What's with the rise of the dangerous nutbars on the subway platforms?
I think it is Covid related cutbacks to the shelter system and City of Toronto staffing issues along with far too many "bleeding hearts" and liability concerns.
Since the start of the pandemic I have noticed an uptick of homeless on the TTC and in Union Station. They sleep on the trains, talk to themselves while begging in the stations and so forth. My understanding is that TTC Special Constables and Staff do not want to engage the homeless.
Just over a year ago, I was on a line 2 train at Kennedy Station where a homeless individual was camping out on the train. He smelled like he crapped his pants several times, had all his belongings and took up several seats. The individual was incredibly offensive smelling and noticeably homeless. There was a 10 foot radius around him where people would be unable to inhabit while you could smell him throughout the car.
In the above instance, the TTC supervisor at Kennedy said there was nothing they could do as he was not doing anything particularly wrong. This despite the person being a health and safety hazard.
Recently, I was sitting on a Line 2 train heading to work beside the cab end of a car. A homeless individual walked through between the cars into mine, stopped and asked me for money. He then blocked me from exiting the seat until I gave him money. I would have been a sitting duck if he became violent.
Those who frequent Yonge Station know how many homeless people inhabit the station on a regular basis (though that number has decreased since the recent incident). It is not uncommon to come down the escalators and find people begging for money on the platform. I recall seeing 4 homeless people down there recently.
I understand, I get it the homeless are just that, homeless. The TTC and Union Station however are not homeless shelters. I, like others pay to ride the TTC and I do not enjoy having a row of seats taken up by a homeless person who likely did not pay to ride the system. I enjoy being able to sit on the train after a long day at work and quite frankly something needs to be done.
You would not believe how many times I have watched homeless people just walk onto a bus or streetcar without paying. I have even seen them push through Presto gates on the subway in front of TTC staff (including fare inspectors) and not be stopped. If that was me not paying or smelling like I crapped myself I would be stopped and asked to leave the system.
Something needs to be done. I feel for them, I really truly do but there needs to be enforcement on the TTC.