Protest at City Hall
The police have recently stepped up their harassment of our friends without houses in Downtown. They are sweeping the habitual squats, kicking people out, and sometimes giving criminal tresspass tickets. No provision is made for alternatives. Last night, according to reports, about 30-40 of our friends were there at City Hall in protest and said they wouldn’t leave until provisions were made for safe sleeping space.
Steven (The Leather Guy) and I went to a city counsel meeting earlier this winter and talked to the people there. Words of encouragement, but no action. Something about “feasibility studies” being under way. In a couple of years they will have a plan nailed down…they say. “What about tonight?,” we asked. Mayor Potter took down my contact info…he’d get back to me. So far, my phone isn’t ringing off the hook from city hall.
The measure of a society is not they treat the rich. Shit, the rich always take really good care of themselves. How we treat those that have less (less employment, housing, money, food; whatever the dominant culture has more of) actually measures who we are as a society.
America fares poorly among the industrialized nations when it comes to treatment of those left out of the mainstream. Portland seems minutely better than other American cities in this area, but, in the last few years, I’ve seen our city fathers give with one hand and take more back with the other.
The city formed a committee a while back to look into a new sit/lie ordinance. Their report came back: OK (reluctlantly), but the city must at the same time provide, more public restrooms. benches and an adequate drop in. Well, total mindfuck here, the city council said thanks for the input; enacted the sit/lie, reduced the number of benches, and created “feasibility studies” for the shitters and drop ins. Thanks for caring.
Spring is here and with it comes the tourists. Lets clear out the bums. Where do they go? We haven’t gotten that far in our thinking. Let them figure it out.
Ken 05/1/08 10:21 AM |
UPDATE
I went down to the protest last night with Space Bags (food packets), hoodies, beanies, longjohns and other stuff. Not surprisingly, everything was well received…cool people.
Mayor Potter has agreed to reopen the overflow shelters for May and June (they were shut down in March). Coincidentally, those are the months of big celebrations in Waterfront Park. That’ll keep the riffraff out of sight a bit more, which was the reason for the sweeps in the first place.
It seems that the mayor and city counsel struggle with understanding the consequences of their actions. This situation could have been avoided with just a little thought and some compassion.
Vivian Brocato 05/9/08 7:52 PM |
Which is why we all love your compassion, Ken! I miss you much and pray for you often! Hugs to all in PDX!