Madison's Brittingham Park: The Most Expensive (Homeless) Shelter In the State

Madison's Brittingham Park was surrendered a few years ago to the homeless  who now run the place. While most Madisonians who use a park shelter have to plunk down a few bucks and make a reservation, that is not an issue along Monona Bay.

The Capital Times reports Brittingham Park issues are 'problematic for everybody.'

The shelter house and surrounding area with its waterfront location probably puts the value of the immediate real estate at $3 million, making it the most expensive homeless shelter in the state nation on a per-occupant basis.

In true Madison style, few wish to admit our city does not have room for all of the homeless who arrive here.

From organizer Kristen Petroshius, we get this correct but global assessment:

"We need to find solutions that address the root problems, which are poverty and racism, and don't just offer Band-Aids..."

We have shelters, we have detox centers, and we have a neighborhood park. We cannot solve the world's problems. We can solve the problems of poverty and racism, but our capacity is limited.

From Parks Superintendent James Morgan we get this honest assessment:

The problems are "far beyond what park people have the training and resources to manage," Morgan said.

Strong neighborhoods and the rights of the residents always give way to politically correct inconveniences. Of course, the problem with Morgan's view is that leaves only one option. Allow the homeless to take control of the shelter since no one expects the people of Madison who adhere to park regulations and reserve shelter houses to take precedence.

And Ald. Michael Schumacher notes what is obvious, but no one wants to confront:

We cannot allow parks to become quasi, de facto homeless shelters," Schumacher said. As public policy, a park is a park and should be open to all residents, he added.

"People's rights have to begin there, that they can use the park. But people's rights end when they begin to infringe on other people's rights."

It funny that the ACLU is invited to join the fray. The shelter and park regulations in Madison are administered fairly and infringe on no one's rights. Unless, of course, we want to open all of the Madison parks as homeless encampments, in which case we should sell the damn parks, put up housing, and let everyone who wants a property with riparian rights the opportunity to move in.

And then the ALCU can focus on a real issue such as the city charging to walk down a public street.

You see, in most cities, traversing the public right of way is free. And reserving park space for exclusive use means purchasing a permit.

In Madison, we allow exclusive use of the parks for free and walking the public street costs $5, or be arrested.

Comments

I am not bright enough to figure out if your last line is satire. What can we do?

We can recognize that the funding of a meaningless war has cut county funding to help the homeless.

I worked at the homeless shelter starting four years ago. I would take out a returned person's file to discover that during the Clinton era food vouchers and more importanlty bus tickets could be given out. Bus tickets to parts of town that wouldn't infringe on the rights of those who are moving into their retirement home new condos. Oh, how awful to see reality from a balcony.

How bout trying some kindness. Oh, that's right that would be enabling.

Listen, the students tried to get a dry out center for the night so the folk had somewhere to go, that got shot down, on the ride to the Trolley talk.

Have you tried homelessness? Have you ever come close to losing your home?

They aren't objects of trash they are human beings that carry a story that is much more intersting than the channel 3 blah, blah blah.

Yeah, how dare those homeless people take up public space! You'd think after risking their lives for our freedom in Vietnam/Afghanistan/Iraq they'd know better! The cheek!

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/08/us/08vets.html?ex=1352264400&en=196818d8c14b5df1&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

We can't solve the world's problems but here's a proposal: if every Madison resident with a "Support Our Troops" sign on their car/yard actually did SOMETHING to support our troops, whether it was calling their congresshuman to demand better funding for Veterans' programs, volunteering at the local VA Hospital, or donating much-needed cash to our city's homeless shelters, we could certainly decrease the number of "vagrants" taking up park space AND actually show our neighbors that we DO support our troops. How about less yappin' and more action? Suggesting the homeless should just "disappear" is terribly short-sighted and shows an amazing level of ignorance/self-absorption. Educate yourself, Paul! You sound like a damned yuppie with your allegedly liberal head in the sand.