09-23-2017, 03:51 AM
City government has been warned for more than 20 years that the homeless problem was not going away. 10 years ago, a Grand Jury recommended immediate action to provide public restrooms and handwashing facilities for the growing homeless population (over 10k). Many of these homeless are confined to a fairly small area around Petco Park. There is a Father Joe's and a Day Center nearby that attract more from a wider area of downtown.
The County got involved about a month ago (Health Department) after approximately 40 confirmed/hospitalized cases and several deaths were attributed to Hep A. They urged/demanded that the City immediately provide handwashing facilities to help cut down the almost epidemic spread of the virus.
So the deal is this, San Diego has pretty much ignored the growing homeless population. The homeless set up little Hoovervilles all over downtown, taking over the sidewalks on blocks and blocks. There are no public restrooms, so they relieve themselves wherever they can. Hand washing? LOL And as a result, the Hep A virus has had a field day. So far, the virus has been contained to a small population of homeless, but the real fear is that it jumps outside the downtown area and starts affecting "real people" (not that homeless aren't real people, but around here they're pretty much treated as if they aren't - until now…)
You mentioned the sad state of sewer treatment in San Diego - "advanced primary" - it has not improved much in many years, but it is not the cause of the current outbreak.
We know where this outbreak started and how it is spreading. It's just been in the past week that city government has finally gotten serious about doing something about it. This is after County Health finally forced the issue, and it is after the Padres owner put up a huge chunk of his own money to purchase large shelters to help contain - and hopefully treat - the homeless in the area. Obviously, he's concerned about his baseball investment - just walking to and from Petco from some of the nearby parking areas is a stinking mess. Truly horrible. And that's just for those of us who are lucky enough to be able to walk through and be gone from the area.
We don't have to live in the mess like the homeless who are there 24/7/365. It's a real mess.
The County got involved about a month ago (Health Department) after approximately 40 confirmed/hospitalized cases and several deaths were attributed to Hep A. They urged/demanded that the City immediately provide handwashing facilities to help cut down the almost epidemic spread of the virus.
So the deal is this, San Diego has pretty much ignored the growing homeless population. The homeless set up little Hoovervilles all over downtown, taking over the sidewalks on blocks and blocks. There are no public restrooms, so they relieve themselves wherever they can. Hand washing? LOL And as a result, the Hep A virus has had a field day. So far, the virus has been contained to a small population of homeless, but the real fear is that it jumps outside the downtown area and starts affecting "real people" (not that homeless aren't real people, but around here they're pretty much treated as if they aren't - until now…)
You mentioned the sad state of sewer treatment in San Diego - "advanced primary" - it has not improved much in many years, but it is not the cause of the current outbreak.
We know where this outbreak started and how it is spreading. It's just been in the past week that city government has finally gotten serious about doing something about it. This is after County Health finally forced the issue, and it is after the Padres owner put up a huge chunk of his own money to purchase large shelters to help contain - and hopefully treat - the homeless in the area. Obviously, he's concerned about his baseball investment - just walking to and from Petco from some of the nearby parking areas is a stinking mess. Truly horrible. And that's just for those of us who are lucky enough to be able to walk through and be gone from the area.
We don't have to live in the mess like the homeless who are there 24/7/365. It's a real mess.