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52 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, May 9, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend March 11, 2005 Homeless advocates fear local ‘backlash’ By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune As officials prepare to raze blackberry bushes along the Bear Creek Greenway, advocates for the homeless worry about the threat of discrimination or even violence in the wake of an alleged rape. "That’s the first thing I thought," said Kate Baxted, director of DASIL, a Medford social service agency. "This girl got raped and they’re going to roust all the homeless because of it." Incidents like the reported March 4 assault on a 15-year-old girl could spur animosity against a population that is itself vulnerable, said Ed Angeletti, director of the Jackson County Homeless Task Force. About 800 homeless people reside in Jackson County, according to a survey conducted last month. "I just hope that there’s no backlash," said Angeletti. "You’ve got a group of folks out there who may have an emotional or mental disorder." Advertisement The irony, noted Angeletti and others, is that the man accused of the rape does not reside in the Greenway camp. "He’s not homeless," Angeletti said. "He lives in Phoenix." Two others sought in connection with the incident are homeless, police have said. That distinction might not matter to people wedded to stereotypes of homelessness, said John Statler, a Medford City Council member and advocate. "I wouldn’t be surprised if someone was torched or beat to death," Statler said. "That’s the typical reaction. But the truth is, (the Greenway camp) is not a safe place for homeless people or teenage girls." Medford police will be monitoring the Greenway area for any signs of trouble, said Lt. Tim George. It is a crime to harass people, including the homeless, George said. "We’ve had cases over the years where people have picked on the homeless," he said. "Just because they’re homeless doesn’t mean other folks can take advantage of them. Vigilantism isn’t the answer — that’s crazy." Mowing down blackberry bushes and cleaning up camps may decrease immediate threats on the Greenway path, but it won’t address the problem of homelessness, officials said. Transients will simply move to other locations, said Statler. "There are quite a few places under the bridges," he said. "They’ll find someplace." Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Reporter Damian Mann contributed to this story. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Free Music Downloads Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg diamonds Distance Education Diamonds Paris Hilton Online Poker Auto Insurance Mesothelioma Slippers Student Loans Tatoo tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Website Design & Marketing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Tatoos Mortgage Calculator Free Home-Loan Referrals Payday Loans Advertisement s