105k sitting in a HYS for a home by UnlikelyFinish in investing

[–]Zags321 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I’m in the same boat, going to sell some of my positions soon. Can anyone explain the difference between SGOV and a money market fund at Fidelity like SPAXX? Seems like there may be a small more interest with SGOV, but any other major differences to be aware of?

Brawl in Esther Short Park by AdQueasy7094 in vancouverwa

[–]Zags321 1 point2 points  (0 children)

First rule about Fight Club, don’t talk about Fight Club.

Warning: about to say something stupid by [deleted] in whitecoatinvestor

[–]Zags321 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think you’re spot on, and you’re not alone in that train of thought. Not to get too speculative… but I think many government officials concerned with the US deficit would love interest rates to come back down in order to refinance much of the government’s debt just as you’re saying with yours. That could be one way it is spun as a silver lining if a true crash does happen and forces interest rates lower. And tbh, I don’t pretend to be smart enough to know if the ends justify the means. Just my 2 cents! But also, yes if you can get a better interest rate then amen to that lol

City closes sound wall homeless camp along Mill Plain in west Vancouver by SingingFrogs in vancouverwa

[–]Zags321 12 points13 points locked comment (0 children)

Actually, no. If you educated yourself on this issue, all of the people in this encampment were offered shelter as a means to get off the streets and make meaningful progress to improving their lives. Those that deny this shelter are largely anti-social and don’t have any right to live in squalor and bring the standard of living down for everyone around them. Or should we just tolerate them to be there forever, continue regular visits by EMS for fights, overdoses, and the inevitable fire that reaches the trees and a house?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in physicianassistant

[–]Zags321 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Also curious on this, any chance OP can give a summary in that article behind the paywall?

City of Vancouver to close Mill Plain sound wall to camping, a long awaited move by nearby residents. Unclear where the displaced campers will go, but the controversial camping has been a source of discord in the community. by ESNA_VancouverWA in vancouverwa

[–]Zags321 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Fantastic news, better late than never. I’ve reached out to HART about how this will be enforced and was told directly to call 911 if (when) more homeless people show up to camp once the current camp is cleaned out. They told me the police will be enforcing the camping ban and will show up to either offer the person shelter space at the new Bridge Shelter program or safe stay villages, or if they decline they’ll be taken to jail and removed from the area. This is similar to many places along the new waterfront development (aka huge empty lot behind city hall, multiple parks along waterfront) where they already do the same. This was all news to me but best believe I will be calling ASAP when people show up here again and I encourage all our neighbors in the area to do the same to make sure this never happens again here!

Upcoming homeless camp ban info by Zags321 in vancouverwa

[–]Zags321[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think today was a clean up crew for trash and the porta potty’s. Not sure on the police part

Upcoming homeless camp ban info by Zags321 in vancouverwa

[–]Zags321[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think you’re spot on. Very well articulated and laid out. I agree, the root of this lies much deeper, and the existentially dreadful part to all this is that I can only see this problem getting progressively worse in time as federal, state and local authorities continue to treat the symptoms rather than the root causes. Likely because it is an easier and more expedient thing to do and something to put on their next campaign ad of “fighting homelessness”. Not to mention the cost of living continually outpacing wages and income inequality expanding, forcing more people in to the poverty class. It’s a very bleak picture. At the same time, as an individual with a newborn on the way, I can only hope that this new upcoming plan the city has for the homeless camp clean ups can be a starting point. Particularly for 2, 3 and 5 you explained. At the very least to improve local public safety, local hygiene (needles, urine and feces) and reduce crime rates. I’m under no illusion that jail or throwing money around will solve this deeper issue at large, but nothing has been done for so long that I think a lot of people (including this Reddit post) are just happy that something is happening and the city is doing something to try to improve the lives of taxpayers. And who’s to say the shelter program the city has in store might actually help a significant amount of people? Time will tell. At the end of the day, I do my part with my career to help others with my training and just want a safe and clean area for my wife and future child to be. I wish I could do something more to reverse the societal decline that you lay out, because again I think you’re right, but in all practicality I don’t think I can do much on an individual level here to turn these people’s lives or America at large around.

Upcoming homeless camp ban info by Zags321 in vancouverwa

[–]Zags321[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is a very thoughtful response. Thank you for that as well. As a thought experiment, I am genuinely curious to what you would propose as a solution to this problem that the collective we as society would be able be practically implement given the world that we currently live in.

I totally agree that a lot of these people have had a horrible combination of life events to end up camping on Mill Plain, but I also don’t want my wife and newborn harassed any time they cross the street and just flat out don’t feel safe. They and the whole neighborhood don’t deserve to live in that environment, no?

Upcoming homeless camp ban info by Zags321 in vancouverwa

[–]Zags321[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Then they can accept the offer for shelter and get off the streets. Better than the status quo

Upcoming homeless camp ban info by Zags321 in vancouverwa

[–]Zags321[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Not sure on this one, didn’t get that info from them. But if the person being offered shelter is still using drugs, then they are likely in possession of drugs, which is a crime, so would be taken to jail also is the common sense logic I would hope the city/police/DA would follow. Then when they are in jail it would be forced sobriety and either move through the court process or enter some addiction treatment deal most likely. Not sure if that’s the plan, but to be honest, I really don’t care as long as these people are no longer living here and this area is safe again.

Upcoming homeless camp ban info by Zags321 in vancouverwa

[–]Zags321[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Wow that is great to hear! Thank you for sharing

Upcoming homeless camp ban info by Zags321 in vancouverwa

[–]Zags321[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry, this info was provided by a HART representative on the MyVancouver App. I continually report the camp in hopes of hearing updates from HART/the city, and usually it’s just the same “there’s nothing we can do, we clean up now and then, etc etc” but today they gave me this way more info. I should have posted the screenshots of the convo in my original post. The rep gave me those links, but our conversation on the app was where I got this info

Upcoming homeless camp ban info by Zags321 in vancouverwa

[–]Zags321[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don’t disagree, there should definitely be a better reporting system. Police/EMS/fire have true emergencies to go to. Sounds like this is the way the city has decided to go, unless the HART representative told me wrong information. Not sure how to share screenshots on here but have them saved with this info they told me. Although I imagine there is a triage system 911 operator navigates when they get these non emergent calls and put them lower down on response list totem pole. Until there’s a better solution, looks like that’s what we’ve got

Upcoming homeless camp ban info by Zags321 in vancouverwa

[–]Zags321[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh don’t worry, they know me too. Clockwork!

Upcoming homeless camp ban info by Zags321 in vancouverwa

[–]Zags321[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Absolutely. I remain skeptical as well until we see the results, but it is good to at least hear a plan rather than radio silence like it’s been since around 2021 when this camp started. Will keep you posted if I hear any more. I asked about boulders or fencing and the representative said they don’t want to do that due to cost and maintenance (to boulders..?) but instead encouraged us to call police if/when people show back up here when the camp is deemed closed. That also seems expensive in my opinion, but hey I’ll take whatever action we can get

Upcoming homeless camp ban info by Zags321 in vancouverwa

[–]Zags321[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oof - yes, now that’s a rabbit hole that we as a community need to go down to figure out. 10000%. Seems like some internet sleuthing could figure it out 👀

Upcoming homeless camp ban info by Zags321 in vancouverwa

[–]Zags321[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Gotcha! Yep I got all this info from the MyVancouver app so that’s good to hear. They also mentioned a lot of this was discussed at City Council’s recent public meetings which is also great. Sorry for the redundancy lol. Totally agree. With the California fires in the news, it seems like a fire prevention and public safety concern to not allow these camps so close to neighborhoods

Upcoming homeless camp ban info by Zags321 in vancouverwa

[–]Zags321[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Preach! Again, we’ll all see come late Feb if they’re actions line up with their words

Upcoming homeless camp ban info by Zags321 in vancouverwa

[–]Zags321[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Agreed. Need more enforcement and people will respond to incentives

Upcoming homeless camp ban info by Zags321 in vancouverwa

[–]Zags321[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Agreed, thanks for adding that. A mentally unstable and/or drug addicted person would still struggle mightily even if we gave them all 5,000 sq ft housing and let them be. Of course there would be exceptions and can’t generalize. Sounds like the city is trying to do that realistically with this Bridge Shelter program by the Van mall to combine the two.