Marc, I don't think I'm qualified to comment on plans for solving homelessness caused by substance abuse, economic hardship and an influx of refugees.
I am however qualified to pick up trash. So that's what I'll keep doing while smarter and more dedicated people with money and political connections solve the cause of the trash. If anyone else here feel they're qualified to pick up trash, they're welcome to join us on the next clean. We're still looking for someone to supervise the next clean on the 6th of June. On Tue, 12 May 2015 at 10:57 Marc Turok <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Sybrand, Ricardo and ALL... > Thanks so much for what you have done now and previously! > I am very grateful for this clean up! > > I was wondering if there may be a way to make things easier and more > sustainably successful? > > My proposals as a start to raising possibilities... > > 1. *Stop the littering before it gets into the river.* > There are so many people who set themselves up to camp on the river, under > the bridges, in the bushes. Many if not most arrive with big bags of > garbage they take out of bins, bring it to their nest, sort through things > to eat and other goods AND LEAVE THE REST TO ROT in / next to THE RIVER! > *In my view this is illegal and destructive behaviour.* > I believe it would be *better to provide dry, secure and supervised > sleep-over space as a temporary alternative for a maximum two to three > nights each to be met by a social worker*, assessed and assisted to move > to a more promising alternative lifestyle. I have suggested that payment > for the short term food and shelter could be* temporary work to pick up > and clean up some of the hot spots* (other litter mess), *before it gets > into the river system! * > > 2. Set up a *‘stepping stone’ supported bridge over the weir, with a > catchment grid* and possibly another at the upstream side of the N2 > Liesbeek bridge, also with a catchment grid, that can be cleared every > second day or more, so *all litter floating down the river is trapped and > cleared BEFORE it spreads all over. * > There will still be a need to get a clean up in other parts since wind and > local littering will still happen, but I believe the problem will be > substantially reduced. > *The regular clean up at catchment grids and ‘vagrant nesting spots’ can > be a preventative job creation project that addresses the cause and the > symptoms.* > > 3.The proposed *temporary shelter facility* I propose is under N2 bridge > on mountain side of Liesbeek Parkway, where there is a managed toilet > facility already existing. I suggest this large space could be be well > utilised, made safe and isolated from the road system, fully transparent > except for a wind protection barrier. The facility could have additional > toilet and shower inside a lockable fenced area similar to under Mill > Street Bridge in Gardens. It could be divided into three or four areas so > groups can feel safe, men separated from women and the sober from the > intoxicated where needed. There would need to be rules about lock up time > and a system for supervision. > When this temporary facility has been replaced with a better alternative, > the space can be used for an all weather skateboard facility for teens in > this part of the world, not wanting to go all the way to Gardens, not > needing to do their tricks in public roads, irritating others with their > ‘click- clacks’. > What do you think about it? > Marc Turok > > > > *From:* Sybrand Strauss <[email protected]> > *Sent:* Monday, May 11, 2015 10:24 PM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* [obsnw] Liesbeek River Cleaning A[n Observatory] Community > Project - TWENTIETH CLEANING DAY, Saturday 9 May 2015 Feedback > Hi all, > > Thank you to everyone who came out and helped. We picked up 111 bags of > litter! > > The next cleaning day will be on the 6th of June. (We don't yet have a > supervisor for the day - please contact me if you're interested or want to > know more.) > > A special thank you to the Obz KWIKSPAR for keeping us hydrated, Friends > of the Liesbeek for their support, and Ricardo Sá for starting this > initiative. > > Sybrand Strauss > 071 067 1962 > > PS. The "*Trash Picker of the month award*" goes to *Werner Steyn* who > came armed with 5 litter bags for some "meditation", but simply couldn't > stop once he got going. Werner, you're an unstoppable machine! > > PPS. Sorry if I missed any volunteers - we're covering a very large area > and it's easy to get lost in it. > -- > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > OPS [Obsid Public Safety] - 24/7 control room > > TEL: 021-447-1066 or 072-063-1653 > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > EMERGENCIES: 10111 > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > ONW email: [email protected] > WEB: www.obswatch.org.za > FACEBOOK: facebook.com/obswatch > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Other Useful Obs Numbers: obs.org.za/obsdir > > 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]. 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