California passes new controversial ghetto law

Think this could never happen in our country? Read the news; it's getting worse and worse for certain aspects of our society. I'm sure there are plenty of errors in this piece; I need to hire a copy editor and an AP style coach.


***

California passes new controversial ghetto law

By James Starling

Associated Press Writer

June 6, 2020

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Gov. John Chen of California signed the nation’s first “Sanctuary Law” Friday that will require the homeless to live in cordoned off sections of the state’s major cities.

The Sanctuary Law Act will require tens of thousands of California’s homeless residents to live in government housing inside Sanctuary Districts in Anaheim, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Jose.

The bill also allows authorities to round up the mentally ill and have them sent to the districts where they are supposed to receive treatment and housing.

California has become the first state in the country to sign such a law, and has ignited protests across the United States.

President Santorum scrutinized the law but said that the federal government would not interfere with any states’ decision to create specialized housing districts for the homeless and mentally ill.

“I don’t agree with it, but if California feels it’s the best way to deal with the social issues that plague this country than they should be allowed to do it,” said Santorum.

San Francisco plans to create two districts in the city, with the first to be opened in September and the second by next summer. The first district, officially known as “Sanctuary District A of San Francisco” will be created out of sections of the Mission District. It plans to hold 7,500 individuals.

Former state assembly member Tom Ammiano called the law “fascist” and “rotten at the core.”

“The United States is shifting towards a fascist state. This is something that Nazi Germany did, and this country, specifically California, should be ashamed of itself. I’m truly speechless,” he said.

Starting with a number of sit-and-lie laws being passed in California during the past 10 years, the homeless population has been rounded up into a number of specific areas, but hadn’t been forced to live in a sanctioned off part of the state until now.

“We’re doing this to help thousands of residents who need food and shelter,” said Mark White, Sanctuary District Director of Human Services . “People say this is a prison, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. We have job placement services for the citizens in the district, and once they are employed and have the opportunity to live outside the district they can leave.”

Sanctuary District A will have nearly 200 security personnel and another 300 workers will run the processing center and make sure the district is in an acceptable condition.

Under the new law each person will have their own bedroom and living space inside one of the dozens of apartment complexes in the Mission District. Food and water will be rationed out three times a day.

Activist groups, including the ACLU, have already filed motions in state court to overturn the law.

“We won’t stand for such a hateful law,” said ACLU regional director Sarah Teagen. “Governor Chen and the state government are in the wrong and they know it. They’re trying to banish the homeless and transients and get them out of the public eye. These are prisons.”

Riots in many major American cities over the law have caused hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damage and nearly 5,000 casualties, including 104 deaths. National Guard units have been deployed in many areas of the country, with nearly 2,500 soldiers in San Francisco alone.

The economic and social woes that have affected the United States over the last decade have caused a situation where the country still cares about its people, but doesn’t know how to fix its problems, said former President Barack Obama.

“We’re still in a downturn,” he said. “The United States is wounded. We face mounting problems that affect every aspect of our society. Homelessness is just one of them. This isn’t the right way to go about it, but I understand that the government is running out of ideas to solve it. What’s sad is that as bad as it is here it’s even worse in Europe.”

“I don’t know what we can do.”

(Based on "Past Tense", Star Trek: Deep Space Nine).

Mother's Day

Every year I'm convinced this day will get easier, but it doesn't. It tends to remind me of what I'm missing, and what I'll never get back. Yes, it does remind me of good memories with my mom, but it brings back a lot of sadness. I prefer to think about her when I choose, and when a holiday brings it up I just feel like I'm being forced to remember, even if I'm not ready. The hardest part of her death is over, and there are a number of wonderful memories I have of her, but there will always be pain that will never leave me. Mother's Day is just like squeezing an open wound. However, I hope everyone respects their mother and has a wonderful day Sunday. Be thankful for what you do have (I'm trying to take that advice, as well) and show how much you appreciate and love your mother.