This Week in the Mercury

Blogtown, PDX

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Politics Mayor Tom Potter Makes Another Statement on Homeless Protest

Posted by Amy J. Ruiz on Sat, May 10 at 11:13 AM

This morning, Mayor Potter dropped a new statement on the ongoing homeless protest outside of city hall.

He re-iterates what the city has been doing in response: “102 shelter beds have been opened (as of 8:30 p.m. on May 9); representatives of the protest group were invited to the Mayor’s Office to state their concerns and to participate on the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness Advisory Board; service providers offered outreach services to those with special needs and discussions on how police enforce the camping ordinance are occurring.”

Then he gets into the nitty gritty—the fact that the protest has morphed from a dozen people at the beginning into a large camp stretching halfway around the block city hall sits on isn’t lost on anyone, including Potter. And it sounds like Potter’s ready to crack down a little harder, saying “the City has the right to make reasonable time, place and manner rules for the conduct of protests in public spaces, and can also act to protect the public from unnecessary obstructions as well as health, sanitation and safety problems.”

“The amount of clutter has greatly affected the ability of the public to use the sidewalk. I also have an increasing concern about the safety of both the protestors and the general public. There have been incidents of illegal activity, numerous calls for police and medical assistance, and sanitation concerns inside and outside the building.”

So what happens next? Read on.

Due to these increasing congestion, obstruction and public safety concerns - and with the opening of an additional 102 shelter beds through May and June by the Salvation Army - starting today, the protestors will be asked to respect the City law that forbids the erection of structures on sidewalks. This is a law that is regularly enforced in all other protest situations.
In addition, the City will post a warning that enforcement of the City law against camping in public spaces could occur after the end of day on Tuesday, May 13. In conjunction with the warning, the City will connect protestors and homeless individuals with service providers who can help them find shelter or other places to go.

That last part sounds to me like a warning that the city is going to impose much stricter limits on the protest, starting Tuesday night. Maybe people can protest, but not camp—so perhaps that means they can't lie down and sleep? I asked the Mayor's public safety policy adviser Marie Rubio for clarification, and whether this is hinting at an impending "sweep."

She responds:

This is an effort to reduce the amount of items that are accumulating as people camp outside city hall and the attending health and public safety issues that have been developing as the crowd grows. We trust that protestors will comply with the city's request to keep things orderly and safe for everyone.

We hope that people will take advantage of the 102 available shelter beds.

We'll keep you posted.

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Comments

Warning signs were posted this morning. Cops are talking to folks one on one about property.

Posted by stumpie | May 10, 2008 11:30 AM

He's not promising a sweep, but he is laying the groundwork to do one.

Sources have told me the cops are expecting more illegal activity amongst the protesters to be used as justification for a sweep of some kind.

What's playing out at City Hall this morning is a reflection of what usually happens with homeless sweeps: The cops use illegal behavior by a few campers as justification to move everyone on.

Homeless advocates say it would be better if the cops worked to target the individuals engaged in criminal behavior, and left those who are there to sleep, alone.

You can't blame a whole group of protesters for the actions of one particular individual. Or a few.

Protester Larry Reynolds told me on Friday: "We've been having real problems with a few people trying to undermine what we do here. "

Reynolds and others are trying to self-police amongst the group.

The mayor's statement is ambiguous. If a sweep is tried, he'd better have good attorneys because the first amendment right to protest, I think, supercedes the city's anti-camping ordinance.

This is a sad press release from the mayor, and the timing is sad, too. It's as though by putting it out on Saturday morning they think only the Oregonian will be paying attention.

"End the slumber party," indeed. I wonder what Potter's wife will have to say about it on her blog.

Posted by Matt Davis | May 10, 2008 11:38 AM

the City has the right to make reasonable time, place and manner rules for the conduct of protests in public spaces

No, it doesn't. I'd love to ask Potter what part of "no law" he doesn't understand. Too bad he decided to be a pussy, and put this out on a Saturday.

They did this last Saturday, too--they sent some cops out to harass the protesters about "structures". At one point, "structure" referred to a piece of cardboard lied flat on the ground.

I'd also love to hear some specifics about these "health and public safety issues".

Posted by Kyle Burris | May 10, 2008 12:03 PM

The problem with homelessness is only going to get worse. The Auditor's report states that homeless families are on the rise.
Try to see this my way;
a) The mayor kicks down $200 grand to facilitate a place for illegal workers.
b) Despite a growing number of homeless individuals, the city infrastructure can only provide about 1,200 beds for a homeless population of about 3,000.
c)Joblessness is raising in the ranks of reasons for homelessness - alongside drug and alcohol abuse.
d) Our police force says it can't ask people who they might suspect as illegal for ID because it would violate their "rights".
e) Our police force has no problem whatsoever asking any obvious Citizen (who actually has a 4th Amendment Right) for their ID's or whatever else they want to help themselves to, whenever they want.
f) Our police force is trying to pass M.53 that will give them the "right" to take your property without a conviction.
g) Our city government and police will facilitate and protect illegal occupants and an illegal work force, but they have to run off the Citizens who have nowhere to go as they make protest.
h) The police get their money for bigger and better guns, paddy wagons and para-military gear; City Hall gets its money for "progressive" pet projects and a bunch of empty waterfront condo's; The media gets even more money now with public campaign financing (voters are owned elections) and the unemployed and displaced get swept under the rug.
Anyone with any sense of our past will surely understand that we are about to relive it because most around us have absolutely no clue to our history or the general history of globalism throughout all of time.
I am running to tackle these issues head-on. It's the same beast that has reared it's ugly head through the ages. It is going to take a leader with an understanding of the real issues at play to make a difference.
Voting for the status-quo will only further add to the hardships you now face. Hardships that others faced before you - that they did something about - so you wouldn't have to. To reject that knowledge is a great disrespect to yourself, and those who made sacrifices for your advancement.
Never let your compassion be used against you. Never let your fear be the best of you.

RICH4MAYOR!!

Posted by Chris Rich | May 10, 2008 12:43 PM

Wasn't there an estimate in Portland of the hard core homeless, disabled, ill, many vets, at 500? Start there with the new center everyone fought. There are probably many stories for filmmakers and writers to tell in their world. I am left of left, but maybe there is some synergy for other homeless when the day labor center opens? Where are Sisters of the Road II, III, as Outside In is doing with their doggie day care centers? Let's make it happen rather than picking easy pot shots.

Posted by nonpolemic | May 10, 2008 3:09 PM

Chris Rich - those "illegals" do work that you gabachos will not do for any price.

I listened to you on KBOO, and you show that you have no understanding of the issues - you just pull things out of your ass (or Ayn Rand's ass).

Posted by Aaron V. | May 11, 2008 4:17 PM

My email to Mayor Potter. Isn't his America??

Shame on you, Mayor Potter, for your gestapo tactics. I realize the pressure you may be under, but what about the pressure those protesters are under? When did we move Portland to Russia? In spite of your ordinace, there are a lot of constitutional issues at stake here. Last I knew, the constitution was the law of the land. I am going to recommend EVERY one of the protesters that have been arrested and will be arrested to sue the crap out of you and the city. Look to the north about 120 miles, and you will see the groudwork has already been laid in Seattle during the WTO protests. How do you think the citizens of Portland will like that legacy?

Posted by doc | May 11, 2008 4:34 PM