Opinion: Criminalizing homelessness is unconscionable But unconstitutional? Los Angeles Times

Table Of Content

• Opinion: Is planting trees on Arbor Day one way we can all fight climate change? Not so much
• At USC, arrests. At UCLA, hands off. Why pro-Palestinian protests have not blown up on UC campuses
• California Bills Take Aim at Robotaxi Regulation
• Denby Fawcett: Hostile Design Won't Stop Homelessness. It Just Makes Us All Uncomfortable
• Feds say he masterminded an epic California water heist. Some farmers say he’s their Robin Hood

But art is also an area in which hostile architecture can be perpetuated. Petty believes that street art and public sculpture will increasingly be incorporated into cities’ social control strategies. In other words, that huge eye-catching sculpture in the courtyard of a fancy office building may ostensibly be there for aesthetic reasons, but it’s also preventing the wrong kind of people from congregating in a space that’s not meant for them. Whether it be a bench with a bar in the middle, as you see in Washington Park, or it be a circular bench set up, seen in a few places downtown, it’s clear that laying down is strictly prohibited. While this may make sense at bus stops, what does it mean when you cannot lay down in a park? Would those people who had a vision for a great city park agree with the mentality to make it as inhospitable as possible?

'Hostile architecture' in Woonsocket park draws fire from activists - The Providence Journal

'Hostile architecture' in Woonsocket park draws fire from activists.

Posted: Thu, 10 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Opinion: Is planting trees on Arbor Day one way we can all fight climate change? Not so much

While others called for the Supreme Court to clarify whether cities have the right to enact anti-camping policies that restrict those with no shelter from sleeping outside, Horvath warned of unintended consequences. Hostile design comes in even more innocuous, and sometimes even lovely forms. When set strategically in alcoves, “just as much as the spikes, it means that a homeless person can’t sleep there,” says Perry. All of them provide a place for tired citizens to rest their weary legs—and all of them have been designed to preclude homeless people from sleeping there by making it impossible or uncomfortable to lie down on the bench.

At USC, arrests. At UCLA, hands off. Why pro-Palestinian protests have not blown up on UC campuses

In 2019, in a case known as Martin vs. Boise, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said cities cannot punish homeless people for sleeping on public property in the absence of an alternative. Supreme Court heard arguments about whether a small Oregon city can cite and prosecute homeless people for sleeping in public places when they have nowhere else to lay their heads. Local officials said the ruling was a disaster that expanded encampments, with homeless advocates arguing that people have a right to all sorts of materials in cold and inhospitable public spaces, including tents and fires. The Grants Pass case began when local homeless people challenged as unconstitutional a pair of city ordinances against sleeping and camping in public parks. When the Board of Supervisors voted a couple months ago to throw its support behind Grants Pass (population approximately 39,000), Horvath was one of two dissenting votes.

California Bills Take Aim at Robotaxi Regulation

This means that we will have no choice but to focus energy on the link between urban design and mental health. The key is that we start making changes now before it becomes an even greater challenge. In The Netherlands in general, not much takes place in the public space, as the weather doesn’t facilitate comfortable stays outdoors for long hours. Distribution of common space also very particular in that country – most buildings, for instance, do not have a central, common staircase. In a typical urban layout, you enter your apartment directly from the street and each apartment has its own flight of stairs leading to the second or third floor of the building. This kind of privatism is reflected in the way public space is managed – there should be as few reasons as possible for conflict, and even interaction between the people who inhabit it.

While he acknowledges that this might not be the most immediate solution to spur change, he argues that exposing everyday designs that people might take for granted is a key step towards doing so. To further inform people beyond the digital sphere, he is also distributing stickers he created, which are available on the website. These “design crime” stickers are intended for pasting on offending surfaces and are available through pay-what-you-can pricing. Some of the pavilions have since been rented out to commercial businesses and only one is open to the public just for sitting, but it has no tables and only a few benches. The goal was to get rid of homeless people and drug dealers who were starting to dominate the downtown shopping area.

There are rarities, or “pearls,” that we find in each city we visited, when people come up with something different, something new, or something particular to address a problem that is specific to that location. Benches against sleeping were a classic, but now it has become even more pervasive to install anti-skateboarding rings or other obstacles. From that observation we started digging deeper into this phenomenon of silent agents. Proponents say this type of urban design is necessary to help maintain order, ensure safety and curb unwanted behavior such as loitering, sleeping or skateboarding. Lining the front of this HDFC Bank branch is several rows of hard, metal spikes. Despite the bank’s statements that they were crucial to reducing loitering, locals immediately pointed out the potentially disastrous outcome should a child, elderly, or disabled person accidentally fall onto the spikes.

Feds say he masterminded an epic California water heist. Some farmers say he’s their Robin Hood

Hostile architecture, sometimes called defensive architecture, is a method of urban design that generally discourages the use of spaces in any other way than the intention of the owner. While at first glance this type of space design might seem logical it has a deep-rooted hatred underneath. I cannot say much about Calgary becoming unwelcoming, as I spent only three days in the city. I am not familiar with the way the city was before or after certain interventions. But I did notice some very typical examples, like benches with armrests and spikes that discourage extended sitting.

OPINION: Hostile architecture is the perfect way to ostracize homeless people - Wichita State Sunflower

OPINION: Hostile architecture is the perfect way to ostracize homeless people.

Posted: Sat, 02 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Five Southern California charter cities need not worry about lot splitting in their single-family zoned neighborhoods thanks to a Los Angeles County superior court ruling on April 22. It often attacks the most vulnerable people in our community, regularly the homeless. While the precise target of this locking is unknown, it’s possible to think of several demographics who would benefit from a place to rest but whose presence is often unwanted.

Two Seattle QFC Redevelopments Run Into Concerns Around Height and Parking

According to an entry in Wikipedia, anti-urination devices were incorporated into the walls in cities in 19th century England. Just a few blocks down from where Boyd was crabbing I saw a homeless man who already had found a way to transform one of the small green seats into his own residence. He packed belongings into the perforated metal seat made for two people, standing beside it to guard his bicycle, hiking boots, bedding and other possessions. Inconsistent application of fair housing laws across the country means tenants and home buyers of color and from other protected classes must educate themselves and be their own advocates. In Portland, a set of mysteriously installed bike racks is prompting questions about their true purpose. From the standpoint of inclusive design, an ideal town square would function as a focal point for socialization, safety, and belonging.

Homeless know there is little to no bite, or consequence to breaking laws. Even sweeps are in effective because they return in hours without consequence. Our chronic homeless who refuse help and housing are extremely resourceful and knowledgable at getting away with what they do, it's a shame they won't use that resourcefulness to better their lives and doing something for society and themselves. Current strategies will continue to fail because there is no enforcement and consequence to flouting laws. Hostile architecture also can be created by entirely taking away places to sit like Mayor Jeremy Harris did in 2002 when his administration removed all the public benches on the Fort Street Mall. The most significant attitude changes will likely come whenever we are facing challenges that cannot be solved by urban designers or mental health practitioners alone.

It serves owners, operators, brands, purchasing agents, interior designers, and architects involved in the design of hotels, resorts, restaurants, nightlife, spas, and all other hospitality-oriented projects. Hospitality Design continues its four-decade mission to connect and enrich the industry through innovative projects, inspiring products, the latest trends, development spotlights, and interesting interviews with the industry’s leading professionals. But many USC students and faculty members condemned the university’s decision to call in LAPD officers, saying their presence escalated tensions. Part of the difference is rooted in the legal requirement for public universities to honor the 1st Amendment, which does not directly apply to private institutions. But not all public campuses have refrained from an aggressive response. The University of Texas at Austin, for instance, sent in armed state troopers who arrested more than 50 people this week for staging what witnesses said was a peaceful protest.

The high pitch noise is the mosquito box – while it does nothing to repel mosquitos, it causes headaches and forces people to leave the area. Young people are most susceptible to high pitch sounds, so they are more affected by it. There is much debate across American universities about whether Israeli divestiture is a good idea — and whether it can even be effective. Student activists across the country are asking for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza and an end to U.S. military aid to Israel. Many also say they want to ensure that free speech is upheld at their campuses and that their universities sign on to the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. Project submissions will also be considered for our online exclusive content on hospitalitydesign.com.