Residents put huge rocks on their sidewalk to keep the homeless away sparking battle

WaPo ^ | 10-02-2019 | Hannah Knowles

[NRx]

For about a month, the rocks were just a mystery. Two dozen boulders had popped up along a San Francisco sidewalk — and even officials were stumped.

“We don’t know who put them in, but it wasn’t the city,” a councilman said.

By the time the rocks were hauled away Monday, they’d spawned days of headlines and split a community.

Local news outlets began to piece the story together last week: Weary of alleged drug dealing among homeless people camping out on their block, neighbors on the street of Clinton Park had pooled several thousand dollars to physically bar the way. To some, it was a creative tactic from desperate residents. For others, it was a declaration of hostility to the homeless — a Band-Aid measure in a city where their plight has drawn national scrutiny and where shelters still can’t meet demand. The homeless count in San Francisco jumped 17 percent from 2017 to this year as rents and real estate prices continue to skyrocket and as the Trump administration considers an intervention in California.

Opponents rolled the rocks into the street overnight; city workers put them back; people rolled them out again. Protesters gathered Sunday, while residents called a meeting and said they faced harassment.

By last weekend, the boulders were exposing just how high tensions are running amid a city homelessness crisis that years of policy proposals have done little to dent. They’d become a “symbol,” said Danielle Baskin, a San Francisco artist who walks through Clinton Park on her way to work and whose Twitter account now identifies her as an “Anti-Rock Agitator.”

[GOPJ]

In the 90’s white liberal elites and Hollywood weirdos virtue signaled by expressing their love and tolerance for ‘the homeless’... AND they trashed anyone who spoke against 'homelessness rights'...

[hal ogen]

Those insensitive, privileged people have cold hearts. Shouldn’t they invite the “homeless” into their large houses, feed them and allow them the run of the place? I say they are unable to be nice and considerate. I bet these people are LIBs who hate everyone who isn’t them. Pathetic.

[Drew68]

The residents should refer to the boulders as “art” and dare the city to violate their free speech.

Just spray paint "IMPEACH DRUMPF!" on the rocks and nobody will touch them.

[Dexter Morgan]

I certainly miss the back roads of KY in my convertible. Moved to WA and sold the car after a couple of years because all the roads here in rural WA are long and straight...not much fun for a car built for curves.

We do have great memories living in KY and miss Penn Station subs and Homemade Ice Cream and Pie Kitchens!

Car club made it lots of fun going on distillery tours several times each summer.

[oldasrocks]

Grow some Carolina Reaper peppers, grind them and spread them on the walks. Anyone touching them with bare skin will quickly find out they don’t want to be there.

[cuban leaf]

I’m a little south of Bardstown. I was born in eastern Washington and, you’re right, those roads are pretty straight. It gets more interesting once you get between Ellensburg and the mountains, though.

The cool thing about where I live is, instead of radar cops, they’ve just brought in a lot of deer. :) I’ve got 76k miles on my FRS and am just finishing up my 8th set of tires. The wear is from cornering. :)

[2001convSVT]

Dear voters; When you vote for clowns. Don’t be surprised your city becomes a circus. Thanks for the great quote 👍.

[GOPJ]

Shouldn’t they invite the “homeless” into their large houses, feed them and allow them the run of the place?

Since liberal 'elites' and Hollywood created the mess it's the least they could do... (that said, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it to happen...)