an update on the latest shenanigans, with the least of our brothers and sisters taking the brunt as usual… revealingly, one EPD officer explained to us that one of the main forces driving this ridiculous cat-and-mouse game was people calling in complaining that they have to see homeless people. ***** PRESS RELEASE 4/30/14 contact: contact@EugeneSLEEPS. org or Jean Stacey 541-653-7589 IN DEFIANCE OF STATE LAWS, EPD ANNOUNCES 8AM WEDNESDAY EVICTION AND ALSO UNPRECEDENTED CONFISCATION OF HOMELESS TENTS AND PERSONAL POSSESSIONS EPD Defies State Laws and Threatens to Confiscate Homeless Tents as Evidence of a Crime, Deadline set for 8AM Wednesday, April 30. Tonight an EPD officer advised 14 homeless refugees from the former Whoville Health Sanctuary that the City Attorney, Glenn Klein, has advised him that the City does not intend to give the 24 hour notice required by Oregon Statutes 203.077 and 203.079 before ticketing homeless campers. The officer also advised the homeless group that he is authorized to confiscate their tents and other camping equipment and belongings as evidence of a crime, rather than rely on extensive photographs and videos officers have taken of all equipment at the site and as has been documented in similar circumstances and court proceedings. The announcement was made at around 6:30pm Tuesday and campers were originally told they had to vacate immediately. Around 8:30pm that was changed to by 8am. At this writing it has been difficult to secure enough transport before 9am. The City Attorneys announcement that Oregon Statutes are not applicable in certain situations is surprising since there are no exceptions indicated in the Statute. In fact, ORS 203.077 states that Oregon recognizes that homelessness is a social problem and requires cities to develop policies that ensure the most humane treatment for removal of homeless individuals from camping sites on public property. ORS 203.079 states that the required elements to meet the humane goals of ORS 203.077 are that law enforcement officials shall post a notice, written in English and Spanish, 24 hours in advance. It further states that At the time that a 24 hour notice is posted, law enforcement officials shall inform the local agency that delivers social services to homeless individuals where the notice has been posted. By bypassing the Oregon Statues, there is no time for campers and social service agencies to interact. Since there is no shelter available in Eugene for which most of the 14 campers qualify, the social service notice itself is not very productive. It is, however, the law. Ignoring the 24 hour notice sets a dangerous precedent as without it officers can ticket homeless people without warning, confiscate all personal property which generally means all personal papers, memorabilia, food, clothing and camping equipment that is necessary for survival. The property cannot be returned until after matters are settled in court, leaving homeless people totally exposed to the elements as well as to predators for several months. SLEEPS activist Jean Stacey, in a letter to Klein on April 28 asked for clarification. Although Ms. Stacey has talked to staff in Mr. Kleins office and was informed he has received her inquiry, the Attorney has not responded to her. Instead, on April 29 EPD officers announced the attorneys decision to the homeless currently situated under the Ferry Street Bridge at 6th. The shutdown of Whoville, utilizing an extravagant number of City police and public works employees (an estimated 30 of each) to evict the 19 remaining Whos from the Broadway/Hilyard camp, appears to have heralded a reinvigorated hard ball policy toward homeless individuals. Countless camping tickets issued since Whoville was evicted from the Broadway/Hilyard site appear to mark the end of this winters moratorium on ticketing the homeless for sleeping. Camping tickets carry a $200 fine if on public property or a fine of up to $500 and up to 30 days in jail on any park property, Tickets in the parks can also bar a homeless camper from all city facilities including the library and public bathrooms. In sharp denial of the myth of Eugene as a homeless magnet due to abundant services, Eugene has the most unsheltered homeless people of any city in 47 of our 50 states. Only 18 cities in the sunshine states of Florida, California and Hawaii offer less shelter per capita of homeless. alternet.org/news-amp-politics/un-human-rights-committee-united-states-cruel-inhuman-and-degrading-poor?fb_action_ids=10203376860571133&fb_action_types=og.likes
Posted on: Wed, 30 Apr 2014 08:16:40 +0000
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