These are two letters that appeared in the February 17,1999 of City Link in response to the Hunger for Humanity article published February 10.
I worked with the homeless in Tent City and therefore want to make you aware of some things.
In your article ["Hunger for humanity," February 10], you mention Richard Courtney who is suing the city. You may be interested to know that Mr. Courtney was interviewed by the social workers and offered a place at the Homeless Assistance Center. He accepted. When the bus came and his name was called, he was seen walking the other way. In other words, he would rather spend his time complaining and researching his lawsuit than working on bettering his life. This, by the way, is so typical of the tent population.
As for Arnold Abbott, he is an old man whose whole reason for living is to feed the homeless. He is helping himself and feeding his ego. The homeless need many things - food is not one of them. There are established feeding programs already. Mr. Abbott cares about himself and has a need to gratify himself. What else can a 74-year-old man do to feel important? Feeding the homeless on the streets or in a park will only lead to crowds of them congregating. What will they do after they eat? Who will stop the fights, the beer drinking, the crack smoking, the drug selling, etc., etc.
The homeless need rehab programs, job programs, low-cost housing, mental health counseling, AA groups, drug treatment, not handouts of food. That is a crippling, disabling thing which will ensure that the homeless will remain homeless. That is what Abbott wants. If there were no homeless on the street, what would he do? What would he talk about? What would his theme be?
The homeless complain about the new shelter. They don't want "strict rules". They want to be allowed to drink, smoke crack, prostitute, stay out all night. Just like at Tent City. But not all of them loved Tent City and not all are mourning its closure. Many will tell you how filthy the tents were, how scared they were of the drug pushers - especially at night. The rapes, assaults, intimidation, stealing, etc. etc. Anyone who bemoans the loss of Tent City better look at themselves and question their motivations. Janet Riley also feeds off the homeless' misery. She is a nice old lady but what does she want? A permanent Tent City? A downtown full of homeless who urinate on the streets, beg for money and scare off visitors who are the lifeblood of the city? How is she really helping the homeless, by suing the public, money is wasted every time the government has to defend a suit.
Tent City is gone - thank God! The homeless now must make choices. They are able to go to many existing rehab programs, housing, mental health treatment, etc. if they choose to. No one can force them. They do not need to be kept in their place with food from Abbott and lawsuits from Riley.
Thanks for listening. No, I can't sign my name because I work with the homeless.
Name withheld by request
Fort Lauderdale
I read your article on the homeless in Fort Lauderdale ("Hunger for humanity," February 10). I must tell you about the police in Nassau County, N.Y. They think arrests are the solution to homelessness. My daughter, Marilyn, and myself were arrested by the Third Squad, Mineola, N.Y. She bailed herself out one day later after appearing before a Nassau District judge who set bail at $150 for each of us. She drew another $150 out of the bank ti bail me out - but the sheriff would not permit her to post bail for me for the alleged reason that she had no picture I.D. I spent three more miserable days locked up like a common criminal in a jail in Westbury, Long Island, infiltrated by mice and roaches with food not fit for animal feed.
What crime did we commit? We went into an ATM room in Citibank when the temperature outside was 17 degrees with a wind chill of four below zero. Customers of the bank said we should stay indoors as the winter was a killer. I am 76 years of age and cannot stand the cold with my poor circulation. I was waiting to take possession of my condo apartment here so how could I sign a lease on Long Island? The police asked me if I wanted a shelter, but in New York the police cannot put anyone in a shelter. Shelters are compensated $65 per night by New York State Department of Social Services and must have the agency's approval.
The detective who arrested us said after court is over to go to Florida, that he would not chase us down here, but he cannot anyway as a misdemeanor is not extraditable.
Only the New York City police realize that they cannot even count the number of homeless in New York City, estimated to be anywhere between 50,000 and 100,000.
Martin Bloch
Delray Beach