The Saga Continues

Recently, there have been demonstrations against local biz group efforts toward a "Sit/Lie" law in Berkeley, as has been accomplished in SF. Further efforts to "enforce" against homeless (and other "undesirable" people) in certain areas have been mounted and continue, such as foot patrols by police and "selective enforcements" of various existing code.

During my time in the area, I've noted that a number of the "regular" homeless folks have come and gone... with quite a few "gone" now. This has resulted in a larger population of the younger folks and "street kids" and "travellers". And these are among those targetted for official riddances.

The "issues" can get difficult, as I've discussed with some local officials and business owners/operators. But there they are.

Likewise, apparently People's Park is under similar scrutiny and attentions, with some influential persons now advocating that the Food Not Bombs meals no longer be allowed there. My own personal guess is that as the new U.C. student housing building construction across the street proceeds, we have a manifest gauge for a timeline for concerted programs to "clean up" that park. As the project nears a point of completion enough to go into marketing mode to sell parents/students on occupancy, chances are that's roughly the time that the Powers That Be would like to have effected their intended changes in the area and, especially, right across the street.

Time will tell.