Bum hunting

At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 

-- Matthew 24:10-13

Sarasota officials have been forced to defend treatment of the homeless in the city. A press conference by the American Civil Liberties Union (UCLU) highlighted childish communications by the police, tough ordinances aimed at the homeless, and the paucity of services for those who find themselves living on the street.

There is no question that too many police officers in Sarasota enjoyed mocking the homeless as "bums" with police contacts called "bum hunting." While the comments can justifiably be called "juvenile" by the ACLU and unacceptable conduct by officials, it should be viewed in the larger social context. It is no less juvenile and callous than the rhetoric of politicians, business leaders, and media personalities in recent years. The poor, sick, old, and disabled in our society are increasingly being labeled as unproductive and a drain on our society. We have fallen off a moral cliff in the hardness of our hearts, particularly at the hands of people who have wealth and privilege.

The defensive comments by Sarasota officials display a complete lack of understanding. For example, one official talks about the fact that many police contacts lead to referrals for substance abuse or mental health care.

Sutton brought a stack of his own documents to the news conference. They listed homeless statistics from 2004 to the present, including how many times officers have referred homeless people who were intoxicated to social services rather than arrest them — 946 — or connected people with mental heath issues with such help — 470.

Many people turn to drugs and alcohol because the circumstances of their life become hopeless. It is a way of dulling emotional pain. These are not people out partying in the street. And our mental health care in America is laughable. In the dark ages, people were institutionalized for mental disorders and subjected to inhumane treatments because the disorders were poorly understood. At least they were given food and shelter. Today, we have a much better scientific understanding of the causes of mental disorders, but all too often people are left to suffer on the street with little or no treatment. It is callous. Barbaric.

At least the mayor had the courage to admit the city has failed the homeless.

He has worked on the issue in Sarasota for more than a decade and says the city still is not listening to the needs of the homeless, despite having the resources for change — wealth, business knowledge and grass-roots efforts.

It is not a question of resources. It is a lack of compassion. Without compassion, people are not interested in helping those in need. As Christ put it, "the love of most will grow cold." Pick another translation if you do not like that one, but the gist is always the same. For those of us that love and serve the Lord, it is disconcerting to see the growing lack of compassion in our society.

The city manager of Sarasota tried to put a little lipstick on the pig.

He says this talk of the unfair treatment of the homeless in Sarasota is just not accurate.

"This community has served 30,000 meals last year to the homeless," said City Manager Barwin.

Let me help you with the math, Mr. Barwin. That works out to average of about 82 meals per day.

Sarasota has been identified as an epicenter of the housing crash in America because of the obscene rate of foreclosures. It also has the distinction of making the list of the meanest cities in America for its treatment of homelessness. That was because of a severe shortage of emergency housing for the homeless while imposing severe penalties for sleeping on the streets. Impressive. And let's not forget the event that triggered the ACLU's latest investigation.

SARASOTA - A homeless man spent the night in jail Sunday after police arrested him for charging his cellphone in a public picnic shelter at Gillespie Park.

Sarasota is typical of many localities in Florida.  The state is home to some of the most abusive ordinances and laws aimed at the homeless despite having some of the highest rates of home foreclosure and unemployment in the nation. Meanwhile, programs and services aimed at giving the destitute a hand up have been gutted in the name of austerity.

The love of most will grow cold.