New Way of Looking at the Homeless Problem

In Santa Barbara, where four homeless people have died since January 1, the redevelopment agency has a new plan to discourage panhandling on State Street: turning the benches sideways. A city employee tells the LAT "They'll be sitting with their backs to half the people coming and going on the sidewalk...They'll have half the potential contacts with the public. It might not be financially beneficial for them." The pilot will cost $50,000. [LAT]