The DNC & Denver’s homeless: hiding or helping?
posted: July 20, 2008 | category: homelessness
tags: Food Not Bombs, homeless news, politics
The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless says that free movie tickets and bus tokens won’t be used to hide Denver’s homeless during the upcoming Democratic National Convention, but will instead be offered as “an escape from the heat or the activities of the convention or the security procedures.”
But some folks remain unconvinced:
“It just sounds like another way to get rid of them,” said Kayne Coy, 17, who volunteers feeding the homeless twice a week at Civic Center Park through the Food Not Bombs organization. As for the convention, Coy said: “I’ve heard rumors that all the homeless people are going to be sent away to Aurora or somewhere else.”
And homeless people have their own opinions:
Debbie - and this is merely a hunch - will probably be going to jail next month. Unless they are giving away free booze and marijuana at the movies, the zoo or the Nature & Science museum - along with the free tickets to those venues they plan on giving the homeless during Democratic National Convention week - I can’t see Debbie budging from the dirt beneath the Speer Boulevard bridge she has called home the past 26 years… “I don’t care who is coming,” she slurs, “they try to move me, I’ll kick someone’s ass. I hate the movies, can’t stand the zoo.”
…To Mike Weaton, it all sounds like a setup. “It’s not being ungrateful. It’s called having to survive. People will see you at the movies or the zoo, and the next day out here with a sign in your hand. You’ll never get a penny. They’ll think you’re faking this. I like the movies and the zoo, but I think I’ll pass.”
I wouldn’t mind being in Denver next month. Not to see the convention. But to hang out with homeless people and see how all this plays out. It could get interesting.
Update: Read “Post about the DNC and Denver’s homeless gets a response“
Comments
One Response to “The DNC & Denver’s homeless: hiding or helping?”
Leave a Reply
[…] couple of days ago, I wrote a post about the reaction to the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless’ plans to give free movie tickets and bus passes […]