homeless in San Diego; not even Brain Wilson is exempt

homeless in San Diego; not even Brain Wilson is exempt

fiction
edward w pritchard

San Diego has a chronic problem with homelessness. In an effort to combat homelessness humanely and by rule of law the Police in San Diego, California  routinely resort to the issue of tickets for encroachment on public property. It's a sad little war the police there in San Diego are forced to fight on behalf of the Public. Without an income, a home or a car a homeless person has trouble getting to court to endure legal due process. One thing leads to another and failure to appear for a hearing or pay a fine timely leads a low functioning homeless person into jail or even prison.

Last Summer a law suit on behalf of homeless persons ticketed for encroachment was filed in San Diego. San Diego, California has a long history of problems with homelessness, outbreaks of hepatitis c, and unsightly trash accumulation, partly due to exorbitant rents in the area and lack of sufficient low income housing.

In an effort to alleviate some of the problems of homelessness and stall off future litigation on behalf of homeless plaintiffs the City of San Diego has resorted to providing temporary shelter in Balboa Park a large public space.

Former California millionaire Beach Boy Brian Wilson was once picked up for vagrancy as a homeless person in Balboa Park back in 1978. Wilson, genius rock and roll hero,  who wrote " When I grow up to be a man," [what will I be] currently has a net worth of 75 million dollars and has attributed his previous problems with homelessness to alcohol, drugs and mental illness issues.

Rather than arrest Brian Wilson back in 1978 California police took him to an alcohol rehab facility.

One never knows who will be effected by homelessness. Rich or poor homelessness in America effects us all although often the problem remains unseen to ordinary people as they struggle with their own problems.