Homeless migration to RVs creating problems

[Durb]

There seems to be a trend for the homeless to get an old RV and live on the streets. County officials admit their hands are are tied as they do not have proper laws in place to deal with the problem. Nor do they have the proper funds. Our county estimates it costs $3,000 to tow and salvage an abandoned RV. Private landowners with RVers squatting on their property are also having problems. Towing companies will not remove the rigs as they know they won't get paid.

It looks to be a growing problem without an easy financial solution. Will we start seeing salvage taxes on our RV registration renewals?

[fj12ryder]

"In 2016, the top 10% of taxpayers paid 70% of all taxes." How much of the overall income percentage did those top 10% corral? Earn huge amounts, pay large amounts of taxes. And how much, percentage-wise, did those top 10% pay in tax compared actual income?

[Orcadrvr]

JRscooby wrote:

Now I know my numbers my be off, and I'm sure the calculations are simplistic. But I bet if you where to plug in your real numbers you will need to force your eyes closed...

In California, the hypothetical person you are referencing with $600,000 income would pay approximately 37% federal income tax, and 12% state income tax. That totals almost 50% of income.
This is of course on top of a sales tax approaching 10%, a property tax, and among the highest gasoline tax in the country.
The deductions you suggest will lower the total slightly, but your hypothetical taxpayer will end up paying tens of thousands of dollars in taxes every year.
How much is enough? In 2016, the top 10% of taxpayers paid 70% of all taxes. What is the right number? 90%? 100% ?

[JRscooby]

For the good people that are so opposed to giving "free stuff" to the undeserving. Do you ever compare need? Now some members may think I'm aiming at them. So if you think it might sting do not look at your own taxes, check the value of your deductions!
For example, do you think somebody earning a taxable income over $600,000.00 a year needs help from the government to keep a roof over their head?
Same somebody owes $5,000,000 on their house and is paying 2% interest on their home loan. That interest is $100,000 right? That is $100,000 the home owner does not need to pay the 37% tax on. Using the $600 month rent that was thrown at me, that deduction would rent 5 apartments for a year.
Now I know my numbers my be off, and I'm sure the calculations are simplistic. But I bet if you where to plug in your real numbers you will need to force your eyes closed...

[JRscooby]

westernrvparkowner wrote:
Don't care about any pm. When people claim personal experiences to support their positions and those experiences don't make sense I point out the descepancies. end of story.

I never claimed any reason for my homelessness other than my drinking. For years, running OTR, I would run hard for weeks without drinking, then take a few days off for a bender when I got home. I was spending more time in motels around the country than in my rented house. I gave up the house just to save the rent. (Does the O/O of a road tractor qualify as homeless any more than a full time RVer?) But the issue I did not foresee was instead of drinking only in home town, I started telling dispatch "When I get this load off I'm going to take a day off." Within a year somebody made a offer on my truck, and I had drinking money for a long time.
It was years latter that I had the problems caused by the bank. And like I have said before, there was enough outlaw left in me for me to get my money back from the guy that defrauded me, but the bank fees, other charges and damage to my name, not so much. Example, before if one of my drivers picked up a nail, pull into one of 4 tire shops, get it fixed, shop owner knew I would stop by with a check. After I had to beg the driver to carry money to fix the tire, because the check might not be good.

[bid_time]

Grit dog wrote:
Wrpvo, you’d do well to observe a bit more and take to heart comments like JAC1982s and others.
It’s one thing to constructively disagree with someone who can defend themselves but your holier than thou persona is beginning to wear thin.

Pot calling the kettle black.

[Grit_dog]

Wrpvo, you’d do well to observe a bit more and take to heart comments like JAC1982s and others.
It’s one thing to constructively disagree with someone who can defend themselves but your holier than thou persona is beginning to wear thin.

[westernrvparkow]

JRscooby wrote:

westernrvparkowner wrote:
If you bounced a check, why would the IRS be involved? That is a civil matter between you and whomever you wrote the check to. And the IRS doesn't put liens on vehicles or businesses or even your personal accounts without a long legal process. For a bounced check to result in IRS liens the check would have had to been payment for severely past due taxes and if that was the case, the problem wasn't so much the bounced check but that your taxes were years in arrears. So either a relatively small amount of money ($12,000) completely decimated your business and life for many months to years, or there is much more to the story.

I'm not sure what it matters other than to disparage my character but I will send you a PM

Don't care about any pm. When people claim personal experiences to support their positions and those experiences don't make sense I point out the descepancies. end of story.

[JRscooby]

JAC1982 wrote:
A lot of topics here.

I just have a comment for the folks who have said comments along the lines of "why can't they just get out there and get a job".

If you were an employer in a lower-end job, such as fast food or retail, would you hire someone who doesn't own any nicer clothes, doesn't have a way to shower more than maybe every few weeks, and hasn't had a haircut in months? Or doesn't have all their teeth? Or has a police record for stuff like petty theft?

These are the issues that the non-drug addicted, non-mentally ill homeless people face.

I read an article recently about a tiny house village where they also provide social services.... and they actually focus on the social services first, and then worry about a job. Because really, without one, you can't do the other. Sadly, there are not a lot of programs/places like this, especially since so many Americans are "NIMBY" (Not In My Backyard) Types. They like to give lots of suggestions, as long as those things are nowhere near their home.

I would suggest everyone who makes comments like "they need to not be lazy and just get a job" go volunteer at a homeless shelter and actually talk to the residents, or go volunteer at an organization that helps these people who still live on the streets. Hopefully it would be an eye-opening experience for you.

Thank you

[JAC1982]

A lot of topics here.

I just have a comment for the folks who have said comments along the lines of "why can't they just get out there and get a job".

If you were an employer in a lower-end job, such as fast food or retail, would you hire someone who doesn't own any nicer clothes, doesn't have a way to shower more than maybe every few weeks, and hasn't had a haircut in months? Or doesn't have all their teeth? Or has a police record for stuff like petty theft?

These are the issues that the non-drug addicted, non-mentally ill homeless people face.

I read an article recently about a tiny house village where they also provide social services.... and they actually focus on the social services first, and then worry about a job. Because really, without one, you can't do the other. Sadly, there are not a lot of programs/places like this, especially since so many Americans are "NIMBY" (Not In My Backyard) Types. They like to give lots of suggestions, as long as those things are nowhere near their home.

I would suggest everyone who makes comments like "they need to not be lazy and just get a job" go volunteer at a homeless shelter and actually talk to the residents, or go volunteer at an organization that helps these people who still live on the streets. Hopefully it would be an eye-opening experience for you.

[JRscooby]

westernrvparkowner wrote:
If you bounced a check, why would the IRS be involved? That is a civil matter between you and whomever you wrote the check to. And the IRS doesn't put liens on vehicles or businesses or even your personal accounts without a long legal process. For a bounced check to result in IRS liens the check would have had to been payment for severely past due taxes and if that was the case, the problem wasn't so much the bounced check but that your taxes were years in arrears. So either a relatively small amount of money ($12,000) completely decimated your business and life for many months to years, or there is much more to the story.

I'm not sure what it matters other than to disparage my character but I will send you a PM

[my440]

As a youngster I on occasion found myself nearing homelessness.
The thing to do then was to hustle up a resolve real quick.
A good thing there were no tent city options at the time to cave to as I may of climbed aboard!

[time2roll]

LA housing advocates push for tax on owners who keep units vacant

https://www.yahoo.com/news/la-housing-advocates-push-tax-060651700.html

[westernrvparkow]

JRscooby wrote:

westernrvparkowner wrote:




You sure have a lot of reasons for failure, but none of them seem to include "I screwed up.". I have never been sentenced court ordered money management but I doubt that the course taught that if you can't rent for that recommended 30% you should live on the street.

My "screw up" that put me in the class was I trusted a banker when he told me the $12,000 cashes check was good. The class, at my expense, and paying the cost and penalty got the IRS to release the license for my trucks in 3 months instead of the year the lawyer said it was likely to take. (The only checks I have bounced in my life where behind that deal

Even using your ridiculous assumption that a minimum wage worker can only work 40 hours, not a minute more, in a month

A very small percentage of min wage workers will get over 38 hrs a week. Most would be closer to 20 than 40.

a new BMW or even a car of any kind.

But in this area public transportation is very limited. If you don't put room in the budget for a car you won't keep the job.

If you bounced a check, why would the IRS be involved? That is a civil matter between you and whomever you wrote the check to. And the IRS doesn't put liens on vehicles or businesses or even your personal accounts without a long legal process. For a bounced check to result in IRS liens the check would have had to been payment for severely past due taxes and if that was the case, the problem wasn't so much the bounced check but that your taxes were years in arrears. So either a relatively small amount of money ($12,000) completely decimated your business and life for many months to years, or there is much more to the story.

[TomG2]

Upon graduation from high school in the early 60's that there were hundreds of jobs paying $10-$12/hour within thirty miles of my rural home in Central Illinois. The same hold true today. We could buy cars and homes back then on those wages. Won't happen today. People will take the easy (lazy?) way out when their labor won't bring them a decent living. Living at Walmart alongside the rich folks has a certain appeal to many of them.

[JRscooby]

westernrvparkowner wrote:




You sure have a lot of reasons for failure, but none of them seem to include "I screwed up.". I have never been sentenced court ordered money management but I doubt that the course taught that if you can't rent for that recommended 30% you should live on the street.

My "screw up" that put me in the class was I trusted a banker when he told me the $12,000 cashes check was good. The class, at my expense, and paying the cost and penalty got the IRS to release the license for my trucks in 3 months instead of the year the lawyer said it was likely to take. (The only checks I have bounced in my life where behind that deal

Even using your ridiculous assumption that a minimum wage worker can only work 40 hours, not a minute more, in a month

A very small percentage of min wage workers will get over 38 hrs a week. Most would be closer to 20 than 40.

a new BMW or even a car of any kind.

But in this area public transportation is very limited. If you don't put room in the budget for a car you won't keep the job.