The Others

In what may be an excellent example of irony, I used to be more conscious about the homeless population when I was in LA than here at Berkeley. Here it's almost a part of life. They're there...the others. They ask for spare change...sometimes not so spare, up to and including $5. They watch you carry your food back from a take out. Sometimes they hang out at the law school for a bit too long.

We, or at least I, block their existence whenever possible to give me an ease of mind (everyone lives a happy, happy life, the rain only affects you when you're walking to and from school, etc.) Then there are times when you just can't avoid it. I came home around 2:30 (home being Manville, the appropriately named University housing for graduate students) to see three UCPD squad cars parked out front. Since we're no where near frat row, I figured there must be something actually serious going on. I got into the elevator and went up to my floor when I heard LOUD noises above...screaming noises with the words, "Come get me, come on get me" intermingled. I stand there listening. Loud banging noises at elevator. Alarm sound at elevator. "Get him in there." Elevator starts going down. I go into my room.

Since that time when UCPD arrested two guys for driving a stolen car I've been partial to watching criminal law proceedings right outside my window. So I quickly took down the screen and leered. One cop goes to his car and gets anti-bacterial gel and rubs his leather gloves, then his arms. Examines arms. I couldn't see anything from here. Gets clipboard to make report. I check my e-mail and what have you for a few minutes but the noises outside attract me again. Now an apparently homeless guy was put on a stretcher and into a waiting ambulance. I say apparently only because some of the chemistry grad students look just like him. Kidding. He looked better. Kidding again. That same officer from before talked to the medic about which hospital they will be going to. I noticed the Thomas Guide and the "Essentials of Fire Fighting" sitting on the dashboard. A bit disheartening, but at least it's better to know where to get the information when you don't know then not knowing and not having anywhere to go. (Imagine ambulance driver being irritated by the guy at shotgun [spouse] because he refuses to ask for directions to the hospital). So then the two other officers emerged. One, rather loudly, remarks to the others, "I was just about to go home then this fucking shit happens." Hmmm, I'm now starting to put things together. Then just before they all left, a Manville resident on her bike arrived and approached the officers and looked like she asked about what had happened. After a few minutes she walked back to her bike saying something like, "still this isn't right." Just from the gestures I think she wasn't happy that they had arrested the guy or what have you. I'm assuming she didn't hear the yelling near the elevator. Finally, all departed.

Look, it's raining and the weather is rather gloomy. I think I can safely say at the bare minimum, half the homeless population here has some mental disorder. Combine that with water pouring on you (minus the umbrella or the nice jacket) and you get people getting into buildings. This guy happened to be a threat, or at least once the cops showed up...(is it too far fetched to think someone panicked when they saw a homeless guy sitting in the lobby so they called the cops?). As much as I like to have that conservative attitude that there's something wrong with THEM, therefore they deserve their fate, I can't help but think of those others while I enjoy my hot chocolate and daytime TV/blogging.

Happy Valentine's Day.