From an article in the paper written by a reporter today
But back to the mob in the mall.The Addy recently revealed the frustration of city retailers who claimed drunk squatters had been urinating in the street, stealing from stores and verbally abusing shop workers.One woman was pictured with her pants down, urinating outside a portable public toilet near the makeshift camp.
According to Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood, City Hall has “no power to move them on”.OK. So how about I set up a tent and go camping in the mall?I start downing grog in public, getting drunk, getting in to fights, and littering the area.You don’t think there are by-laws to stop me?Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood.Of course there are. So why don’t these same by-laws apply to the squatters and homeless?God knows!
In the past week I’ve seen drunks squeezing the dregs out of a wine cask into paper cups to drink, downing long necks of beer, staggering about drunk, swearing, arguing and littering, their rubbish spread from backside to breakfast in the mall.Most sport tattoos, smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol, none of which come cheap.And you can bet your bottom dollar they will be on the dole — at least most of them will be.So pardon me if I don’t join the rest of the Royal Society of Do-gooders of this world and feel an overwhelming sense of sympathy for this lot.
According to Cr Harwood, “there is no simple solution” to curbing associated violence and anti-social behaviour and the council “is constantly engaging with retailers, residents and rough sleepers to try and provide better support” —whatever that means.He also agreed retailers were probably feeling the “brunt” of anti-social behaviour but said “we need them to be part of the solution” and wanted those affected to “try and assist people who find themselves on the street”.Of course he forgot to say how retailers could be part of the solution or even why, given they are the ones paying high rent and rates to try and make a living while the squatter presence is clearly causing their businesses to suffer and them considerable angst.He went further: “It’s also about activating the area and trying to bring it back to life.”Sure, that’s the way to do it — by allowing a bunch of drunk squatters to continue peeing in doorways, fighting and lying about in the city mall.And please don’t give us the old “just call police” line. Police already have enough on their plate, thanks very much.
No, this is a job for the council to sort out.Perhaps the City of Greater Geelong, having already spent millions towards stadium development at Kardinia Park, might like to show a bit of initiative and get the ball rolling by spending a few quid towards putting roofs over a few more homeless heads in the region.Fact is, being homeless is not an excuse for bad behaviour, nor do all homeless people behave that way. But it’s certainly time to move this lot on.Where to, you ask?Well, as the Mayor says he is powerless to do anything, perhaps his front lawn could be a viable option.I’ll pay the cab fares!KAZ’S TOOL OF THE WEEK
