Occupy Ann Arbor is more about homelessness than the banks ripping us off
”Big banks target of protesters” is a story in the Sunday, Nov. 6, issue of Ann Arbor.com about the protest that took place on Main Street on Saturday, Nov. 5th.
I have looked in vain for any coverage of ”Occupy Ann Arbor,” a protest that has been going on for three weeks. The issue at Liberty Plaza is less about being ripped off by big banks since the demonstrators have no bank accounts, and more about how to stay alive through the coming winter. This is not a pleasant topic to think about in a city that thinks in terms of public art, green spaces and thrilling bicycle paths.
Funding for the Delonis Center for the homeless has been cut from $160,000 to $51,230. This means that an already overburdened facility will have to turn away more people seeking shelter. ”Occupy Ann Arbor” is collecting signatures for a petition to open a warming center. It needs support and money.
Help to get financial support could come by means of the University of Michigan’s Athletic Department. It has been very considerate to its better class supporters by providing boxes to keep them out of the cold and rain. If these people, as well as the un-boxed fans, were asked to contribute a few dollars at some special game, enough money would be raised for the homeless and the Athletic Department would look truly heroic without spending a dime.
Daria A. Rothe
Ann Arbor
Comments
Ted
Tue, Nov 22, 2011 : 8:24 a.m.
But wouldn't it be nice if there were a warming center, so when all those panhandlers ask for money, you could just point them to the warming center, instead of having to give them your well-earned and much=coveted dime?
Cold
Mon, Nov 21, 2011 : 4:53 p.m.
If there is any good to come from the "Occupy" movement it's that it can serve as a reminder of how special and important liberty is. After all, if a tiny group of committed Utopian socialists can't create a tiny socialist Utopia when it's just them in a park, where is this notion likely to succeed?
Sparty
Mon, Nov 21, 2011 : 2:01 p.m.
"Better class supporters?" The article is bad enough, but then the majority of the posts devolve further into a showing of even less class.
martini man
Mon, Nov 21, 2011 : 1:55 a.m.
Hey , Here's an idea !! ..... Maybe the rich liberal socialogists and poli-sci profs from the UofM could offer their property and mansions as places for the homeless to occupy ??? Those rambling estates on Arlington Blvd and Geddes Rd have lots of room, and I am sure the protestors and the homeless would greatly appreciate it . All those extra rooms to sleep in, and acres of property for their tents. This way the taxpayers of Ann Arbor wouldn't have to foot the bill for the cleanup and sanitation problems. Peace Love Dove y'all
Stupid Hick
Mon, Nov 21, 2011 : 4:57 p.m.
Deport tea-partiers? While I don't often agree with them, I don't think that they should be punished because of their beliefs.
Huron74
Mon, Nov 21, 2011 : 4:41 p.m.
No we'll just deport them.
Stupid Hick
Mon, Nov 21, 2011 : 8:48 a.m.
And I suppose, by your logic, tea-partiers' homes should be converted into jails to lock up illegal immigrants?
toothless wonder
Sun, Nov 20, 2011 : 11:56 p.m.
The homeless center has finite capacity. If you check where certain offenders addresses are: that would be the homeless center. And so, the state uses up much of the capacity of the homeless shelter,not on homeless but on newly released persons evidently. Also, who hasn't heard of other counties/communities cops coming into A2 to make a drop off of a person to the homeless shelter, thereby abusing the system by dumping their problems on Ann Arbor. Meantime back in their respective communities, (Livingston, Oakland, you know who you are, they state: We don't have much of a homeless problem... Just these two sources of bodies to fill up the homeless shelter have got to consistently account for 30% of the capacity. A2 is a dumping ground for the republican countryside!
Mush Room
Mon, Nov 21, 2011 : 4:22 p.m.
I don't believe this is true. First, homeless shelters typically don't allow people to stay at the shelter for more than 90 days. Second, the state has a prison re-entry program appropriately called MPRI, Michigan Prison Re-entry Initiative. The program has funds for temporarily housing homeless people on parole and the program does not use homeless shelters. Unless a person has a CSC conviction, you can't "check where certain offenders addresses are". And, many (maybe all, I'm not sure) shelters don't admit people with CSC convictions. Shelters are typically located in areas with public transportation and near other services needed by the homeless. Therefore, they are not typically located in the countryside, "republican" or otherwise.
genetracy
Mon, Nov 21, 2011 : 1:44 a.m.
Yeah right, only Republican enclaves dump their homeless on the Ann Arbor paradise. I guess no homeless come to A2 on thoer own volition from the Peoples' Republic of Wayne County.
genetracy
Sun, Nov 20, 2011 : 11:03 p.m.
Daria, The reason Ann Arbor has a "homeless" problem is because the pickens are better in your fair city. Willie Sutton, the famous bank robber was asked why he robbed banks. He answered, "Because that is where the money is". I have asked many homeless person on the streets of A2 where they are from or where they went to high school and they very rarely say, "Ann Arbor". Ypsi and Detroit are common answers. So these downtrodden people are here because the benefits are better. And they will stay as long you bleeding hearts continue to give them generous hand outs and enable their lifestyle. Funny thing, I am in downtown Ypsi on a regular basis and rarely do I get accosted by a homeless person. In downtown A2, I cannot even walk a half block without it happening.
outdoor6709
Fri, Nov 25, 2011 : 2:34 p.m.
Kia, Yes they voted for Snyder, who is a big government rupublician. New Bridge great idea. New high speed rail great idea. AA also provided the winning margin for reelecting John Dingel. Guess the bribe in the form of a new bridge worked.
Mush Room
Mon, Nov 21, 2011 : 4 p.m.
Every shelter has a high percentage of people from other Michigan locations. There are few shelters in Michigan. People generally chose a shelter because the shelter has an opening, they have friends or relatives in the area or they think there are job prospects in the area. Virtually every shelter in Michigan is full and has a waiting list. If you are homeless and have a means to travel to a shelter with an opening, the opening is typically the primary criteria. When a person asks to live in a shelter, they are down and out. They've typically exhausted all other alternatives like living with friends or relatives. They typically have lost their jobs and 100% have lost their homes. A high percentage of homeless are children. Before bashing any of them, it might be a good idea to do some volunteer work at a shelter. The stories you will hear will amaze you and you will soon scrap the notion that everyone in these shelters are drunks, druggies or lazy.
Kai Petainen
Mon, Nov 21, 2011 : 5:10 a.m.
but Ann Arbor isn't that liberal... in the last election it voted for Snyder. <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/surprising-amount-of-washtenaw-county-voters-join-the-rest-of-michigan-in-casting-votes-for-rick-sny/">http://www.annarbor.com/news/surprising-amount-of-washtenaw-county-voters-join-the-rest-of-michigan-in-casting-votes-for-rick-sny/</a>
Kai Petainen
Mon, Nov 21, 2011 : 3:17 a.m.
good point.
genetracy
Mon, Nov 21, 2011 : 3:06 a.m.
OK Kai, name one liberal, bleeding heart, upper middle class city in Michigan who loves their homeless more than Ann Arbor.
Kai Petainen
Mon, Nov 21, 2011 : 2:37 a.m.
i was thinking about your thoughts. there are 634 towns in michigan. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_locations_by_per_capita_income" rel='nofollow'>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_locations_by_per_capita_income</a> in that list, ann arbor sits at #79. would that imply there are 78 towns that would have better pickens than ann arbor? is there something wrong with my logic?
mentalNomad
Sun, Nov 20, 2011 : 10:34 p.m.
Did the protesters tell you they have no bank accounts and that they are homeless? I know you are supporting them, but it sounds like you may just be making assumptions like Occupy's detractors who yell "get a job, homeless bums!"
Peter Jameson
Mon, Nov 21, 2011 : 6:09 a.m.
ann arbors bums are really friendly. I like the guy with the crutch (which he doesn't need) who asks for fifty cents.
mohomed
Sun, Nov 20, 2011 : 9:52 p.m.
Funny how the limosine liberals in hollywood and the Oprah types don't mention themselves as part of the 1%. I'm no fan of greedy scum that charge 30% interest on desperate people but the government taxing you at 30% isn't any better. As for Public Safety Officers, I feel bad they have to spend all their resources (your tax dollars) on this pointless movement.
Kai Petainen
Sun, Nov 20, 2011 : 9:29 p.m.
I don't have an opinion on this topic... but I think it's important that people have the right for non-violent free speech. Whether I agree or disagree with the Occupy Movement isn't important, but free speech is important. I think it's important to see what happened at UC Davis, and how non-violent protesting students (and academic thought) were met with violence from campus public safety officials. If you haven't watched it... you should watch the video... <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjnR7xET7Uo" rel='nofollow'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjnR7xET7Uo</a> Read about the militarization of campus police: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-ostertag/uc-davis-protest_b_1103039.html?ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false" rel='nofollow'>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-ostertag/uc-davis-protest_b_1103039.html?ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false</a> An open letter for the chancellor to resign: <a href="http://bicyclebarricade.wordpress.com/2011/11/19/open-letter-to-chancellor-linda-p-b-katehi/" rel='nofollow'>http://bicyclebarricade.wordpress.com/2011/11/19/open-letter-to-chancellor-linda-p-b-katehi/</a> And an interview with a student that was pepper sprayed: <a href="http://boingboing.net/2011/11/20/ucdeyetwitness.html" rel='nofollow'>http://boingboing.net/2011/11/20/ucdeyetwitness.html</a> The question you have yourself is... are campus police (at UC Davis, Penn State, etc) putting public safety first, or the desires of the university?
Berda Green
Sun, Nov 20, 2011 : 8:41 p.m.
the u of m should give the homelss money to keep the warming center open the u of m got so much money its scary plz give back to the homeless they need it so bad