Business
New area added to list of “no camping” locations in La Crosse
Another area of downtown La Crosse is being declared off-limits for camping.
The city Board of Public Works voted Monday at its weekly meeting to ban camping at 100 Cass Street, which is the Courtyard by Marriott hotel.
During the meeting, Courtyard general manager Bradley Heuser told city leaders that guests and workers have been approached by people camping near the hotel.
“They come up into our parking lot and they harass our guests,” Heuser said. “They defecate under the bridge in public view. We have a pool area that overlooks the bridge, big glass windows. I’ve had families, I’ve had to talk to parents and explain to them why their children are seeing people ‘drop trow’ right in front of them.”
Mayor Mitch Reynolds said the city does not permit people to camp under the bridges. The city’s lease with the Marriott covering the Cass Street property runs for another 20 years.
Board member Rebecca Schwarz said efforts to keep the homeless from gathering on different city-owned spaces isn’t ending homelessness.
Also, city council member Chris Woodard told the board “I think we’ve had enough, the whole city has had enough” of the homeless problem.
A month ago the board banned camping near the Pump House Regional Arts Center and the La Crosse Center.
Robert Harlan
September 12, 2023 at 11:03 am
Cities around La Crosse drive and dump their homeless in La Crosse.
Nathan Weitzel
September 13, 2023 at 6:38 am
I know someone that verified that very fact. Towns like lacresent and and Holden will “escort” homeless to lacrosse.
Sara Stuebs
September 12, 2023 at 5:01 pm
Nasty
Pat
September 12, 2023 at 5:22 pm
You must be awfully proud of the mess you created One Term Mitch, now be a man and fix your problem
Just me
September 13, 2023 at 2:41 am
Cant blame mitch fot this problem, even other homeless say the bad homeless who do damage andistruction ruin it for those who realy want to do well. So blame the bag ones the issue was long before mich came on board
Pat
September 15, 2023 at 8:55 pm
Hate to give you a history lesson but One Term Mitch did indeed create the mess that there is today and then sat silent in his cozy office as the problem escalated, instead of trying to deflect the blame off him and blame someone or something else,look back at who started it by giving them everything free, ONE TERM MITCH
T. White
September 15, 2023 at 8:38 pm
It’s what they do. Create problems so they have something to say they want to fix.
Roxy
September 12, 2023 at 5:57 pm
Almost every city is facing the homeless
Crisis. There is no simple, effective and economic solution thus far-and it’s growing.
Dawn Reisner
September 12, 2023 at 5:58 pm
Just like La Crosse and so many other “communities” we throw away those that are in need of help. Where are these people to go? Will it come to La Crosse police being forced to “drive and dump” our homeless to the middle of nowhere?
T. White
September 15, 2023 at 8:35 pm
Why not give your address out so they can take them to your house?
Jessie
September 12, 2023 at 6:17 pm
Please support your community homeless population and don’t send them to Los Angeles. Cities around the entire country do this, and there simply aren’t enough resources in one city to support the nations house-less. I know La Crosse has taken some meaningful steps, but it’s an everlasting issue, especially with post-Covid inflation. Thank you, La Crosse community, for stepping up for all in need.
Jeanna A White
September 12, 2023 at 6:22 pm
So…a year or so ago LACROSSE housed a population of UN SHELTERED..In a motel free of charge…let’s think about that for a minute…do you actually think they didn’t contact others so they come to LACROSSE…the land of milk and honey!!! And then blame them instead of the idiots who make these stupid decisions
T. White
September 15, 2023 at 8:40 pm
You’re not suppose to be smart enough to think about things like that.
Chris Wangen
September 12, 2023 at 6:28 pm
The Mayor is lying. There are homeless literally under the Cameron street bridge and the police under his “leadership” do nothing about it.
Pam Welke
September 12, 2023 at 6:39 pm
There homeless people fine some way to help them or area to try to servive, COVID-19 caused more then ever ,dad system we have ….
Tracy
September 12, 2023 at 9:10 pm
Has the city thought of trying to obtain grant money to take care of the problem? Homelessness is not a city or state issue, but federal. Colorado is currently using federal money to set up pallet communities. Pallet housing communities could be a realistic, affordable solution. First and foremost, these people need a safe place to stay. Then, address their individual needs. I have been victimized by one of the homeless in the city. My heart goes out to them, but we need to make our city safe again. House them, feed them, teach them a trade, help get them off drugs. Give them hope and a helping hand. Take the first steps LaCrosse. If not federal funding, then ask wealthy community members to contribute. Somehow, get the funding. Then start building. This problem will not go away on its own. I see it getting worse daily, before my very eyes. Kicking people out of parks does not solve the true issue. Homeless people are people, too, no matter what.
John
September 15, 2023 at 8:51 pm
I think the city needs to create a homeless tax, and tax all the hard working people to pay for and supply the homeless with housing and drugs. The city could create a 2% tax to pay for this. Just think of all the needles that could be bought and given away.
Sharon
September 13, 2023 at 3:39 am
Designate an area for them if you have this issue…. put up a Porta potty for them….. give them some dignity too…noone wants to be homeless do they?…..then fix your local problem…. this has been increased in part by our increase of illegals also…. this is a much larger problem than La Crosse…..
Gary
September 13, 2023 at 4:02 am
From the beginning rules should of been laid down and free motels and letting them do what ever giving them everything should of never been aloud the reason you have the problem you do now is once they were handed everything for free and let to do what ever they let all there friends know word of mouth travels fast now you wonder why there is a problem no rules put down I watched it happen close up and it’s only gonna get worse if you don’t lay some rules down you can ban camping all day long they will just move from place to place put some rules and regulation down and stick to it and don’t give them anything until they do somthing to help them selfs first and watch the population of the homeless disapate none of them want to work they just want a fee hand out well the free hand out should stop now make them get up off there lazy ass and do somthing wether it’s cleaning parks or getting a job make them earn there keep and if you tell me they can’t becouse of transportation or anything else I will tell you your as bad as them I’ve had jobs left and right since June of 22 I had one job where I pushed shopping carts during the holiday at hyvee all I did was get the shopping carts outside and bring them in made my own hrs could work as many hrs as I wanted and I made 15 bucks an hr and it was on the bus route so all you city officials of lacrosse stop catering to these lazy ass homeless people lay some rules down and see how things will change
Nathan
September 13, 2023 at 6:41 am
Basically we need them to come to the conclusion that being homeless in lacrosse is too much of a hassle, then they will move on to the next sympathetic town.
Randy Zillmer
September 13, 2023 at 7:48 pm
Amen ???? send most of them back to there own city’s and states
Brad Gabrielson
September 13, 2023 at 8:02 pm
YOU ARE ONE STUPID PIECE OF SCUM THEY HAVE RULE.THEY ARE CALLED LAWS DIPPY AND YOUR MOM WONDERS WHY YOU WONT MOVE OUT OF HER PLACE.I HAVE HAD JOBS RIGHT AND LEFT EVERYONE WHO READS THESE KNOWS WHY YOU HAVE HAD JOBS RIGHT AND LEFT.IT IS GOING TO TAKE MORE THEN ONE THING TO FIX THIS. IT IS SO F**KED UP THAT HELPING PEOPLE BECAME A BAD THING.PEOPLE LIKE YOU MAKE ME SICK YOU ARE SO STUPID AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO TRY AND SAY.THAT I AM A LEFTY WELL YOU WOULD BE WRONG. I AM WHAT YOU ALL HAVE MADE.I MEAN THE LEFT AND RIGHT THERE SIMPLE SIMON. SEE YOU AROUND SIMON
david greener
September 14, 2023 at 5:08 am
yep
Steve Hoeth
September 13, 2023 at 5:12 am
It blows my mind how la Crosse mayor and city council give away millions for hotels,and temporary housing,all from taxpayer money, supposed to be used to help towns and cities to and businesses to help survive because of covid. And then tried to buy a motel, that didn’t pass code with that same money.The same people that stop you and me at times because of building codes. This should be illegal,spending taxpayer money that has absolutely nothing to do with rebuilding a community. It has done the opposite 100%, by ruining a community. The mayor is a joke. The city council is a joke. And whoever votes for these morons should be ashamed. The legality of all this is hopefully looked into sometime.
Marie
September 13, 2023 at 7:00 am
I’m glad that they’re finally out of Cameron Park. Unfortunately the Farmer’s market and downtown has suffered so much that many people still avoid those areas.
Those who wanted help got it. The rest still panhandle, steal, sell drugs and prostitute right over on Cass Street.
I’ve seen it. This has got to stop.
Bob
September 13, 2023 at 8:00 am
next thing you know their going to be camping on our front yards something has to be done i say we ship them down to Florida or over to Hollywood
Chris
September 13, 2023 at 11:14 am
More lies from another leftist scumbag Mayor. Homeless are camping right now under the Cameron street bridge and the police under his “leadership” do nothing about it. This is the second time I have posted this since the last one wasn’t uploaded so maybe WIZM is corrupt as well. Wouldn’t doubt it.
Rick Smith
September 13, 2023 at 4:42 pm
If the mayor does not allow camping under the bridges, please explain what the homeless camp is all about under the Cameron St bridge?
St*rtr3k
September 13, 2023 at 7:44 pm
Why doesn’t the city Board of Public Works designate area(s) where the homeless CAN stay?
Mel
September 14, 2023 at 7:28 am
They shouldn’t be allowed to camp in Cameron Park. For one thing, it’s a historical site and also, some people would like to go to the farmer’s market, but they don’t because they don’t want to be approached by homeless people.I agree that these people need to get off their butts and get a job! Even if they don’t have alot of job skills, there are ALOT of jobs available now at fast food places and grocery stores and most of these jobs start out at $13.00-$15.00 an hour. There’s no reason why these people can’t be earning a paycheck like the rest of us had to!
Jessica
September 14, 2023 at 2:04 pm
Not seeing my comment I submitted more than 24 hours ago… why?
James
September 14, 2023 at 6:04 pm
Where do they go? You push them out of every little place and soon people begin to die and get hurt. And I’m not talking about the general populace. The bulk of the people reading this have never been homeless, so they do not truly understand what it’s like. Here’s what it’s like.. from so one who spent the bulk of ten years homeless: cold. And starving. Drugs and alcohol. Not knowing where I am going to sleep at night or when my next meal will be. People telling us to get a job. People telling us to just die. It’s not fun. I’ve been there, a d I survived. Can’t say that for those who have passed, from od, or alcohol, or from sickness. I’m lucky. Many are not.