By: Diane Benjamin
Various people have sent pictures of tents along Constitution Trail but they were taken from a vehicle and difficult to see. Since I was in town today I went to take my own.
The trail from Lincoln street east of Evergreen cemetery appears to stop/start there. No sidewalks or parking so I picked a side street and walked. This sign is at the beginning of the trail:
Before I walked too far I came to 2 large flower beds that must belong to the City. I say that because the cemetery is immaculate, the flower beds had many weeds, some of them really tall. There was also a garbage bag lying on the trail. If flower beds can’t be maintained they don’t beautify the city! Do a rock garden instead or recruit volunteers to weed.
About half way down the trail I saw tents and items drying on the fence. I was told clothes were drying on the fence yesterday – before the rain:
Next I walked back to my vehicle and drove to the north side of the tracks where I had a clear view of more tents. I didn’t get them all:
When I walked back a guy was sitting in a City of Bloomington truck on the trail. He was past the weedy flower beds and the truck had a large bed on the back. I don’t know why he was there, but Jeff Jurgens stated the tents would be removed.
The tents can’t be seen from Lincoln, only from here:
If you drive by let me know if they are gone! They should have been removed a long time ago. Trashing the City doesn’t benefit anyone.
there is a theory that states you are insane if you repeatedly do the same thing over and over and expect a different response. Tent people continue to appear. FIX the problem. Find housing for these people.
I also read the story about NORMAL mayor bussing tent people to Bloomington, (if that is true)
I thought Normal was a sanctuary city………so Normal accepts non citizens but cannot take care of it own citizens?
I can’t help it….maybe I’m just a terrible person….but I find it hard to sympathize with the “tent people” and the panhandlers when almost every business I go into has a help wanted sign. Clean up, take shower, get a job, quit drugs and alcohol, and pay your own damn way. People that say ” find them housing…. and take care of citizens ” irk me to no end. It just saddles taxpayers with the bill to support bad behavior…I say they should GET A JOB!! And illegal aliens…..GRRRRRRRR.
“AMEN” Duroc, “AMEN”!!!
AMEN Duroc!
These people would rather spend money on getting high than rent & utilities. “Fix housing” won’t work. Bring back poor farms. End welfare. An empty stomach is a helluva motivator to go out and get a job so you can eat. If they’re working they don’t have idle time to get drunk or high all day
Poor farms what a great idea
They are out in the country drugs and alcohol harder to obtain
Only one house has to be built as the rest of the property can be used for tents,
And you are hungry you have to work the farm for your food
Everyone wins no neighbors to bother and the tenants can feel good because they are working for what they get instead of panhandling or mooching.
I actually like the Poor Farm idea!