Posted on Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 11:42 a.m.
Money spent on new Wagner Road fence could have been better spent
By Letters to the Editor
I'd like to say that MDOT did overkill on the fencing they just put up on Wagner Road to close down Camp Take Notice, Crews were working for days, high chain link fencing installed and no trespassing signs.
It is a total eyesore. The bigger question is what did this project cost in materials and labor? I thought this state had economic problems.
I wonder whatever use all of that money could have been spent in other places. Sandy Eiler
Ann Arbor
Comments
Mike
Wed, Aug 8, 2012 : 12:58 a.m.
I dropped off a set of wire cutters and left them at the northern end of the fence this afternoon. I sure hope someone is able to put them to good use...
4 Fingers
Wed, Aug 1, 2012 : 1:49 p.m.
That fence beats those squatting bums anyday of the week. As far as the signs, it appears some CTN supporters were out there a few Fridays ago hanging them. Friday I would imagine would be the best day to hang them because the gov doesn't work weekends and the signs would stay until Monday. Theres nothing a little ivy or grape leave can't fix astetically.
Unusual Suspect
Wed, Aug 1, 2012 : 12:31 p.m.
Why is it that to liberals the expense of $20,000 for something useful and necessary is a bad thing but borrowing a few trillion dollars form China so we can waste it on unnecessary things is a good thing?
bunnyabbot
Wed, Aug 1, 2012 : 4:36 a.m.
I think the fence was not needed. I have seen sheriff cars parked on the shoulder of the highway there, so I am sure they were checking in to make sure no one was camped out, something they could have done without the fence. a few days ago there was a guy holding up a sign, not that you could read it going 40 mph anyway. Actually I would say he was more distracting to drivers, heck, maybe he was a jumper. the next day several signs appeared affixed to the fence, many were painted on sheets (nice waste of a sheet), however corners of the sheets came undone and they became sails in the wind, again, distracting and potentially dangerous for motorists.
J. Nystrom
Sun, Aug 12, 2012 : 1:50 p.m.
Bunnyabbot, I find it interesting that you emphasize the waste of a sheet when the fence was a much bigger waste as well as the razing of the land that will now never be used. An old bed sheet is money well spent to alert people to the conditions of our neighbors and the people who need our help. Also, I'm not quite convinced about your "distracting to drivers" argument. If a bed sheet is distracting, then surely a billboard is distracting, or a funny inflatable man in front of a car dealership, or for that matter, anyone walking down the street in billowy clothes could distract someone.
martini man
Wed, Aug 1, 2012 : 2:56 a.m.
Something like that hideous fence happens when the wimps in Lansing let politics force them into rash decisions. More money was probably wasted on the fence than what would have been wasted on relocating those hobos. The hobo camp is gone but the ugly fence remains. Now everyone driving by can say .."Look ..that's where the bums used to squat" . Literally and figurativly !!!
tom swift jr.
Wed, Aug 1, 2012 : 1:46 a.m.
I'll be curious as to how long Ann Arbor dot com allows folks to use the term "Bums" in this thread. How offensive, cruel, heartless, and hurtful. I suspect the term will stand, and this venue will be one step closer to allowing racial, ethnic, gender slurs as well.
Honest Abe
Wed, Aug 1, 2012 : 2:28 a.m.
@Tom Swift Jr: I use the term "Bum", do you got a problem with that? It is a word that describes the tenants who occupied CTN. It is not derogatory nor foul. It is the truth, it is calling it as it is seen. You do not like it? Tough. By the way, it is not a precursor to anything involving race, ethnicity or gender. That is you implying those things. Before I close, I cannot express how glad I am, that the bums who were at CTN are gone! Since you obviously hit the snooze button on the whole CTN ordeal, I will remind you that is not too late for you to invite them into your home.
RunsWithScissors
Wed, Aug 1, 2012 : 1:40 a.m.
I never noticed Camp Take Notice until they were booted out and a fence was installed. Perhaps, in hindsight, the denizens of this camp will recognize that they were only noticed upon evacuation. If attention to their plight was their cause, then this was a job well done. It reminds me of that old saying, "The gods punish us by answering our prayers."
jcj
Wed, Aug 1, 2012 : 10:15 p.m.
If you never notice then you must wear blinders when driving or have tunnel vision!
RunsWithScissors
Wed, Aug 1, 2012 : 8:34 p.m.
Yet, no one seemed to take notice until they were pushed out. I could not see them from the road and had no idea they were there until I saw articles on A2.com and then the fencing (which is the subject of this opinion piece). They wanted to be noticed. They were noticed. Now they're residing somewhere else. Ironic, don't you think?
Woman in Ypsilanti
Wed, Aug 1, 2012 : 2:20 p.m.
I am pretty sure that attention to their plight was part of point of it, hence the "take notice" part of the name.
jcj
Wed, Aug 1, 2012 : 12:43 a.m.
For those new to the story the State allocated $20,000 for the fence.
Ricardo Queso
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 10:21 p.m.
You didn't earn that fence Sandy. Someone else did.
getyourstorystraightfirst
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 10:08 p.m.
Wow, I couldn't agree more. I would really like to know how much it costs because it is a huge eyesore. I live right around the corner and the old residents were much more pleasant then the fence. Great way to prioritize money
J. Nystrom
Sun, Aug 12, 2012 : 1:28 p.m.
I agree. From what I know, we were told that the fence itself cost $13,000, but I don't think that includes the bulldozing or paying for the labor and transportation, so $20,000 is an accurate guess. It's funny that people are in favor of the fence when the camp itself cost nothing to taxpayers.
Laila Hamdan
Sun, Aug 12, 2012 : 1:38 a.m.
I am glad you had a better experience with the residents than you are with the metal fence. :)
Barzoom
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 8:24 p.m.
In my opinion, homeless are people who have lost their homes through no fault of their own. They deserve our help and support. On the other hand, people who chose to be homeless as a life-style choice deserve nothing. They are enjoying the freedom that their way of life provides. There has always been a sub-culture that has lived in this fashion. They have been known as bums.
Honest Abe
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 9:30 p.m.
Well said.
jcj
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 8:04 p.m.
I don't much care for the fence. BUT get over it this is old news not worthy of the bottom of a bird cage!
nickcarraweigh
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 6:41 p.m.
Intensive training within the confines of The Fence may continue for an unknown number of feral bums intended as a cadre for the Washtenaw area homeless community. Trainers recruited from among veterans of the Contra war against Nicaragua, a group which reportedly includes some Bay of Pigs holdovers rescued from a Guatemalan jungle redoubt, may be actively indoctrinating these homeless in community organizing and other distasteful practices. When the wind is right, you can sometimes hear their chants from just outside The Fence, together with the odor of odd meats on the grill.
Honest Abe
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 7:09 p.m.
"The Fence". I like that.
Homeland Conspiracy
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 6:47 p.m.
What color is the sky in your world?
ChrisW
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 6:41 p.m.
It's a good thing MDOT has fixed all of the potholes and broken roads in the state and has money for fences.
Suzanne
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 5:34 p.m.
I believe the politically correct term is "Homeless People"
J. Nystrom
Sun, Aug 12, 2012 : 1:53 p.m.
Suzanne, I prefer even more "people who are homeless" and the opposite, "people who are homeful." I feel that being homeless doesn't define someone, but we've long used it to describe and stigmatize a certain kind of people.
Unusual Suspect
Wed, Aug 1, 2012 : 4:05 p.m.
And we should be politically correct why?
Honest Abe
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 7:07 p.m.
BUMS, somewhat have no intention or desire to get out of their current situation and some may actually prefer that lifestyle. BUMS prefer handouts, not a hand up, and live day to day with no effort invested in conquering their struggles. Anyone can become homeless, we are all one slip or one accident away from it. But it is not like these folks lost their jobs and the only help out there happened to be CTN. If you want and need help, it IS available. Yes, it involves paperwork, phone call, sitting in waiting rooms, being asked lots of questions by a case worker, and you may have to sign up for a work program and follow certain rules, but when it comes down to it, help is there for those who seek it. Help is not there for those who choose to abuse alcohol, drugs, or people who need money to buy a $7 pack of smokes. I posted a comment a month or so back about how my wife and I tried to help people at CTN, only to have our olive branch slapped away when they realized it involved an honest days work for an honest days pay. So no, Homeless is not the correct term.
Not surprised
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 6:24 p.m.
So in reality what's the term?
golfer
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 5:22 p.m.
if you did not put it up. they would come back. so what is the big deal. either keep them in or out.
Honest Abe
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 4:52 p.m.
To Cole Bertsos: Since your article focuses on YOUR opinion, let me ask this- Did you support CTN? Would you rather have Camp Take Notice open again? If so, what did you do to help those bums to better themselves so they would not be breaking the law when they were there? Did you know their sense of entitlement is rather offensive to most? OR, are you just making an observation, regarding the fence?
Unusual Suspect
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 8:27 p.m.
Hobos travel looking for work. Tramps travel but don't work. Bums neither travel nor work. It appears Abe is using the correct term.
Honest Abe
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 8:02 p.m.
@madelaine: I call it as I see it. Wanna know what old is? Articles that have anything to do with CTN or the fence that was erected to keep the bums out. Also, the word "Bum" is an actual word and term. It is a word that best describes the former tenants of CTN. Sorry you do not approve. But you are entitled to your opinions and feelings, as am I.
Madeleine Borthwick
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 7:52 p.m.
Abe, can you please stop the name-calling(i.e. "bums")? it's getting kind of old...
Honest Abe
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 7:10 p.m.
REVISED. To "Letters to the editor":...................................................
DBH
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 5:01 p.m.
I found the ownership of the letter confusing at first myself. Apparently, Cole Bertsos is on staff at AnnArbor.com ("Editor") and was initially listed as the author. That name has now been changed to "Letters to the Editor" under the Oak Leaf, again (as of the posting of this reply) without notice by AnnArbor.com. He remains listed as the author on the Home Page, though. The author of the article is listed as Sandy Eiler at the end of the letter.
Honest Abe
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 4:46 p.m.
You can thank those BUMS, who were occupying property that they should not have been on in the first place. If it came down to the fence or those bums, I am taking the fence any day of the week. By the way, good riddance Camp Take Notice.
Honest Abe
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 9:34 p.m.
@Nvragain: You're right! What are we going to do? Build fences every time they head down the road? Maybe! Heading down the road is usually legal. Now on the other hand, trespassing is not lawful. You are so right Nvragain, forget the fence building. If they trespass, they should be arrested, taken to jail and handled like any other trespasser.
Denise
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 5:09 p.m.
Honest Abe, I give your comments an A+ !
nvragain
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 4:51 p.m.
Abe, its not very logical to put up a fence anytime someone trespasses. What if they head down the road? What are we to do, erect another fence?
nvragain
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 4:27 p.m.
Amen Sandy. The better question is: why stop with just one fence, all state land needs to be marked with tall fences so homeless dont set up camp. What an epic failure! Annarbor.com, some follow up would be nice. Possibly an answer to who signed off on putting this fence up!
dading dont delete me bro
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 4:21 p.m.
i think it will be a matter of time before the scrappers take that nice shiny fence down.
dading dont delete me bro
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 5:09 p.m.
@honest abe, true, but it's free to a scrapper
Honest Abe
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 4:47 p.m.
The material the fence is made of is not worth much, least when it comes to scrap weight.
Unusual Suspect
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 3:52 p.m.
I like it. What I call would be the money and time spent on the ugly signs that were put illegally put up on the fence the other day. I'm also in favor of money being spent to remove all the underbrush and trim the trees like they have done at other interchanges.
Laila Hamdan
Sun, Aug 12, 2012 : 1:24 a.m.
Actually it's not illegal until it permanently destroys the fence. The sheets cost nothing and and I can assure you the spray paint cost a whole lot less than 20,000 dollars. It's a shame that they spent 20,000 taxpayer dollars to fence off land that was being used to support a working community.
Honest Abe
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 8:04 p.m.
Unusual suspect: Thanks for enlightening me.
Unusual Suspect
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 5:39 p.m.
It was maybe this past Friday, give or take a day or two. A bunch of obviously hand-made signs made out of old bed sheets or something. The wording was mostly about the appearance of the fence, which was pretty funny because the signs themselves were ugly. I think there were also some sings with the usual "shame on you" stuff. I'm not sure if they took them down themselves after displaying them for a little while, or if MDOT took them down, or somebody else. I thought about posting a sign of my own about how beautiful the fence is, but I had other things to do.
Honest Abe
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 4:53 p.m.
what signs were illegally put up? Can you please be specific?
nvragain
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 4:31 p.m.
"What I call would be the money and time spent on the ugly signs that were put illegally put up on the fence the other day" What are you trying to convey?