WHAT DO THE HOMELESS NEED?

While walking to the library today my pancho must have fallen off my cart.
The last place I had it was at the restroom at Ala Moana. I backtracked and looked
in all the trash cans along the way and the restroom. No go.  Plenty of people around,
but no one saw or said anything. I know there are some people praying for rain tonight.

THE BUY GUY

I Saw him around Waikiki and noticed he didn't speak much to anyone. First interaction was at Hyatt on the Beach. He walked by me and put 5.00 dollars on the ground in front of where I was standing and proceeded into the mensroom. I tucked it under a root so it wouldn't blow away and waited for him to retrieve it. When he left the restroom and didn't pick up the money, I thought this was a curious thing to do.

Next, I began seeing him at the library. On the third occasion he was sitting on the landing when I left, after closing. He was apparently talking to himself, so not to intrude, I continued to load my bags on my cart and walk away.

The next time I saw him at the concession he was speaking in a low voice but I could hear him saying, "I will help you any way I can, it's called being blessed."

I decided to feel him out, so I engaged him in conversation. He became quite provocative quickly. Saying that he thought white people are more intelligent than blacks and asking if I thought the same. I learned not to dismiss people too quickly, even when I don't agree with them, in hopes of finding out where they are going and/or coming from. I decided to agree with the buyguy and see where he took us. We spoke of his time in the military (U.S. ARMY) uh-oh, and my situation, among other things.

When the conversation turned to the internet, he told me of some ideas for making money in that medium.

Then he returned to his racial predisposition and said I shouldn't let people know I am black because I would be more successful, in that, people when finding out a webpage is created and run by black people don't trust the information. He also suggested that I not use Ebonics at the site or supply my name, if it were Amos or Tyrone.

Well, that didn't take long, did it? This can be accomplished, not being abrupt in ones dismissal of another, as I say, even when it is know at the onset, or closely thereafter, that two don't agree.

A lot of us know that the judgment of intelligence is more than academics or certification. There are people who test well but fail at practical application. Much also depends on who is being tested, where and by what standards. We also learned in the 60s that testing procedures and subject matter can be biased. If anyone is interested, there is a good book I read years ago about public education - Whitetown, USA - which was a very interesting report on the creation of public, private, and parochial schools in America.

Did he help me? Yes. Strange and varied conversations and meetings in HOMELESS life. Especially, when people come to know we are sometimes captive by our fatigue, surroundings we choose, or just plain boredom.

Many people use profane language. But are we to come to the end of the brother who left a moving vehicle because his brother was using this language?

QUICK FIGGY PUDDING

MAYOR HANNEMANN: KAPIOLANI PARK CLEANUP PROGRAM CONTINUES

(Wed., Dec. 2, 2009)—Mayor Mufi Hannemann today announced that grassy areas in Kapiolani Park, between Kalakaua Avenue and the sidewalk, have been closed for ongoing maintenance and beautification work.

Honolulu homeless moved for cleaning of Kapiolani Park ...Dec 2, 2009 ... The latest encampment of as many as 40 homeless people will be moved out today so crews can cut grass and perform other maintenance in the area. But the homeless may be able to move back in after the work because of an apparent loophole in the law.
www.honoluluadvertiser.com/.../Honolulu-homeless--moved-for-cleaning--of-Kapiolani-Park - Cached


Honolulu homeless moved for cleaning of Kapiolani Park ...

Dec 2, 2009 ... The homeless in Kapi'olani were able to skirt the city's revised "illegal camping" ordinance — which went into effect in August 2008 to ...
www.honoluluadvertiser.com/.../Honolulu-homeless--moved-for-cleaning--of-Kapiolani-Park - Cached

Mayor Hannemann: Kapiolani Park Cleanup Program Continues ...

Dec 2, 2009 ... The mayor says the campers were creating a growing health and safety problem and he says he hopes this will remove the things cluttering the area. The mayor says this is an extension of a beautification project started in March. It starts tonight and will continue indefinitely.

www.honolulu.gov/csd/.../kapiolaniparkcleanupdec209.htm - Cached

Plan approved to stop homeless camping at Kapiolani Park - Hawaii ...Dec 2, 2009 ...
There's been a back and forth between the city and the homeless. Overnight camping is not allowed in Kapiolani Park but about 40 homeless found a loophole and set up tents along a six foot strip of grass between the sidewalk and Kalakaua Avenue. But now city attorney's say that land is in fact park property.
www.hawaiinewsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=11611485

TRICKS OF THE TRADE

The area, a grass strip between Kalakaua Avenue and the sidewalk, will be closed for "ongoing
maintenance and beautification work,” according to Hannemann.



Homelessness

The City and County of Honolulu and County of Hawaii were awarded Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing ARRA funds. The sum of $3,873,272 in contracts was recently awarded to Oahu entities to provide rental assistance, case management, credit counseling, housing placement, outreach, and legal services.


Vernon says, I coulda swore I saw 11 million in the newspaper.

THEY'RE BEGGING FOR PEOPLE

There's just no room.

 

NOT HOMELESS

UH professor arrested in sexual assault - Hawaii News ...Sep 18, 2009 ... Police arrested a 63-year-old University of Hawaii-Manoa math professor on suspicion of 10 counts of sexual assault yesterday morning, ...
www.starbulletin.com/.../20090918_UH_professor_arrested_in_sexual_assault.html - Cached - Similar

Police / Fire - Hawaii News - Starbulletin.comAug 29, 2009 ... A fugitive wanted on child molestation and other charges was captured by the U.S. Marshals Service Task Force in Hawaii on Tuesday, ...
www.starbulletin.com/news/20090829_Police__Fire.html - Cached - Similar

WATCH THE SWING MOVE

Well we couldn't get em with the stinky bill. Hey, I know, let's go after the sidewalks and benches. Yeah, and all hours and days.

 

 

Local News

Posted on: Thursday, September 17, 2009 Council favors sidewalk sleep ban   By Gordon Y.K. Pang Advertiser Staff Writer Councilman Charles Djou Councilman Rod Tam >                             THE THREE MUSKETEERS Councilman Nestor Garcia

THE HYSTERIA IS CONTAGIOUS

I'VE HEARD, 4 MONTHS ON THE STREET, ONE BEGINS TO HAVE MENTAL PROBLEMS.
I THINK JIM HAS BEEN IN THE HOUSE TOOOOO LONG.

Jim Cone
Honolulu
Get homeless away from parks

A question to the mayor: How many children have to be vulnerable and exposed to the destitute and/or desperate, aka homeless, in one Oahu public park before there is serious disaster? This is one single community park, Mr. Mayor, and you want 20 miles of homeless-attracting rail infrastructure?

There are homeless people and their tents all around the lavatories of Crane Park in Kaimuki. There are hundreds of children who play in this park on the weekdays after school. All the Kapahulu Raiders Pop Warner football teams are in this park. This is totally insane. I think you realize that telling the homeless to go a couple of times isn't going to solve anything.

These are forlorn, de- jected, unsupervised people surrounded by children playing.

Here are your options; any one would work for the time being: 1. Close the park. 2. Get the homeless into shelters. 3. Put a couple of police officers on site when there are scheduled children's activities. 4. Let parents have concealed-gun permits.

Forget the rail. Make taking care of the homeless in Honolulu your swan song.



Jan Blichfeldt
Honolulu
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THE REALITY !!!

Attacks on the Homeless Rise, With Youths Mostly to Blame ...Feb 15, 2008 ... Nationwide, violence against the homeless is soaring, and overwhelmingly the attackers are teenagers and young adults.
www.nytimes.com/2008/02/15/us/15homeless.html - Similar

Attacks on Homeless Bring Push on Hate Crime Laws - NYTimes.comAug 8, 2009 ... With a surge in unprovoked attacks against the homeless, some states are considering legislation to treat such assaults as hate crimes.
www.nytimes.com/2009/08/08/us/08homeless.html - Similar

Teen 'sport killings' of homeless on the rise - CNN.comIncidents of teen-on-homeless violence dotted the map last year. Florida racked up at least six such attacks in 2006. (Homeless attack across U.S.) ...
www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/19/homeless.attacks/index.html - Cached - Similar

10-year-olds attack, beat homeless man, police say - CNN.comEgged on by a 17-year-old, two 10-year-old boys joined in the attack of a Florida homeless man, leaving him bruised and bloody, police said.
www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/29/homeless.attack/index.html - Cached - Similar

Attacks on homeless soaring - USATODAY.comA 2006 report by the National Coalition for the Homeless found 142 attacks last year against homeless people, 20 of which resulted in death a 65% increase ...
www.usatoday.com/.../2007-04-08-homelessattacks_N.htm - Cached - Similar

Attacks on homeless high in state - DailyBulletin.comThe National Coalition for the Homeless recently released the 2008 numbers regarding hate crimes and violent attacks against homeless people. ...

NOT HOMELESS ! ! !

 Former LAUSD assistant principal to serve 8 years for child molestation

2 Kamehameha boys charged in sexual assault of boarder - Hawaii ...Sep 3, 2009 ... Hawaii Newspaper - Hawaii coverage and reports on news, sports, business, entertainment, and events.
www.starbulletin.com/.../20090903_2_kamehameha_boys_charged_in_sexual_assault_of_boarder.html - 16 hours ago - Similar

SECOND THOUGHTS

I saw the old guy sitting where he mostly did before: by the sub-station wall. As soon as he sees me preparing to sit on the bench he comes over and complains. I'm thinking, maybe he's just an old jerk, or bully.

THINGS WE LOOSE - 1.PRIVACY 2.SECURITY

HAD A SAD EXCHANGE WITH A HOMELESS GUY. AN OLDER GENT, WHO ASKED ME WHERE I WAS GOING WHEN I DECIDED TO SIT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF A BENCH HE SLEEPS AT DURING THE WEE HOURS (10PM - 5AM). THIS WAS MEANT TO CONTEST MY SITTING THERE. WHAT EVER VISSITUDES LEAD TO ONE BEING HOMELESS, THE PATHOS ON THE OTHRE SIDE IS QUITE TELLING.




I RELENQUISHED THE PORTION OF THE BENCH, BECAUSE IT SEEMED TO ME, THIS MIGHT BE ONE THING HE COULD CALL HIS. EVEN IF IT'S UNREALISTIC TO THINK A PUBLIC BENCH COULD BE APPROPRIATED BY ONE INDIVIDUAL. MAYBE THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW THINGS HE CAN CALL HIS, EVEN IF FOR A FEW HOURS; AND BE LEFT ALONE AS MUCH AS ONE CAN BE, ON A BENCH; ON A BUSY STREET; A FEW YARDS FROM TRAFFIC. BUT, I MUST APPRECIATE HIS FORTITUDE IN THE FACE OF THE "ASSISTANCE" WE ARE OFFERED. THE LOSS OF THESE TWO THINGS, IN THE TITLE OF THIS POST, WOULD HAVE COMPELLED MANY TO SEEK A SHELTER.

HOMELESSNESS IS QUITE UN-AMERICAN. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS SET AT JEPARDY BY ONE'S SITUATION, THAT IS NOT DUE TO ARREST,IMPRISIONMENT,INSANITY,OR BEING AT WAR.

GRAZING IN THE GRASS CAN GET YOU GASED

Oh, I forgot, there's no death penalty in Hawaii.



ONE PERSON SEES A TEIRED SHOPPING CART, I SEE LOFTS FOR RENT.


GOOD MORINING:
Today while sleeping after the hours of 2AM AND 5AM, I am awakened by three officers including the new, good morning sergeant, Hardiger. Mr. Hardiger wants to ask me questions. The usual - what's your name; where are you from; have you ever been arrested; etc. He insinuates if I do not want to cooperate he will arrest me for stealing a shopping cart left behind the police station, about 4 months ago. He says he "wants to get to know me". Friendly people do not use duress as a means of befriending people. So, I can only think he has other motives. Or, needs to establish that one-upmanship that people in power need, to interact with "subordinates", or those who they think dont have power. At least, not to the degree they themselves do.

Asks to take my picture. Says with a smug tone maybe "next time he asks, I let him".

Sgt. Hardiger says, my cart is killing the grass. You'd think he'd get a picture of that, only there's no EVIDENCE of grassicide.

NEW, NEW RULES

After attacking homeless in the beach parks with curfews ("camping" laws) from 10:00PM to 5:00AM, the aloha city has delivered the second punch with a "pseudo"
loitering regulation that bans "remaining" in the park area between 12:00AM or 2:00AM, depending on what side of Kalakaua you're on, and 5:00AM. I wonder if the tourists, residents, and visitors from other areas will be " remaining" when they
smoke drugs, drink and have sex in the beach parks between the hours of 12:00AM OR 2:00AM, depending on which side of Kalakaua they're on and 5:00AM. Pavilions along Kuhio Beach daily from 6 to 9 a.m. for cleaning.

Have you homeless come back to the park thinking you're going to sleep? City & County will show you.

The Art Of Cleaning sssslllloooooowwww - waaaaaxxx oooon, waaaaaxxx oooooooooooff

HOMELESS IN WAIKIKI - PRETEXT VIGNETTES

Last night, there comes a couple she apparently drunk as a skunk. He is trying to hold her upright and help her walk instead of carrying her. He lets her go and she with all the talent of a professional stunt woman, apparently falls flat on her face. The gentleman comes over to me and Lying Leonard to ask where he is and tells us he is her brother and wants to call a cab. This is evidenced by his cell phone being opened (flip model). I tell him to tell the cab company he is at the Waikiki Sub - Station. At this point I leave not wanting to be a part of what I consider to be very bad acting with a prat fall Charlie Chaplin would be envious of. When I return the gentleman is stooped down by the lady who apparently is sobering herself by lying on the ground where she fell. He comes over again and lets us know he has no intention of piggybacking his sister. I agree this is a bad idea, having seen a drunk being given a piggyback ride and falling backward hitting her head with that sickening clack heads make. Worse, when they are hollow. After awhile she gets up and walks quite well for one who was minutes ago steady as "wavy gravy". During all this I consider they must have passed at least a couple of taxis on their way to the beach, the nearest bars being, Dukes, or the new Margaritaville joint. Not to mention the ease with which one can hail a cab from the sidewalk on Kalakaua at this location.




FROM HPD BOYS IN BLUE 11/29/2008

AWAKE PEOPLE APPRECIATE KINDNESS MORE THAT THOSE THAT MAY BE DEEP IN THE LITTLE SLEEP AND RESPITE THE CIRCUMSTANCES BRING THEM. YOU THINK!


(ACT 1)
WHILE ENJOYING THE LITTLE SLEEP POSSIBLE IN DISTURBING & CHALLENGING CONDITIONS, I AM AWAKENED BY WHAT SEEMS TO BE A USUAL GROUP OF REVELERS. I TELL AN AQUAINTENCE THAT THERE IS A SET - UP ATTACHED TO THIS ONE. HE SOON LEAVES. I AWAKEN AGAIN AND NOTICE THE REVELERS ARE STILL IN ATTENDANCE AND A POLICEMAN HAS STRATEGICALLY PLACED HIMSELF WITHIN RANGE. SUDDENLY I FEEL A POKE ON MY ARM AND A WOMAN ANNOUNCING SHE WANTS TO GIVE ME MONEY. I REFUSE HER OFFER AND ASK HER TO LEAVE ME ALONE. SHE POKES AGAIN AND AGAIN ANNOUNCES, "WE WANT TO GIVE YOU MONEY". I AM NOW BOTHERED AND REPEAT MY REFUSAL AND SUGGEST SHE FIND SOMETHNG TO DO.

(ACT TWO) POLICEMAN, IN A LITTLE VOICE

JUST HAPPENED TO BE IN THE AREA POLICEMAN COMES OVER AND TELLS ME I SHOULDN'T YELL AT THE "LADY". I INFORM HIM THAT I REFUSED HER OFFER FOR MONEY AND HAD TO ASK HER AGAIN TO LEAVE ME ALONE. HE INSISTS THAT I NOT YELL AT HER BECAUSE IT IS "HARASSMENT". I INFORM HIM THAT POKING SOMEONE AND INSISTING THAT THEY TAKE MONEY WHEN THEY HAVE REFUSED IT IS HARASSMENT, AND I WOULD APPRECIATE HIM SHOWING ME IN THE MORNING WHERE THE LAW STATES YELLING IS ALSO. HE WARNS ME NOT TO "EVEN START WITH ME". TO THE CONTRARY... SINCE I SAW NO CODE EXPLAINING THE HARASSMENT SUGGESTION,I BELIEVE I SHOULD BE QUITE FINISHED WITH OFFICER KUPAHEA, AS I AM TOLD HIS NAME IS.




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GET READY ! !

Fresno’s homeless sound the alarm that the city wants to round them up and force them into a concentration camp. Photo below is Al Williams, a homeless man, speaking before the Fresno City Council meeting on June 19.


Will Fresno’s Homeless People be put into a Concentration Camp?
Is this the final solution?
By Mike Rhodes

Homeless people say they don’t want to be put into a concentration camp located in the old industrial section south of downtown Fresno. Speaking before the Fresno City Council on June 19, Al Williams who is a homeless man in the Roeding Park area, said “you are trying to put people into a concentration camp. . . I’d rather be in jail than a concentration camp.” Williams was referring to the city’s plan to force all homeless people into a 30,000 square-foot lot that has no shade and is fenced in on all sides.

Williams is not the only homeless person concerned about the specter of being put into a concentration camp. Cynthia Greene, who lives in a homeless encampment on G and California street, told me that she would not be forced “into that concentration camp. They don’t have any shade, it is all fenced in, and full of goat head thorns.” Williams and Greene spoke up for their rights as the City Council debated a new city ordinance that would ban camping (without a permit) in the City of Fresno. homeless. Those ordinances include one passed last year that makes it a crime to push a shopping cart and an earlier ordinance that makes it illegal to panhandle.

Becky Johnson, a homeless advocate in Santa Cruz, Ca says that local government has passed anti-camping ordinances there and that it has been a dismal failure. Johnson writes, “common sense tells us that if a man doesn't have $40 for a motel room, then he can't afford a $90 Camping citation either. Here in Santa Cruz our city writes nearly 6,000 camping citations a year and we STILL have a large homeless population. Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!”

Johnson continues “you can't solve homelessness thru fiat. Homelessness is the logical consequence of current economic and political policies over which the individual has little control. When a homeless person gets a citation for the "crime" of living out of doors because he can't afford to live indoors, this compounds his set of problems. He now is treated as a criminal by law enforcement, is deeper in debt, and in the best case scenario ( he serves his sentence/pays his fine) he now has a criminal record which is a further obstacle to obtaining housing and employment. In as many cases as not, these citations go to warrant, and the person ends up spending time in our county jail which is costly and completely non-productive.”

According to Johnson “the 9th Circuit Court ruled in 2006 that citing people for sleeping or sheltering themselves at night in a situation in which insufficient shelter exists, constitutes ‘cruel and inhuman punishment’ and is forbidden constitutionally. Those cited under Fresno's new law might turn right around and sue the City for damages.”

The proposed ordinance can be seen here: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/06/18/18428393.php .

See: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/04/20/18402635.php .


See: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/04/17/18400746.php .

Instead, what the homeless have received are more evictions (see: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/06/12/18427051.php ), harassment, and ordinances criminalizing poverty.



He complained about people who give the homeless food and clothing. Duncan appeared to be seriously considering an ordinance that would ban people from feeding and clothing the homeless.

The homeless in Fresno will use whatever tools they have at their disposal to stop this cruel and inhumane treatment, stop the unconstitutional criminalization of poverty, and fight against their confinement in the proposed concentration camp.

see: http://www.fresnoalliance.com/home/homelessness.htm

###
Oxford University Dictionary:

Concentration Camp - concentration camp >noun a camp for detaining political prisoners, especially in Nazi Germany