Easy to feel sentimental about an "impressive structure" when you aren't the one living next to Joe Rodota trail. But I do. Where you see "creativity", I see mounting piles of trash, discarded needles, stolen shopping carts, and permanent fire hazards that result in at least one actual fire every single year.

Many of the individuals here are drug addicts, and in fact choose to sleep by the trail, while actively refusing shelter. Yes, I’ve spoken with West County Community Services (WCCS) - and so can you, in case you want to confirm.

If you haven't been here after dark to hear the screaming, the fighting, or to see the police response, you aren't seeing the whole picture. It’s one thing to feel "heartbroken" from a distance, but it’s another thing entirely to have to deal with all this almost every day, and only see it get worse.