Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Missing Ashland teen found ... BLM reopens comments on monument transportation plan ... Negroni Week: Bend an elbow to lend a hand ... Missing Ashland teen found ... BLM reopens comments on monument transportation plan ... Negroni Week: Bend an elbow to lend a hand ... STREET PEOPLE Homeless have their say about new ordinances Air opinions at gathering led by city Councilor Voisin Comment By Julie Akins For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Julie Akins For the Tidings Posted Jun. 1, 2016 at 7:50 PM By Julie Akins For the Tidings Posted Jun. 1, 2016 at 7:50 PM » RELATED CONTENT • No smoking ordinance takes effect Friday • Council to vote on bans on smoking, blocking sidewalks downtown... • Homeless issues aired at Ashland 'listening session' » Social News “You matter. Ashland citizens care about you. They really do.” With that opening statement, Ashland City Councilor Carol Voisin asked the homeless, "home-free" and traveling people she gathered around her on the grass at Railroad Park on a breezy Sunday to speak freely. Advocates and peace activists Vanessa Martynse Houk and her husband, Jason, prepared food and cool water for the group. Meantime, Voisin asked those on the homeless spectrum to address new ordinances regarding blocking sidewalks and smoking in public places downtown. The new rules go into effect on Friday, June 3. Voisin also asked the group to discuss their treatment by police. She asked four questions of each person willing to talk: ● When have you been treated respectfully by police? ● When have you been treated disrespectfully by police? ● In general, how is the attitude of police perceived by you and why? ● What are the roadblocks to respect between you and the police? The councilor told the group she has two civil rights attorneys, whom she did not wish to name, willing to look at statements to see if any of their rights have been violated. “Those who are not housed, we are here to listen to you. We respect you all as human beings. You are citizens of Ashland, you have rights,” she told the group before asking them to speak on the record with a facilitator, saying, “I need your help.” Many of the 20 or so people in the circle spoke in vague terms about the police and ordinances which don’t allow camping in the city. “I would like a place to sleep,” said “Bonny,” a woman with tightly cropped hair and an easy smile who only wanted to use one name. She said she sleeps in her car and has to keep moving to avoid a ticket. Her comments were echoed by many, including a young man missing a leg and speaking passionately under his fishing cap who referred to himself by a street nickname, “Tink.” “They hate us. They want us to die. If you don’t get sleep, you eventually die,” he said. He went on to tell the group he wants "equal rights and justice ... I shouldn’t be treated differently and discriminated against.” Longtime homeless resident, JC, who also did not give his last name, said of his interactions with police, “I’ve never been treated respectfully. They talk down to me, treat me like trash, they kick me to wake me up. Would you kick your wife or child to wake them up?” Yet JC also said it’s not entirely the fault of police, who he says are just doing their jobs. “Everyone says 'the police,' but it’s you guys — taxpayers — paying the police. If you didn’t tell the cops to make it so we can’t sleep, they wouldn’t.” Debbie Neisewander, homeless for most of her life, described hiding from the police as a child. Now, a woman with silver hair, Neisewander wants to move beyond it. “We got to step out of the box and see it from the other side.” She says the police are caught in the middle after business owners and residents demanded action about “downtown behavior.” Many in the group claimed it’s more about wanting to drive homeless people out of town than behavior. Others who testified before the Ashland City Council regarding the ordinances claim otherwise. They say panhandlers chase away customers by creating a gauntlet on sidewalks and leaving trash behind. Many in the group, including one man who wished to remain anonymous but says he is homeless, say some of the new rules are fair, such as not asking for money within 20 feet of a person at an ATM or outdoor cafe. They, the anonymous person and several others, also said they understood the smoking ban downtown, but wished for a community area where people could smoke. “I think the ordinances are making it difficult for tourists and residents and the homeless. I would really like there to be a smoking area.” Skeye Hridayam, who describes himself as a person who houses himself through work trade and serves on the Ashland Culture of Peace Commission, said the new ordinances are directed at eradicating the homeless from downtown. “It seems the police are being directed to move people along.” He came to the circle to express a sentiment from the commision. “It’s essentially the consideration that we are a city committed to peace. We provide for health and welfare of everyone in our community. That’s everyone who is here.” Neisewander suggests that to create a harmony common ground must be found and compromise made. “If you want to take away rights, you’ve got to reciprocate.” JC agrees and takes it a step further suggesting that new ordinances were never needed. “Stop making ordinances that criminalize people who aren’t criminals.” Councilor Voisin asked representatives from the group to present the statements made at the listening session to the Ashland City Council at the regular business meeting of the council at 7 p.m. June 21 at 1175 East Main St. in the Ashland City Council Chambers. Email Ashland freelance writer Julie Akins at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/ @julieakins. By Julie Akins For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Julie Akins For the Tidings Posted Jun. 1, 2016 at 7:50 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501