Ah, City Life
The City Weekly staff returned about 30 minutes ago from the bomb scare across the street at the Wells Fargo Building. Details are still trickling in, but there appears to be no bomb.
The call to evacuate Wells Fargo came at 2:30. We left obediently at 3:15 p.m. — one of the last office buildings (along with our neighbors, the Sam Weller’s Books crew) to be ordered to leave the area. Most people stood around a safe distance from the danger zone. But it was hot. So our publisher Jim Rizzi — ever the generous sort — sent us all two blocks south to Port O’ Call, where he bought a round of drinks for everyone. At least it was air conditioned. And we’re on Tuesday night deadline, no less! (Don’t count the typos in the paper on Wednesday, please.)
Also on this very day during lunch hour I broke up a fight between a drunk homeless man and his drunk homeless girlfriend. I learned later their names are George and Julie. What went down was this:
I was walking into the front door of our building at 248 S. Main when shouting broke out. Shouting and some genuinely awful profanity aimed at the woman, Julie. George was screaming at her, running in and out of traffic and standing on the TRAX tracks. Most bystanders were uh, standing, on the sidewalk, mouths gaping open. Suddenly, George ran up to Julie, who by then was standing on the Gallivan Plaza TRAX platform. He took a swing at her, but missed.
That’s when I ran over, stood between the two of them, looked him square in the eye and shouted: “You lay a hand on her and you’ll have me to deal with.”
He grabbed his crotch, told me to fuck myself. I told him I had called the police, and I would not be leaving till they came. He spit at me. Got my shirt. But it’s black, the spittle didn’t show and besides, it’s washable.
I walked with Julie to the benches at the TRAX stop. We talked. She lives on the street. She just got out of Volunteers of America Detox. She was drunk again. I told her it didn’t matter whether she was drunk or not, I wasn’t going to stand there and let that guy hit her. She said “thank you.”
It took more than 15 minutes for the cops to arrive. I called 911 twice. The second time, I was angry. Why should it take two calls, I asked the polite dispatcher, to a downtown incident? There was violence, there was disruption of traffic. What else did the scene need for police intervention?
Two minutes later, Officers Snipes and Conrad arrived. Snipes is a bicycle cop. His bike was on the back of the squad car. They were very professional. I told them I’ve written a lot about homelessness. I know it’s a cycle, I told them. You’ll take George away, but any day now he’ll be back and so will Julie. She doesn’t have the tools to leave him, neither of them can be drunk and stay at the shelter, so here they live, on Main Street.
Gwen Springmeyer, of the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs, told me she’ll communicate with the City Council and Police Department about the problems. No one here at CW wants a sweep of the homeless off Main Street. This is city life. The sidewalks are free and open to all. But I don’t want women getting beat up out here, either. No one — of any stripe — should have to worry about that.
July 17th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Good for you for stepping in!
Most of us would probably like to think we’d do the same but when it comes down to it, a lot of us just pretend the homeless are invisible bc it’s easier. Thanks for the reminder that the homeless are real and not going away.
July 17th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
Yeah, I would hope I would do that (and being red headed and having a temper I might) but yay for you. Be careful out there though okay?
July 18th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
It’s is wrong that I think we should just gather all the homeless up and bus them out to the west desert? I’m a good person, but I really can’t stand the street rats. I take no pity on them, think they’re lazy, and that the world would be better without them. Can anyone help me see another perspective?
July 18th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
That question was supposed to start with “Is it…”. It’s been a long week so far…
July 18th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Good question, Sra. Really. Let’s see what others might think. My rule of thumb here on Salt Lake City’s Main Street has been to live and let live among those homeless folks who are peaceful. But the scene I described above just had me enraged. And I keep thinking about the importance of keeping a presence downtown and staying involved in what’s going on around us.
I think how rarely I see the bike patrol come through here. Not so that the police can hassle people, but just to get to know everyone. Same with foot patrols. I never, ever see cops on foot in the central business district. And they closed the downtown substation that once stood on Main and 200 South.
I’d love to hear, as you would, what others think.
July 18th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
Holly, I would have done the same thing. It seems that women are especially vulnerable in situations like the one you described. Unfortunately, some of these people have come upon hard times. I think we need to be compassionate towards them. They are still individuals and they still have souls. We never know when we may lose everything and hope for someone to lend a hand. Also, I do feel that law enforcement should be more visible downtown.
July 19th, 2007 at 9:01 am
Reply to Sra in another’s words:
Everyone says that my way of life is the way of a simpleton.
Being largely the way of a simpleton is what makes it worth while.
If it were not the way of a simpleton
It would long ago have been worthless,
These possessions of a simpleton being the three I
choose
And cherish:
To care,
To be fair,
To be humble.
When a man cares he is unafraid
When he is fair he leaves enough for others,
When he is humble he can grow;
Whereas if, like men of today, he be bold without caring,
Self-indulgent without sharing,
Self-important without shame,
He is dead.
The invincible shield
Of caring
Is a weapon from the sky
Against being dead.
Lao Tzu — circa 500 B.C.
July 19th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
I appreciate that response, larryomiller, but honestly, that’s not the impression I get of homeless people. I’m all about simple lifestyle. I hate the fervent need to consume that our society creates. I prefer to spend my money on my basic needs first, life experiences next, and material goods last. But I believe foremost in supporting myself and not being a burden on others. I only see the homeless as a burden.
July 19th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
larryomiller - Love the poem.
Sra - Rent the film titled, “The Pursuit of Happyness”
July 19th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
I saw the Pursuit of Happyness. It was pretty good. Not as good as purported, but entertaining. The difference between Will Smith’s character and what I perceive to be most homeless people out there is that Smith actually made an effort to better his circumstances. I think most homeless people are content with lazing about in the park, main street, the library, gallivan plaza, etc., leaching dimes off people, and otherwise wasting their lives away.
July 20th, 2007 at 8:47 am
Sra,
A significant portion of the homeless are mentally ill. In times past they were institutionalized…but the doors were opened and both dems and repubs were happy (civil liberties and saving money).So,what to do? What`s humane ? Maybe the problem is just intractable.
I`ve spent time in Frankfurt and their homeless problem(s) are Turks,Gypsies and the usual drug/booze types. German friends jokingly told me the SS could clean the place up in a day. Takes real frustration to offer that solution.
I would guess Salt Lake`s problems are minor compared to other places. Maybe the new dem administration (I hope!) can offer a comprehensive national effort. Kindness is a virtue.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:02 am
Sra,
The Lao Tzu poem is not about the homeless. It is a statement of his own viewpoint of the basis of compassion. Read it again but turn it 180 degrees.
Larry
July 20th, 2007 at 9:10 am
During the 2000 Democratic convention in Los Angeles the city was able to take care of the homeless situation downtown - temporarily. You wouldn’t know that downtown L.A. had a homeless person for that week. After the convention they all came back from their “vacations”.
You can hide these unfortunate people, you can send them to the desert but they don’t go away. Out of sight, out of mind is not operative here.