Discarded needles on the sidewalk
True compassion is putting the interests and safety of law-abiding citizens over politically correct policies and the demands of far-Left activist groups.
I went to the Farmer’s Market on September 21. When I was walking back to my car, I found a number of discarded needles on the sidewalk. I simply cannot understand how any elected city leader can look at this and not be ashamed and humiliated at the failure to do basic things to keep our community safe and clean, and to enforce law and order. If I was the mayor, I would feel so much shame that I would not want to even leave my house.
There was a great deal of concern about allegedly "racist" vendors at the market five years ago. Do you know what reduces quality of life in Bloomington, Indiana? It is not alleged "racists" peacefully selling vegetables to consenting adults. What reduces quality of life is drug addicts shooting up in public and discarding needles on the street for people to find later. It is drug addicts and mentally ill people taking over parks. It is people defecating in public. It is the fact that city staff has literally picked up several thousand needles from Seminary Square Park alone.
This is simply not acceptable. The people of Bloomington deserve better than to see this on our public streets after buying produce from local farmers. It is not "compassionate" to allow homeless camps to fester where people are shooting up illegal drugs and committing crimes against each other. It is not "compassionate" to make law-abiding citizens fear for their safety and the safety of their children. It is not "compassionate" to place employees of downtown businesses in danger.
It is time to abandon the fraudulent "compassion" that is literally turning our city into a shithole. True compassion is law and order. True compassion is keeping our sidewalks free of discarded needles. True compassion is putting the interests and safety of law-abiding citizens over politically correct policies and the demands of far-Left activist groups. Our city leaders have failed in the most basic responsibility they have to the people who they allegedly serve. This is truly shameful.
