We help in our own ways. Without a local political will to solve the problem, it will persist and get worse. As it is, our local politicians encourage the problem by legalizing drugs and gambling, not punishing offenders, beating down the police, and allowing panhandlers on every street corner.
Since the voters show no inclination to throw out the Democrats, even after +70 years of failure, there’s zero hope that the problem will get any better.
So...you rely on politicians?
Do you believe in the tooth fairy?