This is one of the best areas of the Twin Cities because of its proximity to the lakes. We have confused “recreational drug use” with hard core, life threatening drug use. Human (and animal) feces are a public safety hazard, as are drug needles, flying trash and litter. There are basic rules of public decorum. You are hoping against hope that very sick, mentally ill people are going to change their behavior. Even with help, the success rate is low. I say this as a mental health professional and a nurse. I’m glad people have good intentions but this is not going to be a strong enough approach to bring business back to uptown.
Unfortunately I still have to go through Uptown every morning to work and it is not a pretty sight. It's filthy despite the multiple cleanings I see each week. It had not occurred to me that those living in the bus shelters moved to the parking ramp, I foolishly thought they had started to receive help. The current opioid addiction has a different, more completely gone side effect than I ever remember seeing, so much so that I wonder if these poor souls can ever rejoin society. I spent many years in Uptown so when I say there are early mornings that I do not feel safe, it's not my imagination. The pull for that next high can be so great that absolutely nothing matters. The city needs to accept that leaving these people to waste away in front of everyone on the streets is not humane to them or those around them. Clearly seeing so many struggle so much so often is hardening us, turning us into a less feeling people. Our city leaders need to grow up and be willing to be the bad guy and do what's right, get these people help, not just push them into the next neighborhood or say it's OK because this is their choice. Here is a real cause that needs real help but instead our city leaders choose to vilify business, wealth and Trump. They would rather work against anything and everything instead of for something. If these city leaders were clever they would work with the system to get what they need and want but instead they have decided to destroy everything they don't like or want. It's time to stop the pet projects, maybe stop inviting more people here under the tetm "sanctuary" and actually turn our city back into the wonderful place it was.
This is one of the best areas of the Twin Cities because of its proximity to the lakes. We have confused “recreational drug use” with hard core, life threatening drug use. Human (and animal) feces are a public safety hazard, as are drug needles, flying trash and litter. There are basic rules of public decorum. You are hoping against hope that very sick, mentally ill people are going to change their behavior. Even with help, the success rate is low. I say this as a mental health professional and a nurse. I’m glad people have good intentions but this is not going to be a strong enough approach to bring business back to uptown.
Unfortunately I still have to go through Uptown every morning to work and it is not a pretty sight. It's filthy despite the multiple cleanings I see each week. It had not occurred to me that those living in the bus shelters moved to the parking ramp, I foolishly thought they had started to receive help. The current opioid addiction has a different, more completely gone side effect than I ever remember seeing, so much so that I wonder if these poor souls can ever rejoin society. I spent many years in Uptown so when I say there are early mornings that I do not feel safe, it's not my imagination. The pull for that next high can be so great that absolutely nothing matters. The city needs to accept that leaving these people to waste away in front of everyone on the streets is not humane to them or those around them. Clearly seeing so many struggle so much so often is hardening us, turning us into a less feeling people. Our city leaders need to grow up and be willing to be the bad guy and do what's right, get these people help, not just push them into the next neighborhood or say it's OK because this is their choice. Here is a real cause that needs real help but instead our city leaders choose to vilify business, wealth and Trump. They would rather work against anything and everything instead of for something. If these city leaders were clever they would work with the system to get what they need and want but instead they have decided to destroy everything they don't like or want. It's time to stop the pet projects, maybe stop inviting more people here under the tetm "sanctuary" and actually turn our city back into the wonderful place it was.