Those who are forced into being without an abode and/or dwelling are all to quickly deemed less than citizens. In many regards are even treated as less than human. How about thinking that we are NOT homeless, nor last-class citizens or non-human? We think, have feelings, have intellect and struggle. How would you feel to be thought of as anything less than human just for circumstances due to those of profit/gain/control?
For a country - United States of America - that dictates unto other nations how to treat their citizens, many with the United States of America's governmental system persecute, torment and/or intimidate those who are "The Houseless".
A man without a home sleeps in the early morning outside of City Hall. Credit: Amanda Mole
It was 8:45 a.m. The City Council meeting was scheduled to start at 9
a.m., and news reporters and TV cameras were already positioned outside
of Tampa's City Hall to cover a peaceful demonstration by homeless advocates.
Why all the fuss? Item #60 on the City Council agenda would make it
legal to arrest someone for "sleeping in public" or "storing personal
property in public" -- effectively making it illegal to be homeless
within the Tampa city limits.
Item #59, which banned aggressive panhandling, was also up for a
vote. Business owners in downtown Tampa had filed numerous complaints
against homeless people, complaining that their panhandling was driving
customers away.
Homeless advocates hold a peaceful demonstration outside of Tampa City Hall.
Photo credit:
Amanda Mole
Homeless advocates gathered to oppose Item #60, drawing reporters and
photographers from Bay News 9, WFLA News Channel 8, ABC Action News,
the Tampa Bay Times and the Tampa Tribune.
Most of the morning was spent
answering questions and proposing better solutions to homelessness,
taking pictures, and stressing again and again that jail is not the
answer.
"Jail does nothing to solve the problem. It only tries to make the
problem invisible. It's not even a Band-Aid," said Heather Curry, Ph.D.
student at USF.
"Most shelters in the Tampa Bay area charge $10 to $42 per night for a
single person. They aren't free," Tasha Rennels told Bay News 9. "18
out of 25 shelters cater to a specific need such as domestic violence or
mental illness, and those are important, but there aren't shelters
available for people who can't afford housing. Lack of affordable
housing is the biggest problem."
After over an hour of debate, the new ordinance passed with a 4-3
vote, with council members Mulhern, Reddick and Capin first trying to
get a 90-day continuance and then voting no when they failed to delay
the vote.
The city has no plans to create temporary or transitional housing.
Council members also acknowledged that Tampa's shelters are already full
on a nightly basis, with up to 100 people on a waiting list to get a
bed. The ordinance's supporters responded that the law will not be
enforced if there are no shelters available, and that another option is
to take the homeless to a shelter outside of city limits. A police
officer stated that "the city will provide resources" to a homeless
person taken to a shelter outside of the city to get back the next day
if the person requires city services, but no plans have been put in
place. Council member Charlie Miranda waved off concerns, stating, "We
have to start somewhere."
The homeless advocates were disappointed with the decision, but the
most stunning disappointment came with reading the news articles and
viewing TV segments that covered the demonstration. The media that
covered the story was glaringly one-sided, giving substantial air time
and word count to supporters of the ordinance, and for the most part
ignoring arguments put forth by the protesters.
"I am very disappointed with the lack of objectivity. These articles
are obviously very one-sided and did not include anything we said as far
as why it's bad legislation or what a real solution might look like,"
one of the demonstrators stated.
"The wind has been taken out of my sails," said Steven Sapp, publisher of the Tampa Epoch
and long-time homeless advocate. "What happened to unbiased journalism,
focused on facts? I expected more out of the Tampa Bay Times and the
new Tampa Tribune. They are doing nothing more than spreading false
information and mostly grouping aggressive panhandling (ordinance 59)
with sleeping outdoors (ordinance 60)."
The homeless advocates are disappointed, but are far from giving up.
Future plans of the group include creating a network of organizations
that focus on homeless relief, community awareness events, and
advocating for Housing First models such as Resurrection House in Sarasota.
Bay News 9 interviews a homeless advocate. Credit: Amanda Mole
Elementary-school-aged children protest on the steps outside City Hall, asking people, "Where are they supposed to go?" Credit: Amanda Mole
Homeless advocates protest stricter ordinances on homeless people in Tampa. Credit: Amanda Mole
WFLA interviews two Ph.D. students from USF about why the new ordinance is bad legislation. Credit: Amanda Mole
A child protester hands a flyer to a passer-by. Credit: Amanda Mole
WFLA interviews a homeless advocate about better solutions to homelessness in Tampa. Credit: Amanda Mole
What takes place in the video below is not uncommon, but few cases come to light due to the amount of overwhelming Corruption within a broken system.
First of all, those who fall on hard times are almost immediately looked upon as less than the "Have" population.
While watching the video a few times, I thought of how in the past, rubbing elbows with the well to do was part of my life. Today, I can only wonder which ones and how many are complaining. Another sad part about this is, that many of the "Have" population attend and/or take part in fund raising events for charities. So it may just go to prove that the real reason fund raising is being done is maybe for a good feel feeling for oneself. Not to mention quite possibly for their accountants.
The police whether they like it or not are to "Protect and Serve" all citizens no matter what. Maybe the officers need a refresher course.
If you know of anybody being abused by the establishment, send us the details, so their details can be made public.
We are human, and you will get more than that you dish out!
Sarasota, a Gulf Coast city of 53,000 full time residents, is known for its arts scene and nearby beautiful beaches. But
some
homeless and the American Civil Liberties Union say authorities are
trying to harass the homeless into leaving town. (Jan. 18)
(Transcript)
SHOTLIST:ACLU -- COURTESYSarasota, Florida1. Surveillance video of
homeless man being attacked by officerAP2. Wide of condos with water in
front3. Archway with condos in back4. Water with condos in back.5.
SOUNDBITE: Michael Barfield, ACLU6. Homeless woman on sidewalk7.
Homeless man lying down8. Police car9. Wide of police chief10.
SOUNDBITE: Bernadette DiPino, Sarasota Police ChiefACLU11. Surveillance
videoAP12. Man on bicycle13. SOUNDBITE: Steve McAllister, Homeless
(partially covered)14. SOUNDBITE: James Franklin, Jr., Homeless15. Close
up of feet16. Franklin and friend on bench17. Distant shot of homeless
people18. Boat in waterSTORYLINE:SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOWS A SARASOTA,
FLORIDA POLICE OFFICER KNOCKING DOWN A HOMELESS MAN AND DRAGGING HIM
ACROSS THE PAVEMENT. THE FOOTAGE WAS OBTAINED BY THE ACLU HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT SOME SAY IS A CLASS STRUGGLE IN THIS CITY OF HIGH-END CONDOS
OVERLOOKING SPARKLING WATERS.SOUNDBITE: Michael Barfield, ACLU: the ACLU
found that officers were texting each other back and fort about bum
hunting, hunting for bums in the city. At night during the day, in city
parks. And making jokes about having to beat them up or get into a fight
with themTHE ORGANIZATION HAS FILED MULTIPLE LAWSUITS AGAINST THE CITY,
CLAIMING THAT AUTHORITIES ARE TRY TO HARASS THE HOMELESS INTO LEAVING
TOWN.Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino: we have an active internal
affairs investigation and we're going to thoroughly investigate this
case and bring It to a conclusion. But I'm not at liberty at this point
to discuss it because under state statute, it's a confidentiality clause
that's involvedTHE ALLEGED ABUSE DOESN'T SURPRISE SOME OF SARASOTA'S
HOMELESS POPULATION. THEY SAY A BURGEONING NUMBER OF WEALTHIER FOLKS
DON'T WANT THEM THEM NEAR THEIR HOMES.SOUNDBITE: Steve McAllister,
homeless man: "I think for a long time we've had a lot of issues. The
fact that we have a lot of wealthy people downtown and they're not quite
used to dealing with the lowly and downtrodden. SOUNDBITE: James
Franklin Jr., homeless man: "I've been homeless, I've been a vagrant and
now I'm a bum that's being hunted by bum hunters. FOR THEIR PART,
POLICE SAY OFFER MORE SERVICES TO THE HOMELESS THAN OTHER CITIES.
INCLUDING REFERRING THEM TO SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS.MATT FRIEDMAN.
ASSOCIATED PRESS.(****END****)
