‘What Will The City Do If You Don’t Prevail Here?’: John Roberts Presses Lawyer In Homelessness Case

During oral arguments in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson on Monday, Justices John Roberts & Sonia Sotomayor questioned lawyers about homelessness.
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[@NoManClatuer-pd8ck]

Most Americans don't know how close they are to homelessness.

[@Rob-md5wh]

Because most Americans are being taxed out of their homes. This is getting ridiculous that people think they are entitled to our money.

[@terryevans1976]

Because most are not. Most are law abiding people without addiction issues. The vast majority of "homeless" are there because they have burned through all of their family connections due to drug and alcohol issues that they do not want to change. Encouraging and enabling this self destructive behaviors does not help these people and in fact makes things worse for them.

[@NoManClatuer-pd8ck]

@@terryevans1976 IDK, a lot of homeless work. Many are simply retirement age. This leads me to believe they are as highly functioning as many Americans who own/rent property and also enjoy substance abuse.

[@karlpetzing525]

​@@terryevans1976 that's called a stereotype, many people are losing every day and out on the streets they go.

[@terryevans1976]

@@karlpetzing525 That's called reality.

[@glennpesti6519]

OK, so then all homeless people just need to identify his stargazers🤷🏻‍♂️

[@sharon2434]

Yes if your homeless always keep a small sky chart on your phone or backpack to show the cops.

[@glennpesti6519]

@@sharon2434 We are doomed Sharon 🤔🤔

[@sharon2434]

I feel the same way Glenn, and I think homelessness has become a major money makerfor people that are standing on the backs of the homeless while not spending the funds in a way to create affordable housing or safe free places. To camp. ,we live in a cold society that removed benches in public parks to prevent a homeless person from sitting down. We are doomed as a society, you're right😢

[@glennpesti6519]

@@sharon2434 🥲🙏

[@1965Grit]

The US Supreme Court helped cause this crisis in 1975 when they ruled that you couldn't forcibly keep the mentally ill in hospitals, so they were turned out on the streets to fend for themselves, and here were are a half century later dealing with the repercussions of that decision, the fact is, there are four main causes for homelessness, mental illness, laziness, poor decisions by people when they were younger, ( I include drug users in this category), and those that have just fallen on hard times because of health or age reasons. Reversing the decision for the mentally ill would solve a majority of the homeless, and it would free up resources to help those who have just fallen on hard times, as far as those who are on drugs and are just lazy, no one can help them until they are ready to help themselves.

[@consco3667]

OMG yes! When they closed mental hospitals, after they painted them all with the same brush, look how the issue has exploded

[@SuckItYouTube19]

NO. Well, sort of, maybe. You are in a bubble if you think all homeless people are the same.The ones you see in tent camps are the minority of the homeless population.

[@lawrenceallen8096]

Closing mental hospitals = homeless crisis and mass shooting crisis.

[@QuietAZdesert]

​@@SuckItKZbin19 Maybe - however, it is the "tent camps" and overnight baggers being addressed by the SCOTUS - isn't it? It is the blighting, high crime inciting, drug needle producing, disorderly crowd of homeless that tends to be of issue. Most of those individuals belong in an institution. Parks will turn to sh*t holes, then cease to exist - if the laws cannot be enforced in them.

[@elyswithsew4580]

Ok, you're literally just sweeping the problem under the rug here, though. If mental illness is the problem, surely we need a better solution than to just stick them in hospitals while we forget about them. I'm not entirely convinced that would solve the homelessness problem though. Think about it, the homeless level spiked during the Pandemic because people lost their jobs and their rents skyrocketed. People need better economic conditions one way or the other, otherwise anything else you do is just a half-measure at best.

[@ak102986]

According to what I have read there are not enough beds in the area. As someone who has been homeless before, there are never enough beds, and shelters can be unsafe and lack privacy.

[@bgorg1]

Not an excuse for camping out in a park. Perhaps a designated shanty town area is needed but it is unconstitutional to require a local government to supply beds before it can enforce park use ordinances. Just think about your logic

[@ak102986]

@@bgorg1 But there is nothing. So, as a former homeless person, you sleep where you can find it is safe and dry. It is not unconstitutional. This has nothing to do with the park use ordinances it has to do with the criminalization of the homeless. Just think about your logic.

[@annm.7176]

Seems to me that many people should be charged for what's going on in this country

[@kenmahoney5255]

Like who?

[@ChineseBandits]

@@kenmahoney5255 AG Garland, Joe and Hunter Briben. That is a start!

[@billgraham861]

@@kenmahoney5255 i used to keep lists, but it got annoying. figure it out yourself, ken

[@b_ks]

Yeah, that will fix it.

[@zackschooley5858]

Cities, wanting to criminalize homelessness without fixing the problem of homelessness

[@pirtatejoe]

There is no money to be made on solving homelessness. The amount of money we spend on out criminal justice police state however is staggering.

[@Luvurenemy]

The problem of homelessness is solved by mental institutions, jail, and rehab. The individuals who don’t qualify for jail, institutions or rehab should go to flop houses. Flop houses are cheap, minimal places to sleep. In the film “The Blue Brothers” (1980) you can see the “Plymouth Hotel for Men Only” a flop house. For some reason, flop houses were banned but they are making a resurgence out of necessity. There are good documentaries about flop houses on KZbin. We have solved homelessness before, but we just forgot. We need to give homeless people choices and make sure society gives homeless people choices, including jail.

[@Nonsensically]

And what about the homeless that don’t want to follow the rules in housing complexes?

[@Luvurenemy]

@@pirtatejoe There is money being made on homelessness. The people who hold positions in local and state governments overseeing homeless programs make incredible salaries. They have no interest in solving the problem. The non-profit organizations make money through government homeless programs. It’s the same scam with the illegal aliens. Everyone is making money. These organizations and individuals have no interest in ending homelessness. They need to keep it on a slow simmer.

[@zackschooley5858]

@@Nonsensically And what about those who want a place to live

[@DaTooch_e]

$295 a day for being homeless. Is this a joke?

[@VictorianMaid99]

Welcome to Biden's America

[@Michelle-yw1lv]

​@@VictorianMaid99 What's he got to do with it !?!

[@dixter1652]

@@Michelle-yw1lv he's a dork... he is the president of the homeless... why don't you know this

[@les0101s]

@@dixter1652 I never hear him or any of our politicians talking about the homeless.

[@gage11769]

@@VictorianMaid99 Homelessness is a problem under practically every administration, because it's not just a matter of who is president. The president doesn't have some sort of sweeping power to house or evict the homeless, it's a deeper issue across many avenues (mental health, awful accidents, unexpected economic changes, just plain bad luck, etc.) that needs to be handled with cooperation of both sides across all branches of government. It's not just "Biden's America" or "Trump's America", it's the America we've built over several centuries. Simplifying it down to a single president is only an insult to your own intelligence, and there's no need for that when the truth is easily found amongst the partisan nonsense.

[@michaelg6686]

The Supreme Court already knows that States get funds for that and are not spent on it. so it's back to square one.

[@NoManClatuer-pd8ck]

You're absolutely right. MN has misappropriated millions of dollars for the homeless.

[@JoshHandler-bu1dt]

Conservative states are literally REFUSING federal funds nowadays. Nebraska, Texas, North Dakota, and others are denying funds to provide children free school lunches. Mississippi if you recall diverted some of their federal funds a few years back to pay for Brett Favre to donate the taxpayer dollars to his daughter's college to build a volleyball gym in his name. It's all pathetically corrupt.

[@DexterHaven]

Yeah, welfare, food stamps, Medicaid, is a gravy rain for government union hacks on the take.

[@ownonephone5920]

Mental Illness and Drug addiction are the main reason why it is so difficult to solve homelessness.

[@ronaldlindeman6136]

They are contributors, but it is not the only reason. One of the reasons for homelessness is the lack of housing. I saw an estimate that there are 4 million dwellings less than needed. One of the reasons for this is the large number of single family houses. The construction industry knows how to make the most money for their industry. If more apartment buildings were built, which would create higher density cities, more people would have housing. Build studio apartments under raised freeways. Japan has done that and built buildings that can be quiet for those living there.

[@gund89123]

@@ronaldlindeman6136 Don’t agree, I saw so many homeless people in Eugene, OR. It’s not expensive to buy/rent in Eugene OR. As per one study ~60% of homeless people are addicted to drugs.

[@Strickalator]

No, it's high rent cost and a lack of basic necessities for every human

[@murphyw8426]

​@@gund89123wow, it must feel so nice and comfy to have your conclusions backed so empirically.

[@tealshift2090]

@@ronaldlindeman6136 I think the number is at least 7-8 million less then there needs to be for housing to keep up with population growth over the last 15-20 years. But thats not the reason why there are homeless, there are millions upon millions of places to live, even in this clip they talk about 100 beds being unused in the shelter. More houses of whatever type need to be made in places they are needed.....

[@edwardabrams4972]

Mercy and kindness should ALWAYS be shown to the poor❤️😢

[@DexterHaven]

And what should be shown to violent, shoplifting junkies who hate your guts?

[@jontveite2508]

@@DexterHaven: I'm pretty sure there's nothing stopping the justice system from prosecuting homeless people who commit crimes. The problem is criminalizing poverty and homelessness, which are generally NOT something people freely choose to experience. Grant's Pass is just trying to pass their homelessness problem onto someone else.

[@YvonneSchwartzYVON]

@@DexterHaventry to stay on topic

[@YvonneSchwartzYVON]

@@Wi2Lowdo you have any education directly related to addictions?

[@YvonneSchwartzYVON]

@@jontveite2508well said on poverty

[@nanofoods]

If the government really wanted to solve this issue, they would rehab the hundreds of vacant buildings throughout the country and have people/legal citizens live there while getting education and work. Even work together in their building. And close the border. Go back to the lottery and have a strict vetting process in place. US should not be a dumping ground for other countries' criminals.

[@bornfree0507]

There’s empty buildings in every large city. Going to waste

[@gage11769]

This would be the ethical thing to do as a society. "It takes a village" doesn't stop with children. It takes a village to support someone during a rough time of luck. It takes a village to help out when someone becomes disabled. It takes a village to ensure those that are mentally ill don't fall victim to the simple situation of not being able to function in society without additional help in areas they can't function normally. Taking care of those people and getting those that are able to back on their feet takes resources; housing, food, money, healthcare. It takes all of us contributing to make a difference. "It takes a village". Too bad the groups representing the village are too busy playing "my side is better, and anything your side says is bad" to do anything for the ones who need help the most. It's clear which side is doing more, but I feel like we would've made a lot more progress already if it wasn't simply Red vs Blue.

[@d.m.3133]

Are you maga? All the maga I know think government helping anyone is communism.

[@d.m.3133]

This is happening where I live. I have remodeled a kitchen and 3 bathrooms and donated my old sinks, tubs, showers, cabinets and toilets. They weren’t pretty. Some were blue and an organization took them for this cause.

[@nanofoods]

@gage11769 If it takes a village to raise a child or help someone, there are way bigger issues at hand.

[@LaurenBerns]

Here the lawyer ends by arguing that "the law, in its majesty, forbids both the rich and the poor from sleeping outside." I'm no fan of Alito, but he led her like a lamb to the slaughter to making this inhumane-to-the-point-of-being-insane statement.

[@pamdice9633]

Criminalize erecting a tent or cardboard box as a shelter… Kagan comparing rows of shopping carts, tents and box shelters as Star gazing is inane….. big difference

[@GP-nr2fm]

The Supreme Court could resolve the issue of homelessness and drug addiction by directing activists and city officials to distinguish between reasonable people who suffer from homelessness and those who are drug addicts, criminals, or mentally ill and unwilling to accept shelter or housing for various reasons. Combining all these groups will not lead to any meaningful solution.

[@saltyolbroad2962]

No. They cannot. The Court only reviews existing law in light of the Constitution. They do not make law.

[@777ONESIX.]

The 9th Circus 🎪

[@tomscott3]

first circus, second circus, third circus.....I explicitly refer to them this way in *_all_* my legal filings. Very Best Regards, Tom Scott Author ● Speaker ● World's Leading Expert on the Corrupt U.S. Legal System _Our American Injustice System_ _Stack the Legal Odds in Your Favor_

[@farginargle]

Good this is being addressed, thanks for bringing it to the public! These city reps are jokers

[@briannabrittany3127]

How does fining a homeless person do anything for anybody? Where are they supposed to come up with the money and if they had it, why wouldn't they use it first for food, clothing or other necessities? Fining a person for having no money makes no sense. It's like the old days of debtor prisons - what does that accomplish?

[@thomassenbart]

Multiple fines turn into felonies and then you incarcerate them.

[@boblewis3980]

Debtors prison, poor farms, work houses all provided food & shelter to homeless people and made them productive.

[@TheWorldsprayer]

They eventually get arrested, removed from the streets, and public safety and health is improved.

[@moxiemedia4350]

​@TheWorldsprayer On what basis is being homeless a crime? Where is humanity in that?

[@gund89123]

It’s not about fine. A judge in Boise ruled that city can’t force people off the streets unless they have shelter ready for them. Most homeless people are addicted to drugs, they need to be sent to rehab first.

[@himerosTheGod]

Poverty and homelessness are policy failures that could be solved in a decade if we simply had the political will to do so.

[@johnnyllooddte3415]

you CANT FIX POVERTY.. theres always an element of society that refuses to live in normal housing.. theyre crazy, or scared or something is wrong with them. the usa and all western nations spends countless BILLIONS on these people

[@nightwalkerscrypt]

Just to clarify for everyone. This single shelter in Grants Pass is run by the Gospel Mission. If you want a bed and it is a temporary bed you MUST attend a sermon 2 times a day. It is not optional. You are given chores and if your unable to do basically unpaid labor for the Mission due to a disability you are turned away. If you have a pet you must give up your pet. Something is for many on the street is their only companion and friend and the thing that helps them still feel human. If you are a couple or god forbid a family your are split up. Men to one area women and mothers with kids to another area and your not allowed to see each other for 30 days. Grants Pass leaders have said flat out their mission is to make it so uncomfortable for them so they quote "move on" end quote. Move on to where? With what money? How? Arguing that the mere act of SLEEPING is conduct worthy for arrest when sleep is something everyone NEEDS to do is inhumane. Creating a barrier that you must subject yourself to religious dogma and indoctrination just to have a warm bed and a roof is cult like behavior and should be called out as such.

[@danieljohnson270]

It is striking that the only people in Grants Pass who care enough to volunteer to run a homeless shelter are the Christians. Your concerns may be correct -- but isn't that an indictment of everyone else in Grants Pass?

[@Khorvalar]

I've been a christian for 15 years and I think that's dumb, Jesus never forced anyone to listen to him.

[@aaronasusmc]

There's plenty of wilderness around Grant's Pass. Go there instead.

[@buckiemohawk3643]

The problem is the homeless shelter makes the people attend services twice a day. You are forced to attend services how are u supposed to work

[@bgorg1]

That is such a minute issue and not pervasive.

[@Alice-m7e]

SC just found over 1 billion in the budget. Homelessness doesn't even enter their mind. Instead they think, beautification, let's buy flowers!

[@NordicSnowhammer]

This is an example of even the SC is incapable of understanding the basic function of government.

[@jameshudson169]

why don't they give them a vacant lot to sleep in?

[@seraphilight]

It's because they're near everything. They don't want to deal with lawsuits as it harms businesses and lower property values. The fix for some of the homeless will be forcibly lowering property costs. People really think they can get half a mil for a shack currently

[@cmvamerica9011]

Make a camp site where they can camp safely and cleanly.

[@garyK.45ACP]

Yes, because they all want to be safe and clean. 🤪 The places WERE "safe and clean" until the bums arrived there. Or did you think trash, crime and drug paraphernalia were there first?

[@christyherkel4215]

Where do you live ? Let’s do it there 🤷‍♀️

[@annnonomys3132]

Further charge those who contribute to society to further ENABLE homelessness? Making homelessness more comfortable invites more homelessness. We need policies that enable PROSPERITY. We need policies that discourages homelessness. There are those who are temporarily homeless. Clean homeless camps are not the solution. There are those who are unable through no fault of their own to provide for themselves. Clean homeless camps are not the solution. And then there are those who are homeless due to predictable consequences of their actions. Clean homeless camps are not the solution. If we shut down recreational drugs, what percentage of the homeless problem would go away? But instead, we've EMBRACED recreational drug use. Obama told children it was cool. We've legalized drugs. Made addiction a disability claim. We've made it socially acceptable. We've redefined addicts as victims rather than the perpetrators that they are. And we've made their lifestyle more and more comfortable on the backs who labor every day to provide for their own families. How about we go after the low hanging fruit?

[@RussMassey]

That has been tried many times, the camps always get trashed by the residents and have high rates of crime, they have even tried doing tiny house communities for them, and they have the same results, the neighborhoods get trashed and the residents vandalize the buildings, it could work on a small scale if they are extremely selective about who they let stay there, but the ones who it would work for would only be a tiny minority of the homeless in any given area.

[@beetlefang]

I agree, city planners should budget city space that would be likely used by homeless people...via ducts, green space, parks, large medians with protective borders, and others would naturally attract homeless people if needed.

[@smoothkk1]

So many people in the comments have soo much hate for homeless people as if they know everyone’s situation. People are soo nasty. Just remember it can one day be you

[@adoe2305]

Don't get it wrong. People hate the government for stealing from us.

[@donlightfoot9608]

No one hates homeless people. Your mindset is the same one that has made the situation unsolvable. What they are doing now is just not working, and acting like those who oppose it aren't compassionate is just making it worse.

[@rbwirth12]

You have obviously never lived anywhere near a homeless encampment or in a region that enabled these vagrants.

[@imzjustplayin]

Are you homeless? Have you ever been homeless? Do you know any homeless? The people that scream compassion the loudest for the homeless are those who don't even know any. They've got a Disney level understanding of the homelessness problem.

[@dishman1966]

Legal to be homeless. Not legal to do whatever you want such as camp and shit in the street. If they can’t say it’s illegal to camp in a city, we are all screwed.

[@oldreprobate2748]

Do you think, that perhaps the wealthy and corporations who receive disproportionate social welfare through tax cuts, should perhaps pay at a higher minimum tax rate on their businesses they reap profits from, through the use of community infrastructure.That revenue alone would irradiated homelessness, and would provide for othe community initiatives for that communities overall society. You see, there's whole two party corporate duopoly system of government that stands against the prosperity of the other 98% of our society. Start with duopoly and move forward from there. This is who the lawyer arguing to criminalize homeless works for.

[@dishman1966]

@@oldreprobate2748 not taxing someone isn’t welfare. Not stealing from you isn’t giving you a check.

[@rlud304]

@@oldreprobate2748Perfectly stated! Thank you!

[@rob-yt9di]

Maybe provide adequate provisions to facilitate basic functions. There used to be many public conveniences when I was a lad but very, very few nowadays !

[@iddomargalit-friedman3897]

This is not the case at hand. The court upheld all other prohibitions - this is about merely being outside with a blanket on. So no, they are exactly criminalising the very situation of being homeless.

[@bobdobb9017]

It is best to have two areas for homeless; one for trustworthy homeless, one for those mentally ill, alcoholics, drug users etc. The city would have to somehow incentivize the problem homeless to go to their designated area.

[@imzjustplayin]

Allow the homeless to go to jail/prison for 3 hots and a cot but have the flexibility of leaving on their own accord. I bet there are a lot of homeless people that would take up living in a jail/prison if they had the choice/option to leave at any time.

[@murphyw8426]

I think that's idea has been tried already once before. Designated areas went by another name then. I believe it was called ghettos. (Not the American version). I think they had the whole people designation sorted out too. I solved it with the cutting use of patches indicating who went where who was what. I'll give you a head start for the drug addicts they should wear yellow Rx patches under front left shoulder.

[@bobdobb9017]

@@murphyw8426 Oh boy. You haven’t been around many homeless. I on the other hand have been homeless. Incentivize not order. Normal people deserve peace, because the mentally ill and drug users I encountered EVERYONE agrees are not normal.

[@murphyw8426]

@@bobdobb9017 awfully presumptuous of you to assume you know what I've been, the people I've been around. If you truly were homeless at any point in your life that sucks I'm sorry you had to go through that. No one deserves that shit. You ought to check yourself through, in regards to the command you believe you have on the metric of normal.

[@Steve-ou8nw]

The homeless are people too.

[@Rob-md5wh]

So are murders. Great point👍.

[@DexterHaven]

So let them sleep on your couch for a week; report back how it goes; if you are still alive.

[@Diamonddavej]

I think a lot of people are misunderstanding the problem with these ordinances. To illustrate, I'll give an example. Your town passes a new law that bans homeless people from camping anywhere within city limits. The police are very proactive at enforcing this new ordinance, any homeless person that camps overnight immediately gets arrested and put in jail. Then one day, no fault of your own, your house burns down, leaving you temporarily homeless. You camp on the lawn of your former home, that's now a heap of ashes. However, because you have a new status as a homeless person, you are arrested for being a homeless person camping on your own lawn and are put in jail. You are not arrested for camping, you are arrested for being homeless AND camping. The problem is, the homeless camping laws are enforced based on a person's character or status, not their actions or choices they made. It is possible to end up homeless by no fault of your own. The constitution, however, says all citizens are equal under law, so treating some people differently clashes with the constitution i.e. you can camp on your lawn if your house did not burn down (HOA may get upset, but that is not a federal law). "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Those rights are not taken away by the government, states and city councils if and only if you are homeless. Yes, it is possible to ban homeless camps if the laws are correctly written, but they are very likely to be ruled unconstitutional if they discriminate based on a person's attributes, something they may have no control over.

[@victor.huy.8021]

Do people get arrested for parking, not loading, in the yellow line too long? Parks, sidewalks, or any public spaces are not designated for housing.

[@Silverlined_69]

First off, you sleeping next to the ashs of your home doesn't make you homeless. I love how you tried to make homeless laws about someone's characteristics and not about the fact that they don't have a home.

[@Diamonddavej]

@@victor.huy.8021 Seems you don't understand what I wrote, sorry if I did not explain clearly. Yes, there are good and necessary laws that e.g. ban parking on double yellow lines, parking on a side walk, parking on grassed areas. However, you can't ban women, but not men, from parking on special triple yellow lines. You cannot ban Black people from parking on streets in White areas. You cannot ban a person from camping in a city, because they are homless, but not enforce the same law on a person who camps out but has a home. That is what the laws currently do, that ban homeless people from camping. They don't ban camping in certain areas, they ban camping based on ta person's status / attribute, who they are. (This is also why I made sure to point out that homless people may not be homless by choice, they might have ended up homeless though accident, domestic violence, medical bills, injury, or fraud, but the laws do not take into account why a person is homeless, only that they are homeless).

[@normagrimstad8869]

Put the 295 dollars a day to provide housing for people. There will be increasing homelessness in the future, because housing is astronomical even for people with paying jobs. In my area developers are building housing everywhere, but it’s all luxury condos that cost a half a million or more. Developers say they will provide affordable housing, but it’s a lie. It’s either luxury condos or mansions being built, and nothing else. I am a public employee and cannot afford to live in the city I work in and grew up in!

[@pugsymalone6539]

I agree. When I lived in Nashville, the only house I could buy was $400K...! I did buy it, as I luckily made enough money and had excellent credit, but it was a huge burden. All I wanted was a small place to live, but everything started at 2000 square feet.

[@mtheory85]

Can you imagine the shame of arguing FOR fining homeless people?

[@ronbridegroom8428]

You clearly are ill informed and do not know that the vast majority of the homeless on the West Coast are addicts or criminal and vagrants who choose this life style. the few who are down on their luck will quickly accept offers of help and get out of their homeless situation. The issue of mental health and how to get people to accept, or force them to accept, treatment is also key for a fair amount of the homeless. But make no mistake a large amount of the homeless do not want to obey the laws and choose homelessness because it has become a Protected Class of people who can do pretty much anything they want and get away with it

[@briannabrittany3127]

@@ronbridegroom8428 And you know all this about the "vast majority of homeless people" how? You have worked with them on the street, I suppose, or volunteered at a shelter, or distributed meals at a food bank, or where did you get your information here?

[@jr2904]

​​@@briannabrittany3127 we live here on the west coast and see it firsthand... Bleeding hearts will eventually run dry.

[@schizoidnet]

​@@briannabrittany3127You've probably never talked to a homeless person in your life. If you did, you'd be surprised by how many choose the lifestyle.

[@gage11769]

@@schizoidnet I work with the homeless and it's the exact opposite in my experience. The majority of those I've interacted with wouldn't choose to be in that position.

[@russellromig8969]

So can we turn the Justice's properties into homeless encampments?

[@saltyolbroad2962]

No. That's private property. You CAN let them live in your yard.

[@mfrank3518]

The only answer is to tax homeowners more so people lose their homes and then raise taxes again. Rinse, repeat

[@abbiewilliams975]

Billionaires tax, the billionaires

[@Silverlined_69]

It will never be enough.​@@abbiewilliams975

[@jasonknowledge8824]

This infuriates me! How could you even think to target the most helpless!? They have nowhere to go! Inflation is so ridiculous that you've got to earn almost 6 figures a year for a one bedroom apartment! How about we target the cause instead of the result?

[@CollinKillian]

Have to kind of do both, can't allow homeless to control the streets, and the economic situation needs to be addressed as well..

[@Godisgreater123]

I agree. This is sickening and evil. I really think that it was all set up. Just like the planned demic.

[@jehovahsthickness6242]

@@CollinKillian you’re opinion doesn’t count when flying a traitorous flag. Only Americans should be speaking on this situation.

[@STho205]

They do go...because most of not all travelled there to be homeless there. Certain lures or incentives of that place made it desirable by homeless people to go there. In some cities the availability of narcotics or public cash assistance draws in clusters of street and park violating camps. In some cities the sex trade does. In some it is gig jobs with high cost of rent. Cali for instance has had periods of Gold Rush situation where folks are lured for a potential big payoff but while waiting for it to happen or while playing the fields for a few months, they camp or sleep in vehicles. However when groups do that they deprive the average citizen of use of public space for its chartered purpose (day parks, roads and sidewalks) or they harbor a criminal environment that threatens residents daily. If the Fed mandates that cities can't restrict without facilities to serve these folks, then it is an unfunded mandate. If public no fee camping is the Fed answer then the B of Land Mgt or USFS sould be providing the free use dispersed camping land. In my area USFS and TVA land is set aside for free camping, but no more than two tents or vehicles in one area and no longer than 14 days in one place. That is the Fed imposing rules on use, which affects homeless... Many homeless live on these lands and typically live far healthier lives than those sleeping in clusters in cities. I camp overnight in such areas myself and have never had a problem with folks that are obviously living on the road.

[@aaronasusmc]

Yeah? How many are sleeping in your house right now?

[@Will-lk9cs]

Next these county’s and states will want permission to turn homeless into food like Solent Green the movie!

[@robertdavis5753]

Ohhhh shXt, I watched that movie when I was a kid and had freakin nightmares from that movie. Heston was in that movie…..I watched that movie 2 years ago from beginning to end and still gives me the creeps. Either that or the *THE PURGE* series.

[@thomassenbart]

Good idea

[@guiller2371]

The homeless problem isn't that hard to solve. The government just have to set temporary public homes in every town. They don't need to offer food or clothing, but just a place to stay out of the streets.

[@brucesalasar20]

"Are there no work houses? Are there no prisons!?"

[@ideapowerfulweapon]

Not sure I understand enough about this case despite it impacts me greatly & I got homeless shouting distance from my home in San Diego. The mayor here created tent encampments and if there are tents available then the police can shoo them away. Cities need the ability to keep homeless encampments from appearing in public spaces. If you disagree we can ship some homeless to sleep in your yard to change your mind.

[@RealLifeProduct]

People who created this homeless problem want to criminalize those suffering the consequences. All i do is work and want a safe place to sleep(my truck) until it's time to go back to work. This is so infuriating.

[@vincentriggs711]

When section 8 raised the amount it would pay rent sky rocketed and was still more than the payment.

[@daughterofthecreator2585]

Work being the key word, yet many want to think that homeless don't work or contribute taxes

[@timinwsac]

Gotta wonder what would happen if physical access to the Supreme Court building was blocked by homeless camps.

[@workaholic5318]

So long as the cities have the right to establish zoning ordinances and to regulate how people use their property, ruling that people can establish residence with no kind of sanitation or protection from the weather is the height of stupidity. Either rule one way or another, but allowing people to trash the land that the public owns without regard for the people who pay to make those space available, is simply wrong.

[@chriskoschik391]

Your leaders want the homelessness in your face and on your doorstep. They want you reminded that, if you miss one payment or step out of line, that will become you. And nobody cares.

[@rrrrthats4rs]

you're imagining an entirely different law. If you want to enforce sanitation requirements, fine people for not taking care of their waste. If you're worried about weather protection, ban sleeping outside for everyone. The issue at hand here is that the law as it is enforced is that police have a law whose enforcement principle is "homeless people are punished, people with homes are not" That's literally, exactly how the law is being adjudicated in this situation. It's unconstitutional.

[@ronbridegroom8428]

@@rrrrthats4rs No, it is the difference between people who have a home and fall asleep outside, like the justice said stargazing, etc, versus people who CHOOSE to be homeless because they refuse all offers of help

[@rrrrthats4rs]

@ronbridegroom8428 just because you think it's okay to have a law that only applies to homeless people doesn't mean it's okay. If you're allowed to sleep outside, then homeless people aren't violating the law. Anything else is *definitional* discrimination

[@rrrrthats4rs]

@@Joe-sg9ll no but it is the name my mother gave me, does your family still talk to you? I'm guessing not.

[@TenderLumpling76]

Great! Police will become more and more like social workers.

[@warrinbang1191]

The involuntary choice is, go to that Christian church shelter and give up your 1st Amendment right to religious freedom or face arrest on the premise that you're voluntarily choosing to be homeless.

[@johnbrittingham4471]

At the same time, our border is being overwhelmed with foreign nationals that are put in front of Americans without home or shelter.

[@Sunday_Swagger]

I don’t think the state is responsible to help people addicted to drugs & alcohol…but that’s just my opinion.

[@blueyedevil3479]

Fining a homeless person for being homeless… while providing EVERYTHING TO AN ILLEGAL ALIEN … HOW ???

[@jordanbridenstine8372]

You can’t use public space privately because it’s no longer public geez how hard is that

[@victor.huy.8021]

Why do we make a simple solution to be so complicated? When people parked in the yellow lane too long, no for loading, do they get arrested? No. Just move along warning. It’s in the discretion of the officer. Parks, sidewalks, or any public places are not designated for housing. Go to a homeless shelter if need.

[@tammyscott3706]

Shelters get full, especially in the winter, which leaves people with no other option than to sleep outside. All these ILLEGALS are just going to make this situation worse!! FJB!

[@jjs9173]

Could it be that the solution isn't that simple?

[@victor.huy.8021]

@@jjs9173 it’s that simple. The “sympathizers” are not doing homeless people any good for allowing them to camp on public streets, parks, or even alleys. That’s not a solution. Designate homeless shelters. Yes, make it like a prison to help them get back on their feet,

[@mdhen4]

giving the drug abusing homeless unfettered access to live in public spaces, and take them over, will only spread societal breakdown and dysfunction. there's a difference, that Sotomayor isn't aware of, between taking a nap in a park and living there.

[@janlotto1]

America can’t be the land of the free until every citizen has basic human needs met. Dealing with a disability or just bad luck can’t be allowed to become illegal.

[@indioloco6600]

America is the land of opportunity, not the land of the free handout.

[@technologic21]

@@indioloco6600 disability is not by choice. A person can't help being in a wheelchair. If America provides the opportunity to punch down on people, then it's dead last in being a 'great' country, it'd be the worst.

[@gman3451]

Public spaces are for the public, not for homeless drug addicts to use as their personal campground. How did we get to a point where the obvious needs explained and litigated!

[@Slw1111]

The homeless are the public AND they pay taxes. How did YOU get to the point where you have absolutely no morals, ethics, values, or humanity!

[@JJPrizeDistributionComittee]

For one thing, some people seem not to grasp that homeless people are also members of the public.

[@Slw1111]

How did YOU get to the point where you actually believe that homeless individuals are not "the public"? Furthermore, how did you get to the point where you've lost all morality, ethics, values, and humanity?

[@mkay3310]

homeless drug addicts are the public too. and camping is legal.

[@walthoward68]

Now it’s beginning to sound like violating someone’s right to equal protection.

[@lecleland1]

One person being delusional and ignoring other rights should be regulated

[@hamshipey4279]

Sotomayor is unbelievable. She must really hate this country.

[@emilyw842]

She does.

[@dhlong1697]

Does anyone else listen before commenting?

[@john197039]

There needs to be laws against setting up tents on the sidewalk. Our parks and public spaces are not campgrounds. I applaud any city trying to stop this madness.

[@ronturnis5606]

The real crime here is the greedy ones that make it too expensive for many to live unless they have two other roommates

[@garyK.45ACP]

How many homeless people are sleeping in your home?

[@DarrinCasner]

The real crime here is the inherent ignorance of your statement.

[@ronturnis5606]

So tell me why there's so many homeless. Since you all seem to know better than i

[@garyK.45ACP]

@@ronturnis5606 How many homeless people are staying in your home? How many more could you help?

[@ronturnis5606]

@@garyK.45ACP I smell a trump nazt. Pugh!

[@int_pro]

It's nice to hear the SC on the chill days when it's not trying to install a Fascist Dictator for Life.

[@SuckItYouTube19]

The "people not getting the help that they need" doesn't refer to the homeless. It refers to the NIMBY people who are put off at others in crisis. Newsflash- not all homeless fit the crazy drug addict stereotype.

[@JillKnapp]

This! ⬆️⬆️. These NIMBY folks don't like to think about the fact that they're far closer to being homeless themselves than they are to being Jeff Bezos.

[@adrienneanderson-smith2257]

So I thought. But, I stand corrected. In the documentary from KOMO 4 - Seattle’s Dying - they explained that OVER 90% of the homeless were on nasty drugs & (usually) alcohol.

[@SuckItYouTube19]

@adrienneanderson-smith2257 Sure, if you believe EVERYTHING, the media says. Oh wait, you said Seattle. You do believe.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@4NickAder]

a year in jail costs more then a year at Harvard University its pretty easy to see what the solution is , isnt it

[@theprecipiceofreason]

"Please, come stay in our beds, it's safe!" - The people trying to legislate you into the grave.

[@JG-qt3pn]

We could pay a living wage as promised in the minimum wage law passed by FDR. Currently there is not a city in the USA where you can work full time at minimum wage and still afford an apartment.

[@les0101s]

100 shelter beds and 600 homeless people? And isn't a shelter bed temporary? What happens to their belongings when they stay in a shelter?

[@F1Mike000]

Also, it's a "gospel rescue mission" which sounds like a christian institution. What about people who are athiests, muslims, jews, non-christian etc. Forcing someone to go to a religious shelter is like forcing them to follow that religion.

[@daleemrick9816]

​@@F1Mike000😂😂

[@F1Mike000]

@@daleemrick9816 idk what's funny, but the government telling someone they need to go to a religious institution is a clear 1st amendment violation

[@tinyredtoes]

It also requires you to go to church inorder to get a bed

[@adoe2305]

​​​@F1Mike000 Your lack of knowledge is funny. Aethists or any religion can make shelters. It's funny they don't. Or sad. The government providing shelter is government over reach and is unconstitutional. Christianity isn't Islam that forces people to convert. You are so misguided. it's funny. Or sad.

[@Zara-gc3cz]

Wealth distribution is the reason why we have many problems. If you grow up poor, it's unlikely you will ever escape being poor. And if you fall from a higher class, it's often extremely difficult to get back on your feet. People lose their jobs through no fault of their own and now the work world is so ageist and competitive even among the young, it's turned absolutely vicious. Almost anyone can wind up on the streets.

[@christineguttilla6465]

Sotomayor is on fire 🔥 I’m a Conservative but this is why we need a balance in the Courts. She slapped the absurdity of this ordinance in the State Lawyers face.

[@nealruth664]

When I was a kid, the coolest thing too do in the Summer was to sleep out in our backyard all night. Many "Homeless" feel the same way today.

[@TheQuack-t5t]

Again, are the supreme court going to sacrifice senior citizens and the youths safety over vagrants on the streets? Ever walk down a sidewalk in San Francisco, only to be forced to walk out onto a busy street full of cars just so you can get around these encampments? How is that legal and moral?

[@les0101s]

Isn't that about people camping in public parks?

[@janedoe3915]

Do u want an income higher than some others in society? In order for some to earn larger pay than others, many, many others have to go without. How is that moral or legal? It’s capitalism, greed, and lack of an appropriate social system to care for the poorest and often ill ppl in our society. If u think ur put out by having to walk around them, imagine how they feel having to live on the street bc of greedy ppl lacking in empathy like you.

[@jerrytalksaboutit9608]

You could place the homeless housing literally anywhere and this problem wouldn't exist. Only 600 ppl and they're trying to "fine" their way out of this situation? Why are they trying to do this the hard way?

[@Essy311]

Nah... if all the available beds were taken every night, you could possibly stand on that argument. But since there are 100 beds available per night, your position is already proven false.

[@donlightfoot9608]

Why doesn't your neighborhood take care of 600 people for the rest of their lives? How much virtue signaling needs to go around until everyone realizes this is a problem.

[@gage11769]

@@donlightfoot9608 It's a city of 39,000 people. There aren't enough resources to support 600 people (1.5% of the population) who can't function regularly in the society we created? It's bold to assume 100% of those 600 are "forever homeless" when most homeless people I've interacted with aren't in the position out of choice. In fact, 35% of the people in my area who are homeless still have full-time jobs, they just simply can't afford homes yet and have nowhere to go in the meantime. So the "rest of their lives" homeless aren't even the majority of homeless I've worked with.

[@SarahKeane-b1h]

That's because Biden is raping the country to send that money elsewhere instead of taking care of the people.

[@consco3667]

@@gage11769so do the homeless people have no culpability in their situation? What is the solution aside from yet more taxes and another program for the government to manage?

[@Wondwind]

MAKE ACCESS TO HOUSING A RIGHT RATHER THAN CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS.

[@andymalanga]

It sounded like to me that the judge was telling her that the city needs an ongoing shelter program to provide a bed for the current number of homeless people, and then the court would consider their proposed prohibitions. So, the people need to sue the federal government for the funds to provide the shelters!

[@Kias1dad]

It's not the government's resp[osinility nor place to provide shelter except under the most extreme circumstances. No person has the right to deny another the use of a public space because they're usage despoils it for all others.

[@williammiller6110]

It's perfectly ok to use drugs, but illegal to sleep on the streets... go figure.

[@RohanKumar-zr3pj]

Millions of dollars are spent on public trails and Libraries and politicians take great pleasure in inaugurating these. But afterwords these are taken over by fistfull of homeless and public avoids using them with concern of safety and hygiene. That's millions of tax dollars gone down the drain.

[@barlscharkley5411]

If your husband falls asleep on the sofa, do you have him arrested? If your daughter falls asleep on the sofa, do you have her arrested? If your mother-in-law falls asleep on the sofa, do you have her arrested? Then why would you arrest someone who lets themselves into your home and falls asleep on your sofa? Isn't that prosecuting someone on the basis of class, i.e., not a member of your household?

[@teresaprete4639]

The responsibility of the Board of Health is to keep communities safe from disease . There are no sanitation facilities that’s a major issue.

[@lgoodeill22]

It’s not about where people are SLEEPING, it’s about where people are SHITTING, LITTERING & HARRASSING others. Stop clutching your pearls and shining your halos, this is a public health issue.

[@kathymccarthy5264]

Homelessness should be criminalized. Period. Our country is a dump.

[@rachaelcourtnell7275]

Homelessness is and should not be criminalised. Arresting people is criminalising it by the back door. Use resources to help not hinder.

[@brianstansfield4367]

Thank you ronnie reagan for slashing affordable housing funds to cities. Thank you ronnie for slashing funds for mental healthcare. Your mission to criminalize poverty is a success.

[@ubroc]

Why is it ok to sleep while on public property if you are inside a car but not if you are inside a tent?

[@maidenofsantafem.g.valdez1154]

Homelessness acquiesces is inferior to many opportunities America offers to negate it. Damaging property is not a right at all.

[@InsightThoughtSystems]

"We will be forced to surrender our public spaces..." - TO WHOM? For WHOM does she imagine "public spaces" exist, if not THE PUBLIC?

[@alrivas1477]

You get what you vote for.

[@stevesmith1493]

Homelessness should be a crime.

[@EpicAdrian3D]

How about helping the homeless instead of criminalising it.

[@adoe2305]

Take note from the Christians who actually help.

[@victor.huy.8021]

Helping: forcing them to homeless shelters by criminalizing housing in public spaces. Of course, the city must designated places for homeless shelters. How did they so quick in sheltering the illegal immigrants?

[@donlightfoot9608]

Yes, " why don't we just help the homeless!" Because that hasn't been said before.

[@gage11769]

@@adoe2305 Atheist here who works with the homeless amongst a large group of widely varying religions that aren't Christian. Quit acting like we don't exist. We're literally at every single food drive, supply handout, shelter, pretty much anywhere that needs help you can find non-Christians helping. Not sure where you're from but your statement is just blatantly misleading from every piece of anecdotal experience I have. Christians just have a really really good system on setting these things up. There are no gigantic tax-free buildings for atheists. We don't congregate in large groups because our atheism isn't a defining characteristic of ours. You'll never see "Atheist homeless drive!" because we simply help out where it's needed (including churches) and it doesn't need a religious label attached.

[@DAVIDMAINORD]

TEACH THIM TO FISH AND MAKE THIM DO IT.

[@blueyedevil3479]

Stop her a moment??? YOU ASKED HER A F^CKING QUESTION and SHE WAS BARELY ABLE TO ANSWER …. Aside from that, if theres 600+ homeless and there are unused beds at the shelter … thats all thats needed to know … at least one homeless person could go to the shelter and have a bed, instead of sleeping on the street ….

[@seeker-br8lf]

the mental health facilities that were closed in the 80's should be reopened and used again. I was against closing them and now it is biting us. WE the People need these facilities opened and used for our people and that is not for NON citizens.

[@FrankGrauStudio]

The question was asked, “if the homeless person had money for a hotel room, don’t you think they would use it for that?”, to which anyone who has seen homeless people buying drugs, booze, and cigarettes knows that many vagrants would rather use their money for vices rather than for shelter, and that’s why they’re homeless.

[@rhlouis4128]

Many homeless don’t follow the rules of society, thus they would get thrown out of a hotel even if they could afford it.

[@pamdice9633]

They won’t stay in a hotel because all their possessions are in tents, shopping carts and cardboard boxes! Make those homesteads illegal! Not sleeping “ under the stars”.. Kagan needs a few in her yard.

[@lecleland1]

The law doesn't criminalize homelessness. The camping on sidewalks and blocking access to businesses and crapping on the streets are criminalized.

[@andreweden9405]

They need to be this tough, and tougher, with Dreeben! C'mon!

[@garyrichards7580]

No empathy means that we are finished as a nation.

[@SarahSherrill-e7k]

OMG. Are you kidding me. Cities should be able to maintain a safe environment for it citizens having homeless sleeping all of the city is not safe for the homeless or the people that have homes!

[@manofredearth]

Sleeping is not a threat

[@charlottemajewski5992]

Yes but the filth, trash and drug paraphernalia is, not mention the tent cities

[@robertmarley8852]

This is weird I thought sleeping.... camping...... homesteading were part of being American

[@imzjustplayin]

On areas that are designated as such.

[@Zara-gc3cz]

If I were homeless, I would never go to a religious based shelter. We need secular places to go.

[@prominansakademi]

Basically under this law they will incur fines and eventually get incarcerated. So they will get a "home" eventually, but they will preoccupy law enforcement and congest an already bloated legal system on the way. Tax payers will still be on the hook for taking care of them. Considering that extreme homelessness is really just an American problem, legislators should focus on why that is and how they can solve it. Perhaps they can relocate them to farmland where they can work and live. Metro areas suck anyway.

[@l.e.brentwood3137]

Not all choose to be homeless. What do families do? They're only "crime" is being homeless? Do they get thrown in jail? What happens to their children. They get taken away and put in the system, where they will suffer irreversible harm. Is this really America?😮😢

[@jamesgeorge7579]

If you make more than 6 figures a year, the government should have no obligation to help you. In a moral world, almost all of our money would go towards helping homeless and people in poverty

[@johnnyllooddte3415]

its a tough issue.. can a city move the homeless.. they should be able to move them to safer places to get them help

[@andrewwilliams9599]

It's a question of math: if you only have 100 beds, and you have 600 homeless people, you can't arrest the other 500 because then you're punishing status, not conduct, and *that* has been declared unconstitutional. Answer: Make. More.Beds. And stop making homelessness a crime, which it is not.