Rally- Homeless People Are Not Criminals!

Homeless People Are Not Criminals!


Picket / Rally

Las Vegas City Hall,

Las Vegas Blvd. and Stewart Ave.
Friday, Dec. 1, 2006 12:00 noon

In response to the continuing sweeps
of homeless people in Poverty Flats

(the area from Washington to Owens, and,
from Las Vegas Blvd. to A Street)

and the closure of Huntridge Circle Park.

Please join us to demand that the
criminalization of homelessness end.

Free Food will be shared

Signs will be available

Drumming circle, art, music, open microphone

Please bring sign-making material- markers,
scrap cardboard, music,
and, food & water to share.

Money for the Homeless & Poor,

NOT FOR WAR !!

Homeless man held in stabbing of another after argument

The fight started Thursday after the suspect broke several of the park's sprinklers, which had soaked him

that afternoon, according to homeless people at the park and homeless advocate Gail Sacco.

The destruction of the sprinklers angered other homeless people, who feared it would fuel anti-homeless sentiment, they said.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Nov-25-Sat-2006/news/11047351.html

Mom's Comments:

Side note: On Thursday, the park sprinklers were on all day and night.


Eating food does not cause violence. On the contrary, coming to the table together helps build community. It gives us a chance to meet, talk, and learn from one another. This builds a common respect for one another. It also gives us a chance to work on solutions to getting off the streets.

[No one factor by itself causes violence. We do know that Poverty and Oppression can contribute to aggression and violence.]

However, most homeless people are not criminals. In fact, homeless people are one of our most vulnerable populations. This vulnerable population includes men, women, and children.

The prevalence of hate crimes and violence against homeless people has risen, as well as negative stereotyping reinforced by the general media and intolerant people.

http://www.nationalhomeless.org/hatecrimes/pressrelease.html

When a homeless person gets assaulted or killed, there is usually not too many people interested. But when a homeless person gets killed by another homeless person then it's used to stereotype all homeless people.

The crime statistics being reported for the Huntridge Circle Park area is for a one-mile radius. This area is from north of Stewart Ave., down to Karen Ave. which is south of Sahara, to the east past 21st Street which has always been a heavy gang area, and a half-mile to the west of the Las Vegas Strip.

This area does not accurately describe the area of Huntridge Circle Park.


According to the article in the Las Vegas Review Journal on Saturday, November 25th, "In the past two months, there have been 74 burglaries within a one-mile radius of Circle Park and 63 robberies, according to Las Vegas police statistics."

However, the statistics within a quarter-mile radius would more accurately describe the area of Huntridge Circle Park. In which case, there has been 4 burglaries and 1 robbery.

The one mile radius includes over 2000 incidents compared to the quarter mile radius of 118 incidents.

Even within the quarter-mile radius, much of the crime is on E. Charleston between 11th Street and Maryland Pkwy. And, many of the crimes are against homeless individuals and not committed by the homeless.

In addition, the 118 incidents include 17 traffic accidents, 12 family disturbances, and 5 recovered motor vehicles.

Yesterday while I was at the park, a gentleman who described himself as a neighbor of Circle Park informed me that the neighbors of Circle Park are getting ready to "take matters into their own hands" regarding the homeless problem. They want the homeless out of the Circle Park. He told me that there is going to be violence. I can see it now, "Neighbors take up arms against the Poor."

What part don't "you" understand? Non-violent homeless or poor people have as much right as non-violent, non-homeless people to use public parks for talking, eating, or napping. This includes Huntridge Circle Park. Anyone committing a crime, ie, drug use, public urination or defecation, violence against another human being, prostitution, etc. should be arrested.

We have an epidemic across the country of hate crimes and violence and intolerance against those living on the streets. Because of ignorance and stereotyping, some people are scared of anyone who looks different from them.

We, in the homeless community intend to participate in crime prevention, and to continue to do the best we can with what we have to take care of one another. We invite the City, County, State, and Community to work with us.

Victory against Las Vegas Discrimination, continued

continued from previous post

In addition, the city also admitted that the plaintiffs’ citation under the ordinance was due to them not having a permit and stated that the city would never grant a permit for such a use. Jerbic said that the city would ask for the intended use of the permit prior to granting it, and that permits would be given to other groups. Despite this assertion, a quick search of the official City of Las Vegas website finds Huntridge Circle Park to be “non-reservable” (see screenshot at http://lasvegas.staughton.indypgh.org/news/2006/11/5852.php ).

Judge Jones was quick to rebut many points of the defense, stating
in response to the city’s inquiry into the intended use of permits,
“I don’t think you can ask that question.”

At one point, the city tried to make a case for their discrimination on the basis that the indigent have difficulty traveling - they come to the park for food and away from government programs and get stuck, though the city failed to indicate how the indigent were initially able to make their way to the park. The argument was quickly deemed weak by the judge.

Judge Jones went on to ask the defense if they had prohibitions in place specifically targeting the problematic actions - drunkenness, clothes washing in the park, etc. - that would be universally applicable and not specifically targeted at the underprivileged.

In a spectacular flub, the city not only admitted to not targeting the specific actions of concern, but showed regret for the one specific ordinance that was in effect - closing hours for the parks.

The city argued that because there was a park curfew, people leave the park and go onto private property. Left unanswered by the city, however, is just where exactly they expect people to go.

The city also admitted to ordering officers to target the indigent and look for clues to identify those who might aid them - specifically food and food preparation equipment.

Judge Jones’ preliminary decision is to issue an injunction and solicit findings and conclusions from both sides within ten days. Jones stated that he expected the injunction to solve this issue. In addition, he stated that he is inclined to prohibit a statute that limits the distribution of food, in addition to any that specifically target the indigent.

Continuing, the judge also indicated that a statute which limited the number of times foodsharing could occur, or the number of people being fed could withstand scrutiny, when based on sufficient reason.

The hearing took place in the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse, which earlier this year was the scene of one of the largest political actions ever in Las Vegas, the April 10 immigration solidarity action, as well as World Can’t Wait actions, among others.

Victory against Las Vegas Discrimination

Victory against Las Vegas Discrimination
by Potemkin
Posted: Monday November 20, 2006 at 11:13 PM
mailto:PMpotemkin@thenuclearsummer.com

An injunction is expected to be handed down against the law prohibiting the sharing of food in public parks with the underprivileged.

In a move that can only be seen as a victory over the violent and repressive City of Las Vegas – led by Mayor Oscar Goodman and overseen by his shill Bradford Jerbic – Federal Judge Robert C. Jones is expected to hand down an injunction against a statute passed by the Las Vegas City Council which prohibits sharing food with whom a “reasonable person” could perceive as eligible for, or receiving government assistance.

During oral arguments today, Lee Rowland of the ACLU articulately and aggressively argued that the law violates the first and fourteenth amendments by limiting expressive action (sharing food with the homeless or indigent) and specifically targeting the underprivileged.

In an incompetent display, Bradford Jerbic, defending the City of Las Vegas, admitted to discriminatory and dishonest practices. Though initially claiming that the indigent are not a “suspect class,” the council for the City of Las Vegas dug themselves a hole early on, accusing “Ms. Sacco” (plaintiff Gail Sacco) of “luring” the indigent into the park with what he admitted was a “tastier meal” than what city services offer. He also accused her and the other plaintiffs of turning the park into a soup kitchen.

continued...

Homeless law unconstitutional- Federal Court

News Flash

Homeless law unconstitutional

A federal court judge ruled this morning that the city of Las Vegas' ordinance prohibiting the feeding of homeless people is unconstitutional because it targets a particular segment of the population.

Judge Robert Jones directed city attorneys to redraft a law that limits the number of people at a park gathering and sets restrictions on how frequently a particular group can gather. In the meantime, community activists can resume feeding the homeless.

Posted: Monday, 20-Nov-2006 1:33 p.m.

Las Vegas Review Journal

http://www.reviewjournal.com/index.html

Mom's Comments: This was quite a surprise that a conservative judge granted us an injunction. Thank you Judge Jones!

Unfortunately, just like the Fremont Street Experience Freedom of Speech and Expression issue, the mayor and city attorney have promised to draft up another law. Pitiful that they don't use their energy to work on solutions. They would prefer to use their energy and taxpayer time to continue to fight to WIN just for the sake of winning??

What good does it do to have over 3500 homeless youth in Las Vegas? What good does it do to have over 4000 homeless veterans in Las Vegas? Don't they realize that the WHOLE community wins if we work on positive solutions to end or minimize homelessness and poverty?

Sharing food with hungry people in a Public Park should not be a crime. A criminal activity! Even IF we had adequate social services, "indigent" people should not be forced to eat in a "designated" location.

Reminder to City Attorney Brad Jerbic: you keep telling the public (and even the Judge) that "Ms. Sacco lures the homeless" to the public park with food and then deserts them. And then they have no way of getting back home. Please, Mr. Jerbic, where is their home? And Mr. Jerbic, if they have no transportation to get back home, how do they get to Circle Park in the first place?

You fail to tell the public that the homeless were already in Circle Park before Ms. Sacco started going there. Circle Park area IS their home. You fail to tell the public that years back (and it continues today) the City of Las Vegas performs homeless sweeps in the northwest part of the city which is called the Homeless Corridor WHERE THE SOCIAL SERVICES ARE LOCATED. These sweeps disperse the homeless throughout the valley, not Ms. Sacco's food.

And then the mayor and city attorney say that they defend "the ordinance as part of the effort to steer the homeless to social service groups." (New York Times)

Shannon West, regional homeless services coordinator for the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition also states, "Offering food at the park separates the people from the social services they could be getting... And feeding them at the park draws the homeless to the area."

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jun-22-Thu-2006/news/8102842.html

Does any of this make any sense to anyone?

And last but not least, "Residents voiced complaints and frustration with a park littered by broken beer bottles, condoms and syringes..." (same source as above)

The mayor and city attorney keep repeating this accusation over and over. In addition, I keep hearing the same ONE story about a naked man in the park. Chris Guinchigliani has also made the comment about the broken beer bottles, condoms and syringes.

And my comment is this: no matter how many times you say this, it will not make it true. The above accusations are not the norm at Circle Park. Anyone committing a crime, ie, drug use, public urination or defecation, violence against another human being, prostitution, etc., etc. should be arrested whether they are homeless or non-homeless. If homeless people are cited or arrested for being in the public park before opening hours (7 am) or after closing hours (10 pm) then NON-homeless folks should be cited and arrested when they take their daily jog through the park at 5 am.

Obviously, I don't support arresting anyone for being in the park before or after hours. I believe the public parks and the restrooms should be open 24 hours a day.

These ordinances are blatantly aimed at homeless and poor people. And these ordinances are selectively enforced.

On a positive note, I want to commend the people and the casinos for putting together the new upcoming program Three Squares. I thank you for contributing in a positive way.

Food is a Right, not a privilege!

Metro's Finest

Nov. 8, 2006 (LVRJ) "This is a great police department, and the men and women of Metro are the finest," Gillespie said.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Nov-08-Wed-2006/news/10689180.html

Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006 at approx. 2:30 pm Metro police car with two officers pull into the yard of a house that is vacant. They walked around to the back of the house. And about 20 minutes later got back into their car. As they were slowly driving south on South Maryland Parkway, they directed their bullhorn toward the City of Las Vegas public park, Huntridge Circle Park.

"Hey, you crackheads and prostitutes, stay off of the property across from the park."

They turned left at the first traffic light, and drove north on South Maryland Parkway, and then directed their bullhorn toward the park again, "Hey, you crackheads and prostitutes, stay off of the property across from the park."

Just what I wanted my almost four year old grandson to hear!

Many people, including myself, were very upset with this disturbance of our peace. All conversations came to a halt. And we were all wondering (nervously) what they were going to do next.

I wonder if this is normal procedure for Metro. I wonder if they use their bullhorn like this in the politicians' neighborhoods or on the Las Vegas Strip at a time when no crime is being committed.

"Hey, you crackheads, prostitutes, and gangbangers, no more shooting anyone on the Strip!"

ya right