Just a heads up on a follow up to the camp out we heard about a week
ago.
I hope it
warms up considerably before then – although it’s a night like tonight
when your heart really has to go out to someone without a warm home and a bed
of their own. Ann
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Tuesday,
February 11, 2003 5:05 PM
To: …
Subject: Campout: People drive
into homelessness
There will be a rally and peaceful
campout on the South Lawn of the Hennepin County Government Center
Beginning at 3p.m. Saturday, March
15th through the night to 9a.m. Sunday, March 16th.
County Commissioner Mike Opat has
stayed true to his statement made in a City Pages article of 1998.Regarding the
increasing numbers of people being stuffed into shelters and forced into the
streets commissioner Opat stated "We are no longer the Give-Away County
Board" (unless you are a wealthy developer or lobbyist!!! -sic-)
and..."We don't want them to feel comfortable."
Commissioner Opat has been invited to go on film
to address this above quote and explain why he would say such a heartless
comment/also to see if he is willing to have a change of heart.
With the most recent state cuts of
$350,000 for homeless people and battered women's shelters and with more cuts
on the way, it is time for people of conscience to take a stand.
As "giveaways" to the
wealthiest among us continues, many of our local politicians expect us to
believe their stories that there is "not enough to go around."
As the civil liberties of people
experiencing homelessness are violated on a daily basis in this city... we look
the other way. We say no more to
this apathy!
No more... we demand that our County Commissioners, our City
Council, and their good friends on the Downtown Council stop these injustices.
There must be a moratorium on the ordinances
that make it illegal for people to try to survive in the street, even when it
is the only place they can go until decent housing is provided to all.
The bureaucratic double speak that has
gone on for too many years about not enough money to provide decent housing for
all our people cannot be allowed to continue.
For further information
contact Margaret Hastings at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or 612-822-5745
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