With limited Boston homeless shelter beds this winter, could taking private property be a solution?

[txradioguy]

Boston officials will to add 200 more homeless beds across the city to handle this year’s wintertime demand during the coronavirus pandemic.

Fueling the need is an unprecedented number of people currently living on the streets, as well as the space limitations brought on by the need for physical distancing at shelters amid the health crisis, according to Boston 25 News.

<snip>

Last month, city officials announced efforts to bulk-up bed capacity at locations downtown and in Brighton and Mission Hill, The Boston Herald reported. Extra beds are added every year between November and mid-April, although this year, with the ongoing pandemic and related financial crisis, has presented its own challenges.

A federal eviction moratorium is in effect through the end of the year, but the state’s moratorium expired in October. And virus transmission worries may deter those in need from seeking shelter.

<snip>

Could the city commandeer vacant private properties to help supplement supply?

Leo Beletsky, a law and health sciences professor at Northeastern University, presented the controversial move to city officials during a virtual hearing last week, according to the news station.

“When you commandeer a property, there is no preliminary process. The government just comes in and takes over private property,” Beletsky told the outlet.

“There’s a long tradition of doing that in the United States,” he added. “This is not some radical idea.”

While Beletsky’s proposal was met with swift opposition, he said the practice could quickly remedy a solution to the pressing problem.

“Lives certainly take precedence over private property interests, especially when private property owners will be compensated,” Beletsky said. “This could also apply to all the hotels that are sitting empty.”


https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2020/11/23/boston-homeless-shelters-coronavirus-private-property?event=event51

[txradioguy]

Considering we have an enumerated Constitutional Amendment preventing things like this and the fact this is being proposed in the cradle of our Independence movement is disgusting beyond words.

[rustynail]

Brings to mind a scene from Dr. Zhivago.

[mountaineer]

“There’s a long tradition of doing that in the United States,” he added. “This is not some radical idea.”

[goatprairie]

I think all liberals who support unlimited immigration and treating the homeless as treasured citizens should volunteer to take in these people into their homes.
I  believe Hollyweird libs should lead the effort by establishing "homeless" encampments on their many properties.
Lib gazillionaires should be extra generous to help solve the homeless problem.  I'm sure these gazillionaires could eke out a meager living on just a billion dollars or so.

[GtHawk]

I dare say the Mayors residence could house a fair number and then there are the council members homes as well a wealthy democrats that should be happy to practice what they preach to the rest of us and open their homes and kitchens to the needy.

After all aren't they the ones that want America to follow the words of their idol? "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs"

[skeeter]

Boston, officials commandeering private residences... seems vaguely familiar.

Something tells me officials seizing firearms isn't too far off.

[PeteS in CA]

Should be lots of public school gyms and classrooms available if Boston still has their PSs shut down.

[txradioguy]

Boston, officials commandeering private residences... seems vaguely familiar.

Something tells me officials seizing firearms isn't too far off.

It would appear that there are still relatives of colonists who supported the Crown living in and around the Boston area.

[LegalAmerican]

I dare say the Mayors residence could house a fair number and then there are the council members homes as well a wealthy democrats that should be happy to practice what they preach to the rest of us and open their homes and kitchens to the needy.

After all aren't they the ones that want America to follow the words of their idol? "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs"

 

[LegalAmerican]

Boston officials will to add 200 more homeless beds across the city to handle this year’s wintertime demand during the coronavirus pandemic.

Fueling the need is an unprecedented number of people currently living on the streets, as well as the space limitations brought on by the need for physical distancing at shelters amid the health crisis, according to Boston 25 News.

<snip>

Last month, city officials announced efforts to bulk-up bed capacity at locations downtown and in Brighton and Mission Hill, The Boston Herald reported. Extra beds are added every year between November and mid-April, although this year, with the ongoing pandemic and related financial crisis, has presented its own challenges.

A federal eviction moratorium is in effect through the end of the year, but the state’s moratorium expired in October. And virus transmission worries may deter those in need from seeking shelter.

<snip>

Could the city commandeer vacant private properties to help supplement supply?

Leo Beletsky, a law and health sciences professor at Northeastern University, presented the controversial move to city officials during a virtual hearing last week, according to the news station.

“When you commandeer a property, there is no preliminary process. The government just comes in and takes over private property,” Beletsky told the outlet.

“There’s a long tradition of doing that in the United States,” he added. “This is not some radical idea.”

While Beletsky’s proposal was met with swift opposition, he said the practice could quickly remedy a solution to the pressing problem.

“Lives certainly take precedence over private property interests, especially when private property owners will be compensated,” Beletsky said. “This could also apply to all the hotels that are sitting empty.”


https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2020/11/23/boston-homeless-shelters-coronavirus-private-property?event=event51

NO.  We the people,  give enough.