The Public Safety Committee did instruct the inspections department to consult with The Advisory Board on Homelessness as to how the no camping/no sleeping in cars ordiances impacts people who are homeless.
Below is my response to the Public Safety Committee
Margaret Hastings - Mpls- Kingfield
Dear Public Safety Committee Members,
�� Please do not assume that Council Person Zimmerman is alone in his effort to examine the ordinance that criminalizes people who are homeless
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� Please do not assume that people were not interested in testifying at your public hearing on May 21st. In January we had an overnight campout and then marched to the City Council that was testimony to the commitment people have to address the laws that make it illegal for people who are homeless to try to survive in our city's streets.
�� Unfortunately I was one of the people Dean referred to as not being able to make it to the public hearing on May 21st regarding the ordinance related to temporary housing, etc.
�� Like many people I work a 9 to 5 job .I was informed by your staff that they could not confirm that the hearing on this would happen until two days prior to the committee meeting. My particular job does not allow for such short notice for time off.
�� My request is that in the future there be time and date certain hearings that are announced a week or two in advance for this very important issue. Also, not being assured that this hearing would take place, made it next to impossible for me to be able to organize others to attend.
�� Of equal importance is what was discussed-I was able to view and tape the committee meeting on cable.
��� I want to note a few important points:
�� 1. This issue is not solely about camping out although camping is a very important part of this issue and the two men who spoke to this were providing you important information
�� 2. There are hundreds of people turned away from the shelters in Mpls. (latest event was the closing of 519)-they are forced into the streets and driven into the shadows of our city. They have to find cars, alleys, caves, dumpsters, to find a place to just survive on the street. As Council Person Samuels eloquently pointed out, they are caught in a desperate situation of no shelter space and yet criminalized for being homeless.
�� 3. Simply asking how many arrests are made is not sufficient-- many, many times people are told to move along, harassed, pushed on and not necessarily arrested, but threatened with arrest. Or driven to far off spots and told to figure out what to do..or they find a bridge to sleep under, hoping to escape detection. Yet, there are people who have been ticketed for vagrancy, trespass, etc.
����� People who are homeless make a great deal of effort to avoid trouble and the police, they just want to be somewhere out of the way...our ordinances serve to successfully push them into invisibility.
� 4. I have sent numerous e-mails with attachment related to this issue- so I was a bit surprised when the committee members (except for Don Samuels who was recently elected and has not gotten much of my information) expressed need for more information. I am puzzled by this but will again send you information.
�� 5. I am particularly puzzled by this lack of knowledge as I extended invitations to each of you (again with the exception of Don Samuels) to attend the two campouts on the lawn of Henn County Government Center that were held in January and March. Had you attended you would have received literature (which I also e-mailed to you) and had the opportunity to talk with people who are homeless about their experience dealing with being homeless and the laws that criminalize them. Also, since we had a large group that came to the City Council meeting in January, you were aware of this issue, and could have asked to speak with any one of us.
� 5. Each member of the City Council and the Mayor will be receiving the 15 minute rough cut of a documentary I have been producing called "Illegal to Be Homeless"- it focuses on homelessness in Mpls and the ordinances that criminalize people who are homeless. My latest estimate is that you will have it by the end of June.
������������������� Sincerely, Margaret Hastings
