Well.... I’ve got mixed feelings here. On the one hand- that’s obviously illegal. It also cost tax money to buy those bars and install them, and likely they’ll put the bar up again eventually costing more money. On the other hand I don’t fully support or support in principal such actions as cities trying to “push out” the homeless. While we have to stand up against what we see as wrong- that’s a slippery slope. One person countermanding the decisions of a vote who is saying “I know better than all of you...” putting asides how we feel about an issue- how is it different to act illegally because you don’t support this than it is for a person who doesn’t support something you DO think is right sabotaging that?
A strong measure of support for democracy isn’t if we support it when we get our way- it’s wether we support it when democracy delivers a verdict that we don’t personally like but was reached by fair consensus of the people or their elected representatives. Of course... that’s a sticky one too since without civil disobedience we’d likely have been longer or even still be living in a society where women or minorities didn’t have at least a promise of equal rights under law. But that seems to be a distinction- wether or not an issue is one where a people even have a voice to be able to effect the democratic process. Clearly if we don’t allow people an equal seat in democracy their only avenue for change they can enact themselves is through disobedience of law.
But while perhaps the city could use that money towards helping alleviate the root issues of homeless people instead of making their difficult lives harder, perhaps this person could use their voice and their ability to use due process to effect legal and meaningful change instead of doing things easily that make THEM feel better because of instant gratification. One might be willing to risk petty charges and spend some free time taking apart a bench to allow someone to sleep on it- but would they be equally willing to instead let that homeless person sleep at their home, inside with warmth and hygiene and safety? Or to use their shower or even just use their toilet when needed?
Things that might actually help them be able to get a job and get their life together? Most homeless people aren’t criminals. They’re temporarily homeless. Non violent, etc. all reasons to not chase them from a park no? But Most all the same reasons they may not want a homeless person to be in their home apply equally to public spaces. Are they worried about hygiene? Violence or instability? Crime? Funny how when we are taking about letting them sleep in a park it’s safe and not a big deal to just “let them sleep for awhile...” but when it’s a persons own property the narrative tends to change.
So I really don’t know how to feel about this other than to say that while a agree with the principal and don’t like the often cruel measures used to keep the homeless away from public spaces- and I think this person is well intentioned, I don’t think they’re going about this the right way.
Thank you for making my day!