Development Best Solution to Panhandlers?

Mayor Bates is floating the idea of new curbs on public behaviour that threatens or insults passers by. Naturally, advocates for the homeless and free speach see threats to the liberties of the homeless and an effort to turn Berkeley into Carmel by the Bay.

Of course, the homeless problem is related to a nationwide lack of services for individuals with mental health and economic problems of all varieties. Berkeley can only hope to ease a little pain and assuage a few liberal consciences.

Unfortunately, the Mayor's efforts will likely generate more meetings, letters to the editor and blogging on both sides than long-term changes in the way the homeless are treated in Berkeley.

However, a boom downtown could help everyone. The expected construction of a giant 19-floor building with a hotel, restaurants, an anthropology and art museum, and 600-seats for the Pacific Film Archive, will have downtown Berkeley jumping in 2009.

The best hope for those who want to visit downtown without having to deal with agressive behaviour is likely to dilute the homeless. They aren't going away without national solutions that are decades away.

With the Berkeley Rep, The Marsh, a new Freight & Salvage and a number of other music and cultural venues (and no doubt more expensive restaurants to follow), the homeless can chill among the crowds that will soon be descending on downtown Berkeley with additional parking and more upscale entertainment options.

A homeless guy and his dog are a bit scarey when nobody is around. Not so scarey when there are dozens of other middle class culture consumers nearby.