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I wonder how Japan could manage their cities so well, even though they also have their own share of homeless people. As for the US, I think the US people brough

I wonder how Japan could manage their cities so well, even though they also have their own share of homeless people. As for the US, I think the US people brought the problem upon themselves, at least in some degree: it's increasingly rare to see serious discussions on pros and cons of different solutions. Instead, it's all about politics. The moment someone wants to discuss a solution, somewhere some activist or politician will shout out racism or equity or oppression or white supremacy or some other moral slurs. Amazingly, voters, at least those in big cities, love that.

emodendroket 5y ago
This seems like a misdiagnosis. To my mind, the obvious problem is the wailing and gnashing of teeth whenever someone suggests building an apartment complex, let alone a homeless shelter. Impossible to take a step to address the problem if every proposal is shut down by concerned homeowners making a scene at every town meeting.
- pas 5y ago
  This town meeting driven zoning is ridiculously unique to America. In most places there's a faceless bureaucracy that decides whether the to issue the permit or not. They mechanistically check the zoning and other regulations and that's it. The neighbors can go to court if they seriously think the bureaucracy missed something. Public hearing only happens when it's a public project.
  - emodendroket 5y ago
    I’d be curious to see a comparison with other countries with a federal system. My suspicion is that a fetish for local control makes these kind of beggar-thy-neighbor outcomes likelier, but most comparisons have people going for examples like Japan which don't have anything like a federal system.
hattori31 5y ago
Resident of Tokyo for years here. The homeless here make some money from picking up trash and selling to the municipalities so noone begs. Also Tokyo is super safe, so they can sleep wherever without worrying. Also you have to count the fact that housing is insanely cheap in places like Tama (although very far from city center) But lately I have noticed an increase in homeless people, maybe its just Coronavirus? At any rate i wish the city did more. Both for them and for the rest of people. I wish them the best, but let's be honest its not a good sight or smell.
- hintymad 5y ago
  A big difference I noticed in Japan was that the streets that have clusters of homeless are super clean, and people were not violent. It's not like in SF, for instance, where people littered on streets and assaulted pedestrians.

emodendroket 5y ago

This seems like a misdiagnosis. To my mind, the obvious problem is the wailing and gnashing of teeth whenever someone suggests building an apartment complex, let alone a homeless shelter. Impossible to take a step to address the problem if every proposal is shut down by concerned homeowners making a scene at every town meeting.

pas 5y ago
This town meeting driven zoning is ridiculously unique to America. In most places there's a faceless bureaucracy that decides whether the to issue the permit or not. They mechanistically check the zoning and other regulations and that's it. The neighbors can go to court if they seriously think the bureaucracy missed something. Public hearing only happens when it's a public project.
- emodendroket 5y ago
  I’d be curious to see a comparison with other countries with a federal system. My suspicion is that a fetish for local control makes these kind of beggar-thy-neighbor outcomes likelier, but most comparisons have people going for examples like Japan which don't have anything like a federal system.

hattori31 5y ago

Resident of Tokyo for years here. The homeless here make some money from picking up trash and selling to the municipalities so noone begs. Also Tokyo is super safe, so they can sleep wherever without worrying. Also you have to count the fact that housing is insanely cheap in places like Tama (although very far from city center) But lately I have noticed an increase in homeless people, maybe its just Coronavirus? At any rate i wish the city did more. Both for them and for the rest of people. I wish them the best, but let's be honest its not a good sight or smell.

hintymad 5y ago
A big difference I noticed in Japan was that the streets that have clusters of homeless are super clean, and people were not violent. It's not like in SF, for instance, where people littered on streets and assaulted pedestrians.