Poem: "A Scandal in the Suburbs" by X.J. Kennedy, from In A Prominent Bar in Secaucus
A Scandal in the Suburbs
We had to have him put away,
For what if he'd grown vicious?
To play faith healer, give away
Stale bread and stinking fishes!
His soapbox preaching set the tongues
Of all the neighbors going.
Odd stuff: how lilies never spin
And birds don't bother sowing.
Why, bums were coming to the door—
His pockets had no bottom—
And then-the foot-wash from that whore!
We signed. They came and got him.
It needs to be said. There is a campaign afoot in Laguna to run homeless people out of town. A concerted effort to paint homeless people as aggressive, undesirable panhandlers who spend their days drinking, screaming obscenities at tourists, and frightening children will likely result in brutality and unwarranted arrests. And an arrest can be very difficult to expunge; it can mean that a homeless person who's had some bad breaks can't get a much-needed job, and will therefore remains homeless.
So the question arises -- who are we? Are we citizens of Laguna Beach a tolerant, helpful, caring society? Or are we so caught up in our property values and desire for tourist dollars that we cannot countenance our share of those who aren't as lucky as we? Keep an eye on the city's Homeless Task Force and observe what new laws are being presented for enforcement. If you're an old-school Lagunan grounded in peace, justice and tolerance, you will be alarmed to note the rules of the new regime. We are under seige, and it's not from the homeless, as much as you might be led to believe . The number of homeless people in Laguna Beach has NOT risen, as our mayor has stated in city council meetings. In reality, it has remained steady for several years at about 55 people, according to the Laguna Beach Police Department -- not bad for a lovely seaside spot like ours.
If you care about this issue, be vigilant -- and be ready to become involved and speak up for those without a voice. It would seem that the Homeless Task Force is not about truly "helping" homeless people -- but rather about helping them find another town to be homeless in. More on this as it develops, or you can contact my friends Christine and Jim at 715-0209.
1 comment:
There is a small fascist element in laguna now that would like to see the town sterilized with only commerce in mind. They dont want tourists to see poor people or mexicans. They use the illusion that it is an artist town when in fact all the real artists have been kicked out because of rampant gentrification. Speak for the poor that have no voice and raise hell at the city council. peace brothers.
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