1) Fans of Honorable Macon Cowles; how did this guy, loved by the voters here in Boulder for his support of various fringe policies, ever manage to get away for years with a grossly undervalued property tax assessment of his home? I mean no criticism of him — I’ve enjoyed some interesting e-mail exchanges with Councilman Cowles in re homelessness. As far as I’m concerned, voters here deserve him and all of his baggage, too.

2) CU head football coach Dan Hawkins; he’s restored the program to mediocrity and now is floating the idea of a contract extension for himself. This one speaks for itself . . .

3) “Moby Dick, Jr.”; not the real name of this program client at Boulder Shelter for the Homeless. He’s worthy of note because he almost never uses a towel after showering (Moby, Jr. frequently showers about 6AM when I arrive for morning services at BSH). His skill at hoisting different parts of his pale, rotund body up to the hand dryer is as amazing as it is disgusting.

4) Anonymous Case Manager at BSH; about three weeks ago, this individual was engaged in urgent conversation with a client I’ve written about before, Shelter Mascot. They were so engrossed that they blocked access to the back office window for several of us waiting to conduct business there. What were they talking about? Vampires! Shelter Mascot was showing Case Manager photos of fictional vampire characters on his cell phone, and she was oblivious to everything else around her.

Frankly, this explains a lot about how nuts get accepted into the transitional living program at BSH.

5) My old nemesis, “bndr”; still pretending to be a Boulderite of means and offering a rehash of sensational details about my criminal history — and still featured prominently on Boulder PD’s sex offender registry under his real name and currently a program client at BSH. He’s been convicted of Sex Assault on a Child.

Some people with less compassion than me might say that “bndr” is a waste of good oxygen.

6) All those who believe that Housing First can reduce overall costs of local jails and emergency rooms, by reducing the usage of these and other public services by HF clients; here in Boulder, CO, you could go right ahead and construct the proposed $6 million plus 40-unit HF apartment complex (and I’ll assume arguendo that all 40 clients will cease being a burden to taxpayers immediately) — but as a homeless people’s mecca, 50 or more homeless alcoholics and drug addicts with a dual diagnosis of severe mental illness will arrive to take their place on the streets.

The net result is that more and more taxpayer money will continue to be spent. Any savings exist only in the minds of HF advocates . . .

See — http://www.bouldershelter.org/programs.first.html

7) Doc Brinkley, who claims to be ready to start Twittering this fall.

To sum up, Boulder doesn’t need a Fringe Festival at all. What our fair city would benefit from is a Normal Festival to show citizens here how the rest of the world lives.

1) Parents of BVSD students who ride the SKIP bus to school should be familiar with the offenders on this list who reside at Boulder Shelter for the Homeless, 4869 N. Broadway –

http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/files/Police/editedredactedsexoffenders081810.pdf

Please, discuss it with your kids and show them the photos of these predators!

2) See — http://www.dailycamera.com/news/ci_15821450

Quoting from the article:

“A large percentage of respondents consider themselves Colorado residents, with 50 percent naming Boulder County as the location of their last home. Sixty-five percent said they plan to stay in the area.

” ‘It’s not people coming from out of town and using our services,’ said Joy Eckstine, executive director of the Carriage House day shelter and resource center.” (Emphasis mine).

WTF? Yes, it is! 50 percent last lived in a home outside Boulder County, logically, if we’re to believe that 50 percent last lived in a home inside Boulder County. 50% plus 50% equals 100%, Ms. Eckstine.

Sadly, as the numbers of homeless people on Boulder’s streets increases so does the relative importance of Carriage House and its executive director. She gets to go home after work, of course; we homeless Boulderites, however, have to deal with the sociopathic Denver transients 24/7. All summer long, we’ve been seeing new faces arriving here to engage in drinking and drugging, panhandling, petty crime of all sorts, etc. Ms. Eckstine can pretend it’s not a problem if she wants to, but this Homeless Philosopher and Commentator knows that it is.

Boulder can no more solve America’s homelessness than it can solve America’s huge carbon footprint or the pressing need for immigration reform. It’s the height of arrogance to think otherwise.

How about focusing Boulder’s limited resources on helping homeless Boulderites? And stop insulting our intelligence in the meantime, Ms. Eckstine, please!

3) I am bemused that some in authority are questioning my would-be Guest Blogger, an employee in Boulder’s homeless shelter/services industry, about client confidentiality.

See — http://homelessness.change.org/blog/view/dont_let_boulder_criminalize_the_homeless_any_longer

At the time this was written, Noah Jennings was on staff at Boulder Shelter for the Homeless and Terri Sternberg was a client there. Perhaps, Noah obtained a written waiver of confidentality from her; perhaps not.

The point is this: My Guest Blogger would never use any client’s real name nor would she post a photo of that client on my blog.

I have done so myself only in re sex offenders who remain a danger to the community.

BTW, I disagree with almost everything that Noah’s blog entry featuring Terri Sternberg has to say about camping within Boulder’s city limits (as I’ve made it clear on many occasions).

4) Without the peace I obtain from sleeping outdoors under the stars, the entertainment provided by those pesky foxes, and the kind acts of Real People as I sit underneath my shade tree in north Boulder, life for me would be dreary indeed.

5) I’m now aware of a technical problem with the comments following blog entries here, and I’ve alerted the powers-that-be. I hope they can set it straight promptly.

I first met “Lenny”, which isn’t his real name, early in 2009. He was very motivated to improve his situation, was clean and sober, and he got into the transitional living program at Boulder Shelter for the Homeless soon thereafter. He had always expressed reservations to me about others in that program, who were simply using it as a chance to recuperate from drinking and drugging on the streets before they returned to that self-destructive lifestyle. Lenny was smart in keeping to himself as much as possible; it’s a sad fact that the homeless ne’er-do-wells love to drag others down into their degradation. He gave them no chance to do so.

Lenny was one of the few BSH program residents I’ve ever seen who was diligent in doing his assigned chores, courteous and respectful in dealing with other residents and staff there, and always focused on his goal of becoming independent once again. I consider his case a model of how things ought to be.

Lenny got into an apartment earlier this year, and I continue to see him from time to time when I’m at the Main Library (he lives nearby). Also, I see Lenny when he returns to BSH to volunteer as a groundskeeper. I have no doubt that he will continue to be a success. 

This is the sort of individual who can benefit by a transitional living program: One with self-motivation, a work ethic, and a generous amount of common sense. Such men and women are rarely to be found in any program, however, and it seems to me that BSH’s case managers are clueless in screening potential clients to find those possessed of such necessary traits for success.

I honestly don’t know what it is that they’re looking at in many cases! They seem to choose, more often than not, clients who are either transparently phony or who are so disabled that they’ll never be able to live independently — which is the goal of any transitional living program.  There ought to be a limit, also, on how many times the same homeless poseurs can reenter the program after being tossed out for various misbehaviors. I see many of them there year after year, making no sincere attempt to better themselves.

Parolees and convicted sex offenders are simply taking up space at BSH that might be given to those who would use it to their advantage. Active drunks and druggies are just scamming the system at BSH, too. Such a waste! Let the Colorado Department of Corrections build more halfway houses; let us all acknowledge that sex offenders cannot be rehabilitated; let the state and Boulder County provide more inpatient treatment options for substance abusers; and let the state and Boulder County provide more residential facilities for the disabled who require some supervision.

In this way, BSH will be free to help dozens more homeless people like Lenny . . . People who will enjoy positive long-term success given a hand up in a well-run transitional living program.

Like I’ve always said — A homeless shelter is not a jail, not a detox center, and not a psychiatric facility. BSH’s primary mission should be emergency sheltering and services during the winter; an additional transitional living program needs to be highly selective in re clientele.

Please, don’t even get me started on Housing First . . . When I’ve done some more investigation into a proposed partnership by BSH and Boulder Housing Partners to construct a 40-unit apartment complex for active alcoholics and drug addicts (at a cost estimated now to be over $6 million, or $150,000 per unit), I promise to scream long and loud right here on my blog. Jiminy Christmas! Imagine the emergency sheltering and services that could be provided for that kind of money here in Boulder, CO.

1) I’m so relieved that the inane Andrew Romanoff was defeated in yesterday’s Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate. Boulder County Democrats supported him, of course, as the fringe Dems they truly are, intent on shooting themselves in the foot and helping the GOP. Apparently, the endorsement by President Obama of Sen. Bennet trumps that by Slick Willie of Noodles.

2) Elsewhere in cyberspace, a paid employee in Boulder’s homeless shelter/services industry has a blog which I’ve been following. It’s very well-written, and I’ve urged L. to consider joining “Max Weller on homelessness” as a Guest Blogger. I think it would be a wonderful contribution to what I’m trying to present here, and I hope she’ll accept my offer. I’m sure that we can respectfully agree to disagree when necessary, or even find common ground at other times.

3) See — http://www.dailycamera.com/lafayette-news/ci_15725077

This story makes reference to one Linda Radcliffe, as a resident and manager of a trailer park in Lafayette. Could this be the same person who uses the screen name “lafayetteeast” here on Daily Camera forums? I’ll presume that it is . . .

Several times, Linda in Lafayette a.k.a. lafayetteeast has accused me of grandiosity and worse. At one point, in 2007, she actually staked out the Main Library in Boulder to discover whether or not I were me. Turns out that I am.

Now, I find that she is a Trailer Park Manager. Is that really so much better than being a self-styled Homeless Philosopher like me? Remember what James Carville said: “Drag a $100 bill through a trailer camp and there’s no telling what you will find.”

I’ll stick to my homeless camp, thank you.

4) I don’t mind criticism in comments following my blog entries, so long as it’s neither profane nor based on lies. A word to the wise, however — It’s within my power to edit any comment and have nothing but praise be directed toward my humble efforts. I was tempted to do this with one individual who recently commented that I was vermon (sic).

What in blazes is “vermon”, anyway? This guy probably lives in a trailer camp, maybe even the one managed by Linda in Lafayette.

1) The curse of Warthog Woman has been lifted, with her departure from Boulder, CO! I understand that she has gone to another state and will probably not return here . . .

It’s like we’ve each been suffering from a painful boil on the backside, and had to wait patiently for it to come to a head before our friendly doctor could lance it; the relief is immediate and profound. Things literally feel more peaceful in Boulder’s homeless community, now.

I’m skeptical that the supernatural is real — but if ever there were a case of demonic possession, it’s certainly exemplified by WW’s bizarre and belligerent persona.

Good riddance!!

2) The foxes have recently been active in visiting the well-known homeless campsite in north Boulder. They have attempted to steal shoes, chewed up shoelaces, crawled on top of the blankets of those who are asleep, etc. Last night, I caught one trying to get away with a food container that was empty. I stopped feeding them stale bagels months ago, but they apparently remember the easy pickings.

It’s all harmless fun to me, and I enjoy their hijinks.

3) Is it just my perception, or do others share the view that Boulder’s leaders are out to lunch? All of this talk about making our fair city Green is utter nonsense; with thousands of workers having to commute to their jobs here because housing is ridiculously overpriced, Boulder can never reduce its so-called carbon footprint. The latest flap over renewing Xcel’s franchise (City Council, in their collective wisdom, has denied a voice to the voters) is a perfect example of silliness.

Only homeless Boulderites are Green — I urge the usual poseurs on Boulder City Council to join us in being environmentally friendly. As it stands now, they are unabashed energy hogs, every one.

4) Thanks again to those kind souls I encounter as I sit underneath my shade tree in north Boulder. They balance my usually cynical view of human nature with their heartfelt concern for others.

To the extent I’m able, I try to pass along these random acts of kindness . . .

1) Last Saturday night at a no-longer-secret homeless campsite in north Boulder, Warthog Woman once again wanted to continue jabbering as everyone else was ready to settle down and sleep. WW, for whatever passes for reason in her disturbed mind, decided to criticize our Armed Forces. Eventually, a homeless veteran told her: “Lady, we’re all trying to go to sleep; you need to shut up about the military.”

This pronouncement, with which everyone else agreed, was not well received by WW. Following are excerpts of her hour-long rant:

Who the f*** are you? You don’t tell me to shut up! F*** YOU!! . . . I’ll do whatever I want! I’ll say whatever I want! . . . Who the f*** do you think you are? Everyone knows what y’all are trying to do to me. The volunteers in the shelter know what you’re doing. All y’all m***** f****** need to get out of my campsite! AIEEEEEEE!! . . . I have kids who are in their twenties. They’ll come up here and whip all of your butts! F*** YOU!! . . . C’mon and fight me! I’ll beat your f****** a**! Call the police! AIEEEEEEE!! . . . All y’all white m***** f****** are afraid of me! F*** YOU!! Y’all always following me around, wanting to know where I am and what I be doing. F*** YOU!! Call the police! . . . AIEEEEEEE!!

I understand that WW was screaming so loudly that patrons of the nearby strip club gathered in the parking lot there to listen to the commotion. This behavior is just crazy; it’s long overdue for law enforcement to pick her up and take her for a psychiatric evaluation. I’m convinced that were this to happen, WW would be committed to a suitably secure psychiatric facility for an indefinite period.

All that we want is for WW to quietly go away and leave us in peace. Frankly, I think that we all deserve credit for steadfastly refusing to be provoked by her extremely disrespectful and almost incessant stalking/harassment. Sunday night and Monday night were both peaceful; I think WW understands that our self-restraint is not without limits. Still, we shouldn’t have to tolerate her presence in our midst.

2) Bushwhackers are homeless people, more often than not Denver transients, who spend a lot of time spying on the campsites of other homeless people here in Boulder, CO. They will steal anything they fancy. To me, this is stupid; why not steal from the wealthy people who live here, if you have to steal at all? Taking the few meager possessions of other poor people is just pathetic.

A related group to bushwhackers are the piggybackers. This latter bunch are those homeless cretins who follow you around to find good campsites, corners on which to panhandle (if that’s something you do), and otherwise become parasites unable to exist on their own. Boulder has more of them than I’ve seen before in other, larger cities.

3) Street Justice is almost nonexistent in Boulder. Some may think this a good thing. I have to wonder, yet I’m firmly opposed to vigilantism. Too many bums here apparently believe they have license to do whatever they want — as the above points illustrate. I believe it’s a failure of both homeless shelter/services providers and law enforcement to maintain ordinary standards of good behavior which might lead some to take matters into their own hands.

A true story from Kansas City, MO: I knew a homeless man there who went by the nickname “Scandalous”. I heard his real name once, but don’t remember it now and wouldn’t use it here, anyway. He got that moniker because of the rotten way he treated other people.

One morning back in 2006, they found the body of Scandalous in Ilus Davis Park, which sits between the KC Municipal Courts building and the new Federal Courthouse and is filled with homeless alcoholics and drug addicts 24/7. Scandalous had been shot in the back of the head in so-called execution style. Nobody came forward as a witness and the homicide remains unsolved to this day.

I’d hate to see anything like this happen here, but even the mellow members of Boulder’s homeless community could conceivably be pushed too far. Let’s start enforcing the law and requiring decent behavior at Boulder Shelter for the Homeless, Carriage House, and elsewhere before we have KC-style Street Justice in our fair city.

Ain’t no one, and I mean no one, who is ten feet tall and bulletproof.

1) Bugtussle has moved on from Boulder, with the intent to enter rehab in another state. I wish him well.

BTW, it’s a good idea for anyone battling substance abuse to get out of Boulder, CO; this community tends to undermine the efforts of any homeless alcoholic or drug addict to get clean and sober and stay that way. People thoughtlessly hand cash to panhandlers, too many homeless rat packs just drag down anyone trying to break free from group stupidity and self-destruction, and there are way too many LCAEs here (that’s Licensed Clinical Apologist and Enabler).

Boulder lacks even a municipal ordinance against public intoxication. Such a law, together with a lockdown detox facility (also lacking in Boulder), might help persuade a few unfortunate souls to change their ways for the better.

2) Warthog Woman — see “Homeless Hall of Shame #3″ — has recently been camping in north Boulder. Uninvited by others at that particular secret homeless campsite, which is typical of her sociopathic behavior. Last Saturday morning, she harassed my friend ____ by following him from Boulder Shelter for the Homeless after breakfast. ____, of course, told her he wanted to be by himself and he took off with his typical long strides, leaving Warthog Woman in the dust.

Night before last, WW complained to other campers that a fox had stolen one of her shoes. This is entirely possible. Last year, when WW was harassing us at a different campsite, a fox actually defecated on her camping gear . . .

Animals can be very wise, sometimes.

3) I’m enjoying the days I spend in north Boulder, sitting under my shade tree and reading. Many folks have noticed me there, and brought me books and beverages and food or simply taken a moment to say hello; I greatly appreciate all of these kind gestures.

This time to peacefully reflect on life helps to keep me connected with the Real World and the Real People who inhabit it.

4) Coming this fall, for better or worse: Doc_Brinkley on Twitter. Old Doc is famous, of course, for his Brinkley Goat Gland Procedure which has proven to be efficacious in restoring manly vigor and stamina.

Just ask Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong. And Brinkley’s own advanced age of 125 is the most powerful testimonial of all!

See this story from Sarah Palin’s hometown newspaper –

http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2010/07/13/local_news/doc4c3c14c1104d7697964379.txt

I’ll bet they even obey all traffic laws . . .

It’s long overdue for me to salute a legendary Boulder entertainer, who happens to be homeless. He can often be found at the corner of N. Broadway and U.S. 36, singing and playing the guitar and greeting passersby with kind words of concern. I’m proud that he considers me a friend.

This gentleman has faced many difficult challenges during his life to this point. Despite that, he always maintains such a positive attitude that I have to smile — even early in the morning as I await the 6AM opening of Boulder Shelter for the Homeless. Needless to add, but I will nonetheless, there are a few homeless people who would do themselves and others a huge favor by being more like my friend, _____.

Best wishes to him!