Editorial: Sweeps a waste of time

Monday, March 7, 2005 | 9:03 a.m.

This newspaper has consistently criticized the sweeps of homeless people that have been common here over the past five years. Police and officials from other local-government agencies sweep into homeless camps and disperse everyone, apparently believing they've accomplished some public good. Of course, the homeless people just set up a another camp nearby. Now there is evidence of another problem with sweeps. On Feb. 16, the day of a sweep on Owens Avenue, the number of citations issued for "nuisance crimes" doubled. Nuisance crimes include jaywalking, misusing public bus benches and trespassing, behavior common among homeless people who have just been ordered to move on.

Sweeps should be ended, and not just because they clog Municipal Court with petty cases and saddle nonviolent people with fines they can't afford. They do nothing to attack the root problem of homelessness, which is a shortage of mental health and drug treatment facilities, shelters and low-cost housing. We urge local governments to stop wasting time and money on sweeps and develop a comprehensive program for the homeless.

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