No, I don’t live in fear that the homeless will ‘ruin’ downtown Columbia. Why do you?

Putting “homeless people” and “downtown Columbia” in the same sentence will always polarize opinion — even in a sentence that simply states common sense.

Like this one:

“Moving benches around in downtown Columbia in order to deter homeless people from using them is a pretty dumb idea.”

That’s obvious stuff, right?

But when I made that simple point awhile back, even that drew heat from some folks.

So I get it: the issue of the downtown homeless will always be a divisive one.

Still, I wasn’t prepared for the voicemail that a reader left me after I wrote about the ridiculous demise of a proposal to transform a vacant downtown lot into a small enclosed park — a promising idea eventually abandoned because opponents said it would attract the homeless.

The reader vented about me in particular and the downtown homeless in the general — and then ended her voicemail by saying, “Shame on you! And shame on them! May God have mercy on you both!”

So I need divine forgiveness for suggesting that we shouldn’t allow our phobia about the downtown homeless to consume us to the point where we’d rather have unattractive vacant gravel lots over active park spaces?

Wow.

Fortunately, the majority of those who disagreed with my column offered thoughtful insights on why they did. So I’ll list their general gripes — along with my responses:

1. I have a business/live in/etc. downtown. I can show you specific areas that have been affected because they have become magnets for homeless people. Why don’t you come and see them for yourself?

Absolutely, I’m up for that.

But the question remains: How are these problem areas resolved by allowing a vacant downtown lot to stay dormant and inactive?

2. You talk a good game when you pretentiously criticize our attitudes about the downtown homeless. But have you backed up your talk? Have you ever lived around homeless people?

In every city I’ve lived in over the past 15 years — Cleveland, Jacksonville, Bristol, Tenn., and now Columbia — I’ve lived in downtown areas; in fact, one of my downtown residences in Jacksonville was a few blocks from a homeless mission.

What’s the main thing I’ve taken from these experiences?

It’s the realization that downtown areas will never resemble antiseptic private malls; they will always be living, breathing public spaces that draw people of all types for all reasons — and that includes the homeless.

Period.

Now if homeless people are breaking laws, that’s one thing; of course, that should be addressed. But you can’t vilify and marginalize homeless individuals out of downtown simply because they’re committing the “crime” of being people you don’t like seeing downtown.

3. What about homeless people panhandling? Why don’t you ever talk about that?

Maybe it’s just me — and maybe it’s all relative — but I haven’t had an issue with aggressive panhandling in our downtown. It sure hasn’t been what I experienced in one past city: each morning I would walk through a daily gauntlet of panhandlers while traveling the three downtown blocks from my apartment to the office.

And by the way, according to research there is a pretty effective way to deter panhandling: just politely say “no” to panhandlers — and keep saying “no.”

Yes, it’s that rudimentary.

No.

4. So if you think we have a phobia about the homeless in downtown Columbia, what are your solutions? Well, smart guy?

Well, I can already tell you what isn’t a solution: keeping downtown spaces inactive and dormant because you’re afraid homeless people will ruin them if you revive them.

In fact, if you recoil when you walk past a homeless person downtown, you should want to see humble gravel lots turned into sites that project activity and vibrancy.

Think about it: when the Soda City Market takes place every Saturday morning and thousands of people are walking around downtown, just how much do you notice homeless people then? Better yet, do you notice them at all?

Meanwhile, I do like the partnership that Mayor Steve Benjamin has crafted between the city and the downtown Transitions Homeless Center to employ homeless individuals to work on beautification projects.

That’s a good move. But that’s the extent of what it represents: it’s just one good move.

What about finally committing serious money to beefing up daytime resources for homeless adults in the downtown area? That’s how Jacksonville and its mayor, Lenny Curry, have made an impact in addressing that city’s downtown homeless issue.

How has it been done? Well, someone call area code 904 and find out.

Finally I’ll say this again: can’t we get more lighting — or more effective lighting — in some downtown areas? I’m tired of feeling like I have blankets over my head when I’m in some downtown spots.

Look, I accept it.

There will never be easy agreement on anything regarding the downtown homeless.

But can’t we agree that living in fear that the homeless are keeping us from having a better downtown Columbia is just about the worst way to actually have a better downtown Columbia?

Opinion Editor Roger Brown can be reached at (803) 771-8464 or rjbrown@thestate.com. Follow him on Twitter @RBrown_SCOpin.

This story was originally published February 17, 2020 at 5:38 AM.