Pickleball versus People

Toms River, established in 1798, is a coastal city in northern New Jersey with a population of around 100,000 residents.

Christ Episcopal Church, founded in 1865, is a progressive and diverse congregation led by Rector Mother (not Father) Mason, who has served in this role for ten years. She has played a crucial part in outreach programs for the homeless, and the parish has recommended that some of its vacant land be used to house the homeless, as their presence in Toms River has increased by over 28 percent in the past two years. The church has applied for permits to build a seventeen-bed shelter.

Some claim (including the mayor and his supporters) that it is merely a coincidence that the city utilized the power of eminent domain to take eleven acres of the church’s property to build some pickleball courts, a soccer field, a playground, and a skate park. Many others see this acquisition as a harsh tactic to prevent any homeless shelters from being established on that prime piece of property or even within the city limits.

This seizure has been divisive for the city, with some saying the city needs more recreational parks for its growing population and supports the mayor and his allies. Most other groups realize that this issue isn’t merely about providing more recreational space but actually highlights the NIMBY (“Not in my backyard”) mindset and many people’s refusal to acknowledge that homelessness is a significant problem in our country that almost no one seems to resolve. They just want the homeless to move somewhere else.

I suspect that most people reading this blog have encountered the issue of homelessness, whether under their noses or “downtown.”

In my ninety-three years of living, I lived through the Great Depression and World War II, during which every individual in our country was affected and had to make significant sacrifices in order to help others. Over the years, I have witnessed a gradual rise in the attitude expressed so well by Trump’s wife when she wore a coat with the words “I really don’t care do u?” written on the back. NIMBY seems to be the prevailing attitude today when facing difficult issues.

Homelessness is more obvious than ever before in my lifetime. But guess what? Human problems will persist as long as people are around. There will be homelessness, prisons, drug addiction, mental health challenges, crime, and other issues no matter where we go.

A healthy society realizes that these problems exist and that ignoring them doesn’t make them disappear but instead exacerbates them. One of the functions of government is to find solutions to these issues and then empower society to resolve them with good planning, forward thinking, and positive resolutions.

The moment the government says, “If you’re not going to take care of the issue, we shall fine you for being derelict in your responsibilities and then charge the city what it costs the government to fix your issues,” we then open another can of worms.

Much of our country despises the government because it compels people, cities, and states to address issues rather than pretend they don’t exist. Despising doesn’t eradicate problems.

Do you have any solutions about how to handle homelessness?

PeaceLoveJoyHopeKindness

Bil

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P.S. People often ask me provocative questions about current events, both religious and secular. I have found that some of these questions are being asked universally. I’ll be periodically alternating regular articles with one of those questions and my answer. I invite you to send me your question to bilaulenbach@yahoo.com.

 

Photo courtesy of Jazz Guy