[PLUG] How we treat the homeless...

[Mike C.]

On Sun, Sep 22, 2019 at 4:27 PM <plug-request at pdxlinux.org> wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Re: IP tracking (Ben Koenig)
>    2. Re: How we treat the homeless... (John Jason Jordan)
>    3. Re: PLUG HAS A VENUE PROBLEM (Denis Heidtmann)
>    4. Re: How we treat the homeless.. (Mike C.)
>    5. Re: IP tracking (Rich Shepard)
>    6. Re: How we treat the homeless... (Jim Karlock)
>    7. Re: How we treat the homeless... (Michael Barnes)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 22 Sep 2019 13:01:29 -0700
> From: Ben Koenig <techkoenig at gmail.com>
> To: plug at pdxlinux.org
> Subject: Re: [PLUG] IP tracking
> Message-ID: <91a83375-0762-259a-9a7e-0d4033387ec2 at gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
>
>
> On 9/22/19 10:41 AM, Thomas Groman wrote:
> > ... When it comes to calendering, NextCloud is great
> > for this. It can provide both a web interface and CalDav services for
> > integration within Thunderbird, CalCurse-caldav, android, or anything
> > else than handles caldav...
>
> You make some good points, but also demonstrate the level to which
> google is embedded in software development. In recommending ways to get
> away from google's tracking, you mentioned compatibility with Android,
> which renders all efforts to afford the problem meaningless. Tracking
> that is baked into the OS affects all apps running within that OS, so
> you have to stop using android. Also stop mentioning it.
>
>
> Not that I'm the best example of this, writing from my gmail account.
>
>
> Another example of OS-level integration is systemd. systemd defaults to
> google's nameservers when no others are provided. It's a fallback
> mechanism if standard DNS configuration fails, and is implemented at
> compile time. Like you mentioned, it's more than just IP tracking, you
> need to start rejecting entire chunks of your OS stack if you want to
> actually get away from google's profile building.
>
>
> It's pretty disgusting these days. Distros like Debian and Ubuntu
> working behind the scenes to sell out the community. Even Mozilla links
> up with all those API's, making a weak claim that their use for tracking
> is totally different from everyone else's. They still send data to
> google servers....
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sun, 22 Sep 2019 13:17:39 -0700
> From: John Jason Jordan <johnxj at gmx.com>
> To: plug at pdxlinux.org
> Subject: Re: [PLUG] How we treat the homeless...
> Message-ID: <20190922131739.1fda6333 at Devil-Bonobo>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
>
> On Sun, 22 Sep 2019 10:46:00 -0700 (PDT)
> Rich Shepard <rshepard at appl-ecosys.com> dijo:
>
> >This is a continuing, higly complex problem that has no simple
> >resolution.
>
> +1
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sun, 22 Sep 2019 14:06:58 -0700
> From: Denis Heidtmann <denis.heidtmann at gmail.com>
> To: "Portland Linux/Unix Group" <plug at pdxlinux.org>
> Subject: Re: [PLUG] PLUG HAS A VENUE PROBLEM
> Message-ID:
>         <
> CAArUT0iWXUpfZf-E4G7WusuZ4vAmPk+pT_pwRgnsAiDxADUKRg at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> FWIIW, PSU has done the same thing with the doors in SB1, even though there
> is a business operating in that building.  I once had to let in one of
> their customers.
> -Denis
>
> On Sat, Sep 21, 2019 at 7:17 PM Russell Senior <russell at personaltelco.net>
> wrote:
>
> > I am a fan of Portland State as a venue. Firstly, we've been there
> forever,
> > b) their mission includes engaging with the community (not least because
> > it's a service to their students); and iii) it's got a good central
> > location with good transportation options. I suggest we picket the PSU
> > administration building; second I suggest we investigate whether a room
> in
> > a different building might work. I recall we were in Smith for quite a
> > while before moving to the Engineering building.
> >
> > On Sat, Sep 21, 2019 at 4:27 PM Vince Winter <vince.winter at freegeek.org>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Hey,
> > >
> > > I can try to convince free geek to host on Sundays during the day
> > 11am-5pm
> > > area? They maybe open to that.
> > >
> > > Have you tried reaching out to the campus security to see if they would
> > be
> > > open to having someone help with door between 645 to 715?
> > >
> > > On Fri, Sep 20, 2019, 4:53 PM Michael Dexter <dexter at pdxlinux.org>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hello all,
> > > >
> > > > Thank you everyone who pointed out a few odd elements about the last
> > > > meeting, none of which were the fact that I was not there.
> > > >
> > > > 1. The room change was temporary. Whew!
> > > >
> > > > 2. Thanks to the homeless abusing PSU resources, the engineering
> > > > building will be locking its doors at 5:30PM starting next month.
> > > >
> > > > This is sounds minor but the "answer" is to have someone at the door
> > who
> > > > can identify PLUG attendees (not necessarily easy) and not allow in
> > > > anyone who should not enter (also not easy). This door guard would
> also
> > > > ideally hang around for 15 or so minutes to accommodate late
> arrivals.
> > > >
> > > > I personally do not want PLUG members to be in the campus security
> > > > business given that it could incur liability should they fail to
> comply
> > > > with the school's security policies they are expected to enforce.
> > > >
> > > > PLUG has been at PSU for over 20 years and venues of this quality do
> > not
> > > > come easily.
> > > >
> > > > Please share your ideas on how we can work around this new
> restriction!
> > > >
> > > > Please also share your ideas on venues should a solution not present
> > > > itself. The ideal venue, like PSU:
> > > >
> > > > * Is central with good public transportation access
> > > > * Is free of charge
> > > > * Is not dependent on a staff attendant unless they are guaranteed to
> > be
> > > > there for other reasons
> > > > * Has good lighting
> > > > * Has a good projector
> > > > * Has affordable, safe parking for those who cannot take public
> > > > transportation
> > > > * Has good WiFI and optional Ethernet Internet access
> > > > * Has good food options on site or nearby
> > > >
> > > > Free Geek is a highly-sympathetic venue but does not meet all of
> these
> > > > criteria.
> Actually it is a very simple, two tiered, problem:
>
> 1. Cost of housing is ONLY in areas with severe restrictions on building
> on unused land. In Oregon & Washington it is Urban Grown
> Boundaries. They have doubled cost of rents/ housing. Simple economics -
> they create a shortage of land, which drives up the
> price. In Portland's low income are, Lents, a parcel recently sold for ONE
> MILLION/ acra which is about $125,000 for a 5000 sf empty
> lot. Portland adds at lease $50,000 to that for permission to build. When
> you start with almost $200,000 in cost BEFORE building anything,
> you cannot build affordable houses.
>

Yes but also Oregon & Texas are the only 2 states that don't have
"Inclusionary Housing" laws that require developers to build a certain
number of affordable / low income units. More info here,
https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2015/04/after_years_of_trying_inclusio.html



> 2. People who simply cannot afford rent, end up living with friends,
> sharing an apartment, living in a camper or moving to another area. There
> are many successful services for this group. They generally do not end up
> in tests surrounded by needles.
>
> Yes, "generally" as far as generalizations go.

3. Tent people are about 50-80% drug/alcohol addicts, some mentally ill
> that probably should be in institutions, and criminals who no one
> will rent to.
>

I've heard a variety of life stories and personally know a lot people from
all walks of life. We also have housed & employed drug addicts, alcoholics,
criminals and sociopaths. One of who resides in the grandest house of all
at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

These aspects of human experience aren't the exclusive domain of the
homeless.


> You may have noted an increase in people doing absolutely crazy things
> described as a mental health crisis - mostly illegal drug use.
>
> View Seattle is Dying on YouTube for one viewpoint on the problem.
>
> I've seen it, wasn't impressed by nor did I agree wit it because it
doesn't address the root cause of alcohol, drug, tobacco and other
addictions. Most often addiction is the result of trauma, abuse, social
disconnection in which their basic human needs aren't being met and mental
illness such as depression in which people are simply seeking a respite
from their own suffering not unlike many housed people do when they drink
and adult beverage, partake of the herb or otherwise entertain/distract
themselves in the privacy of their own home.





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