Street Roots has weighed in on the mayor’s new sidewalk plan, too, in an editorial in today’s issue:
On the front end, the plan is fantastic and builds a base for ongoing support for services, such as public restrooms, that are essential not just for people experiencing poverty, but all Portlanders.
It may be buried in paragraph six, but that’s as ringing an endorsement as a city politician is likely to get in the current climate for coming up with a policy like this. Compared to the outcry over the sit/lie law, for example, it’s a marked change. But Street Roots also suggests that the plan should be the be seen as an opportunity to “change the way Portland messages and works for with individuals on the streets.”
Writes the Roots: “the city could choose, through a public education campaign, to engage people on the streets through outreach from social-service agencies and support from the broader community.”
We’ll see. It would be marvelous if all the energy that was spent fighting the sit/lie could be changed into something more positive, but at this point, I can’t help feeling like both sides just need a time out for a year or so until all the controversy blows over. In the mean time, I’d love to see the outreach efforts improving, and of course, broader community support for homeless issues. I’m just pretty cynical about it.
Matt- I appreciate your honesty and your cynicism. While all of us would LOVE a year long break from politics as usual and the ways of Capitalism in general, there is no time. The only way any of these services will be implemented is if the community stays vigilant and demands these most basic of rights. As the economy continues to spiral downward and we all continue to get poorer and work harder, we must increase the struggle. I am saying this as much for myself as anyone else. SIGH.
It’s important to note that the plan is fantastic minus an anti-panhandling campaign…
– Israel Bayer, Street Roots
What he said.
Here is some more feedback on the plan from Copwatch:
Mayor Adams and Commissioners,
We’re looking at your resolution regarding Portland’s Sidewalk Management and at your request are sending in comments before the close of the day today.
We’re glad to see that there’s no mention of an ordinance about sitting or lying on the sidewalk, but will reiterate our previous concern that using the Americans with Disabilities Act as a cover to move homeless people away from storefronts is inappropriate. At the most, a person who somehow blocks the needed three-foot passageway described in the ADA should be given a warning to get out of that passable area, not cited, arrested, or moved from the entire sidewalk as was done under sit/lie versions 1-3. (Item 7, City Attorney to draft new City Code)
Similarly, we are glad to see that the police will be asked to enforce existing laws “including littering, harassment, disorderly conduct and drug dealing.” It would probably serve the police and the public to be specific that such enforcement must be applied equitably regardless of a person’s dress, skin color, perceived economic status, or other appearance. We also suggested that the City consider charging such crimes as violations if Council is truly concerned about creating criminal records for people cited under the Sidewalk Management plan. (Item 3, Commissioner Saltzman and Police Bureau to update work plan)
One area of great concern is the proposal regarding training programs for private security guards under contract with the City of Portland. As with the police training, there should be clear direction as to what this training should look like. But most importantly, there must be accountability and oversight on the part of any contract turning over public safety to private security. Many of these “rent-a-cops” carry guns, and numerous stories have been published and spoken that some exceed their authority by harassing and/or brutalizing homeless people. If the City chooses to continue using such private contractors, creating a formal oversight system should be a high priority before engaging any new sidewalk plan. (Item 3, Commissioner Saltzman and Police Bureau to review training for security guards)
Finally (for now, though we have other concerns as well), we wonder whether the “telephone and internet-based option for the public to report concerns regarding sidewalks and the public realm
in Downtown Portland” will be open to poor and homeless people who may not have access to telephones or e-mail. If a system is being set up to express concerns, we hope that will include the concerns of people who are being mistreated by security and police (or even by other civilians) because of their economic status. (Item 10, Commissioner Fritz to publicize reporting system)
Thank you for the opportunity to comment. We hope to be able to testify as well at the Council hearing on Wednesday.
We have attached our previous comments below.
Dan Handelman and Regina Hannon
Portland Copwatch