[nightstreak]

This is a touchy subject but it has to be talked about: what do you do when the presence of an unhoused person affects hundreds or even thousands of people who use the area? If anyone works or lives near York and Wellington, they're familiar with the pungent odour of the individual who lies at that corner, virtually 24/7. Watch the crowds walking up and down York St to/from Union and how many have to cover their mouths. I'm not exaggerating, it dominates the entire intersection plus 50 feet in every direction. It's a biohazard.

Does the compassion towards one individual override the wellbeing of thousands of others?

 

[SubHuman]

... Does the compassion towards one individual override the wellbeing of thousands of others?

I'm honestly not sure I understand your question.
It seems to be implying that somehow compassion is being displayed for this individual by allowing them to lie there outside on the pavement all day and night.
I'm not the foremost expert on the subject, and I haven't seen this in person, but it sounds like it can probably be assumed that there is something far more seriously wrong with them than just not being able to afford rent for an apartment.
Removing them, to then be assessed under the Mental Health Act, even if having to be done physically and involuntarily, would in my opinion be the more morally correct course of action.
( And would also hopefully remove the unpleasant odour.)

(Edit: If anyone is mistakenly under the impression that the person's consent is legally required for absolutely everything, do a Ctrl F for the words involuntary and involuntarily on your computer while it's displaying the Mental Health Act to see where and how often those terms are there.)

 

[nightstreak]

I'm honestly not sure I understand your question.
It seems to be implying that somehow compassion is being displayed for this individual by allowing them to lie there outside on the pavement all day and night.
I'm not the foremost expert on the subject, and I haven't seen this in person, but it sounds like it can probably be assumed that there is something far more seriously wrong with them than just them not being able to afford rent for an apartment.
Removing them, to then be assessed under the Mental Health Act, even if having to be done physically and involuntarily, would in my opinion be the more morally correct course of action.
( And would also hopefully remove the unpleasant odour.)

The city's policy appears to be to leave people where they want to be if they refuse help. The right to remove them even though the Streets and Sidewalks Bylaw (Chapter 743) allowed it, was deleted from the by-law on Human Rights grounds, described as a compassionate approach according to city staff if you call 311 to address the situation. This individual has been there for years now so suffice to say, he's refused help. The foul odour has gotten substantially worse in recent months even though it's Winter. Perhaps because he's on a grate with steam? Either way, the intersection has become a biohazard.

 

[T3G]

Dude Dudeford with another brilliant soundbite:

Cops at every station. Millions on anti-suicide doors. Inside one councillor’s TTC subway safety pitch — and why critics call it a stunt

A motion from Coun. Brad Bradford is asking council to make several recommendations to the TTC board he says are aimed at improving safety on the transit system.

www.thestar.com

“It starts with an honest assessment of the problem,” Bradford said in a recent social media video about his motion. “Safety isn’t defined by statistics in a spreadsheet — it’s about how people feel.”

I think that one of the worst things that happened to our modern society is that we seem to have gone so far with everyone being entitled to their opinions that everyone seems to think their opinions are facts, even if (especially if) they're wrong. If you're a sheltered nutcase, you probably wouldn't feel very safe in a place like Reykjavik, either. Kneejerk reactionaries should not be setting public policy.

 

[Admiral Beez]

We will cement block and fence our way out of this crisis!

That’s the conclusion of this spoof.

If our provincial and federal governments wanted to, they could follow Finland’s example.