If there's one thing that could lift up Obz immensely, it's if we made it an *unattractive* place for loiterers and vagrants to be. That being - zero tolerance for any bum to park their bum.
Yep, I probably sound like a hard-assed bastard, but I'm gatvol of it! Almost every day for years when I walk to through the CBD, I get staggering idiots asking for money or rambling something irritatingly uninterpretable, particularly within a block of the bottle shops. Yesterday I found human shit for the upteenth time in my front yard that had the distinctly quintessential Obz-subway-bergie-aroma. The day before that my young dog picked up and presented to me a scrap of newspaper with human shit on it at the Village Green (I'm hoping the dog will eventually learn not do this, because of the mouthfuls of Colgate and Listerine she receives in return). And whilst I looked around the park, low and behold, there were about 10 bodies strewn comatosed along the back of the memorial wall, wine cartons littered not far away. And further down, a gang of young shaky tik addicts with hoodies shadowing their faces, obviously plotting their next move... It's no wonder many outsiders think Obz is a filthy scum attracting sewer, because it's hard to argue that it isn't! Granted, it's a multifaceted issue and all people in need genuinely deserve compassion and assistance, but how does it help if we tolerate the very lifestyle that's a detriment to them in the first place? As for what more can actually be done, I dont know. Is it possible for the Police, OBSID and our security companies to take a stricter approach, according to our by-laws? Shouldn't we start by posting 'no-loitering' signs everywhere so that our dearly intrenched bergies can gracefully start searching for greener pastures, or heaven forbid, sober up. I guess answers to this would be in the City of Cape Town's by-laws document - STREETS, PUBLIC PLACES AND THE PREVENTION OF NOISE<http://web1.capetown.gov.za/websearch/search/search.aspx?lib=acm/comsup/Weblib&docName=Bylaw> - but it's currently a broken link and not downloadable. >From what I understand so far though, is that there is a distinction between someone who is loitering and someone who is vagrant. The latter being care of the Displaced People's unit (DPU)<http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/Lawenforcement/Pages/DisplacedPersonsunitDPU.aspx>. It would be interesting to know what the DPU has actually done for vagrants around here? I'm guessing very little. Anyone else think it's time for some tougher love? I'd like to think one day Obz could be a *truly* attractive place to be. Except if your laying down for an extended period on the pavement. [image: Inline image 1] -- OPS [Obsid Public Safety] - 24/7 control room ---------------------------------------------- 021-447-1066 072-063-1653 For all emergencies please dial 10111 ---------------------------------------------- ONW: 082 081 0142, ONW email: [email protected] WEB: www.obswatch.org.za ---------------------------------------------- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups The Observatory Neighbourhood watch group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/obsnw?hl=en
