View Full Version : If economy is doing well, as per Obama supporters, why so many homeless in NYC?
PaceAdvantage
06-04-2015, 10:38 AM
I'm in Manhattan almost every day during the work week. Over the past 6-12 months, it seems the homeless population walking the streets has exploded.
On almost every major sidewalk there is at least one, sometimes two people with signs declaring their homeless status and pleading for help.
On almost every subway trip, there is someone getting on with all their belongings tied in plastic bags, tattered clothing, screaming or muttering to themselves.
I thought the economy was doing relatively well...isn't that what the mostposts of the world would have us believe?
So why then, do I see a marked increase in the number of homeless people walking the streets of Manhattan over the last year?
It's really starting to get out of control...and downright ugly. I was standing at a corner with at least 10-15 other people waiting for the crosswalk the other morning, and this homeless person saunters up to this woman behind her back, pokes a finger into her bag and checks out if there is anything valuable inside to steal...
I know Michael Bloomberg shares part of the blame in this, and I know current Mayor de Blasio certainly shares a big part of the blame. But also, I have to guess, the overall economy or lack of health thereof ALSO shares a ton of the blame.
Five years ago (2010), in the aftermath of the big housing meltdown of 2008, there wasn't anywhere near this amount of homeless people...four years ago, nowhere near...three years ago, nothing like this...etc...etc...
Only in the last year or so has it seemed to grow way out of control...
I wonder why that could be...
These are not homeless people.
They are conservative plants.
acorn54
06-04-2015, 11:13 AM
there are 50 million food stamp recepients.
i was told in an economics class many moons ago that a bad or deteriorating economy will never be reported by the administration or the media, as it aggravates the situation, by scaring people, which keeps them from opening their wallets and keeping the velocity of money slow.
Inner Dirt
06-04-2015, 11:18 AM
Away from looking at shear numbers part of the cause could be that NYC is more homeless friendly that surrounding areas. There aren't any where I live now, where I came from in California there were large pockets of them. Certain larger cities tolerated them but some didn't, they were run out of a lot of towns. Many of the beach cities were clear of homeless as the cops ran them off, they don't stay where they aren't welcome.
PaceAdvantage
06-04-2015, 11:26 AM
I've considered the fact that the de Blasio era signaled a "kinder and gentler" policy towards homeless on the street...and the backlash against cops has perhaps also contributed to a lack of enforcement on their part...a sort of "F U" to de Blasio and the city that fails to support cops as much compared to past administrations...
Who knows...all I know is what I see...the causes are many and varied...
FantasticDan
06-04-2015, 11:30 AM
I know Michael Bloomberg shares part of the blame in this, and I know current Mayor de Blasio certainly shares a big part of the blame.Wow, Bloomberg was Mayor for 12 years, during which homeless numbers skyrocketed, but de Blasio gets a "bigger" part the blame, having been in office 17 months.. :rolleyes: :D :ThmbUp:
http://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/bloomberg-on-nyc-homelessness-a-total-lack-of-accountability/
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/3/12/record-breaking-nychomelessnessblamedonforprofitsheltersreport.htm l
PaceAdvantage
06-04-2015, 11:32 AM
Wow, Bloomberg was Mayor for 12 years, during which homeless numbers skyrocketed, but de Blasio gets a "bigger" part the blame, having been in office 17 months.. :rolleyes: :D :ThmbUp: That's exactly why I included Bloomberg.
You don't live or work here, do you? Trust me. There is a huge difference in visibility.
Where was Bloomberg hiding them all those years?
FantasticDan
06-04-2015, 11:37 AM
Where was Bloomberg hiding them all those years?Underground fighting pits?
highnote
06-04-2015, 11:47 AM
A high school classmate and good friend of mine is homeless in L.A.
He grew up in a well-to-do family that owned a string of polo ponies. His father died and the family fortune dwindled over the years.
He was always hard working, but depressed. He discovered alcohol in his early 20s.
He moved to L.A. Then after a 20 years or so he lost his job as his health and mind deteriorated. Now he lives on the street, but says he likes the freedom. He has no responsibility.
He lost his job during the Bush admin. But I don't think there is a correlation between homelessness and who is in the White House.
There is probably a correlation between homelessness and mental illness and level of income.
Guliani kept the streets clear of the homeless. There were probably just as many under Guliani as under the current mayor, but Guiliani made an effort to keep the homeless out of sight which I appreciated. I used to hate sitting at a light on the West Side Highway and have some guy spray my windshield with dirty water, try to clean it and then ask for money.
Obama looks at Food Stamp dependency as a victory for his policies.
It is the obvious result of his policies, that is for sure. Failure and dependency are the hallmarks of democratic government.
BlueChip@DRF
06-04-2015, 12:11 PM
Underground fighting pits?
You know the first rule: Don't talk about it!
BlueChip@DRF
06-04-2015, 12:14 PM
I'm in Manhattan almost every day during the work week. Over the past 6-12 months, it seems the homeless population walking the streets has exploded.
On almost every major sidewalk there is at least one, sometimes two people with signs declaring their homeless status and pleading for help.
On almost every subway trip, there is someone getting on with all their belongings tied in plastic bags, tattered clothing, screaming or muttering to themselves.
I thought the economy was doing relatively well...isn't that what the mostposts of the world would have us believe?
So why then, do I see a marked increase in the number of homeless people walking the streets of Manhattan over the last year?
It's really starting to get out of control...and downright ugly. I was standing at a corner with at least 10-15 other people waiting for the crosswalk the other morning, and this homeless person saunters up to this woman behind her back, pokes a finger into her bag and checks out if there is anything valuable inside to steal...
I know Michael Bloomberg shares part of the blame in this, and I know current Mayor de Blasio certainly shares a big part of the blame. But also, I have to guess, the overall economy or lack of health thereof ALSO shares a ton of the blame.
Five years ago (2010), in the aftermath of the big housing meltdown of 2008, there wasn't anywhere near this amount of homeless people...four years ago, nowhere near...three years ago, nothing like this...etc...etc...
Only in the last year or so has it seemed to grow way out of control...
I wonder why that could be...
Maybe you see more of them because the weather is getting warmer. No need to stay in the shelter if the weather is nice outside.
PaceAdvantage
06-04-2015, 12:16 PM
Maybe you see more of them because the weather is getting warmer. No need to stay in the shelter if the weather is nice outside.That's why I cited 6-12 months...it's not just because the weather is getting warmer...
And I am comparing to recent past springs/summers as well.
PaceAdvantage
06-04-2015, 12:17 PM
I'm pretty sure Badcompany is a city dweller...waiting for him to chime in, along with any other Manhattanites...
BlueChip@DRF
06-04-2015, 12:19 PM
I'm pretty sure Badcompany is a city dweller...waiting for him to chime in, along with any other Manhattanites...
I just did. I live 4 blocks from Columbus Circle. :)
It IS pretty scary, especially when I have to get to Port Authority by 6AM to catch my bus to work.
Robert Goren
06-04-2015, 12:58 PM
The Economy sucks. There I said it. It is going to get worse as the effects of falling oil prices work their way through the economy.
That being said, the economy is only small part of homeless problem today. Yes, we have them in large numbers here in Lincoln too. I think that a large part of the problem is the returning war veterans. Unfortunately so many are so damaged, not only physically, but mentally as well, that it is impossible for them to hold a job. Nobody including Obama or the congress or any local politicians wants to deal with them. So they end up on the street. Once homeless, it is nearly impossible to get off the street, at least it is here. It is hard to Humpty Dumpty back together again. Right now nobody is trying. They are only complaining about having to look at them.
fast4522
06-04-2015, 03:11 PM
The Economy sucks. There I said it. It is going to get worse as the effects of falling oil prices work their way through the economy.
That being said, the economy is only small part of homeless problem today. Yes, we have them in large numbers here in Lincoln too.
Kudos to Mike for having a post that pulls a confirmed lefty to the middle (reality)
Kudos to RG for being that lefty and expanding the scope of the problem across the country.
badcompany
06-04-2015, 04:36 PM
I'm pretty sure Badcompany is a city dweller...waiting for him to chime in, along with any other Manhattanites...
You're absolutely correct. Definitely an increase in panhandling. You can't get on a subway without someone coming through the cars with a hard luck story.
That said, most are professional panhandlers. The way you can tell is that they go on and on so you can't not notice them.
delayjf
06-04-2015, 04:58 PM
What I've noticed in my home town are an endless stretch of business offices that are closed or empty. Several restaurants that have been in business for years have closed. We had three supermarkets in our area, one has changed owners and another one is closing. I'm starting to get a bad feeling about this economy.
fast4522
06-05-2015, 08:12 AM
I'm starting to get a bad feeling about this economy.
For years they have managed to get the majority to believe printing money does not matter.
K.I.S.S
Robert Goren
06-05-2015, 08:48 AM
For years they have managed to get the majority to believe printing money does not matter.
K.I.S.SOf course printing money matters. One of the major problems the US has these days is that we are not printing as fast as our trading partners. The strong dollar policy started under Clinton has taken manufacturing from 20% of GDP to less than 12% GDP in 20 years.
The republicans which are suppose to be pro business have become openly hostile to business. The anti Chamber of Commerce posts here recently have not come from liberals like me, but from die-hard conservatives. The hard right has even come up with a term for pro business republicans, Rinos. They are trying hard to minimize their effect in the GOP, if not outright chase them from the party. Which is why we are beginning to see as of yet a very small but growing number of businessmen who have never voted for a democrat in their life inching away from the GOP. It would be a stampede if the democratic party did not have so positions that businessmen have traditionally opposed. Slowly but surely an increasing number of businessmen are realizing that they can live with those positions when the alternative is open hostility from the far right in the GOP.
DJofSD
06-05-2015, 11:29 AM
What I've noticed in my home town are an endless stretch of business offices that are closed or empty. Several restaurants that have been in business for years have closed. We had three supermarkets in our area, one has changed owners and another one is closing. I'm starting to get a bad feeling about this economy.
Same down here. Some of those restaurants in my neighborhood were in business for DECADES.
DJofSD
06-05-2015, 11:31 AM
there are 50 million food stamp recepients.
i was told in an economics class many moons ago that a bad or deteriorating economy will never be reported by the administration or the media, as it aggravates the situation, by scaring people, which keeps them from opening their wallets and keeping the velocity of money slow.
I was reading a report earlier this week which included a graph for the velocity of money over multiple decades. The current value is less than it was at its worse during the Great Depression.
dartman51
06-05-2015, 01:54 PM
Of course printing money matters. One of the major problems the US has these days is that we are not printing as fast as our trading partners. The strong dollar policy started under Clinton has taken manufacturing from 20% of GDP to less than 12% GDP in 20 years.
The republicans which are suppose to be pro business have become openly hostile to business. The anti Chamber of Commerce posts here recently have not come from liberals like me, but from die-hard conservatives. The hard right has even come up with a term for pro business republicans, Rinos. They are trying hard to minimize their effect in the GOP, if not outright chase them from the party. Which is why we are beginning to see as of yet a very small but growing number of businessmen who have never voted for a democrat in their life inching away from the GOP. It would be a stampede if the democratic party did not have so positions that businessmen have traditionally opposed. Slowly but surely an increasing number of businessmen are realizing that they can live with those positions when the alternative is open hostility from the far right in the GOP.
Example, please. :confused:
fast4522
06-05-2015, 06:58 PM
Of course printing money matters. One of the major problems the US has these days is that we are not printing as fast as our trading partners. The strong dollar policy started under Clinton has taken manufacturing from 20% of GDP to less than 12% GDP in 20 years.
The republicans which are suppose to be pro business have become openly hostile to business. The anti Chamber of Commerce posts here recently have not come from liberals like me, but from die-hard conservatives. The hard right has even come up with a term for pro business republicans, Rinos. They are trying hard to minimize their effect in the GOP, if not outright chase them from the party. Which is why we are beginning to see as of yet a very small but growing number of businessmen who have never voted for a democrat in their life inching away from the GOP. It would be a stampede if the democratic party did not have so positions that businessmen have traditionally opposed. Slowly but surely an increasing number of businessmen are realizing that they can live with those positions when the alternative is open hostility from the far right in the GOP.
RG, do you have any idea how hard it is to be mean to you? I am not going to accuse you of copy and paste,
whodoyoulike
06-16-2015, 05:13 PM
I'm in Manhattan almost every day during the work week. Over the past 6-12 months, it seems the homeless population walking the streets has exploded.
On almost every .......
I wonder why that could be...
FYI, there are apparently even worse off places and each one of the homeless has their own story which has pushed them over the edge.
But, here are three feel good stories.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/102763172
vBulletin® v3.8.9, Copyright ©2000-2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.