Post by: wmenorr67 on July 16, 2008, 07:25:45 AM
Quote
Hundreds of Denver's homeless could be cooling their heels in a movie theater or museum while the Democratic National Convention is in town next month.
The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless plans to get 500 movie tickets as well as passes to the Denver Zoo, Denver Museum of Nature and Science and other cultural facilities for the people it helps.
Bus tickets will be provided for events beyond walking distance, said John Parvensky, the non-profit's president.
Many day shelters will have expanded hours during the convention, and big screen TVs are being donated to some shelters so patrons can watch convention goings-on without being caught up in the mayhem.
"We're trying to let folks know what activities are planned, and what other places they'll be able to go without being harassed," Parvensky said.
A two-day voter registration drive is also planned at shelters and health clinics to ensure that metro area homeless people have access to the polls in November.
Backers of the plan say it's a more sanitary and humane way to take care of people.
But not everyone buys it.
"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."
Parvensky vigorously denied that there will any attempt to hide the homeless during convention, which runs Aug. 25-28.
Tight security around the Pepsi Center means some homeless people will get booted out of their regular camps along the South Platte River. Then, there's the protests and parades.
"A person who typically sits under a tree in a park that is now occupied by 1,000 protesters won't have the peace and quiet they're desiring," Parvensky said. "Particularly those with mental illness can't cope with crowds."
Parvensky is confident Denver police won't target homeless people unless a law is being broken. Aggressive panhandling and begging for money in front of an ATM machine are both banned.
But he remains concerned for people's welfare.
"Our concern going forward is that the city doesn't control everything - the Secret Service plays a role," he said. "We don't know what will happen if protests get out of control and people get caught up in something they didn't intend to."
But some homeless people also aren't enthusiastic about the plan.
Ronnie Wand, who was panhandling across the street, said he will believe the free tickets when he sees them.
"I don't care," said the 62-year-old, who expects to land in jail for vagrancy during the DNC.
The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless plans to get 500 movie tickets as well as passes to the Denver Zoo, Denver Museum of Nature and Science and other cultural facilities for the people it helps.
Bus tickets will be provided for events beyond walking distance, said John Parvensky, the non-profit's president.
Many day shelters will have expanded hours during the convention, and big screen TVs are being donated to some shelters so patrons can watch convention goings-on without being caught up in the mayhem.
"We're trying to let folks know what activities are planned, and what other places they'll be able to go without being harassed," Parvensky said.
A two-day voter registration drive is also planned at shelters and health clinics to ensure that metro area homeless people have access to the polls in November.
Backers of the plan say it's a more sanitary and humane way to take care of people.
But not everyone buys it.
"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."
Parvensky vigorously denied that there will any attempt to hide the homeless during convention, which runs Aug. 25-28.
Tight security around the Pepsi Center means some homeless people will get booted out of their regular camps along the South Platte River. Then, there's the protests and parades.
"A person who typically sits under a tree in a park that is now occupied by 1,000 protesters won't have the peace and quiet they're desiring," Parvensky said. "Particularly those with mental illness can't cope with crowds."
Parvensky is confident Denver police won't target homeless people unless a law is being broken. Aggressive panhandling and begging for money in front of an ATM machine are both banned.
But he remains concerned for people's welfare.
"Our concern going forward is that the city doesn't control everything - the Secret Service plays a role," he said. "We don't know what will happen if protests get out of control and people get caught up in something they didn't intend to."
But some homeless people also aren't enthusiastic about the plan.
Ronnie Wand, who was panhandling across the street, said he will believe the free tickets when he sees them.
"I don't care," said the 62-year-old, who expects to land in jail for vagrancy during the DNC.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/15/homeless-hey-buddy-can-you-spare-movie-ticket-duri/
While I think getting as many people registered to vote is commendable, I see at least one problem with a homeless person being registered. How do you assign them to a district if they have no home?
Post by: Devonai on July 16, 2008, 07:33:34 AM
Post by: Standing Wolf on July 16, 2008, 07:51:15 AM
Quote
While I think getting as many people registered to vote is commendable, I see at least one problem with a homeless person being registered. How do you assign them to a district if they have no home?
Obviously, we have to let bums vote for representatives of the Democratic (sic) party here, there, and a few more places.
Post by: Scout26 on July 16, 2008, 08:43:54 AM
Quote
A two-day voter registration drive is also planned at shelters and health clinics to ensure that metro area homeless people have access to the polls in November.
So that they can vote 12-14 times in one day, just like in Chicago.
Post by: MechAg94 on July 16, 2008, 09:58:06 AM
Post by: zahc on July 16, 2008, 11:05:52 AM
Post by: FiveBillionAcres on July 16, 2008, 09:47:25 PM
As for prisoners voting, do they vote based on what state their federal prison is in or where they were arrested? In some states it would actually be possible for prisoners to elect someone running on a prisoner platform as governor or a federal representative if they were organized and then he could just grant pardons aplenty.
Post by: Regolith on July 16, 2008, 10:58:57 PM
You have to register to vote and you need proof of your citizenship and a mailing address for that in most places, homless people seldom have either, even if they frequent a shelter.
As for prisoners voting, do they vote based on what state their federal prison is in or where they were arrested? In some states it would actually be possible for prisoners to elect someone running on a prisoner platform as governor or a federal representative if they were organized and then he could just grant pardons aplenty.
As for prisoners voting, do they vote based on what state their federal prison is in or where they were arrested? In some states it would actually be possible for prisoners to elect someone running on a prisoner platform as governor or a federal representative if they were organized and then he could just grant pardons aplenty.
The prison population isn't that large (1.5 - 2 million in the entire US; some congressional districts are larger), and anyone running on a platform of pardoning all prisoners would see a massive backlash come election day.
Post by: MechAg94 on July 17, 2008, 04:55:36 AM
Post by: MechAg94 on July 17, 2008, 04:57:23 AM
Of course, if homeless people are motivated enough to vote, I just have to ask why they aren't motivated enough to move forward in other areas of their lives.
Post by: MicroBalrog on July 17, 2008, 08:52:38 AM
If you want to talk about ex-cons voting after getting out of prison and paying their debt, we can talk about that. If you want prisoners to vote while in prison or on probation afterward, not only no, but hell no.
Prisoners vote in Israel. No problems have materialized due to this.
Hell, we let one guy RUN FOR OFFICE from prison (not Israeli office, but still).
Post by: Manedwolf on July 17, 2008, 08:58:14 AM
If you want to talk about ex-cons voting after getting out of prison and paying their debt, we can talk about that. If you want prisoners to vote while in prison or on probation afterward, not only no, but hell no.
Prisoners vote in Israel. No problems have materialized due to this.
Hell, we let one guy RUN FOR OFFICE from prison (not Israeli office, but still).
They would vote for Democrats, who are soft on crime and consider them to be victims of society, not their fault.
Post by: MicroBalrog on July 17, 2008, 10:28:39 PM
If you want to talk about ex-cons voting after getting out of prison and paying their debt, we can talk about that. If you want prisoners to vote while in prison or on probation afterward, not only no, but hell no.
Prisoners vote in Israel. No problems have materialized due to this.
Hell, we let one guy RUN FOR OFFICE from prison (not Israeli office, but still).
They would vote for Democrats, who are soft on crime and consider them to be victims of society, not their fault.
Maybe that'll encourage the Democrats to repeal some laws and get some people out of prison, then.
Post by: Manedwolf on July 18, 2008, 05:20:19 AM
If you want to talk about ex-cons voting after getting out of prison and paying their debt, we can talk about that. If you want prisoners to vote while in prison or on probation afterward, not only no, but hell no.
Prisoners vote in Israel. No problems have materialized due to this.
Hell, we let one guy RUN FOR OFFICE from prison (not Israeli office, but still).
They would vote for Democrats, who are soft on crime and consider them to be victims of society, not their fault.
Maybe that'll encourage the Democrats to repeal some laws and get some people out of prison, then.
They already do. As I said, things like gangstas who do drive-bys and repeat home invaders are victims of society, and child molesters just need love and understanding.
That nutcase who was holed up here threatening to have his associates kill the families of law enforcement if they tried to take him over his tax fraud (he's in Fed prison now) had been pardoned for armed robbery by then governor Michael Dukakis of MA, a Democrat, which was the only reason he was allowed to purchase all the guns like the 50-cals he had pointed out the windows to "take down" the US Marshals. Otherwise, he'd have been banned as a convicted felon, a good idea, since, having performed armed robbery, he had already demonstrated a willingness to misuse a firearm to cause harm. Everyone was so, so pleased to find that out, you bet.
Post by: MicroBalrog on July 18, 2008, 07:08:20 AM
Mass-pardon guys like Olofson, Fincher, even Cory Maye.