The Mayor would like to have you believe that the homeless problem has apparently/suddenly grown too large for city government to handle … hence warranting a “state of emergency.”

Is she expecting a windfall of money or additional outside help as a result of making such a declaration? It’s apparent that the city of Jamestown waited far too long to seriously address the problem that’s existed for years; hence the frantic appeal for outside agencies (such as C.O.I) for help. It doesn’t help anyone by throwing that already overburdened agency under the bus for its reluctance to suddenly jump all in.

For the Mayor (a former City Council member) to “now” declare a homelessness “public emergency” is a disgrace, an admission of the council’s failure, an admission of “ignorant’ complicity and complacency. Madam Mayor, the chickens have come home to roost. The problem is yours now. It was yours years ago when the homeless issue was reasonably manageable. You and your fellow City Council members were too busy ignoring it and now it’s supposed to be someone else’s problem? The city simply can’t evict this horde (reportedly numbering 300) and expect the county (or anyone else) to magically deal with the problem.

A few years back when the previous Mayor was setting up homeless shelters in the winter, I attended an evening pottery session, finished up, then headed to the North Main McDonalds for “supper” in the evening. After exiting the drive thru, I spotted a “person” with a miniature dog dragging a wagon-load of stuff out of the lot. It was “dark, cold, and blustery, with several inches of snow on the ground”. I felt “compelled” to stop, not for the person, but for the dog (no respect for the person who put the small dog through this). It was a woman in her late 40s who claimed she went to the place to use the bathroom. JPD was called (assumedly by management), and the woman was told to leave. I loaded everything in my van, gave her and the dog my meal, and headed to JPD to get the address of a “newly established” shelter. The woman protested, “No police !. I just need to get to an address. Take me to… ”

After reaching the address she gave me, I knocked on the door and explained the situation. The woman who answered initially said “No I can’t take her… I’ve done this before and they steal my clothes.” Please think about the dog” I pleaded (she had two of her own). She relented and I dropped the lot off and headed straight to JPD. I gave the desk sergeant the address then asked why the officer (who asked her to leave) didn’t take some kind of action or get her to a shelter. He answered that she might have had warrants and refused any help. At that point, the word “stupidity” came to mind for “all” parties concerned. That night I emailed the chief a nastygram … no reply.

Madam Mayor, “you” (representing the City), not county agencies and their staff, need to address Jamestown’s homeless problem. Calling for the “eviction” of homeless from their public lairs while offering no solution to their problem is no different than what McDonalds allegedly did with the gal and her dog. Do you have a plan that doesn’t involve passing the buck to the county or the state ? You need to come up with one … winter’s almost here.

Are there sheltering sites/stations for the homeless/displaced? Where are they? Are signs posted identifying them? If I’m homeless/displaced and need the help how am I supposed to know where to go? I can’t ask the cops (or can I?). I don’t get the paper. I don’t own a cell phone with service. If I park my stuff and walk into a church, will my stuff be there when I come out? The library will kick me out (I stink). I guess I’ll just have to pal up with some other homeless and take my chances I won’t get robbed or worse. Thank God, there’s a condemned house!. Madam Mayor, do you have a plan to help these people aside from evicting them? What is that plan ?

On my street alone (Prendergast), there have been 10 shootings and three murders, most if not all drug-related/targeted (as if that designation makes me feel any better) all within six houses of mine. I have written letters, attended meetings, made phone calls. The drug task force has stepped up its game and put forth a valiant effort (I’m eternally grateful); but theirs is a “whack-a-mole” endeavor. The homelessness issue is not “whack-a-mole.” For “years” we’ve seen people pushing shopping carts, pulling wagons, using stolen garbage totes, and anything else to haul their stuff while surfacing in the pleasant months. How about employing those vagrancy laws when law enforcement folks encounter one of these folks. It’s a start, a sure-fire (albeit forced) introduction to directed help if you have a follow-up plan .

Frankly you and the entire City Council deserve a good portion of the blame for having allowed this issue to progress to its current magnitude. Your new role as Mayor does not now however give you the right to point fingers (or badmouth) other entities for not offering a quick/”emergency” fix. Publicly bashing (asserting a rift) between the city and Chautauqua Opportunities Inc. (or any other agency) during your last minute appeal for help isn’t warranted. I’m sure they have their hands full already. You’ve had years to work this out at the City Council level… look in the mirror Madam Mayor.

Tony Georgakis is a Jamestown resident.