Episode 85: Incitement Against the Homeless (Part I) - The Infestation Rhetoric of Local News by Citations Needed Podcast published on 2019-09-04T14:31:43Z “As homeless people turn off visitors, San Francisco tourism senses threat” notes Travelers Weekly. “Seattle Is Dying: Drugs And Homelessness In Seattle,” laments KOMO Seattle. “Austin veteran fights off alleged homeless attacker after offering to help him,” exclaims ABC-affiliate KVUE. As housing costs skyrocket and inequality grows, homelessness is reaching crisis levels in large metropolitan areas. In response, the media––namely local news stations––routinely treat the homeless like an invading species, a vermin to be, at best, contained, and at worst eradicated. The result has been a slew of stories pathologizing those experiencing homelessness as uniquely dangerous. Panhandlers are viewed as con men out to screw over the working man, chased down by vigilantes with the help of outraged local news “standing up” to the poor. The housing status of those who commit crimes is only mentioned when they’re homeless––never for the housed––and every transgression committed by the homeless is viewed by our media as evidence that the homeless population in general is out to attack us all. But this narrative flies in the face of the evidence, and tracks––like most “crime coverage”––with the needs of real estate interests who set the tone for local media coverage, and who have every reason to highlight and oversell the threat of homeless to pressure lawmakers and police to displace “eye sores” for the yuppie clientele they’re attempting to sell and ultimately serve. On this first of our two-part episode, we are joined by Steve Potter, an Austin-based artist and homeless activist. Comment by Fleksor I physically cannot watch Seattle is Dying it hurts me 2019-09-09T18:10:10Z Comment by ayyy ayyy love gross nimby liberals 2019-09-06T19:18:13Z Comment by Casey Meegan bring back the "wooooo" you cowards 2019-09-06T11:58:13Z Comment by Ruzihm Yay, welcome back 2019-09-05T19:28:12Z Comment by Fek and the Future Friends of Sound just a few days ago in LA: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-09-03/two-accused-of-setting-blaze-at-eagle-rock-homeless-encampment-that-grew-into-brush-fire apparently one of the men is the son of someone in the chamber of commerce 2019-09-04T19:39:07Z Comment by tube I saw this news clip on youtube! So gross. Thanks for covering this. 2019-09-04T16:04:43Z