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http://www.omniture.com --> Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend May 4, 2006 Ashland free-dinner site shuts over safety concerns By JOHN DARLING for the Mail Tribune ASHLAND — Drugs and alcohol use, rowdiness, loud, off-color language and even knife fights have led Caring Friends to end its weekly free dinners for the poor and homeless at Pioneer Hall near the Plaza. The closure is not the result of pressure from city leaders or Plaza merchants, who have voiced increasing frustration with panhandlers, vandals and loiterers, said Caring Friends Chairman Marty Bryant. Staff, volunteers and diners simply have not felt safe in recent months, he said. "It's a new kind of transient in here who is damaging property, smoking pot and drinking out front," said Bryant. "Half of them are transients I've never seen before. They're drunk, using drugs and the volunteers are afraid. That's not good, especially with the elderly ones and the needy who bring children here for dinner." Plaza merchants indicated support for the 14-year-old program but expressed sadness that those who need a free meal the most must suffer because of the rowdy actions of a few. "I want to live in a community that's generous and reaches out to those less fortunate," said Sarah Powell, co-owner of Pilaf Restaurant on the Plaza. "It makes me sad that we live in an environment now where the truly needy are not able to get a free dinner." The meal program was authorized by the City Council in 1992. The board of directors decided to close after last week's meal and will re-evaluate its decision in six months. Plaza merchants doubted suggestions that Ashland's half-dozen free meal sites have attracted the new breed of transients. But they also noted the town has a reputation as an easy place to be homeless. "The free meals don't encourage this rowdy behavior. The meals are admirable," said Bruce Roberts, owner-broker of Gateway Realty on the Plaza. "It's the actions of a small percentage. We're seeing a new demographic here — late 20s, early 30s, who create a negative feeling on the Plaza, to the point where I instruct my staff to lock doors after hours. It's become a safety issue." Lin Mattson, owner of Small Change, a children's clothing store on the Plaza, said the people who hang out, cuss, spit and litter in front of her store are the ones who disappear in the cold of winter, which she feels proves rowdies are a transient population. "I feel bad for the truly hungry people," said Mattson, "but, to be honest, I'm glad they shut it the dinner down. I feel safe enough in my store, but I am very cautious at night when I walk to my car." Caring Friends held meetings with the rowdy transients, said Bryant, and tried to explain the meal was a free service and that they were breaking laws and making it difficult for themselves. "They would stop rowdiness when we asked and a few apologized, but knife fights happened a few times and volunteers were scared and the board and I were angry," said Bryant. At the Peace House free dinner at 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays at First Methodist Church, director Holly East said the police have been called for misbehavior on one occasion but staff readily handle most incidents — and diners know they can be ejected or arrested. When misbehavior reaches an unacceptable point, East said, it should become a law enforcement issue, not a cause for terminating food for the poor and hungry. "In this community dialogue, crime is being confused with the homeless population. They're being labeled as criminals, when 30 percent of Ashland is below the poverty line," said East. "I hear people saying to stop feeding the needy as if this is going to solve the problem, but they will just go live on the Greenway and under bridges. What we need is to address the real problem and the huge disparity of wealth here, while we lack an institutionalized response to poverty." Bryant, East and the merchants all endorsed the recent increase in police presence on the Plaza. John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected]. Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers Southern Oregon Loans California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy