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South Carolina (Columbia) Criminalizing Their Homeless
South Carolina Criminalizing Their Homeless
Posted on August 21, 2013 by Alisha Mims
In the city of Columbia, South Carolina, tensions are mounting after the Columbia City Council voted unanimously to ban homeless citizens from its city center. Their plan, Emergency Homeless Response, mandates that homeless persons must be evacuated from the downtown business district or face arrest.
The plan includes operating an emergency winter shelter 24 hours a day from September to March of next year. The shelter was previously slated to operate from November to March; the emergency response includes two additional months.
The city’s riverfront winter shelter can accommodate 240 people. The homeless population of Richland county is estimated at 1,518 this year.
According to The State, “Columbians have debated the ‘homeless issue’ for nearly two decades in a city where on some days the homeless rival the number of shoppers, diners and pedestrians on key downtown streets.” But the City Council’s extreme decision has invoked ire from many who believe their mandate criminalizes the homeless and violates their constitutional rights.
...
http://www.ringoffireradio.com/2013/08/south-carolina-criminalizing-their-homeless/
Posted on August 21, 2013 by Alisha Mims
In the city of Columbia, South Carolina, tensions are mounting after the Columbia City Council voted unanimously to ban homeless citizens from its city center. Their plan, Emergency Homeless Response, mandates that homeless persons must be evacuated from the downtown business district or face arrest.
The plan includes operating an emergency winter shelter 24 hours a day from September to March of next year. The shelter was previously slated to operate from November to March; the emergency response includes two additional months.
The city’s riverfront winter shelter can accommodate 240 people. The homeless population of Richland county is estimated at 1,518 this year.
According to The State, “Columbians have debated the ‘homeless issue’ for nearly two decades in a city where on some days the homeless rival the number of shoppers, diners and pedestrians on key downtown streets.” But the City Council’s extreme decision has invoked ire from many who believe their mandate criminalizes the homeless and violates their constitutional rights.
...
http://www.ringoffireradio.com/2013/08/south-carolina-criminalizing-their-homeless/
The Emergency Homeless Response is documented here: http://www.columbiasc.net/depts/city_council/downloads/08_13_2013_Agenda_Items/Emergency_Homeless_Response_13_August_2013.pdf .
Will the homeless find relief in this action:
pg. 13 "The city must provide immediate relief to the business community, neighborhoods and the homeless."
Is the "person in need" a person in need of moving away from downtown:
pg. 19 "Dedicated telephone number for community and business response when a person in need is identified."
Ironically:
pg. 22 "Begin scaling into full implementation of long-term response April 01, 2014"
Things are not so veiled here:
pg. 22 "Prepare emergency shelter parcel for sale for private development along Columbia Canal"
This is fairly explicit:
pg. 23 "City owned Butler Buildings should be relocated to less commercially valuable property"
Only certain aspects of the long term plan are concretely known:
pg. 24 Long Term Execution Phase
Will the homeless find relief in this action:
pg. 13 "The city must provide immediate relief to the business community, neighborhoods and the homeless."
Is the "person in need" a person in need of moving away from downtown:
pg. 19 "Dedicated telephone number for community and business response when a person in need is identified."
Ironically:
pg. 22 "Begin scaling into full implementation of long-term response April 01, 2014"
Things are not so veiled here:
pg. 22 "Prepare emergency shelter parcel for sale for private development along Columbia Canal"
This is fairly explicit:
pg. 23 "City owned Butler Buildings should be relocated to less commercially valuable property"
Only certain aspects of the long term plan are concretely known:
pg. 24 Long Term Execution Phase
- Existing emergency shelter permanently shuttered
- Emergency shelter parcel prepared for sale
Is the clearing of the shelter the primary objective of this city council action? Cui bono?