Dems to 'hide homeless in movie theaters' during the convention???

[underpants]

I read this alluded to in an op-ed this morning so I looked it up.

As usual this is not as it first appears

When thousands of delegates converge in the Mile City in August, downtown Denver won't look exactly like it does now.

Free movie tickets and passes to Denver's cultural attractions will be given out to homeless people just in time for the Democratic National Convention.

Several groups that help the homeless announced Wednesday that they are making changes during the DNC. But the plan is seen, by some, as a plan to hide the city's homeless, estimated to be roughly 3,800 the summertime.

A DNC advisory committee devoted just to handling the homeless issue has been working on a plan for the past four months with the help of Denver police, the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, the Denver Rescue Mission and other shelters.

The homeless will be offered free movie passes, tickets to the Denver Zoo, museums, and other cultural facilities. The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless will also hand out free bus tickets so the homeless can attend events that aren't nearby.

Some shelters will open their doors during the daytime and have more cots available at night. A spokeswoman for the Denver Rescue Mission said the shelter will almost double its overnight capacity. Some shelters will also have big-screen TVs so the homeless can watch convention activities without being out on the busy streets, caught up in the chaos.

Organizers say it's not an attempt to sweep away the homeless but it's more of an effort to educate them.

"There are no plans to relocate the homeless, to keep them out of the downtown area. If anything, we're trying to educate the homeless population on what is available, what entertainment they can go to, you know, how they can be involved as well," said Denver Rescue Mission's Greta Walker.

The committee thinks this is a way to make sure the homeless aren't harassed by police or Secret Service and aren't unknowingly caught up in the activities and protests in the area. Extremely tight security is expected around the Pepsi Center, Invesco Field at Mile High and Civic Center Park, where thousands of protesters are expected.

"It's better than them doing a police sweep. What good is that going to do? It's going to clog the jails that are already clogged," said Cecil Miller, a homeless man. "I'd love to go to a movie. I'd take my wife if we could get somebody to watch our stuff."

The homeless have already been told that aggressive panhandling and asking for money near an ATM are illegal. During the week, a voter registration drive will target homeless shelters and low-cost or free health clinics.

[rfranklin]

1. that's fine as long as they get free popcorn...

otherwise, it is inhumane!

[lonestarnot]

27. Fuck the popcorn, feed them some hotdogs. and it isn't fine.

[rfranklin]

29. oh no! It'sthe sensitivity police!

You have no sense of humor.

[lonestarnot]

30. I'm glad you find humor in homelessness. It must be so gratifying.

[rfranklin]

38. I find humor in many things that I find unacceptable...

A "gllaows humor" perhaps, but humor nonetheless.

[Enrique]

2. educating them on Denver's entertainment options?

that part was pretty ridiculous.

[noamnety]

3. Wow, that's some serious BS.

""There are no plans to relocate the homeless, to keep them out of the downtown area. If anything, we're trying to educate the homeless population on what is available, what entertainment they can go to, you know, how they can be involved as well," said Denver Rescue Mission's Greta Walker."

They are doing this to educate the homeless about what entertainment is available - by giving them free zoo tickets while the convention is in town? Is she in training to be the next WH press secretary?

[otohara]

34. It's Been Hovering Around 95-98 Degrees Here

they would probably enjoy a nice cool theater for an few hours. You got any better ideas?

[noamnety]

37. Oh, I got no problems giving them free tickets

I just got a problem if they are doing it for one week when the media is in town and pretending it's out of concern for them.

I saw what happened when the superbowl came to detroit. The homeless were cleaned up off the street - for one week, and all of a sudden they found extra space in shelters for them. Once they were in the shelters, they sealed off the abandoned buildings they had been living in. Then the superbowl left, and they were abandoned in a worse situation than they had to start with. So I'm a bit suspicious of efforts to get the homeless off the street when it's under false pretenses.

[Sal Minella]

4. A link to this story would be esthetically pleasing and keep me off the street longer.

[underpants]

11. See post #10

sorry I almost always link such things :spank:

[Sal Minella]

16. tnx

[NV Whino]

5. I love this one...

"During the week, a voter registration drive will target homeless shelters and low-cost or free health clinics."

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you have to have an address to register to vote? Somehow "the corner of Fairfax and whatever" doesn't work for me.

[crikkett]

8. Cynicism in overdrive! Some shelters receive mail for their clients.

I don't think you're insensitive, just needing more education. Want a movie pass? Maybe you can go talk to some of these folks and find out how they get by.

[NV Whino]

26. Receiving mail

and being a permanent address are two different things.

Please understand, I'm not against the homeless voting. But what is the point of registering them if, in the long run, their vote wouldn't count because they don't have a legal, permanent address?

The energy could be better spent getting them a place to live... and maybe a way to earn a living. And make no mistake, homeless shelters are not a place to live. They are neither a house nor an apartment nor a permanent place to live. They are a temporary shelter.

[Breeze54]

31. What makes you think the homeless are all unemployed?

THE HOMELESS, THE HUNGRY, AND THE WORKING POOR — by Catherine Morgan

http://informedvoters.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/the-homeless-the-hungry-and-the-working-poor/

We have a growing crisis in America today, and it is our own countries blatant neglect of the homeless, the hungry, and the working poor. It was recently reported that there are 744,000 people that are homeless in the United States today. Even worse, over 40% of the homeless are families. Reuters reported that more Americans went homeless and hungry in 2006 than the year before and that children made up almost one quarter of those in emergency shelters.

Children and families are the new faces of the homeless and hungry in America, and it seems to me that most Americans, as well as the government would just like to turn a blind-eye to this growing crisis. Why is that? We are the richest and most powerful country in the world, surely we can help are own citizens? We are spending hundreds of billions of dollars in Iraq alone, it seems shameful that we don’t even spend a fraction of that amount on helping the most needy in our own county.

Many people seem to take the attitude of….We shouldn’t give “hand-outs” to the poor, they just need to work harder…. They wouldn’t be poor if they just worked harder. Contrary to popular belief, the poor don’t want to be poor. The truth is, that many of the poor in our country are part of the growing number of “working poor”, they work very hard, very long, and still don’t have enough money to feed their families. So, if how hard a person works really was a determining factor of whether a person would be rich or poor, many of the rich people in this country would suddenly find themselves poor, and the currently poor would be basking in the glory of their new-found wealth. Many American citizens work hard and get very far in life, and many others work hard and get nowhere in life…..that’s just the sad reality.

Most of the working poor in our country actually work forty or more hours a week at two, three, or even four different jobs.

I assure you, these people work very hard.

Bad economy is creating a new generation of homeless people

http://www.tbnweekly.com/content_articles/071608_pco-02.txt

(Editor’s Note:
This is the first of a two-part story on Pinellas County’s homeless problem. ?? :grr:
The second part will be published next week.)

By THOMAS MICHALSKI
Article published on Wednesday, July 16, 2008

PINELLAS COUNTY –

The plummeting economy coupled with skyrocketing food, fuel and other higher cost of living
prices is creating a new generation of poor and homeless people.

So severe are economic times that people are reduced to begging at gasoline stations for
loose change to purchase fuel to standing at intersections begging for food money.

Although many social programs that were nonexistent just a few years ago are in place, there
are growing numbers of new poor and homeless people that society is often unwilling to recognize.

Many organizations such at the Suncoast Haven of Rest Rescue Mission in Pinellas Park are hurting
for funds in an economy that worsens each day. Local jobs are not filled or are shipped overseas.
Mortgages go unpaid. People and the organizations that help the destitute are, in a word, hurting.

“We just suspended our bag lunch program due to the lack of money,” said the Rev. Lionel Cabral, executive director of the Suncoast Haven. “Last month we were within two hours of having our electricity turned off for nonpayment.”

The lunch bag program provided meals for street people each day at various locations. On Saturdays the mission provided free meals at the sprawling Pinellas Hope facility in incorporated Pinellas County.

“I have seen a dramatic increase in new homeless people,” Cabral said. “The bad economy is
forcing people out of their homes because they cannot afford rent and mortgage payments.”

The mission not only feeds the homeless, but the poor who have shelter as well. Each month the “working poor” obtain bags of bread, boxed and canned goods and other food. But food contributions have steadily decreased in recent months along with the dollars to keep the mission operating.

“The demand for helping the poor and the homeless is higher than ever before, and donations are down,” Cabral said.

The mission collects food from such establishments as Publix, Sweetbay, Pizza Hut, Red Lobster and Wagon Wheel Flea Market, to name a few. To get those items the mission has two trucks on the road. Higher fuel prices pushed the mission’s annual fuel budget past the $25,000 mark.

The alternative is to take one of the trucks off the road and combine runs when possible.

“People are losing jobs and that means bills, such as rent and mortgages, go unpaid,” Cabral said.

Snip-->

And the face of homelessness has changed due to more families with children on the streets
and additional working poor households.

Coalition statistics show that more than 33 percent of homeless adults work full or part-time,
and about 23 percent receive disability, veteran or retirement benefits, but not enough to
maintain an apartment or home.

“Just recently,” he said, “I was able to get a homeless man and his three children into a shelter.

There are many families like that.”

The housing slide has crushed contracting jobs, the mainstay of day labor establishments that
assign such positions to homeless people. Out of work carpenters, bricklayers, painters and
landscapers abound.

“It’s not only hurting the low wage people, but the middle income folks as well,” Butler said.

“It’s a trickle down problem that will not stop tomorrow or next week.”

“The bad economy is creating more poor and homeless people,” Herring said.

“There are individuals on the streets who have masters degrees and no jobs.”

more.........

:(

[crikkett]

44. This makes me think that you should learn more about voting and the homeless.

Because you're talking out of your ass.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. They use the address of homeless shelters

Some of our homeless vets here use the address of the local Vietnam Vets office.

[treestar]

23. Why should you, though?

There is no reason that being homeless should leave a citizen without a vote.

[lonestarnot]

28. Oh like you shouldn't have a say in life because you're homeless? WTF

is that?

[donco6]

32. They can and do register to vote. eom

[Solly Mack]

6. to educate them about how they can be involved as well - by going to the zoo

away from the convention


How magnanimous of them

[Breeze54]

21. When I was homeless, I would've taken those tickets and also attended

any of the political events I got tickets to also. What a great weekend they'll have! Maybe the first good one, in a series of really shitty days! Big screen TV's at the shelters so they can watch the convention, out of the heat or bad weather, DURING THE DAY and not being harassed by the Denver Police! Maybe some of them will get temporary employment at the Convention Center if they're out of work? I see this as a win-win for all. Maybe some of the motivation of Denver was to keep them out of the way but it seems like the DNC added some good alternatives to that meme. Get them registered and get them to the polls. They need to know they have a voice, if they aren't aware of that and maybe they'll help get someone elected who will do something for the homeless all across the US of A! Children are homeless too and would probably love a day at the zoo!! They probably never get to go or have ever been there.

[Solly Mack]

22. Oh, are they getting tickets to the political events?

That's wonderful!!!

When I read the articles I must have missed that. Thanks!!!

Btw, do you know if you can use the homeless shelter as your required physical address in order to qualify to register to vote in Colorado?

[Breeze54]

24. I don't know if they're getting tickets for inside the convention but

the article said they'd be able to view it on a big screen TV and in theaters.
I'd go to the theater here in MA, if they'd show it! I don't have cable and I
don't know that the regular broadcast TV will be showing it either but I doubt it.
I used a PO Box # back then and I think I used the shelter address on job applications.

I'm not sure how Denver handles that address thing but The Denver Homeless Coalition
would know all about dealing with that issue. I think a law was was passed (?) across
the USA that children could use the shelter address for school. I'm not sure though.

I do need some coffee! :hi:

[Merlot]

7. "Several groups that help the homeless" and "A DNC advisory committee"

I think your headline is misleading. It's not the "Dems" but the city of Denver.

[underpants]

12. Well I think that was the point of what I read-how it was stated

and I am just SUUUUURE that the repubs will leave the homeless as they are in Minneapolis :sarcasm:

[BlooInBloo]

9. Link, else it's just making shit up.

[underpants]

10. Whoops sorry- two links basically the same article-both from the Denver area

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/politics/16900475/detail.html?rss=den&psp=news

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/15/homeless-hey-buddy-can-you-spare-movie-ticket-duri/

[BlooInBloo]

13. tyvm.

[annabanana]

14. "the plan is seen, by some".........

By the RNC, clearly.

[underpants]

18. This appears to be standard operating procedure for an event this size

but there is some BS here

We'll see if there are such news stories about Minneapolis..not that there were hardly any stories about the number of security people in NYC for the '04 RNC convention.

[Sal Minella]

15. "will also hand out free bus tickets so the homeless can attend events that aren't nearby."

Like, oh, say, an opening of a Taco John's in Fargo or an under-the-stars square dance festival in Tallahassee.

Before I accepted one of those tickets, I'd find out if it was round-trip or one-way, and how far.

[donco6]

33. If the Denver Rescue Mission and Colo Coal. f/t Homeless

are involved, it won't be a trip to Fargo. They're good groups. They work their butts off and do a lot of good things for the homeless in Denver.

[Sal Minella]

36. Actually, I was just trying to be funny.

I will learn, eventually, that I shouldn't try to be funny.

I have great respect for the people who do so much with almost nothing.

[donco6]

42. Sorry.

I need to develop a better sense of humour! Maybe this whole Denver convention thing is hitting me too personally. I really like my adopted hometown and want to see them pull this thing off well.

[Sal Minella]

43. It's not you, it's me -- my daughter is forever launching into involved refutations of something

I said, when I was only trying to make a funny. But, I look so ugly when serious! (I know, I know, that wasn't funny either. Think I'll go take a nap.)

I think Denver is lucky to have you. (seriously)

[NNN0LHI]

19. How do the Repigs handle this at their convention?

You would think this article would mention that.

Unless this is just another right wing hit piece?

Don

[underpants]

20. Like I said in the OP this is clearly a RNC talking point

this must be a regular point of distraction on talk radio :shrug:

The RNC in Minneapolis will feature everyone( and I mean everyone) wanting to check out Larry Craig's bathroom stall at the airport. :rofl:

[NV Whino]

25. Well you know viewing that stall

is going to be one of their chief fundraisers.

[agentS]

40. No need to ask.

They're Republicans. The homeless that they don't beat to death or run over in 'vettes (i.e. Novak) will be arrested and sent to Abu Garib.

[Canuckistanian]

35. Doesn't make sense. Why would 'Dems' want to hide the homeless?

I could see the Denver city officials doing this for the sake of their image.

But hiding homeless people just covers up the terrible economic condition and would be counterproductive to most Dem's messages.

[underpants]

39. Yeah and are they supposed to stay in the movie theaters for 4 days?

This doesn't make sense at all the more I think about it.

[Dr. Strange]

45. Only reason I can think of:

All elected officials have four year terms, with a maximum of two terms. While Denver elections are non-partisan, Democrats have long held a virtual monopoly on Denver politics with all elected officials having Democratic Party affiliation. In federal elections, Denverites also tend to vote for Democratic candidates. The office of Denver's Mayor has been occupied by a Democrat since the municipal general election of 1963, including the current mayor John Hickenlooper. Denver is represented at the federal level by congresswoman Diana DeGette, a Democrat representing Colorado's 1st congressional district, which includes all of Denver and parts of Arapahoe County.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_and_government_of_Denver,_Colorado

But it still seems weird.

[Marrah_G]

41. If the DNC wants to work on the homeless issue how about looking out their windows in DC

On the ride into the city last year for a march I was shocked at the amount of people I saw sleeping in doorways, on steps, on heating grates. How many shelters and programs could the money we spend in a month in Iraq fund?