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My ministry partner took this photo at the entrance to the Greenway, near the block. Image credit: Audrie Keen

Two days ago, I wrote about “the block” at Lee and Eugene Streets being empty. The block is a long-time gathering spot where folks, many of them homeless, are known to loiter and drink. A friend, who catches a bus just down the sidewalk, had contacted me to tell me that police had cleared everybody out.

Read more on Did it take a Greenway to clear the block?…

From the News & Record

A 44-year-old man leaving the Bessemer Curb Market was beaten and robbed by two men Saturday, police said.

About 5:25 p.m., Anthony Brooks was leaving the store at 925 E. Bessemer Ave. when two men approached him, according to Greensboro police.

Read more on Bessemer beating: More homeless on homeless violence in Greensboro…

The News & Record and WFMY report that the owner of the University Mart in Greensboro has been charged with food stamp fraud. He’s accused of making purchases at local grocery stores with food stamps that weren’t assigned to him. The University Mart is on Warren Street, near the intersection with Spring Garden.

Read more on Finally! A Greensboro store owner gets charged with food stamp fraud…

Be sure to read Lorraine Ahearn’s News & Record article, “Benches highlight a bigger problem”, which begins like this:

“The location of artistic benches, which were removed from the Downtown Greenway on Friday after neighbors complained, looked good on paper but ignored some basic urban topography. Just a stone’s throw from where the benches were removed, amid complaints that they drew drunken and lewd behavior, sits ‘The Block.’ At the southwest corner of Eugene and Lee streets, at the entrance to HealthServe clinic and Greensboro Urban Ministry’s night shelter, this stretch of sidewalk has been a magnet for loitering, drugs and prostitution for 20 years….”

The benches were never the problem, so removing them won’t solve it. The problem on the block is primarily addiction. People drink there, and buy and smoke pot and crack. And where you find crack, you find dealers and prostitutes.

Read more on Bilbro benches gone, next target: homeless on the block?…

From greensboropeerpressure”

“The people who rule what happens in Downtown Greensboro have removed the little greenway through the parking lot on South Elm and McGee streets downtown because they claim that nobody used it. People used to use it to eat bag lunches and watch passers-by and enjoy the breeze and the flowers. Neighbors often sat on the benches and had friendly conversations and/or heated discussions.

Read more on Good-bye to Panhandlers Park & harmless homeless?…

The Greensboro City Council has adopted changes in the City ordinance governing begging and panhandling. Sec. 20-69 will be amended as follows:

Sec. 20-69: Place
Any person who begs or solicits alms for his or her personal gain when the person is in any of the places listed below is guilty of a misdemeanor:
(1) At any bus or train stop;
(2) In any public transportation vehicle, facility, transit stop or taxi stand;
(3) In any vehicle on the street; or
(4) On private property, unless the person has written permission from the owner of the property to beg or solicit alms on the property; or
(5) On any school property during the student arrival times or during the student departure times.
(6) On any sidewalk adjacent to a motion picture theater, outdoor theater or palladium, any valid licensed vendor location, or where a line of patrons has formed.
(7) Within 20 feet of the entrance to any financial institution or automated teller machine, regardless of whether or not such automated teller machine is located at or near a financial institution. Financial institution as used in this section means any bank, trust company, savings and loan association, credit union, check-cashing business, any other entity principally engaged in the business of lending or receiving or soliciting money on deposit; or
(8) Within 20 feet of the entrance to any commercial establishment or private residence, or
(9) In any parking, deck, garage or surface parking lot and not within 20 feet of the entrance and exits of these areas and not within 20 feet of any parking meter or parking kiosk, or
(10) While under the influence of alcohol or other non-prescribed drugs or illegal substance, or
(11) Within 20 feet of the visible barricade of any outdoor café whether such café is on the public sidewalk or on private property.

The amended ordinance became effective upon adoption.

Read more on What the amendment to the panhandling ordinance says…

Image credit: Nelson Kepley, N&R

UPDATE:  The amendments to the panhandling ordinance passed unanimously.

Tonight, the Greensboro City Council considers significant revisions to the ordinance governing public soliciting, begging and panhandling.  The proposed changes would result in a de facto ban on panhandling in the downtown area, and would strictly limit panhandling throughout the rest of the city.

Read more on N&R: Proposal would just about ban panhandling…

Hey Jeff Probst: Want a real challenge?  How about for next season’s Survivor, you pit a team of homeless people against a team of homed folks?  Even better, instead of a tropical paradise, set the show in the chaos of a crime-infested, metropolitan inner city.

Read more on Best Survivor idea ever: Homeless vs. homed…

The Myrtle Beach City Council has placed serious restrictions on group that feed the homeless in city (public) parks.  Church groups are currently feeding the homeless and hungry in obedience to their faith — weekly in one park and monthly in another.  A new ordinance will require them to obtain a permit and restrict feedings to four times per year.  The ordinance is a response to  neighbors’ complaints, such as perceived safety issues for children  in the park, and crimes alleged to have been committed by some of the homeless people in the parks.  But those who serve the homeless point out that children are among those being fed (children and families are homeless, too), and that homeless people will be in the parks whether meals are served or not.

Read more on Myrtle Beach restricts church groups from feeding homeless people in public parks…

“Taser the homeless.”

Word is spreading about that disturbing suggestion, which came from an unidentified woman who owns or works for a business on South Elm Street in downtown Greensboro.  She attended a problem-solving meeting on May 18th with District 3 Council rep Zack Matheny and City staff, to discuss parking-related issues in the 300 block of South Elm Street.

Read more on So you heard about the chick who wants to taser the homeless downtown?…

From a friend to me, on Facebook:

“I have 2 stories for you tonight. one. A man got beat up last night at Urban Ministries by three kids who live down in Saint James.(he didnt know what hit him or who did it cause he was intoxicated.) The second thing that happened happened three and a half hours later. A guy got stabbed over an altercation at about 11:15pm last night-At Urban Ministries. More details in my status. i was there when both things happened. i know all parties involved in both altercations.”

On her wall, she wrote:

Read more on Greensboro homeless violence: Two people assaulted in separate incidents outside shelter…

Surveilling the homeless: What will the City of Greensboro think of next?

From a formerly homeless friend’s Facebook wall:

“FREE PHOTO SHOOT-care to have your picture taken? -As of yesterday a new camera was put on the block. UNDER SURVEILLANCE-hmm… the block has been put on surveillance. There is a nice camera that takes your picture, and then tells you that you need to go. Its posted.”

Read more on Surveillance: City of Greensboro uses talking camera to move homeless along…