Posted on 11/16/2004 7:40:59 AM PST by SmithL
When the homeless lose or abandon stuff, it gets frozen
Berkeley tolerates its homeless people, and takes good care of their stuff when they abandon it in shopping carts.
Not only does the city pack carts and other belongings into a huge container in case folks want it back -- it also deep-freezes them for as long as 90 days.
About a year ago, Berkeley bought a 40-foot-long, 8-foot-wide refrigerated container for $8,200 after public works officials complained about vermin infesting carts stored at the city's outdoor corporation yard.
The city signed a five-year, $61,500 lease with Caltrans for land under the University Avenue overpass at Interstate 80 to put the container on, and ran power to the unit.
Deputy City Attorney Matthew Orebic said the city is heeding state law that requires storage of lost goods. He said it is not clear, however, that that law applies to unattended shopping carts because they may not be lost.
"We just do that to be safe and fair, to make sure that there's no argument that we've violated any laws and to be fair to the person," Orebic said. "What if you've got your medication in there?"
San Francisco and UC Berkeley also store homeless people's belongings as a result of lawsuits filed by homeless advocates, but they don't freeze them.
Critics say Berkeley's freezer program is an example of good intentions run amok.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Berkeley's deputy director for public works, Patrick Keilch, stands inside the subfreezing trailer where stray possessions are stored.
Patrick Keilch, a Berkeley public works official, opens the door to the freezer car where lost or abandoned belongings are stored.
Paging Dr. Caligari ...
Those shopping carts are the property of the retailers.
"He said it is not clear, however, that that law applies to unattended shopping carts because they may not be lost."
'Unattended' shopping carts are not lost, they are stolen.
I notice what looks like a Home Depot shopping cart in the picture, does the city make any effort to return stolen property?
BINGO!
Not only does the city pack carts and other belongings its homeless people into a huge container in case folks want it them back -- it also deep-freezes them for as long as 90 days.
No, they are intentional accessories to the crime.
I've seen those in Europe, too. Unfortunately, over here, I think you would get...
"The 9th Circuit Court today ruled in favor of homeless advocates, in a unanimous decision. The Federal Government is obligated to supply homeless people with dollar coins so that they can obtain shopping carts without any loss of dignity. Also, the 9th Circuit made it clear that the now-popular pay-to-use shopping carts are an infringement on civil rights, as they deny the poor use of their dollar for the period of time that the dollar coin is held by the device. In a not-too-surprising judgement, the court ruled that the Bonzo corporation, makers of the shopping cart devices, must pay a fine of 3 billion dollars, and provide diversity training for all of it's employees."
Agreed. The "City Fathers" of Berkeley should be arrested for receiving stolen property and for conspiracy for the orderly manner in which they acquired and stored said stolen property.....
Berkely.. definately not something I miss no longer being in the bay area....
Here in the US, Aldi food stores utilize the same system (deposit is only a quarter, though). Although it's a bit of a hassle, if it keeps prices down, I don't mind at all.
Simple...it was found BEFORE it was lost.........J F'n Kerry as a child
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