[MissoulaGov] committee update 8/26/09 Paul and "Panhandling"

[Jeremy Hood]

Paul,
Considering the nature of Bob's comments I think it has more to do with how you take them. You are choosing the voice to which you read it based on what you believe Bob feels. I find his comments to be very, very, neutral. I have never seen a comment like "other did not agree which I felt is stupid". They appear to be factual comments backed by his reasoning. If you feel this is an abrasive manner - again, that you are choosing a voice for - I would advise you to evaluate your own stance or those of people you feel deserve mutual respect. If the factual information makes others' preferences look ill chosen maybe they should be evaluated again. The measure of anyone on council, in my opinion, to be intelligent and responsible would be their ability to asses situations and change their mind even if they had previously taken a different maybe strong position so long as they are making the logical choice. Now after that is where true mutual respect comes and that is the when the rest of the council members can withhold comments like 'flip-flopper' or rude voicing claiming indecisiveness etc. Yes I do realize that not all decisions are logic based when it comes down to political/ethical associations.

Aggressive Panhandling Ordinance
I still strongly feel that I should be able to lay on the side walk or sleep on it because it is public. So long as I am at the base principles of things not impeding anyone's basic rights I am as entitled to do whatever I want including expression of Free Speech. Do I want to have to weave through homeless people? No... However this is where I feel a distinction between how we approach this can be made. One we have the choice of caring enough to treat them as equal humans - which they constitutionally are - and then respectfully reason with them. If they are blocking the path point it out to them and ask that they leave some room for people walk, politely. Perhaps not everyone will abide but generally I think they will. Two - we can treat them like animals, make special laws for them, and treat them as pests by applying pest control - the police. I for one think if you REALLY care about the sidewalk space you should have a friendly level interaction with them. If that is too much for you and you think someone else should take care of the situation you have already decided they are beneath you and I suggest you go somewhere that segregation is accepted; leave the country. If things escalate the police are around to do something about that situation, when somebody's basic rights are in question instead of manners in public space. 


> Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:47:37 -0600

> From: kjerrim at missoula.com

> To: missoulagov at cmslists.com

> Subject: Re: [MissoulaGov] committee update 8/26/09

> 

> I am wondering whether Missoula is liberal at all given the recent  

> discussion at council regarding soliciting in certain places and the  

> subsequent vote to pass the  Aggressive Panhandling Ordinance.  Since  

> not all of the ordinance pertains to aggressive panhandling it is  

> problematic. The discussion at council could have yielded a better end  

> document had discussion continued, however Mr Wilkins you repeatedly  

> called the question and ended debate. Its just too bad that the word  

> aggressive could not have been added in front of the soliciting in  

> certain places section or portions of that section that are too broad  

> removed altogether. Now we have an ordinance with overly broad  

> language that if applied uniformly makes many many activities open to  

> a fine. If not applied uniformly it has the potential to be  

> discriminatory. I hope that as discussion continues on the change to  

> the pedestrian interference ordinance, that level heads will prevail  

> and not make sitting or laying on the side walk illegal except in  

> cases where it obstructs passage. No matter how unpleasant it might be  

> to encounter this in downtown, it is not a good idea to pass an  

> ordinance with too broad of language that might impact all  

> Missoulians.  Kate Ybarra

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