Sigh. Another right-wing local government buffoon who wants to "get the homeless of the streets" by allowing the police to arrest them. This is simply a criminalisation of poverty, aimed at shuffling social problems under the carpet (or into Mount Eden) rather than solving them, so that rich pricks don't have their consciences troubled by seeing the effects of their policies as they cruise along in their BMWs.
We are a better society than this. What these people need is help, not persecution. Help with housing, help with addiction, help with mental health issues. This help may be expensive, but as Brian Rudman points out, it's cheaper than the alternative. It's also more decent and humane. But then, what would a CitRat (and a former Brash acolyte) know about that?
