Homeless people are people like everybody else
I don't have a problem with homeless people. In fact I am one of them.If we are going to build public light rail stations, and let the public ride the light rail train, then the government shouldn't discriminate against homeless people and should let them hang out at the public light rail stations and ride on the public light rail trains.
But it seems a little expensive to spend several billion dollars on light rail to give the homeless folks a a place to hang out and keep cool in the summer.
Valley Metro Light Rail a magnet for homeless people
Wow the Valley Metro Light Rail is sure a magnet for homeless people.Every day when I get on the train it is full of homeless people who hop on the first train to get out of the Phoenix heat.
Who would have known that Valley Metro was spending $1 billion dollars on a shelter for homeless folks.
Homeless people sleeping on 19th Avenue
Homeless people sleeping on other light rail locations
I take the light rail every morning
I usually get up at 4 a.m. and walk to the light rail station.There is always one homeless couple who are sleeping behind an electric box that I pass by.
There seem to be two more other homeless folks who sleep along the street, but don't have a fixed place to sleep at.
It seems like a seedy neighborhood and whenever I see people I walk around them to avoid being robbed.
I guess that means I am prejudiced too. Here I am a homeless person avoiding other homeless people so they won't rob me.
Homeless people hanging out at the gas station
When I get to the gas station I buy my newspaper there are usually at least 3 homeless people hanging out there. Sometimes more.The guy at the gas station locks all the doors except one. I suspect that is to limit the amount of stuff the homeless people steal.
Sometimes the guy even locks all the doors and I have to bang on the door to get him to sell me my newspaper.
Then I walk back to the light rail station.
Homeless people sleeping on the light rail train
When the first Valley Metro train pulls into the station it has a lot of people on it. Maybe it's a fourth or fifth full of people.But only 5 or 6 people actually get off of the train.
I don't know for sure that the people that stay on the train are homeless people, but I suspect they are.
And these are not random people every day. They are the same people, day in and day out.
I suspect the people that stay on the train are homeless people who hop on the first train to beat the Arizona heat.
And this isn't the midday heat, this is the heat at 4 in the morning or 4 a.m.
Then I got on and start to take the 1st trip to the East Valley, with all the homeless people on the train.
Wait a minute, I am homeless too, but I am not getting on the train to beat the heat. I am getting on the train to go to the East Valley.
I don't have anything against homeless people using the light rail. But do we really want to build a billion dollar light rail system so homeless people have a place to sleep?
There are cheaper ways of taking care of the homeless.
