Denver Police Confiscate Blankets From Homeless

[Milk Hauler]

I used to be in thier shoes, so its disheartening that Denver city officials have stooped this low. [emoji53]

Shame on the Denver Police Officers who took blankets and tents into evidence after confiscating them from homeless people camped outside in temperatures which will dip into negative numbers this week. Criminalizing homeless individuals is not only cruel and abusive, it is counterproductive and unconstitutional.


https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.pa...s/2016/12/the-denver-police-officers-who.html

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[ArtW]

almost always two sides to a story, more often three, fairness requires representation of both sides

“The situation in the video occurred after individuals chose to illegally camp on the public right-of-way outside of the Denver City and County Building as a means of protest after being cited for unauthorized camping at a separate location. In both cases, officers on scene offered services and shelter to those individuals. After they refused the police officers’ assistance, the individuals were advices that they were violating the law and needed to move,” the Denver Police Department said in the statement. “After several warnings, during an approximately four-hour period outside the Denver City and County Building, three protesters chose to remain and were therefore cited. Officers collected items as evidence of the violations.”

 

[SoulRaven]

Despite how many sides there are to the story, some of the homeless have mental health issues and may not make the best decisions. Most states short change those with mental health issues, hopefully this will be addressed in the future. I also do not see why photos or video would not have sufficed in this case versus confiscating blankets and tents.

 

[SternWake]

When cops themselves feel the need to punish or flout their authority, is where I get infuriated.

But I've also seen some mentally ill homeless behaving so badly, and indignantly, something has to be done.

Not saying I know what that something is, only that it is a job I could not do, and in this situation, and most situations, you can't satisfy everyone.

And lets face it, we now live in a society where a lot of people go out of their way to find things which make them indignant, and some of these people are ridiculous idealist whiners with too much free time.

 

[BradKW]

I was curious so I read the article. Phrases such as these raised red flags and made me wonder who the heck was writing this:

1) "raids on poor people" 
2) "Being wrapped in a blanket is the first comforting experience most people have shortly after coming into this world." 
3) "Swaddling is an ancient tradition and the idea that a blanket is a safe haven is one shared by all cultures."

So I linked to the main website. Fair to say that in a couple months, this group will be running headlines "Trump causes homelessness and steals their blankets to give to Neo-nazis".

The problem with completely unobjective reporting is it feeds the fake news cycle and people get to invent whatever reality suits them. If you don't read the paper you are uninformed, and if you DO read the paper you are misinformed.

 

[masterplumber]

And actually, the cops were ordered to take the camping gear, that order has since been rescinded by the city council. The homeless situation in the winter here in Colorado is a problem, and unfortunately governing bodies constantly seem to come up with the wrong solutions. As for me, I'm just going to keep helping where I can. I think if we all did that it wouldn't be as big an issue as the government wouldn't be trying to deal with it. Unfortunately when it's actually in front of us our natural tendency is to turn away because it's tough.

 

[jimindenver]

it's been a while but Denvers mayor made a public announcement that the police would not be taking blankets and such and this was a incident out of the norm due to the protest. There was quite a bit of up roar earlier this year when they cleaned out all of the homeless belongings around the mission and took them a distance away if the people wanted them back. I think they are trying to avoid another black eye/ lawsuit.

 

[frater secessus]

In Dallas the Powers That Be routinely destroy and fence off homeless encampments because it doesn't fit the city's desired image. There was a real tent city under IH45 earlier in the year that I could see with my cameras at work. Organized, people living their lives. People able to stay out of the sun and storms.

First time I saw it happen was in 2000 (?) when Dallas hosted the World Cup. Heavy duty bulldozing went down.

 

[Txjaybird]

  There was a real tent city under IH45 earlier in the year that I could see with my cameras at work. 

I was born and raised in Dallas and lived south on I 45 most of the time from 1979 to 2005.   I'm curious as to what part of I 45 the tent city was located.

Jewellann

 

[Gary68]

there are many different types of "homeless"out there and i fairly regularly give them cash,not a token $3 but will empty my wallet if i can but i am selective and it's pretty obvious  who is who,down on your luck,mentally ill no problem,here go buy so groceries.
bone skinny scabbed tweekers,23 yo dreadlock,pierced,tattooed hipsters,sorry,not going to support your addiction or laziness

we just had an episode in portland with the removal of "homeless",major up roar,protests,then the pics came out

 

[frater secessus]

I was born and raised in Dallas and lived south on I 45 most of the time from 1979 to 2005.   I'm curious as to what part of I 45 the tent city was located.

The one that was recently destroyed was just south of IH45/IH30 interchange.  People exiting IH30 to IH45 SB would have seen the camp.

 

[frater secessus]

bone skinny scabbed tweekers,23 yo dreadlock,pierced,tattooed hipsters,sorry,not going to support your addiction or laziness

I support your right to do as you wish with your own funds.

we just had an episode in portland with the removal of "homeless",major up roar,protests,then the pics came out

Will we also remove homeowners from their property if there are pics that come out?  Unsightliness is not, in my opinion, a moral justification for using tax monies to take what few crumbs the least of us own.

 

[Gary68]

Will we also remove homeowners from their property if there are pics that come out?  

 yes,fines,jail time,condemned and confiscation
happens everyday,so much that they made a tv show about it called hoarders

 

[frater secessus]

Then I condemn that, too.

 

[GotSmart]

When I was homeless in CA, I saw a headline about a charity fundraiser that got well over a million for abandoned pets.  

Don't get me started.  Noam Chomsky has it right in Requiem For the American Dream.

 

[Gary68]

Then I condemn that, too.

it's a health hazard to everyone involved,rats,mice,roaches,fleas and the nasties they carry

 

[hepcat]

Will we also remove homeowners from their property if there are pics that come out?  Unsightliness is not, in my opinion, a moral justification for using tax monies to take what few crumbs the least of us own.

No, not usually unless the unsightliness becomes a health hazard for neighbors.  Then abatement orders are issued.  However in my town,  the gentle town folk don't understand why government doesn't take a deeper role in enforcing the "unsightly" laws when their neighbors' lawns are longer than they think they should be.   After I left the City's employ, the Council actually passed some pretty draconian ordinances.  I"m sure they wouldn't stand up to court scrutiny if someone fought them, but who has the cash to fight City Hall?

The difference between issuing homeowners abatement notices and removing homeless from public property is that the homeless have no superior right of possession to the property from which they're being removed, and they're generally violating some ordinance or state law regarding sanitation regulations.

 

[Gary68]

When I was homeless in CA, I saw a headline about a charity fundraiser that got well over a million for abandoned pets.  

Don't get me started.  Noam Chomsky has it right in Requiem For the American Dream.

when i was a homeless delinquent i picked strawberries,cut rhubarb,cut tanzy and scotch broom,bucked hay,moved irrigation pipe,and whatnot until i turned 16 and got a full time roofing job

 

[GotSmart]

When I was 16 I was going to school, taking college classes, and working full time.  The economy was good enough for me to buy a new car.  

The difference when I was 35,  is that I had been hit by a drunk driver, several broken bones and still working enough to cover the motel for the wife and pre teen children.  The insurance company ignored me.  

All I was looking for was a break, a chance to not have to earn $100 a day just to survive.  That was the cost of surviving in the Napa Valley.  

There was nothing available to help out the working poor.  Not if I was white male.  I did not qualify for any of the programs, and I was not about to abandon my family.  

We left California in 95.  Driving an old dodge van with everything we had left stuffed in and on it. 

Like I said.  Don't, just don't go there. 

I am out of this thread.

 

[Milk Hauler]

I was curious so I read the article. Phrases such as these raised red flags and made me wonder who the heck was writing this:

1) "raids on poor people" 
2) "Being wrapped in a blanket is the first comforting experience most people have shortly after coming into this world." 
3) "Swaddling is an ancient tradition and the idea that a blanket is a safe haven is one shared by all cultures."

So I linked to the main website. Fair to say that in a couple months, this group will be running headlines "Trump causes homelessness and steals their blankets to give to Neo-nazis".

The problem with completely unobjective reporting is it feeds the fake news cycle and people get to invent whatever reality suits them. If you don't read the paper you are uninformed, and if you DO read the paper you are misinformed.

These must be paid actors, wearing police uniforms??



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