[MissoulaGov] Committee Update 9-30-09

[Bob Jaffe]

Matt,
That sentence all by itself does sound a little harsh. But the context of my comment is that the business owners are carrying the burden of this social problem and are getting desperate for relief regardless of the civil rights or constitutional concerns. Keeping the area in front of their door clear is exactly what the ammended ordinance sets out to do.

Bob Jaffe
Missoula City Council Ward 3
1225 South 2nd West
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 880-2052
________________________________
From: Missoula Osprey [mellis at missoulaosprey.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2009 11:00 AM
To: Bob Jaffe; missoulagov at cmslists.com
Subject: RE: [MissoulaGov] Committee Update 9-30-09

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.