Ok, let me give you a run down of some of the experiences I've had with vagrants in Observatory. I know I'm going tostart a sh*t-storm with this one, but here goes anyway:
1. There is an old man who regularly lies passed out on my street, almost always in a puddle of his own urine. This is on a street where children play. My neighbours have to hose down wherever he has passed out, because it stinks and attracts flies. 2. Across the road from me (two weeks ago), someone defecated up against the church building. There is a garden and a lawn just on the other side of the church fence. Definitely human faeces. Someone also defecated up against someone's garage door further up the road. 3. About a year ago a drunken woman, also a 'homeless' person (so drunk she could barely speak) pulled down her panties right in front of me outside my house, and urinated on the pavement. Standing up and looking me in the eye while doing it. 4. Two weeks ago, I witnessed a group of vagrants having a 'tea party' near the entrance to the community centre, on the village 'green'. Everybody was sipping their crackling wine, one guy got up and urinated on the plants (put there by OsbID). He urinated on the plants within a metre of where they were all sitting. No-one moved away, they all just carried on sitting there, with the stench of urine no doubt not bothering them at all. 5. I've heard a report of a young homeless kid describing Nicole (the white homeless girl) tying something around her arm and putting a needle in (in front of the child). That's someone taking heroin in front of children. 6. Afore-mentioned girl Nicole was trying to sell expensive-looking silver jewellery to waiting staff at Jerry's on Monday night. Where do you think that came from? 7. Afore-mentioned girl Nicole was witnessed soliciting and pretty much giving a floor show in the middle of the street to someone in a vehicle on Lower Main Road a few days ago. Her outfits leave very little to the imagination. 8. The house below the village green has had to have really unattractive and dangerous razor wire put up around it because the vagrants were using it as a drug den. I could carry on for hours about these vagrants. I have sympathy for people who have hit a rough spot and are passing through (hopefully on their way up). This is not the case here, these people have been here for years, they aren't interested in living a better life, they're interested in living an easier one (at the expense of everyone else's sensibilities). So sure, defend them if you want, but first tell me where you live, so I can send them to you to rehabilitate, clothe and feed. On 19 February 2015 at 08:58, Johan Beaurain <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Gwénaëlle > > You must be new here in Obs. Welcome in Obs. > > Thank you for that little protest email. I am so glad to see that there are > still some people whom are shocked when they experience such blatant > discrimination against homeless people. > > You asked about the email we received from Ursula van Stavel. Ursula van > Stavel is the strong woman here in Obs. She is employed, or she used to be > employed by the Observatory Improvement District (OBSID). I am not sure what > the current situation regarding her employment is, because I once heard a > rumor that she left OBSID. > > The residents of Observatory established OBSID. They agreed to pay money or > extra tax (on a monthly basis) into a bank account to establish OBSID. OBSID > do now act and behave like as if they are the government here in Obs. OBSID > are enjoying the full support of the DA government in the Western Cape. > > You asked ‘What is meant by "deal with vagrants" or "do a clean up"?’. My > understanding is that it means exactly what it says. They will be picked up > and they will be taken away to somewhere else where they will be given even > a tougher time than what they had on the streets of Observatory. > > OBSID are using the monthly contributions paid by residents, to employ > security staff whose job it is to give homeless people a tough time on the > streets of Observatory. > > My experience is that they have an almost open mandate to discriminate > against homeless people in almost any way they like. > > I have already tried to take these issues up at the formal structures, but > all my attempts failed due to lack of support from others in Observatory. > > Best regards > > Johan Beaurain > > > On Fri, Feb 6, 2015 at 2:50 PM, Gwénaëlle Dereymaeker > <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Thanks for all the useful info. I hear the concern of many residents >> regarding litter being left out in public spaces, whether my homeless people >> or homeowners, which I most certainly share. I certainly do not support any >> individual urinating on public property, but I am a bit surprised at the >> wording used in Ursula's email below. Is this a City of Cape Town notice? >> What is meant by "deal with vagrants" or "do a clean up"? We're talking >> about human beings after all, aren't we? >> Also, I may be wrong, but in half of the pictures sent by James, we just >> see people sitting on benches? Why is this a problem? >> >> Thanks >> Gwen >> >> On Friday, February 6, 2015 at 8:27:29 AM UTC+2, Ursula van Stavel wrote: >>> >>> >>> For information. Let's get those calls flowing in to the city. >>> >>> The city has created a specific hotline number 0800 87 2201 to deal with >>> vagrants. You can call this number at any point and they will log the >>> complaint and give you a reference number. They then send a field worker out >>> to address the problem. If there is no resolution then the problem is >>> escalated to the DPU team to come and do a clean up. Sadly this team works >>> on a reactive complaint basis and does not have the staffing numbers to be >>> proactively dealing with the problem. As a result the more complaints they >>> receive about a specific spot then the more action they are able to take and >>> they will add it to their top hot-spot watch list. >>> >>> >>> On Tue, Feb 3, 2015 at 9:23 AM, Brian Amery Coo <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>>> >>>> Thank you James. It is so good when a citizen joins in the struggle and >>>> takes positive action. >>>> Playing the blame and complain game is much easier but it doesn't >>>> achieve a thing. >>>> >>>> On Mon, Feb 2, 2015 at 8:29 PM, James Cowley <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Attention: Candice Bossr - as per this email - Kindly, the email stream >>>>> for your response and action. >>>>> >>>>> Andrew is correct re Sports, Recreation & Amenities under Hartleyvale >>>>> Stadium - Candice Bossr - 021 448 8652 - management of usage, maintenance, >>>>> lighting, security, fencing, enquiries, watering etc >>>>> >>>>> Brian planted the succulents via OBSID etc. >>>>> >>>>> Yes indeed, sad sights and situation at the Observatory Village Green >>>>> needing attention - see attachments. >>>>> James >>>>> >>>>> On 2 February 2015 at 16:33, Andrew Fife <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> I seem to remember when it it was redeveloped, it fell under Sports & >>>>>> Rec. (Candice) >>>>>> >>>>>> On 2 February 2015 at 16:23, Marlin Forbes <[email protected]> >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Then that's probably the problem: it's nobody's problem. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The other smaller parks dotted around OBS are beautiful as you say. >>>>>>> It's just sad that our most visible stretch of open ground is so shabby >>>>>>> and >>>>>>> unloved. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I'll ask Paddy, thanks for the info! >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On 2 Feb 2015 16:17, "Rosemary Robins" <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> > I COULD be wrong, but I don't think the Village Green is the >>>>>>> > responsibility of City Parks. Ebrahim does Barrington, Kiddies and >>>>>>> > Arnold - >>>>>>> > with conscientiousness. For many years there has been a debate as to >>>>>>> > who is >>>>>>> > responsible for the Village Green. I believe OBSID will know. Or try >>>>>>> > Paddy............. >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> > On Mon, Feb 2, 2015 at 2:35 PM, Marlin Forbes >>>>>>> > <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> >> >>>>>>> >> On Monday, 2 February 2015 12:50:31 UTC+2, Treevor wrote: >>>>>>> >>> >>>>>>> >>> The inconvenience of getting a key must be seen in light of the >>>>>>> >>> fact that we have many homeless folk living on the village green an >>>>>>> >>> surrounds. I had an accidental altercation with a homeless guy on >>>>>>> >>> saturday >>>>>>> >>> and got his blood on me via a cut...i have no idea what diseases >>>>>>> >>> this guy >>>>>>> >>> carries but its a worry that one cannot venture to main rd without >>>>>>> >>> encountering these regulars and one is forced to squeeze past >>>>>>> >>> beggars and >>>>>>> >>> stalls on the sidewalk. Also the village green is now an homeless >>>>>>> >>> camp site. >>>>>>> >> >>>>>>> >> >>>>>>> >> The village green has become a bit squalid. The plants get >>>>>>> >> urinated on regularly, and the fences are nets for catching all the >>>>>>> >> litter >>>>>>> >> that gets left there. >>>>>>> >> >>>>>>> >> The grass doesn't seem to ever get watered, and there is not one >>>>>>> >> single attractive thing anywhere. The most it ever gets used for is >>>>>>> >> soccer >>>>>>> >> or the odd martial arts training class. >>>>>>> >> >>>>>>> >> If we want it to be more than an eyesore, it needs to be looked >>>>>>> >> after a little bit better. Those guys that hang around there are not >>>>>>> >> just >>>>>>> >> temporarily down on their luck, they've been sluiping around Obs for >>>>>>> >> years. >>>>>>> >> They need to be moved out of there, and ObsID should patrol. Or put >>>>>>> >> a fence >>>>>>> >> up. >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> 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 >>>>> --- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>> Groups "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>>> >>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> >>>> Kind regards >>>> >>>> Brian Amery >>>> Chief Operating Officer >>>> Observatory Improvement District OBSID) >>>> >>>> Tel. 021 4487090 >>>> Fax :0866394005 >>>> Cell: 0825749830 >>>> >>>> Address: 41 Station Road,Observatory,Cape Town ,7925 >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> Kind regards >>> >>> Brian Amery >>> Chief Operating Officer >>> Observatory Improvement District OBSID) >>> >>> Tel. 021 4487090 >>> Fax :0866394005 >>> Cell: 0825749830 >>> >>> Address: 41 Station Road,Observatory,Cape Town ,7925 >> >> -- >> 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 >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > > > -- > 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 > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the > Google Groups "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. > To unsubscribe from this topic, visit > https://groups.google.com/d/topic/obsnw/ZMWHFjYCiQ4/unsubscribe. > To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- 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 --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
