[MissoulaGov] Committee Update 9-30-09

[Missoula Osprey]

Bob,

 

You wrote and were quoted in the paper with something similar to..

 

"What I heard from the business owners is that they don't care why they are
homeless or what happens to them."

 

I don't find this to be the case at all.  In fact, I didn't hear that
statement said once from the business community.  Remember that the Real
Change program was started years ago by the downtown business community.  We
have shown a desire to help and do care on many levels.  Just because a
business owner doesn't want someone sleeping at their front door, urinating
on the entrance, or vandalizing their property, doesn't mean they don't care
or aren't willing to help.

 

After the committee meeting, I found myself defending, to some council
members, why I didn't call the police immediately when a panhandler camped
right in front of my restaurant door 10 days ago causing complaints by
customers.  My answer is that I think the police is a last resort because I
do care.

 

Lets not twist the intentions of the business community to protect their own
rights with not caring for the bigger problem of homelessness.  In fact,
tomorrow's BBQ/Press Conference at the Poverello Center shows exactly how
much the business community does care.

 

Those who criticize business owners for protecting the rights of their
entrances should ask themselves how they would handle things if a homeless
person slept at your home's entrance on a semi-regular basis.  Not the lawn
or the backyard.  Right in front of your door.  

 

 

Matt Ellis

 

 

 

 

  _____  

From: missoulagov-bounces at cmslists.com
[mailto:missoulagov-bounces at cmslists.com] On Behalf Of Bob Jaffe
Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 11:54 PM
To: missoulagov at cmslists.com
Subject: [MissoulaGov] Committee Update 9-30-09

 

Greetings,

 

In Public Safety this morning we took up the Pedestrian Interference
Ordinance.  

http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=2185

The existing ordinance restricts people from blocking the sidewalk.  The
amended language we were considering would also make it illegal to sleep or
lie down on the sidewalk even if you are not interfering with pedestrians.
I moved to amend the language to say that people could not lie or sleep on
the sidewalk within 12 feet of the entrance to a business.  I thought this
was a good compromise that addresses the issue of people feeling impeded
from entering a business but does not make it illegal for homeless people to
exist in public. The room was full of downtown business owners who really
want us to pass an ordinance that will make the homeless people disappear. I
sympathize with them. Retail is really challenging. There is a lot of
competition and little things can win or lose customers. I do my best to
support our downtown businesses, both on council and with my wallet. But I'm
not going to vote to criminalize homelessness.