy was offering him 5 bucks and he said “i know you have more than that!” ~ I’m beyond sick of it…

[@Gryphon999]

Tents in parks. How is this ever legal ???

[@propblast82nd]

Maybe they can do this on our Southern border 😱

[@machone539]

Do this. Remove the seating. If the homeless causes any monetary damage, let the homeless advocate compensate the businesses. Or have the advocates post folks to keep everything civil.

[@stevez5134]

I thought they we going to say it was a safe injection site.

[@roberttaylor9628]

So what is the problem?

[@mianatwood]

The stores there make enough money. They should all pay rent for that area. Why should someone use our public space for free?

[@mrlaw711]

What constitutes a customer, and what is length of time (duration) should you buy something? What if a person is meeting a person, and only one is a customer?

[@aocleader7950]

$1500 a day to put out private seating in a public place when there used to be a ton of long benches with more seating that had capacity that didnt cost anything and was public seating

[@Mike__B]

So the guy is upset that there's a few queue barriers put around some tables to designate "hey these tables are for customers of those eateries" and it's obstructing public space... but you can have blocks full of tents that obstruct public space and that's ok?

[@anotheryoutubechannel4809]

Pro Tip: If i need a ‘safe space’ to enjoy your business you already lost me. I will be somewhere safe that does not need a safe space.

[@Tahoe1969]

Exactly!!!

[@John-pz6nm]

I can disagree with the gelato business owner It is a public space only benefiting his business I will be sure to not support any of these businesses

[@ScrappyDoodad]

So regular folk must endure the filth, smell and sit on seats that are covered in urine?

[@annwilkiemeyer3433]

🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢 1:16

[@bayareagoodsamaritan]

What a joke! How dose this provide safety?

[@StephenDavis-vh4oc]

This is counter to the culture of Berkeley and Oaktown that enjoy gritty and edgy, rough and tumble.

[@SteveinSanFrancisco]

I love it 👍

[@kenyoung4881]

LOL yeah connection, so a homeless can connect with a legitimate customer to relieve them of cash. Who would want to connect with a bum if they just bought something to eat and trying to enjoy.

[@jannyzhingaz9562]

it's interesting I couldn't have a seat in the park across from city hall despite it being a public space because it's been taken over by tents druggies Rather Roddy skaters and the constantly drug transactions and fights that are an everyday occurrence at this public space the the advocate has an issue with paying costumes asking for safe space to heat a meal payed by their hard work and not a social handout he needs some serious introspection and reevaluate how he analices his surroundings

[@jovans510]

Nobody wants nasty homeless people harassing them as they’re eating. Sorry not sorry that I don’t want someone who STINKS sitting next to me as I eat a sandwich!

[@aeromtb2468]

good

[@elomax90]

I'm for it

[@kevincarpenter616]

Nice try, but you'll never get me to come down there.

[@holland9199]

I have a question for the Tooth 🦷 Less Wonder🤔 How much money do you spend at these business 😮 I want to know and Who exactly are you??? We are New York’s we ask Questions 😮 How do you all become so backwards, what is your contribution we know your complaint 🤫

[@chefjameso]

once again advocates crying

[@Dwn2Race]

Democrat Utopia.... safe space for customers... hahaha

[@victor77777771]

Walls don't work

[@nulnoh219]

These lines worked cuz of the people guarding it. U wanna post a sentry every mile of your border?

[@rupertj1346]

Where the homeless and drug users find it easiest to be that’s where they congregate

[@mianatwood]

lol ya putting chairs will bring a lot of safety 💀🤣

[@user-ld8mb1ep5m]

What's wrong with keeping away the homeless

[@415TCrider]

Bay area is an endless clown show....yes live here.

[@stephaniewilliams6756]

Bad precedent, but who the hell wants to hang out in Berkeley anyway?

[@mrsleep0000]

Not me, the city has made it clear that they can't, and won't protect their citizens, so I stay away.

[@annwilkiemeyer3433]

🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢 1:16

[@rupertj1346]

Where the homeless and drug users find it easiest to be that’s where they congregate