Latest news with #safetyhazards
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump is right about homeless camps: Make them 'move out, IMMEDIATELY'
Whenever I return to visit family in Oregon, I am appalled by what I see. Not that I don't adore my home state and its abundance of natural beauty, from the mountains to the ocean. It's the endemic homelessness that's been allowed to fester in cities across the state that disgusts me. These 'encampments' litter sidewalks, underpasses, roadways, downtowns and even parks and natural areas. They are trash heaps that are not only eye sores but also create public health and safety hazards and ruin neighborhoods and businesses. I've seen it happen in my hometown of Salem, and it's true in cities up and down the West Coast. And the progressive elected officials who let this happen should be held to account. It's not just a Pacific Northwest and California problem, however. Other liberal states and cities have allowed homelessness to infect their communities, too. Since they don't seem capable of handling the situation on their own, I was pleased to see President Donald Trump's willingness to take action. This week, Trump turned his focus to crime and homelessness in Washington, DC, but he's also taken executive measures this summer to alleviate homeless camps across the country. Thank goodness. Opinion: Trump is racking up GOP wins no one else could. What do Never Trumpers say now? Is Trump 'cruel'? Maybe he's actually doing some good. In two executive orders issued Aug. 11, Trump laid out his plan for cleaning up the streets of the nation's capital, saying he wants people camping in public spaces to 'move out, IMMEDIATELY.' 'We're going to be removing homeless encampments from all over our parks, our beautiful, beautiful parks, which now a lot of people can't walk on,' Trump said. The president also said he'd focus on ridding underpasses and other public places of these camps. In a social media post, Trump compared his plan to push back on homeless camps to how efficiently he closed down former President Joe Biden's open border. This follows a July executive order aimed at curbing homelessness more broadly. The Trump administration points to the record number of people sleeping on the streets – more than 270,000 in 2024. The president pledged to make it a priority to stand by communities as they seek to enforce laws against public camping and drug use. 'Shifting homeless individuals into long-term institutional settings for humane treatment through the appropriate use of civil commitment will restore public order,' the order states. 'Surrendering our cities and citizens to disorder and fear is neither compassionate to the homeless nor other citizens. My Administration will take a new approach focused on protecting public safety.' Yet, for this to work, states and cities must get on board with making it illegal to set up 'camps' in the first place. It's shocking that some politicians – such as Democrats in Oregon – are refusing to do that. Liberals like to call Trump cruel for taking action against homelessness. They're wrong. Opinion: Trump's order on homelessness is more humane than failed liberal policies Supreme Court greenlighted efforts to curb homelessness. States should get on board. It's not just a Republican priority, either. Even California Gov. Gavin Newsom – who is about as progressive as they come – has gotten sick of the rampant encampments in his state and the unwillingness of cities to fight it. He's threatened to withhold funding from communities that do nothing, which is encouraging to see. Opinion: Shouldn't members of Congress love America first? Not if you're a Democrat. I feel for cities like Grants Pass, Oregon, that have tried to clean up public spaces but are hampered in their efforts. Grants Pass is the city behind the 2024 win at the U.S. Supreme Court, which upheld bans on homeless people camping in public. The city started to clean up its streets and parks but was recently sued for violating state laws on homelessness. It's not a kindness to allow homeless people to live in squalor. And it's unfair to taxpaying citizens to allow their public spaces to be overrun with it. I am thrilled Trump is standing up to the liberal, do-nothing attitude. Our cities will all benefit if he succeeds. Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@ or on X: @Ingrid_Jacques You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump is taking much-needed steps to clean up homeless camps | Opinion
CBS News
08-08-2025
- General
- CBS News
Citi Bike expansion plan gets pushback from Brooklyn residents
New York City's plan to add 50 Citi Bike docking stations in a Brooklyn neighborhood is frustrating some residents. The Bay Ridge community members argue the sites proposed by the Department of Transportation are overly concentrated and present safety hazards. More than a thousand Bay Ridge residents have signed a petition urging the DOT and Lyft, the parent company of Citi Bike, to reduce the number of proposed stations. Critics say many of the 50 stations are being planned too close together, directly in front of single-family homes or in locations they consider unsafe. "I had reached out to the community board. I had reached out to the councilman's office, and it very much felt like a done deal without community input. And I was frustrated by that," said Josephine Pietanza, a Bay Ridge homeowner who launched the petition. Danielle Long, a homeowner, pointed to the intersection at 78th Street and Colonial Road, where one of the new bike docks is set to go. Another is planned just one block away. "It seems like a lot," Long said. "Having them every two blocks in this neighborhood seems certainly like overkill." That intersection has also seen 31 crashes since 2009, according to Vision Zero data. The city previously removed a parking spot there to improve visibility for drivers, a safety measure known as daylighting. The DOT says a Citi Bike dock in that location would further prevent cars from even temporarily stopping there. "We still hear frequent horn beeping and cars screeching on this corner. It's still a concern, but the daylighting has helped, and so we don't want to reverse that safety improvement," Long said. Alexa Sledge, director of communications at Transportation Alternatives, argues visibility concerns may be overblown and that cyclists welcome the expansion. "It's not the same issue with Citi Bike stations because they're so much lower to the ground and it's so much easier to see around them," she said. Brooklyn Council Member Justin Brannan acknowledged the pushback from constituents, but says he's been actively involved in advocating for their concerns. "My staff and I have been going around literally visiting every single location," Brannan said. "We know better than DOT does where this stuff is going to work. And I have to say, DOT thus far has been very responsive." A DOT spokesperson said in a statement, "Bike share has become an integral part of our transportation landscape, and this expansion to Bay Ridge will bring this great service to even more New Yorkers." Still, some residents say a slower, more measured rollout would be better. "Put in 10. Monitor them. See how they're going and put them in areas where the volume of people are," said Kim Parker, another homeowner. "Here there's like six houses on each block." Citi Bike's expansion into Bay Ridge is expected to begin in the fall. Have a story idea or tip in Brooklyn? Email Hannah by CLICKING HERE.
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mobile apartment complex overrun with trash and critters
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) —Garbage piling up, safety hazards, and wildlife roaming the grounds have all become commonplace, a tenant from the Crossings at Pinebrook says. Residents wake up to find Jubilee in Fairhope Residents say their complaints have been ignored, but News 5 was able to get some answers. Management blames the problem on a broken trash compactor and says they are working to resolve the problem. One resident who did not want her name or face shown said the trash problem is out of control. 'Mattresses, tires, like bags of like, seafood boils everywhere. So it smells, it smells bad, but think about it. It's so hot, and then you've got trash down in the sun,' she said. She said the garbage is also attracting some unwanted visitors around the apartment. 'We've had vultures, raccoons, possums. People think I'm joking, I say, no, no. They literally fly over the trash. This isn't a zoo,' she explained. While the area by the trash compactor has the largest amount of garbage, this resident said it's not her only concern, as there are a number of other trash bags, littered items, and food scattered throughout the complex. 'You see how filthy this is? I hate to say it, but this is a good day for this apartment,' she said. The garbage isn't the only complaint she's had that's gone unaddressed by the apartment. There's a number of safety issues including downed stop signs, huge potholes, and exposed wires throughout the complex. 'There's supposed to be a stop sign right there. And this is a safety issue because, again, not just kids, but people walk through here all the time,' she continued. Residents say they just want basic upkeep before conditions get any worse. Foshee Residential is the management company for the Crossings at Pinebrook. A spokesperson shared a message with us that was sent to residents today. 'We understand that the recent issues with the trash collection have been frustrating for everyone, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused,' the statement read. Correctional officer trainee arrested on drug charges in Monroe County: ADOC Foshee asked the residents for patience until the problem is fixed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Home Depot's Latest Product Recall Comes With A Fatal Warning
If you're in the market for choosing the best above-ground pool, you'll probably pay attention to several factors, such as estimating the appropriate size, understanding the filtration system, and determining the ease of installation. You'll want to be aware of the hidden drawbacks to buying a DIY swimming pool as well, such as the possibility of safety hazards like walls that may collapse, shallow water that's not safe for diving, and poor-quality ladders. Another important factor is ensuring the swimming pool doesn't have a product recall associated with it, which is especially important considering the recent news from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The CPSC announced the recall of roughly 5 million above-ground swimming pools sold at Home Depot and other retailers as far back as 2002. The recall occurred after nine children, ranging in age from 22 months to 3 years, had drowned in the pools since 2007. The affected pools have brand names of Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup. Each of the recalled above-ground pools is at least 48 inches or taller and contains compression straps that fit over the top of support legs on the outside of the pool. Children may use the straps as a foothold to climb over the tall edge, falling in and creating a potential drowning hazard. Even if you remove the ladder, children could still find a way to go over the side by using the straps. Read more: 12 Unique Ways To Make A Basic Chain Link Fence Look Better And Add Curb Appeal What You Should Do If You Own One Of The Recalled Pools From Home Depot To check whether you own one of the recalled Bestway, Intex, or Polygroup above-ground pools, visit the CPSC website. Rather than returning the recalled pool to Home Depot or another place of purchase, you should contact the manufacturer of your pool. (The CPSC website has contact information for each manufacturer.) If you have an above-ground pool from these manufacturers that has compression straps or connectors that are inside the support legs, such designs are not part of the recall because children can't use them as a foothold. The manufacturer will send a DIY repair kit to affected consumers to correct the design flaw. The kit contains a rope that attaches to the vertical legs at ground level, meaning children cannot use the rope as a foothold to boost themselves over the edge. While waiting for the repair kit, consumers should take steps to ensure that children cannot access the pool without adult supervision. Do you have to fence in your backyard above-ground pool to keep it safe? Most local and state regulations require all in-ground swimming pools to have safety fences around them. Installing a fence around an above-ground pool is a good idea for safety, and some local regulations require you to install fences around above-ground pools while also installing safety locks on ladders. Having a secure safety fence should prevent children from gaining access to the compression straps. The safer option would be to drain the water until repairs can be made. Enjoyed this article? Get expert home tips, DIY guides, and design inspiration by signing up to the House Digest newsletter! Read the original article on House Digest.
Irish Times
21-07-2025
- Irish Times
Cliffs of Moher visitors risking their lives by breaking into closed sections of cliff-edge walk
Tourists at the Cliffs of Moher are breaking walls and climbing protective fences to access sections of a dangerous cliff-edge trail which have been closed since last August following two deaths. Large stretches of the Cliffs of Moher Walking Trail were closed when a Sport Ireland audit highlighted significant safety issues on the 19km route in Co Clare. The route, which normally attracts 400,000 visitors annually, is owned by 36 local farmers and is bisected by the Cliffs of Moher Visitors' Experience, which is owned and operated by Clare County Council. Clare Local Development Company chief executive Dóirín Graham said managing a partly closed trail with significant safety hazards was proving challenging. READ MORE 'People still climb over fences, people pull down fences and walls, so we are constantly trying to repair fences and remind people that they should not be on that section of the trail,' she said. 'Thankfully there has been no incidents so far. Because of the nature of the trail, people can walk across [private] land and access the trail at many different points. 'People might have travelled a distance to see the cliffs and don't want to listen. People can still see them, there are still good sections of the cliffs visible, through the visitors' centre, that people can see. People can still get that cliffs experience.' She said the Department of Rural and Community Development had supported the CLDC with funding to put someone in place to manage the trail on a part-time basis, 'but he can't stop people climbing over fences. There is an amount of that going on'. Since its development in 2012, the trail has been managed by CLDC under the national walks scheme, with farmers receiving a small payment for access to their land. CLDC is managing the closed and the open sections of the route, but this responsibility will transfer to the county council on September 1st. Following a review of the management plan for the trail, which was instigated before two people died in accidents there last year, it was decided that the council would take over as its management agency. The local authority has been in negotiations with farmers and Clare IFA for several months, with no agreement yet reached about the future of the grade-five difficulty walk. The council has erected barriers and warning signs where the Cliffs of Moher Experience interacts with the closed trail, but has confirmed regular incursions take place. 'There is evidence of regular breaches of the barrier on the closed section on the northern side of the trail. There are local penetrations of the trail on the southern side which are equally being monitored and managed by CLDC,' a council spokesperson said. The closed sections of the trail cannot be reopened until significant safety works are undertaken, with the southern half of the trail unlikely to be fully reopened for years. The area is a nesting ground for protected birds and is a Special Area of Conservation, meaning work can only take place during the winter months. No work can be started, however, until an agreement is reached between the council and landowners. 'Talks are progressing with the landowners and landowner representatives on the northern section of the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk with a view to spending approved ORIS [Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme] funding,' the council spokesperson said. Local farmers will shortly receive their last payment under the national walks scheme, and will not receive any further payments until an agreement is reached with the local authority. 'The landowners are very committed to keeping the Cliffs of Moher Walking Trail open,' Tom Lane of Clare IFA said. 'We are fully aware of the benefits in kind to Clare tourism and the important role it plays in the overall national tourism industry.' Despite these challenges and the bad weather, thousands of tourists walked sections of the trail last weekend, with several making their way into the closed sections. Ollie Gleeson has been running guided walks on the trail for the past five years and employs 12 people. 'It is operationally very difficult. We are able to keep going, but it is a challenge,' he said. 'This trail brought connectivity from one of Ireland's busiest tourists attractions to two local villages [Doolin and Liscannor]. The amount of money that the trail has brought to local villages has been massive. 'When it is open, it does something massive for Doolin, Liscannor, Lisdoonvarna and Ballyvaughan. The trail isn't just about the guides, it is a massive part of the local economy.' In early May last year, a Belgian medical student fell from the 700ft cliffs while she was walking with a group. More than two months later a Chinese boy, who was in Ireland with his parents, also fell to his death from the trail.
