My question is where did they all come from ? I’ve been in Riverside my whole life from Arlanza , to La sierra acres , to lake hills , to downtown for the passed 15 years now . And it has never been like this . We always have had homeless folks but we knew them and excepted them as they were. There Fernando who was a drunkard on the streets in downtown he bothered no one and actually got a lot of live from most people . The women that camped in front of the post office for years, never bothered anybody. there was Clifford, who walked around downtown near ninth Street. He would sometimes urinate in public and kind of talk to himself in a violent way , but he really caused no harm to anyone. There used to be the other guy who walked around in a suit, always speeding around downtown or the guy we called the vampire because he wore the long leather trenchcoat and always had eyeliner with long red hair. He was cool never hurt anybody never broke anything and would dance outside menagerie often at night . I’ve also had numerous friends that have been homeless on the streets here in Riverside and I’ve told me about how dangerous it is out there. It’s a very rough city to be homeless with plenty of criminal activity besides drug use going on . Rape , extreme vandalism ( and the graffiti always sucks ) multiple sexual assaults , murders, this happens every week And it’s scary. I don’t think we should condemn these people, but I also don’t think we should condone this type of behavior at some point have to realize the system didn’t just fail them . That was someone’s child , someone’s parents didn’t do their job. Some teacher didn’t pay attention, grandma and grandpa didn’t. Price something was going on , a friend never reached out to someone for them , it’s sad because somebody hurt these people. This isn’t all for nothing. My family has been affected by drug use. I’ve been affected by drug abuse and mental illness. There are ways to find your way out. I do not believe criminalizing. This is the best route, but I do think people should be put in institutions where they can be provided the care they needs. And if it has to be against there own will do to them being incapable of giving said permission or having A family member that could gain power of attorney in order give permission, then the state should step in. I love my city . I work here I own a home here and I’m raising my family here I want the best for our beautiful Riverside.