The ongoing community discussion over homelessness in Ocean Beach continued during the Ocean Beach Town Council’s most recent meeting. Several speakers spanning the economic spectrum called for solutions ranging from more public restrooms to increased law enforcement. Residents and visitors alike participated in the discussion which, at one point, morphed into a tit-for-tat political debate. North Carolina native Chris Carlton, said he had been homeless for about five days after someone stole his recreational vehicle. He said he was on a trip visiting friends and living out of his vehicle. He said police handcuffed him several times during the time he was homeless in Ocean Beach. “I won’t be returning to San Diego,” Carlton said. Police found his RV in Northern California. Before leaving, however, he offered one solution to the problem concerning public urination and defecation. He said local liquor stores and businesses should open their restrooms to the public if they’re going to sell beer and alcohol to the public. Nearly the entire audience of about 50 applauded his suggestion. Others suggested increasing police enforcement. “Crime or behavior that breaks the law can’t be tolerated,” said resident Craig Klein. Others focused on solutions. “We can’t solve the problem at the level of the problem, only at the level of the solution,” said Sunshine (just “Sushine” – a local community journalist). Sunshine is part of a grassroots committee on “Tumbleweed Affairs.” The committee organized through the community’s own OBRag Blog to address homelessness issues. And with public facilities such as the soon-to-be Brighton Street restroom costing millions to build and requiring the slow turn of city government gears, the lack of public restrooms to supplement beach bathrooms remains a problem. A perceived increase in police presence in recent months also brought up the question from the audience of whether the homeless are being targeted. Western Division Cmdr. Walt Vasquez said police officers don’t track statistics regarding homelessness and criminal activity. But John Williams, whose picture appeared in a recent issue of the Peninsula Beacon, said many of his friends were targeted and associated with criminal behavior as a result of the photograph. Although he conceded criminal segments of the transient population exist, “not all people wandering the streets are the same.” But even while opinions flared on all sides of the debate, an air of community cooperation seemed to permeate the debate. Seven-year resident Mark Sundall said the neighbors continue to look out for each other in Ocean Beach. “We all live in the same community, we’re all in the same gang,” Sundall said.