If You Can’t Shoo Them, Sue Them!
Anyone who has ever had to deal with the homeless in Indianapolis’ Downtown area know what a nuisance many of them are; whether it is the persistent and rather aggressive panhandling, their lying on the sidewalk or congregating in clusters. If you are ever approached by one, and your nose will tell if they are nearby, and they ask for money, do not be surprised that once you tell them no, they will ask you why?
Many of these homeless need to be committed into institutions, but since that likely won’t happen, a New York art dealer might actually have the answer. Sue them!
The New York Sun is reporting Karl Kemp, a high-end antique art dealer on the city’s Upper East Side, is suing four unnamed homeless people for $1 million on the grounds that their loitering has driven away customers.
The complaint goes on to say the homeless have spent “significant amounts of time” obstructing Karl Kemp’s storefront window display, “consuming alcoholic beverages from open bottles, performing various bodily functions such as urinating or spitting on the sidewalk, and…verbally harassing or intimidating… prospective customers.”
That sounds a lot like the ones in Indianapolis. Maybe one of the downtown businesses and establishments should file a suit. Or better yet, buy the places where they hang out and sue them to get them to go somewhere else.
Then again, we could change our laws and re-institutionalize them so they can get the care they need. The roof of a mental institution has got to beat that of a cardboard box.
