The Kybo Solution

THE KYBO SOLUTION

As I have often confessed, I am a criminal defense attorney. I am familiar with many if not most of who are termed the "homeless" citizens of Newton.  One of the reasons that I always found jury trials interesting, and not just for the defendant, but for the community, was for the jurors  to learn just how many people in their community are "homeless".  They have no idea until they see it for themselves and are required to listen to the witnesses, many of whom are indeed homeless currently,  have been homeless in the past, or soon will be.

But to partially alleviate the lack of housing, a new housing option has arisen: storage units.  I have recently determined that at least three of my clients are residing in storage units.  Normally these have electricity so a denizen of such a facility can charge his phone or have a light of some kind.   Both very helpful.

One must confess that a storage unit is probably preferable to a tent, especially with electricity available.  This leads me to the subject of this article however - - kybos.  The city should either rent or purchase kybos for placement in various locations throughout Newton.  A leading complaint about the "homeless" is they bother both homeowners and business owners looking for a place to go to the bathroom.  Currently a person seen going to the bathroom in public will be arrested.  And if you are arrested, the probability is that you will lose all the stuff you have been able to accumulate during your homelessness.  This benefits no one.

Hey, you might even have a jogger or two as an appreciative user  and there are folks out there working on our streets, building houses, pouring concrete, shingling roofs that could use a place to pee occasionally as well.  It's just not the "homeless" you would be helping out here.  You know, guys setting a pole for the light company have needs as well.  

I can't imagine a kybo wearing out very fast.  It's relatively cheap and would be something that would be an actual benefit to the many citizens of Newton who find themselves in need of immediate relief from whatever cause.  This should be put on the agenda for the next city council meeting and acted upon directly.  It is a no-lose issue.  It would be of immense benefit to my clients who have to bother an acquaintance to find a place to defecate when, after all,  it may be of some urgency.  It would alleviate much personal suffering.

To repeat, Newton has a large number of "homeless" people  - many of whom are available to discuss these issues, if you are so inclined - on the third floor of the courthouse on a Wednesday morning.  Most with a little prompting will be willing to engage in conversation.  If they can make it to court on a Wednesday morning, most do, they are at least getting by with only occasional stints in the county jail. 

Richard E H Phelps II