Surely because Chris doesn't enjoy human excrement in his yard and being accosted by drunk people while walking around his suburb, it doesn't make him a radical racist?
I completely agree, I love the diverse cultures and groups that make up Obs but am just as tired of Those who leave their waste and rubbish for others to clean. Any useful comments or ideas Laura other than to bash those trying to make Obs a better, safer place? What do you do to help those you are so quick to defend? As Chris said, its time we all got tougher and become more involved in making the suburb we love a better place for all. Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you! -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] Sender: [email protected] Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2012 12:44:05 To: Digest Recipients<[email protected]> Reply-To: [email protected] Subject: [obsnw] Digest for [email protected] - 3 Messages in 1 Topic ============================================================================= Today's Topic Summary ============================================================================= Group: [email protected] Url: http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw/topics - Loiterers and Vagrants - The blight of Obz [3 Updates] http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw/t/9c974783983fedd2 ============================================================================= Topic: Loiterers and Vagrants - The blight of Obz Url: http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw/t/9c974783983fedd2 ============================================================================= ---------- 1 of 3 ---------- From: CJ <[email protected]> Date: Nov 22 08:53AM -0800 Url: http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw/msg/d73e624b4ea0ee17 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] ---------- 2 of 3 ---------- From: James Cowley <[email protected]> Date: Nov 22 11:52PM +0200 Url: http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw/msg/fbfdfd32f16be5f4 Dear Chris A lot of what you shared are experienced by many in Obs, from many in Obs, and best that this subject be passed on to the OBSID-Chat as to provide insight, answers and guidance in the way forward. James ---------- 3 of 3 ---------- From: CJ <[email protected]> Date: Nov 23 03:35AM -0800 Url: http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw/msg/953594a8ff5b405c Thanks for the suggestion James, probably a slight dead end though, given this following opinion. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: laura schultz <[email protected]> Date: Fri, Nov 23, 2012 at 11:22 AM Subject: Re: [obsnw] Loiterers and Vagrants - The blight of Obz To: Ursula Van Stavel Coo <[email protected]>, Not interesting, no. Nor is it a discussion which would assume exchange of ideas and willingness to hear opposing views. This sounds like the annual racist rant. I believe that the problem with Observatory is the body of intolerant racists who believe that their wishes have more weight than other people's rights and needs and who are unable to share public space with people who are different from them. There is no reason why any public body should serve such sectional interests and it is certainly outside the sphere of OBSID. Is he proposing a pogrom? I am unwilling to be drawn into this because I am afraid that I might catch something and because their ugly expression well exceeds their capacity for action and so we might as well let them express their foul sense of entitlement. When they start to act we can call in the law. Sorry - not my medium. On Fri, Nov 23, 2012 at 8:04 AM, Ursula Van Stavel Coo <[email protected]> wrote: > your response > Kind Regards > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: James Cowley <> Date: Thu, Nov 22, 2012 at 11:52 PM Subject: Re: [obsnw] Loiterers and Vagrants - The blight of Obz On Thursday, 22 November 2012 23:52:54 UTC+2, James wrote: -- 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 -- 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
