HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0096.000 1998-2000 0 0
Thank yen for this opportunity to address you on this issue. My name is
Major Joseph L. Huttenlocker,Corps Officer for The S
Ponahawai St.
DEC 23 Pf 1 39
I have several concerns which I wild hke to address the regardMg - W
this ordiarrce. First, as a rrorr-pi ofit orgarrizatiorr irchielr S ' eirieiteircy
services to &ralies wi nir our crimmwrity F arrr isr Prows that this orthirance
will not in any' way restrict the legitimate funding raising efforts of
organizaal'ienrs such as ourseibes and other groups' why refr on the conummiry
for support. Often the original intent of such ordiances start out with the best
ofmtenCithrs, but down the Paw, they before seem? brothers; rendering their
interprerart+an of the artkfes, and what WAS li deM'y° intent? to protect die
cuimirarrriy from lkarm or Pranrrs r mnt, does mare by dialT pad, and these
who have Iegithisratt' at;t'ivit* , whether ibr youth programs or services Piik�
the Army's, we become caught in the middle because of loop holes in the
ordiarnces' or wards hg that is vague, or it is kft open to row nrtrc r Herd
interpretation. I would we some re-MtraiTee that this is riot the case with
trees partktarl'Ih 15efrore to mutter? tacky.
Secondly, I am concerned on the other side. I understand that there is no N`t';N,Alt
data to back up the need for the ordinace from the standpoint of what the real
problem is in the dtnwntawn area, acrd iii particular with whom. Ir frequent the
downtown area daily so I am well aware of some of the folks who this
ordia<n may' Be dlimtdd at. lr any concerned that bliss ordinate may' k
looked at as a way to correct a few incidences, while threatening the civil
rights' °fathers• ttr NE t dbwntoww area: Ire laves a sense' ofthe NEV
�'W Y
syndrome, "THOSE PEOPLE, NOT IN MY BACK YARD"-----As a lead
agency in this community which deals with many people from across all
walks of life, I am concerned that this ordinace is trying to address a problem
which whir fhW'Mailed at iii its entirety; is• a EDINVIPEITIVItpyrthibirt
You have many people living in the immediate downtown area who are on
fixed incomes and wilts owe very' IIttib. I'lleg' are 1lkr g under cuudltians that
need a greater ad'diesw of this lhud'g' thxrr mayP ihia online a can giver sorry;
of these powie have drserbilit s, her r mater & to physctf maxi' mortar, which
limit' them fir ways most peupib do nut mrchrstimd. Many dines F haw sheen
Deems.
File Ne., OCC /sTR-
Ref. 1bi
Presented. eo ,ass
t f„te DED 2 3 _1993
4
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cont'd: page -2-
made aware that their rooms have been broken into, the few belongings they
owrr, gaiter their money Attu, OS- kmd starrqrs. stir, their n
taken from them.
With these kinds of conditions existing where they Pimm, they often tines in
them' own. mindset, Pu ne ntr ret urse hut to asst for mtney' om the street&
They dbrr't iepvnt r14t°n' *fit P,ecsause they are riot seri+c sfr arnd red
that m,diing will' the done
I believe d is ordinate will!' unfairly target a part of dirt population drat =mot
adequattfy dbf i' its`' from- ail' these err ciitumstaffees and' will' oni
result in a revolving door senario for the police department.
I would lace to strongly recommend, that before this ordiance is passed any
further, that the longterm situation for the downtown residents must be
addressed, and the conditions adder whit* marry of there !raw to the, that
often force them to the streets and to behave in a manner that is not
and *stood by you or the public at Parge P wouitl' Pratt to see firs. crdiirac
passed', without the tltmig ht of athilessing some• edit- apparent CAPi'SLMS 16r
their actions. I think an ordiance is good, so long as it takes into account the
real issues that are longterm:
I Rana$ t*ereffree lid tts• reconmrentf Sr your consikreraikar that the
Humor Semites Ekpartment of the County; Ibtknt'af' Health, and' other "its"
agencies, with the Poke Departmmrrr; dialogue orr this issue first That help,
be requested from the University to obtain data on the living conditions of our
downtown mitres through the rise of the Sociology Dtpartirrent Internship
program. That OAen of Mal* Br asked AT assign' an outreach worker to the
downtown area who could be called upon, when such instances arise, where
their expertise c° orrl'd assist the Police Departn, irr more suitably
addressing a given situation, than hauling someone off to jail, who will only
be Pet out fir short tie, and the pry still' exists, tikus wasting the
taxpayer dbilktw If» somedliiiw that is' a lbngterm prohibit umlbr the present
conditions.
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cont'd: page -3-
A suitable footpatrol of the police department be assigned to the downtown
area wrier have been ark-quart t rSi d iii dealing with rrretivi+c raps %Wm have
social and mental disabilities, and are a cause for concern, until sack time a
longterm. solettknt car be worked out ft address the issues of rrra8y of these
folks.
I understand the political correctness of the concerns facilitating the idea of a
"pandarrdtirrg ordiance" but the ordinate i8 it self does not address the
longterm problems, and I believe it will only be another one on the books,
bringing only fernier frustration to the police department in trying to deal
with situations that theg cam7ot address. 1' wnrdd hope that leadership will
come &um• tliis* C131111til ter adthess' tlir Ibnrl n proih&mw thaw ". a
ordirrace that will bring tittle er ire relief from the matter at hand.