Why bust homeless instead of helping?
Many of us who walk the Sacramento River Trail occasionally pass other walkers who appear to be homeless. Often we exchange casual greetings, then just walk on thinking how fortunate we are to have a home. On a recent morning it was sad to see police tearing down a homeless camp and taking away the few possessions. Of course, it is cheering that we have so little big-time crime in Redding that we can spare several police personnel and three or four cars to bust an encampment, but it does not seem like a real solution (no matter how you define the problem). I am well aware that homeless folks are often in that state because of their personal inability to maintain a “normal” home. It is too bad that we can’t take the money that these actions cost and put it to use to help the folks find a legal place where they can keep themselves without bothering or frightening others. Jean Meyer Redding Herger mails out the typical blather I recently received my copy of Congressman Wally Herger’s news
