Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 2012)
7 street roots Dec. 21, 2012 x There’s No Place Like Home! v : Homeless Bill of Rights introduced in Calif. Legislature By Brendan Lee S T A F F R E P O R TS S A N F R A N C IS C O — Dorothy said, “there’s no place like home!” When she tapped her heals of her red ruby slippers together The Oregon Ducks said, “there’s no better place for a bowl game!” So Kansas State welcomed the Ducks to the Tostitos Bowl! The Emerald City delivered by following the Yellow brick road And so the Oregon Ducks journey to Kansas. Bringing the heart and spirit of Dorothy and Toto home. Honoring the fans of the Emerald City With multiple touch downs & winning the Tostitos Bowl. There’s no place like home! There’s no place like home in the end zone! : uilding off of Rhode Island’s community effort, a coalition of West Coast organizations is working with Assemblymen Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) to introduce a Homeless Persons’ Bill of Rights and Fairness Act “We need to stop criminalizing the behavior of people who have nowhere else to turn,” Ammiano said. “People who are in need of mental health services or who have lost their jobs and their homes are being told, ‘Move along or go to jail.’ The Homeless Persons’ Bill of Rights begins to give us a framework for appropriate approaches to protecting our communities and those who are vulnerable.” “From the Ugly Laws of the mid-19th century — which made it a crime to have a visible disability in public — through the anti-Okie law of the Great Depression — which made it a crime for poor people to enter the state — up through the present, state and local B governments have used unjust laws to punish or conceal poor people,” said Paul Boden, Organizing Director of the Western Regional Advocacy Project (WRAP). “But as long as these laws have existed, there’s been resistance. We’re introducing this bill of rights because we believe that the time has come to address the wrongs and most importantly stop them from ever happening again.” The effort is a collaboration between WRAP, Jericho: A Voice for Justice, and the Western Center on Law and Poverty. Judith Larson of Jericho said, “This is the essence of what Jericho was formed to do, and has continued to do for the past 25 years.” A similar effort has begun in Oregon. WRAP has conducted over 800 surveys concerning homeless people’s interactions with law enforcement. 82 percent of survey respondents had been hassled by law enforcement for sleeping. 78 percent had had interactions with law enforcement simply because they’d been hanging out in a public space. 77 percent had been harassed by law enforcement for sitting down. Becky Dennison, Co-Director of the Los Angeles Community Action Network, said, “When we’ve criminalized sleeping, standing and sitting down, we’ve basically criminalized a person’s existence. A bill like this is long overdue.” The act would guarantee homeless people freedom from discrimination in law enforcement, employment, housing and shelter and public benefits. It protects the right to use public space, to keep personal property, and to engage in life-sustaining activities. It also guarantees people the right to counsel in any case where they’re being prosecuted. Paula Lomazzi from Sacramento Homeless Organizing Committee said, “These are basic rights that allow all people to stay alive and engage in a democratic society — things most of us get to take for granted, but which remain a daily challenge for many of the poorest members of our communities.” Moon Venom By Michael Vance Dark miracle, Light my path. Dark miracle, Rip away my blindness, Transform sound into sight That I may see the howling of the hounds. Dark miracle, Spin me like a top, Through the whirlwinds of the night. Dark miracle, Reverse the limits I once believed And may I seek poisons no more. Dark miracle, Release my soul into the abyss, Beyond the lights, And return it to my flesh In the form of full moon light. That I may be a slave To gravity no more! B Y J O N C O R N E L IS O N TlieTaft H om e Where senior and disabled adults receive the care and respect they deserve. Call us for more information (503)223-2144 1337 S.W. Washington, Portland, OR 97205 (Especially if you oryour business are a frequent traveller!) Check out the Hotels4Change link on the Street Roots home page: wwwuitreetroots.org www.tafthome.org
