It's crazy how quickly the internet can ruin people's lives just by being outraged. My aunt worked with a lady who ended up on reddit for yelling at some kids. As my aunt tells it, the lady was a shitty person who was abusive to coworkers and the video was in-line with her usual behavior. She's unemployed now, and (according to my Aunt) still receives death-threats from people.

I like seeing shitty people held accountable for their behavior, but I hate the disproportionate response of mob mentality. The internet burns them to their roots. In the situation of Frank Meza, I have to agree with this guy:

https://twitter.com/realdumbrunner/status/1148021247806062592

I wish the pitchforks and the torches could stay stowed for shit like this.

In any case, some of the homeless in my city have been migrating closer to my workplace, which is in the middle of what we call the "Old Market", an expensive part of town with expensive shops, expensive rent, expensive apartments, expensive restaurants...

The crackdown has been frustrating to watch, and it's been done quietly. I've noticed the same guys hanging around under a bridge I park near for the last two weeks. They have sleeping bags, a tent, and a little propane stove they use to make coffee and cook breakfast. When I was parking this morning, they were gone. When I went out to lunch, four city workers were tossing their things into black garbage bags.

I'm not a huge fan of them living in the middle of what can qualify as my city's "tourist" destination (lol), but they have a right to exist and I'm not going to begrudge them for their decision to set up camp close to my daily routine. I wish my city did more to help them, and I wish we didn't just throw away what could be their only fucking possessions.

My city's homeless population can't hold a candle to LA's, but it was nice to read your thoughts on the camps close to you; helps me frame my own thoughts