Homeless People Take Over LGA

rmoore7734 · Mon Dec 14, 2015 6:36 pm

Homeless people take over LGA.
They even bathe (naked) in the public restrooms

http://nypost.com/2015/12/14/homeles...are-taking-over-laguardia-airport/

[Edited 2015-12-14 15:52:11 by wilco737]

STT757 · Mon Dec 14, 2015 7:09 pm

Prior to 9/11 I used to see the homeless all over airport terminals at EWR (mostly A and B), and LGA (mostly at night though). The place where I saw the most homeless people at any airport was PHL, prior to 9/11 homeless were all over PHL even during the day. But if I were them I would be at the airport too, it's safe and get to watch airplanes

rojo · Mon Dec 14, 2015 7:14 pm

I did a mileage run last month taking the last DFW-LGA flight that arrives almost at midnight and returning LGA-DFW at 6am. I decided to stay in the airport premises and work on a presentation I had to deliver the following day. First I walked the terminals to see where I will spend the night and ended up sitting in one of the tables on the lower level of terminal B (in between concourse B and C). I was shocked when I saw almost all tables occupied and people sleeping on the floor and tables with all electric outlets taken by their cellphones. At first, I thought they were regular travelers, but later realized they were actually using LGA as a home to sleep and go to the bathroom.

AA737-823 · Mon Dec 14, 2015 7:19 pm

I encountered similar activity at MIA, many years ago.
The bathrooms in the baggage claim area were being used to bathe, in the nude.
Unacceptable.

nikeherc · Mon Dec 14, 2015 7:20 pm

Nonetheless, it is unpleasant at the best and dangerous at the worst to deal with street people in places like airports and public libraries.

At my hometown library, the homeless have installed latches on the restroom doors so that they may have privacy for their ablutions. The library has accommodated them by removing the liquid hand soap and replacing it with bar soap.

Please don't think that I am insensitive or non-caring. I donate money through the United Way and my church Missions to help provide shelters and other services to the homeless. I don't think anyone should have to deal with naked people bathing in a public restroom - regardless of either party's economic or lodging status.

There are many reasons people are homeless, including the economy, substance abuse, mental illness and sometimes personal preferences. I believe that society should treat the mentally ill; support those economically challenged by hard times; provide treatment and counseling for addicts and help others as much as possible. That being said, I don't think airports, museums, libraries and bus stations should function as homeless shelters.

slcdeltarumd11 · Mon Dec 14, 2015 7:21 pm

I always see alot of homeless in EWR and LGA, welcome to the greatest city on earth LOL. You think thats bad check out penn station at 2am you will see lots of people bathing in the sinks etc and the real issues homeless people are there.

It cant really be shocking homelesss in NYC airports is not really new news at all, i remember seeing them even as a kid

thekorean · Mon Dec 14, 2015 7:27 pm

Quoting AA737-823 (Reply 7):

City needs to provide better, safer shelter and this would not be happening.

LGA isn't exactly a paradise minus the homeles anyway,

UALWN · Mon Dec 14, 2015 7:47 pm

Homeless people are also all over the (now more than half empty) old T2 at BCN.

United787 · Mon Dec 14, 2015 7:57 pm

"A Port Authority source said, “Our main goal is to provide them services.”"

I am generally sensitive to the homeless. My ex-wife worked for a homeless charity in Chicago. But I don't think the PA's main goal should be to "provide them services". Their main focus should be the clean, safe and efficient operation of the airport which does not include providing services for the homeless, it should include removing people that are squatting in publicly owned facilities such as this. Connecting them with the plethora of city services and private organizations that are properly equipped to help these people is good but I am guessing most of these homeless know where to go, they just prefer the airport. I can't blame them, I would too.

Yes, many of the homeless have mental health issues and/or substance abuse issues. Some are temporarily homeless due to unfortunate economic situations. But there are also many that choose to be homeless for a variety of reasons.

jetblue1965 · Mon Dec 14, 2015 8:01 pm

Quoting United787 (Reply 16):

Precisely. Whatever their rationale is for being in the state they're in, an airport is *not* a homeless shelter. Mental healthy maybe an explanation for their behavior, but not a justification.

usflyer msp · Mon Dec 14, 2015 8:50 pm

I have never understood get why this is such an issue at NE Corridor airports. It is pretty much a non-issue elsewhere. MSP simply escorts them to the LRT station and kicks them out

jfklganyc · Mon Dec 14, 2015 9:06 pm

Notice where this is happening:

CTB
Terminal A EWR
Terminal B EWR as posted by another poster

Government run terminals that get caught up in political correctness and agency outreach

There will never be a solution to the homeless problems in NYC because the shelters are dangerous, the projects are horrendous and the homeless themselves are usually mentally ill.

No privately run terminal puts up with it. They shut their doors at night and kick everyone out...or they remain open and keep a lid on things.

Yet, the Port Authority run terminals, staffed by Port Authority Police can't figure out how to handle the situation.
.

http://www.panynj.gov/corporate-info...loyee-payroll-information-2015.cfm

Click on that link. Scroll all the way right. Click on YTD Total Payments and select "Sort Descending"

Highest salaries first.

Look how much the cops at that tiny agency get paid to patrol the few terminals, bridges and tunnels it owns.

Now imagine a tiny agency like the Port Authority (not a city or state) has police officers making $160,000 + per year and can't figure out how to clear homeless people from the food court at LaGuardia.

[Edited 2015-12-14 13:07:58]

[Edited 2015-12-14 13:08:28]

StrandedAtMKG · Mon Dec 14, 2015 9:21 pm

Apparently calling homeless people, y'know, "people" was too much to ask.

NYC-air · Mon Dec 14, 2015 9:29 pm

Homelessness has been increasing in cities all over the country. The increase in NYC is bad, though nowhere near what cities on the west coast are seeing. It is not at all surprising that homeless people seek out places that are open 24/7 (ex. bus stations, train stations, and some airport terminals).

That said, the NY Post has been sensationalizing the homeless increase and I find their coverage pretty crass. The tabloid will jump at any chance to report it and they usually give very little context. It's an easy way to sell papers and it is also worth mentioning that they're looking for things to pin on the current mayor.

We need solutions here not just complainers!

jetblue1965 · Mon Dec 14, 2015 10:07 pm

Quoting RWA380 (Reply 21):

When you have few options you do things you may otherwise may never do. I was homeless for two days & chose to spend my two nights in the San Francisco airport as opposed to a shelter until I could get on a train to Portland.

It's a little different. I'm guessing you experienced IRROPS ?

These folks are actually a public health concern, far above the appearance or odor issues.

Quoting HPRamper (Reply 27):
Subways are a lot different - you can install turnstiles and there's no way to get around them.

The turnstiles in NYC are thoroughly useless to block the unwanted. Any and every day, you can see people jumping the turnstiles or irresponsible parents instructing their kids to just crawl under it - basically training them to ignore the turnstile.

rmoore7734 · Mon Dec 14, 2015 10:28 pm

[quote=NYC-air,reply=24]nowhere near what cities on the west coast are seeing

Yea bad in SF when they are doing this in public
http://m.sfgate.com/news/article/How...sco-s-homeless-pooping-6465355.php

Maybe airports next

frostyj · Mon Dec 14, 2015 10:30 pm

I won't give you the time of the day when you call homeless people "homeless bums". Let's get one thing straight - you have no right to degrade a human being.

Just because you have some money doesn't mean that you are any better. Come down off you're horse.

rmoore7734 · Mon Dec 14, 2015 10:35 pm

Quoting frostyj (Reply 30):
I won't give you the time of the day when you call homeless people "homeless bums". Let's get one thing straight - you have no right to degrade a human being.

Just because you have some money doesn't mean that you are any better. Come down off you're horse.

I forgot my PC correct mindset when I titled this but yes the economy is so bad that it could easily be me on the streets

jetblue1965 · Mon Dec 14, 2015 11:06 pm

The issue with NYC is that as long as you declare something "public space", anyone is allowed in, for as long as they like.

LGA T-B and EWR-A are particularly bad since most of the F&B offerings are curbside not air-side. When a terminal offers nearly nothing on curbside, you can bet those people won't be lingering.

Adipasquale · Mon Dec 14, 2015 11:27 pm

Quoting rmoore7734 (Reply 25):
I forgot my PC correct mindset when I titled this but yes the economy is so bad that it could easily be me on the streets

The thing is, there are homeless people when the economy is good as well. As I said before, it's usually not because they are "bums," although some certainly are, the vast majority of homeless people tend to have some form of mental illness. To me, it's not about being politically correct, but about removing the stigmatization that surrounds mental illness.

ua900 · Mon Dec 14, 2015 11:56 pm

Quoting rmoore7734 (Thread starter):
Homeless bums take over LGA.
They even bathe (naked) in the public restrooms

Quoting NYC-air (Reply 19):
We need solutions here not just complainers!

Quoting jetblue1965 (Reply 26):
LGA T-B and EWR-A are particularly bad since most of the F&B offerings are curbside not air-side.

Ok guys, that's a sad story. Question: Why don't they just buy an AA Club membership and eat, sleep, shower in the lounge? Hot shower should beat a cold bathroom sink, no? And with all the food and beverages they could consume you'd figure it would be worth it since they're hanging out at LGA a lot as it is? Why not become a paying customer instead of always lingering out on the fringes?

http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/airportAmenities/lga-club.jsp

rmoore7734 · Tue Dec 15, 2015 12:17 am

Quoting ua900 (Reply 28):

Ok guys, that's a sad story. Question: Why don't they just buy an AA Club membership and eat, sleep, shower in the lounge? Hot shower should beat a cold bathroom sink, no? And with all the food and beverages they could consume you'd figure it would be worth it since they're hanging out at LGA a lot as it is? Why not become a paying customer instead of always lingering out on the fringes?

It would also need laundry facilities to wash the body odor off the clothes otherwise I can't see AA allowing

incitatus · Tue Dec 15, 2015 12:25 am

Quoting bpat777 (Reply 24):
I was born and raised in America and if my memory is correct (which it is) I remember seeing homeless people here for the last 35 years. We have a saying here in America think before you speak

Also this is by no means an American problem. Japan has a huge homeless problem. I was in Fukuoka Hakata Station a few years ago. At night a very large number of people come to sleep at the station. They lay out cardboard boxes that look like sleeping pods.

ua900 · Tue Dec 15, 2015 12:34 am

Quoting rmoore7734 (Reply 29):
It would also need laundry facilities to wash the body odor off the clothes otherwise I can't see AA allowing

Presumably they wouldn't reek so badly if they took 3-4 showers daily in the club. What's there not to allow, they're a club member? Assuming they wear shoes and a shirt

As for laundry, they could bring some travel detergent and use the hair dryer to dry their clothers off. Still seems like an improvement for them on the balance until AA changes their policies to require a same day boarding pass alongside the club card.

skysurfer · Tue Dec 15, 2015 12:44 am

Pardon me if i come across as ignorant, but would it be possible for the airport authorities to put some of these people in paid work? Something like, if you are going to be here we'll provide xyz for you cleaning or doing this and that?

Just a thought

Cheers

ua900 · Tue Dec 15, 2015 12:57 am

Quoting skysurfer (Reply 32):
Pardon me if i come across as ignorant, but would it be possible for the airport authorities to put some of these people in paid work? Something like, if you are going to be here we'll provide xyz for you cleaning or doing this and that?

Without getting too deep into politics or the dynamics of homelessness, I doubt many of them are in a suitable mental condition to hold a steady job, especially one that could easily require a SIDA badge.

But you never know, with $15 per hour they might want to consider it: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/...ts-protest-wages-article-1.2441158

In Europe they would be better taken care of financially since housing in NY isn't cheap, maybe they should emigrate from the U.S.

If it were me I would rather work at McD than accepting homelessness, but like I said, there tends to be a mental illness component that prevents homeless people from thinking the way 99% of us do. One day they hold a steady job, along comes a life event, they loose their job, get into debt, get kicked out, and there they are curbside. Hard to look inside someone affected.

I have seen some people in the terminal act like a normal passenger, even in the bathroom, all of a sudden the cops show up and want to see their ticket, they swear they have one, and boom they don't. Wow, I didn't notice, not sure how the cops did. Maybe frequent customers for them, who knows. Out they go, strange world we live in.

ramprat74 · Tue Dec 15, 2015 1:32 am

At PDX, the Port police kick out the homeless. It started being a problem when the light rail came to the airport. I work at the airport and I can spot a homeless person pretty quick. They now walk around with a suitcase or a backpack, but they still look like they don't fit in.

I approached a homeless woman last winter after I saw her three nights in a row camping out in the ticket lobby. She had a suitcase for display purposes only. I asked her if she needed some money for a hotel, and she pretty much told me to get lost. I called the Port police and they removed her from the airport. That's the last time I tried to help these people.

RWA380 · Tue Dec 15, 2015 1:38 am

Quoting HPRamper (Reply 20):
That's interesting and I never knew about that. I know in Montana, Bozeman addressed their homeless problem by doing the same thing, sending them all to Billings. Hard to believe it's legal, but technically no laws are being broken I suppose, and while the receiving city doesn't want to be involved, by the time they know it's already over and done.

I consider it a dark day in Oregon history. The movie "One flew over the Cuckoos nest" was partially filmed in the old State Mental Hospital in Salem. The week that facility closed, the homeless population swelled in Portland & the Salvation Army stepped up & has been helping those in crisis at the base of the Burnside bridge since, it's very sad & a major gaffe on part of the state of Oregon.

Quoting jetblue1965 (Reply 21):
It's a little different. I'm guessing you experienced IRROPS ?

Guess again, I lost my job & eventually home in San Francisco & I was waiting for a friend to get us one way train tickets to come stay with her in Portland in the 80's. IRROPS would hardly qualify as homeless.

hz747300 · Tue Dec 15, 2015 3:39 am

Agreed with the homeless. Airports are relatively high secure, with generous seating, climate controlled, open 24 hours, with easy access to restrooms and food. Especially those with food pre-security. As long as you are not chased off--I could see why they would pick airports.

TruemanQLD · Tue Dec 15, 2015 3:55 am

In Australian Airports, my understanding is that you have to be able to prove a reason you are there (i.e. departing/arriving passenger or meeting someone), if you can't then you will be asked to leave.

zckls04 · Tue Dec 15, 2015 4:01 am

Quoting rmoore7734 (Reply 25):
I forgot my PC correct mindset when I titled this

Since when did basic good manners and human decency become labeled as "PC"?

People seem to have forgotten what the term "political correctness" means these days.

boeing773er · Tue Dec 15, 2015 5:31 am

I've noticed this issue many times at terminal c at EWR. I frequently get in at about 11:30 pm from IAH. By the dunkin doughnuts by baggage claim there are many small tables overtaken by the homeless. While it's not the most pleasnt thing to see, as long as they don't bother me then their presence doesn't bother me.

JETnyc · Tue Dec 15, 2015 5:43 am

Here we are inviting about 30K people from other countries and America cant even take care of their own, I say to them fooey
take care of your own people first.

JetBuddy · Tue Dec 15, 2015 6:11 am

When OSL opened in 1998, they had the same problem. So they started bussing them back to the city, and it stopped.

seahawk · Tue Dec 15, 2015 8:20 am

I do not see the problem. As long as men do to not bath in women´s bathrooms or vice versa... If have seen this at the train station at DUS too and as long as they are using rarely used bathrooms, I think it is acceptable, especially if they are not aggressively begging for money or are loud and drunk.

AVFCdownunder · Tue Dec 15, 2015 9:02 am

"I did a mileage run last month taking the last DFW-LGA flight that arrives almost at midnight and returning LGA-DFW at 6am. I decided to stay in the airport premises and work on a presentation I had to deliver the following day. First I walked the terminals to see where I will spend the night and ended up sitting in one of the tables on the lower level of terminal B (in between concourse B and C). I was shocked when I saw almost all tables occupied and people sleeping on the floor and tables with all electric outlets taken by their cellphones. At first, I thought they were regular travelers, but later realized they were actually using LGA as a home to sleep and go to the bathroom."

Sorry for drifting off topic, but what do you mean by 'mileage run'', or in other words what was the purpose in flying somewhere, staying overnight in the terminal and flying back, just curious?

csavel · Tue Dec 15, 2015 11:37 am

Quoting ua900 (Reply 33):
If it were me I would rather work at McD than accepting homelessness

In New York you could very easily be working at McD and still be homeless. People don't realize how many homeless people, in New York at least, *have jobs* or at least did until homelessness sort of put a stop to it.

ltbewr · Tue Dec 15, 2015 11:50 am

The LGA problem is mainly at the CTB and pre-security. There are a number of fast food restaurants located there that are open to the public, so difficult to keep out loiterers. Any crackdown will likely mean attacks from the 'liberal' community and might cause physical conflicts no cop wants to get into.

There a number of problems that have led to the new rise in homelessness. The 2008 economic Crash that destroyed many decent paying jobs, loss of homes or ability to pay NYC's notorious high rents. The 'recovery' that has mainly benefited the richest and hurt most the poorest. Elimination of 'affordable' housing to make room for richer persons. Our awful lack of psychiatric and mental health care. Sadly too racism, economic and age discrimination are factors. There are also local, state and federal laws that limit our ability to limit access to public areas.

The PANYNJ (including the PD) has worked with outreach programs but they too have faced cuts in funding and where they can operate facilities. Yes, the PD are overpaid, especially with overtime and as to supervisory officers, but politicians are loath to force cuts to them (while have none as to line workers in all government agencies)

I do believe that loitering by 'homeless' persons, especially by those with drug and mental health problems, is harmful to public health and safety, including to potential terrorist acts, their hanging out in businesses hurts their revenues and in turn PANYNJ revenues. Until enough affordable housing, decent paying jobs, and mental health care develops soon, this problem will likely get worse.

hb88 · Tue Dec 15, 2015 12:22 pm

Sounds like the ground floor level of Paris CDG Terminal 1.

Makes for a long and sometimes scary wait between flights...

peterinlisbon · Tue Dec 15, 2015 12:27 pm

I once knew a homeless guy that was living at Heathrow Airport. He was always selling Travelcards (1 day metro tickets) that he had bummed off people for just 2 pounds rather than the regular 8 pounds they used to cost. He once gave me one in return for a can of beer (they had banned him from the shop). So they do have their benefits. I think it would be good if there were more of them, especially at Stansted.

Androol · Tue Dec 15, 2015 12:44 pm

When I was based in PHL we had a lot of homeless people there. Often they camped out in the enclosed walkways between the parking lots and the terminals. We actually had a homeless FA working for us as well (I was at a USAirways Express carrier). She camped out behind the old, and at the time still unused, TWA check in counters. She would work as many trips as possible and shower and do laundry while on trips. When not working, during the day she relaxed in the crew lounge, but at night went to her camp behind the TWA counters.

QualityDr · Tue Dec 15, 2015 12:51 pm

Quoting AVFCdownunder (Reply 45):
Sorry for drifting off topic, but what do you mean by 'mileage run''

Usually this is an event to add miles to the loyalty (card) account. I did one a few years back, AUS-LAX-AUS, to get enough miles to keep my AA Black Card active. The perks the next year more than made up for the cost of the round-trip ticket. Besides, I got a free upgrade to domestic F for the flights, so it wasn't an imposition. I love flying...

bennett123 · Tue Dec 15, 2015 1:02 pm

Personally, I would rather they are in the airport than freeze, (what is the night time temp in NYC at present).

Clearly, if they become a problem, the cops need to eject them.

IMO, that should be the last resort.

Happy Christmas to all.

thaiflyer · Tue Dec 15, 2015 1:24 pm

Quoting JetBuddy (Reply 42):

Here we are inviting about 30K people from other countries and America cant even take care of their own, I say to them fooey
take care of your own people first.

30K people for whole america.
You must be joking right !
Countries in Europe take millions of them.

BlatantEcho · Tue Dec 15, 2015 2:02 pm

Homeless people should *not* be allowed in airports.
No ticket, no access.

Not only are they dirty, but they ruin the experience for anyone else. Visitor flying into the US, and you land and have dirty bathrooms because people live in the airport? That's quite the first impression.

Bus them all back to the city where there are services, or hire them to be janitors there or something.
But giving homeless sympathy to do -whatever- they please, is a huge downward spiral.

--
It's also funny to read people here post their personal economic philosophy on the situation.

This is an aviation board, not a political one.
If you think banks caused a recession in 2008 or democratic presidents cause homelessness, you look pretty silly to everyone who knows anything.

flyingturtle · Tue Dec 15, 2015 2:16 pm

Quoting STT757 (Reply 1):
But if I were them I would be at the airport too, it's safe and get to watch airplanes

Quoting thekorean (Reply 6):
City needs to provide better, safer shelter and this would not be happening.

Yes. 99.9% of them would live in a home if they could. Although the EU now mandates every bank to offer bank accounts for everybody - also homeless and people without an address - it's still very hard to get back to a normal life. If you have to worry about where to sleep and what to eat all the time it's impossible to be a reliable worker. And unless you are a reliable worker, you won't get a home. And without a home... there it goes. Imagine air crews having to do their preflight briefing at another site each day. Sure, it's manageable to a degree. But it creates large overhead costs.

David

United787 · Tue Dec 15, 2015 2:17 pm

Quoting HPRamper (Reply 20):
I know in Montana, Bozeman addressed their homeless problem by doing the same thing, sending them all to Billings.

Bozeman isn't the only City doing that.

Quoting usflyer msp (Reply 15):
MSP simply escorts them to the LRT station and kicks them out

Minneapolis used to bus their homeless to Denver...

https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-111623447.html

travelin man · Tue Dec 15, 2015 2:56 pm

L.A. has a very big (and growing) homeless problem, but I've never noticed any at LAX. Probably because almost all the shops, restaurants, etc. are post-security at all the terminals.

slider · Tue Dec 15, 2015 3:07 pm

Quoting United787 (Reply 11):
"A Port Authority source said, “Our main goal is to provide them services.”"

And therein lies the problem.

PANYNJ's first job is to maintain a facility that is for AVIATION CUSTOMERS. A safe, reliable institution where passengers--you know, their customers--can arrive, depart and transit without having to be hassled, inconvenienced or worse from homeless denizens who have invaded the airports.

Every time I go to LGA, EWR, JFK or heck, ANY airport, I see airport police standing around everywhere doing nothing. Start clearing these homeless people out now.

I'll conclude by saying I embrace legitimate assistance for the homeless, Christian charity and compassion. The homeless issue is myriad and it won't be solved overnight nor fixed. But an airport is NOT to be a domain for squatting.

helhem · Tue Dec 15, 2015 3:34 pm

I would not rule out some airports also function as cruising areas for gays. I mean other people go there to just to watch planes . Some travelers have hours to waste without much to do. I associate people hanging out for other reasons than travel more with train stations. Due to them being usually more centrally located and thus more accessible. Also they offer privacy due to the masses of people that might frequent the area. Now the connection between the drug crowd and certain train stations is well established. Now with smartphones and homosexuals fortunate enough to live in accepting or eat least tolerating socities I don't think there is that much of a need for cottaging at all. Sounds like something from another era. But I would guess it goes on to some degree. I think this must vary considerably by airport. Anyway even if gay cruising was happening at some airport I don't think it is even that visible , and does not affect the general public at all. Crowded airports with bad ventilation , lack of plugs to charge the phone , bad transit options or naked homeless people washing their feet in the sink sound much worse than what some gays possibly do at airports.

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