I avoided posting about this for a few days because I have been having conversations with different foot soldiers about this press conference;
Years ago Paul told this story how he helped a homeless person and he got burned, and he has been bitter ever since;
Then Paul said this;
“We are losing the war on addiction with our Native American Community.”
Sure. But let’s put things in perspective.
70% of admissions to the Link are homeless individuals. Most homeless individuals (not staying at a shelter) are living on the street and suffer from some kind of addiction.
There were 17,000 admissions to the link with ONLY 4,700 individual visits.
It costs us $2.5 Million a year to run the ‘turn and burn’ facility. (they basically detox you and throw you back to the wolves).
It costs us millions in public safety and judicial costs to arrest these folks, over and over again, some individuals have been arrested 75 TIMES!!!!!
So why not spend the money on a municipal shelter that takes in addicts and doesn’t shove a bible up their asses when they walk thru the door?
While I agree with Paul that a majority of these individuals are Native, that is NOT the issue, it is living on the streets! If we combat homelessness on a larger scale (like getting them housing) most of these problems would go away. Saying addiction in this community is a problem of the tribes and natives is ridiculous, HOMELESSNESS is the problem, and if you get them off the streets you can get them help. They are also residents of this community even if they are living under a bridge, and it is OUR responsibility to take care of them. It would be like a couple moving here from California and their house burns down in the first week they live here and the SFFD refuses to put out the fire because they are from ‘California’.
The argument is that ridiculous.
Also Natives suffer from addiction at higher rates due to poverty and other societal factors.
Also Paul asserted that addiction can be cured.
There is NO cure for addiction, and most addicts wish there was. The only cure is management. You will ALWAYS be an addict. I have two close relatives who have been sober for 30 years and 20 years. It is constant struggle for both of them, they have to fight it every day. I compare addiction to Type One Diabetes; While there is NO cure, it can be treated and you can live a healthy life, but you have to be vigilant.
To blame our addiction and homeless problems on Native Americans based solely on the numbers is bigoted and misinformed.
With any problem you go to the root. Homelessness and addiction go hand in hand. Solve one of the problems and you treat the other.
Duh.
So what the F’ck have you done Paul besides bitch about a minority group and pretend a cure exists? Not only are you tone deaf and ignorant, you are a bigot and you OWE the Native Americans in this community an apology for your moronic statements.
“From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever,” -Chief Joseph
On a personal note, I had an artist mentor, he was Native American, an ex-con and a sober addict. This sh!t gets personal with me because I love my native brothers and sisters and my aunt belongs to several tribes so it is family to. Paul has always been insensitive to minority groups, but this was a new LOW and disgusting and very hurtful to me personally to say these things about my close friends and relatives.
The Lakota have a name for you, wasi’chu.