‘It Stinks!’ Say Oneonta Residents About The Homeless Hanging Out In Downtown Walkway

We all know it's been a very cold winter overall and that has shined an even brighter light on Oneonta's homeless population and the challenges faced by these people, just trying to survive each day.

At night, there are services to provide shelter to those who are homeless with the Oneonta warming station on Chestnut St. with cots and a small amount of food. The warming station provides overnight accommodations for a few in need, with others put up in motels to stay out of the elements. Have you wondered what homeless people do in the day when they need to stay warm? They do what anyone in that situation would do - they get out of the cold at public places that are available to take shelter in. Much to the dismay of some complaining Oneonta residents, homeless folks have taken shelter in the indoor walkway between Main Street and the parking garage. Complaints to the city have come in the form of residents not feeling safe going through there, combined with complaints that the walkway (arcade) smells like a sewer.

Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek, in response to the complaints, posted a public statement on his Mayor Mark Drnek Facebook page on this issue.

With the comments from community members that followed Drnek's statement, a discussion took place asking if homeless individuals would just be asked to leave the walkway area and continue to look for someplace else to get warmth or assisted in some way. Drnek replied that those seeking shelter would be advised by Police Officers patrolling the area about how and where to get help but unfortunately, homeless folks don't always want assistance from the city for different reasons.

It seems clear that this is a complicated issue and that the Mayor is welcoming ideas from the community on how to address the issue of homelessness in Oneonta. To voice concerns or share ideas, you can visit Mayor Mark Drnek's Facebook Page to communicate with him and you can do the same on the City of Oneonta Facebook page.