Tent shelters torn down, No Warming Shelters from City of Fresno.Volunteers beg for coats & firewood

[annm4peace]

The past few nights have been in low 30's and raining.

The Fresno Bee Newspaper reports they are worried about the orange trees.
Yet what about those who are homeless on the street? Why aren't the calling for warming centers for those who are homeless?

In previous years anytime the weather dropped below 40 they would announce warm shelters were open.

I called City of Fresno yesterday.. there is just one # to call when trying to reach the Mayor, City Manager or the City Council members. I was actually trying to get to the City manager.. and I asked where are the warming shelters for the homeless.. because it was 30 degrees.

The person said they didn't have any. there wasn't any funds for it. There is estimated 2000 plus people who were living in the now destroyed tent cities. Where are they ? where are they staying warm?






Maybe ask the City of Fresno.. How will the Homeless survive the cold without Warming Stations..
Here is their facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/FresnoCA

Maybe you can tweet the City of Fresno housing czar.. He is a good little puppet,he only does what he is told so he can keep his job
http://twitter.com/gregorybarfield


Or Maybe you can give the City of Fresno a call, ask to be transfered to the City Manager's voice mail,
and ask "Why are you so mean to those who are Homeless, and why do you let them freeze to death.

http://www.fresno.gov/Government/CityManager/default.htm




Yet the City of Fresno received 3 Million from the Feds to use for the Homeless. Something really smells fishy.


The Progressives bravely and generously keep trying to provide what they can.

"Dear Friends of the Center: Though warm clothing etc. has been requested to be brought to the Center for Nonviolence, I think it has been a while since I asked for volunteers for the Firewood Brigade. If you can join in as a volunteer to go down to the homeless (near Povarello House) and deliver firewood, water etc., that would be wonderful."



There are several shelters but they are are small and are no where near what one of the poorest cities need.

Instead the City torn down the tent city encampments and took sleeping bags and blankets.. leaving the over flow of homeless to sleep on the street without shelter.


as posted earlier, they are dying on the street. and there will be more.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002184649


the last 3 months have been brutal on the HOmeless in Fresno. Brutal and heartless.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002168840

[EFerrari]

1. Do you know what program the $3 million came out of?

/oops

[annm4peace]

4. It was from the Feds. part of stlmulis

I was trying to find the info. I think it was in a report when i was searching on the City of Fresno website.


but in looking for your answer i came across this.
http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/12/20/2655880/valley-gets-millions-from-hud.html

More than $5 million is headed to the central San Joaquin Valley in aid for the homeless, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Tuesday.

The funds include more than $1 million for the Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission, $354,000 for the Poverello House, $175,000 for Community Actions Partners of Madera and $100,000 for United Way in Kings County.

HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan announced awards totaling $1.47 billion to 7,100 homeless programs nationwide.

Donovan said a priority of the department is a reduction in homelessness among the nation's veterans. A goal of HUD is to end veteran homelessness in five years and for families in a decade. Donovan said the grants will give local programs flexibility in determining how to use the money.

[EFerrari]

6. Thank you.

[annm4peace]

2. Laws criminalizing the homeless

* interesting site I came across:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-homelessness_legislation

United States
It is alleged there is a growing trend in the United States towards criminalizing the state of being homeless.[6] Proponents of this approach believe that punitive measures will deter people from choosing to be homeless. To this end, cities across the country increasingly outlaw activities such as sleeping, eating, sitting, and begging in public spaces, and selectively enforce more neutral laws—such as those prohibiting open containers or loitering—against homeless populations.[6] Violators of such laws typically incur criminal penalties, which result in fines and/or incarceration.
In April, 2006 the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that "making it a crime to be homeless by charging them with a crime is in violation of the 8th and 14th Amendments." [1]

Laws criminalizing the homeless

Use of the law that criminalizes the homeless generally takes on one of four forms:[3]
Restricting the public areas in which sitting or sleeping are allowed.
Removing the homeless from particular areas.
Prohibiting begging.
Enforcing laws on the homeless and not on those who are not homeless.[4] (The French novelist Anatole France noted this phenomenon as long ago as 1894, famously observing that "the law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges".)[5]
[edit]

[EFerrari]

3. And don't forget the kind of law that criminalizes feeding the hungry in public.

[rhett o rick]

5. The Revolution is here. Do your part. nm

[Zorra]

7. Well said. The Revolution is here. Do your part.

It's time to take these matters into our own hands.

[annm4peace]

10. I dont' know what you mean.

please explain

[rhett o rick]

14. What dont you understand? That the revolution has begun?

It's been pending for some time. Occupy has breached the naivete. There is no turning back. The reaction of our authoritarian masters shows their recognition that the revolution has begun. They will ratchet up the violence toward us thinking they can snuff this movement out. They cant. You may not be able to be in the streets but you can help. Like it or not, you have to choose a side.

[annm4peace]

15. well I guess I don't get what you are saying to my posting

Yes, I know of Occupy and I am part of it. and yes Occupy Fresno has been part of the progressive to help the Homeless.
And I have been in the streets for 10 + years, but in conservative areas they need help from the outside.


BUTTTT.. just like the progressives in Fresno it isn't enough. So that is why I keep posting.

And people are dying on the streets of Fresno.. and the revolution is still evolving.

[rhett o rick]

17. If you recognize that "the revolution is evolving", then I think we are on the same page. nm

[woo me with science]

37. This is the truth.

Frank Zappa was right. The illusion of freedom is coming down. So is the illusion of a government that gives a damn about the people it uses to fill its pockets and the pockets of its wealthier owners.

Everything is speeding up now. The one percent are grabbing everything they can and solidifying their power through government so as to be able to resist any efforts at revolution. The weak, those who need resources and do not profit them sufficiently, are being plucked out and left to suffer and die.

Occupy now, because this is no game. The longer we wait to come together and demand change, the harder it will be to overcome the structures they are putting into place now to protect their power.

[jsmirman]

8. What do you think is the most effective way to get on their case?

Is the best thing for everyone to call that number?

Have there been press reports on this?

Can you link us to anything that shows that they received $3 million for this purpose? I mean, I don't have a problem asking them what the story is, but I'd prefer to go in with the facts.

This certainly sounds like terrific bullshit.

[annm4peace]

11. Yes press has sporadically reported

But Fresno Community Alliance, the progressive paper in Fresno had reported consistantly.

I don't know what is best.. if you can do all three that is wonder.. or if you can only call that is great also.
I personally think that the outside of Fresno attention shakes up the city officials the most. The more attention the better.
Fresno is so isolated by the neo-cons through the media, churches.. that it is sort of like trying to get Germans to fight back during the Nazi rule. There is a small group that keeps fighting back but it isn't enough and it is hard to get the people educated and courage to fight back. It will take outside voices and a lot of them.


All you have to do to see other reports is do a search Fresno + Homeless.

I keep trying to post what happens to the Homeless in Fresno as Mike posts them on indymedia or there are articles in corp papers.
so you can do a search just on DU.. it is so heartbreaking it keeps going on and on and on.

Here is a nearly 10 years chronological reporting by Mike Rhodes. He struggles to keep the paper going.
Fresno has had nearly 22 years of neo-con fundamentalist right wing Mayors..
25 years ago neo-cons took over the only city paper, the only talk radio, and 2 big fundamental churches came to town.. and others followed. It slowly turned our diverse city into a neo-con land of hate.


10 years of attacks on the Homeless. one of the meanest cities
http://fresnoalliance.com/wordpress/?p=1313

Some highlights:
City of Fresno Criminalizes Poverty
Outdoor Drunk Tank Established to Humiliate the Homeless
Fresno Homeless Moved into Tool Sheds
Bulldozers,Barbed Wire,and Harassment for Fresno’s Homeless
The Crime of Pushing a Shopping Cart
Homeless Case Heard in Fresno Federal Court
Preliminary Injunction Issued in Fresno
The Mayor,the Broadcast and the Truth
Will Fresno’s Homeless People be put into a Concentration Camp?
What Happened to Pamela Kincaid? (did the police or Mayor have her killed ?)
Like a Grinch,City of Fresno Takes Homeless Peoples Property
Is Mayor Autry Above the Law? (and he says he is the Christian Evangelical Mayor)
Lives of Fresno’s Homeless Honored (those who died on the streets)
Federal Judge Rules City of Fresno Violated the Rights of Homeless Residents
Fresno Elected Officials Pledge to End Homelessness
Unequal Justice –The Tragic Case of Pam Kincaid
Homeless Man Beaten by Fresno Police Officers
Community Groups Respond to Police Beating of Homeless Man
Will the Victim of Fresno Police Beating be sent to Gulag?
Punishing the Victim –the Continuing Saga
Not Even a Manger for Fresno’s Homeless
A War Vetran and Homeless
Fresno Homeless Czar Harasses the Homeless
Lack of Transparency Hurts the Homeless/Progressive News Briefs
Demolition Derby in Fresno
Fresno –Punishing the Most Vulnerable

I just listed about 1/3 of the titles of the articles.. there are pictures and videos.. you'll have to go to the link above to read the articles. It is heartbreaking, shameful the State and the Feds have not stopped this abuse of human rights.
But in the mist of these are the works of others trying to stop the abuse and help those who are homeless.

[jsmirman]

12. Good Lord

are these a-holes really going to give a damn if I call?

I will anyway, because, my God, how can you be so heartless, but they seem so without compassion that I just... (don't see a shaking my head icon, but, that)

[annm4peace]

16. thank you.. yes I think every call matters

and sending to others helps.

Every call or email or post is another poke at them.

[jsmirman]

19. Will do

I sure wonder what they'll say.

I'll be polite, but I don't imagine they're going to enjoy my phone call.

[annm4peace]

24. Just curious if you were able to call

no worries if you didn't any calls or posting I am very grateful for

but if you were able to I'm curious what response you received.

[jsmirman]

26. I'm afraid I was up so late

creating the H20 facebook page, and then trying to explain to someone why Smithfield wasn't "good, down home eating" that the time got away from me.

Which is a pathetic dog ate my homework excuse if ever there was one.

I will call tomorrow, and if they are not open, I will call Monday. While these people continue to suffer, which makes missing my window just terrible. But I promise, I will call. And I'll report back.

[annm4peace]

27. no worries.. sadly there will be other times

i'm am excited County workers are going on strike on Monday.. biggest strike i have seen in Fresno ever.

I hope the strike brings some national attention that can then shed light on the abuse o the homelss

[jsmirman]

31. Many worries

but yes, it seems pretty incredible that there is going to be a strike in a place like Fresno.

[Starry Messenger]

9. k&r

[NBachers]

13. Jeez- why doesn't the headline read "Tax Shelters Torn Down!"

What have these people done to anyone?

[T S Justly]

18. Where's the Chief Civil Rights Enforcer when you need him?

Oh yea, at Disney Land. Fucking goofy. Acting goofy.

[AtomicKitten]

20. *

[Starry Messenger]

22. Is that your age or your IQ?

[Tsiyu]

21. There is some wonderful advice in this book I once read

about how society and the individual were supposed to treat "the least of these."



Must have been something Marx wrote....

[annm4peace]

23. that is good one

the hater's who run Fresno wrote their own book.

The previous Mayor, was evangelical christian.. he actually said the homeless where that way cause they weren't followers of Christ.

sick. The previous Mayor, previous Sheriff, and current Chief of Police all bragged how they were born again.

[annm4peace]

25. 1/20 4:30pm reported Cops tearing down tarps protecting homeless from the rain

I got on a facebook and just read this report.

"I received two calls this morning from homeless people living on Santa Clara street telling me that the police were there tearing down their tarps, which they had put up to protect themselves from the rain. Just as it started to rain, the police arrived, told them to remove the tarps and anything else they were using to protect themselves and their property from the rain. Anyone who did not comply or were not there at the time had their tarps removed by the police."

http://www.fresno.gov/Government/DepartmentDirectory/Police/default.htm

Contact Us
Jerry Dyer, Chief
2323 Mariposa Street
Fresno, CA 93721
[phone]
E-Mail Us
Department Home

"Hello, I'd like to leave a message for Chief Dyer"
"I'll like to report some inhumane assholes are removing tarps from the homeless that are protecting them from the rain."

this shit never stops. It hasn't even been a week since one homeless woman died from the elements.

[Tsiyu]

28. I wonder how many vacant homes are falling apart

because they're uninhabited, within a 50 mile radius of Fresno.

"But we can't just GIVE them a house!"

"They're all CRAZY so they don't know how to live in actual houses, but if we take all their stuff, they will dry up and float away like magic.


"We go to church and that's what we believe. They should never eat, sleep or have even one belonging because Jesus doesn't love them. Not like he loves us."

"We would rather tear that foreclosure down and leave an eyesore come spring, than let any human live in it this winter."

See, somehow I think the city of Fresno could have taken some of that $3 million and converted some foreclosed property into affordable housing and shelter for the homeless. But there is this false idea that we don't help one another, that the true success story is about loners who get no help from anyone.

We're made to believe that "real winners" were tossed out into snowbanks by their mothers at birth and raised by wolves on the tundra. And they liked it.

Even school buses and public libraries are now considered socialist schemes designed to weaken our offspring.

It's all a lie, of course. After all, SOMEBODY chose to keep you around and change all your nasty nappies rather than leaving you on a doorstep somewhere, and that person was only the first to help you get to the point of being able to read this drivel.

We all get help, and we should always be willing to help.

The leadership in Fresno would rather be heartless.

Their cruelty solves nothing. Their justifications for the cruelty show you who these people really are.

[Zalatix]

30. And none of the homeless fought back? What do they have to lose, their LIVES???

Seriously?

[Zalatix]

29. Why don't the homeless rebel? They've got nothing to lose.

Is this how America's poor are going to end? Laying down to die in the cold???

[annm4peace]

32. if you looked through the long 10 years of articles you will see

they have fought back.. they have been jailed, beaten, and one woman Pam Kincaid died under mysterious circumstance.. that really aren't that mysterious.. she was killed.

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/08/08/18439524.php

(this is only part of Mike's article )


What Happened to Pamela Kincaid?
By Mike Rhodes

A friend of mine died under disturbing and suspicious circumstances last week. I’m determined to find out the truth and discover what led to her death. Here is what I know:

Pamela Kincaid was the lead named plaintiff in the lawsuit filed by the homeless against the City of Fresno, because the city was taking and immediately destroying their property. This sometimes included their ID’s, clothing, tools, kittens, and in one case the urn containing the ashes of a grandchild. Pam stood up against this injustice and was willing to put herself on the line to protect the rights of all homeless people in this community.

A federal court issued a preliminary injunction to stop the city from conducting these raids on the homeless and just last week ruled to certify the suit as a class action lawsuit. That means that all homeless people affected by the city’s policy will be compensated if the lawsuit prevails in court. On the day the class action lawsuit was certified in Federal Court, the attorneys visited Pam in UMC, the long term care facility she was in. A day and a half later at 1:30 AM on Wednesday, August 1, Pam fell from the fourth floor, under suspicious circumstances.

Pam was in this facility because she had been beaten, nearly to death, in mid July. Pam had been telling me for months that she felt she was being targeted by the police and others because of the lawsuit. She was very upset about being arrested and put in jail for several days without charges ever being filed. Pam described what happened: “you know why they arrested me, don’t you? It was retaliation for the lawsuit.” The arrest occurred when Pam was driving around with friends in downtown Fresno. “All of a sudden there was this swarm of cop cars,” Pam said. “They got us all out of the car but they seemed mostly interested in me. One of the guys I was with had an open can of beer, which they just totally ignored. They arrest me on a probation hold. I’m not on probation and they knew that!”

Pam spent the next several days in jail. No charges were ever filed. As she was being released, Pam asked one of the sheriff deputies why she had been in jail. Pam told me the officer rolled her eyes and said “there ought to be an investigation.” Pam thought she knew exactly why she was arrested and put in jail - she believed it was because she was the high visibility plaintiff in a very controversial lawsuit that put the City of Fresno and the Fresno Police Department (FPD) in a bad light.

[Zalatix]

33. Then keep on fighting back. What's worse, that or freezing to death?

We're going to start seeing tons of homeless dying quietly as a result of the new Austerity Nation.

Everyone's just going to die quietly. ARGH.

[annm4peace]

35. I'm afraid the Fresno PD or Sheriff Dept

wouldn't have any any problem tazing, shooting (to kill), or tear gassing the homeless.

I'm not sure what you think the homeless can do. maybe if they lit themselves on fire like the guy in the Middle East the media would care.. but I am not sure that would even help.

[Zalatix]

36. Getting shot vs freezing to death, which do you think is worse?

Americans are developing a habit of starving to death and dying of exposure instead of fighting back against the Plutocracy.

I'd have fought for my tent. It's my only way of surviving in those conditions. Now a lot of those people will die, slowly, of exposure.

[annm4peace]

34. So .. City of Fresno responded back where cold and wet Homeless can go

" City of Fresno We encourage that they seek emergency shelter. Individuals can call the United Way at 2-1-1 for assistance on housing and other needs."

[jsmirman]

38. What the

what did they say about the millions of dollars they received for the purpose of helping these people?

That's what I would really like to get some answers on.

[annm4peace]

40. so would many progressives in Fresno

they have asked at the City County meetings and still have not received answers.

[Quantess]

39. What a shame.

K & R

[jsmirman]

41. Ok, I called

reached someone in the Mayor's office - she was nice enough until she heard what I was calling in reference to.

I gave my name, number, and law school affiliation right up front at each point in the call.

I was transferred to Greg Barfield's number - where, unsurprisingly, the call went to voicemail.

I can independently verify that his message directs all possible concerns you might have if you are homeless to 211 or another local number that connects you to the United Way.

In my message, I identified myself and asked if it was indeed true that Fresno received $3 million from the Federal Government to put toward assisting the homeless, if it is true, what has been done with that money, and is there an explanation for why all calls are being routed to The United Way.

I left my phone number for a return call, and mentioned that I was calling on behalf of one of their constituents. I guess we can see if I receive a call back. I don't think they're going to call me back.

[EFerrari]

42. Well done. They may not call you back but you never know who is paying attention.

What number did you call? I can call as a property owner if not a constitutent.

[jsmirman]

43. I called (number in body of post)

#559 621 7770

That number actually got me the Mayor's office - I believe it was indicated that they all share the same line(?) - and the moment the woman heard what I was calling about she said she needed to transfer me, and I was transferred to Greg Barfield, who is head of Housing in Fresno, I believe (think this is also what was said in the OP).

[EFerrari]

44. Thanks. I'll call before closing time today. n/t

[jsmirman]

45. Good stuff

let's see how they handle your call...

[jsmirman]

46. Bump for Ann - and no, I haven't heard back from anyone yet

if ever, of course

[annm4peace]

52. great idea

I never would have thought of that.

[EFerrari]

53. I still have to make that call.

It's been nuts here but I will, first thing.

The little building Mom saved from an illegal auction is in Fresno, so I've already been around the block with several city agencies including the Fresno PD. And I won't have to fib.

[annm4peace]

51. awesome.. what great questions you asked

Thank you so much. I just read this now.

I know that they will think twice of what they do or don't do... if they think people are watching.

[lonestarnot]

47. Occupy every fucking repo home still on the market before investors buy them up for rental.

Fucking A!

[annm4peace]

48. police and sheriff dept are violent in Fresno

to occupy foreclosed home is harder here as the police and sheriff dept's seem to get away with murder.

[jsmirman]

49. Ann - any updates on the situation?

And no, "Greg" has never called me back.

[annm4peace]

50. Not of the City actually doing something

what I did see what Big Sue who died on the street, her cousin had a LTE in the Fresno Bee and the tone of comments were much kinder than the hate comments against the homeless.

I am hoping that tone might help for awhile.

Today was the 3nd of a 3 day strike by Fresno Co. Workers... and now the County and SEIU go before the CA Labor Board about negotiating budget cuts.. anyhow.. it is the biggest strike i have seen in a very long time and I hope it shakes up the apathy and opression in fresno a little more...

If that lessens the stronghold by the neocons on the local government I" hoping it might help.. but honestly I hope help comes from outside of the Valley cause otherwise I odn't know if we can trust the local government.

Thanks for calling

[jsmirman]

54. I think as some say down South

I might should call again.

I don't have a problem telling them that I never heard back, and I wanted to remind the man of my questions.

Has the Fresno Bee done a story on the missing $3 million? I know we spoke about what press coverage there had been of the homeless situation, but the $3 million seems to me to be the type of thing a reporter would want to look into (which I say as an ex-journo).

I really would like to hear even a bad justification out of them - what the heck is the explanation?

If the Fresno Bee hasn't covered that particular issue, I also would have no problem calling their city desk to ask why they haven't done any reporting on the topic. I have reasonably good credentials that usually get someone to at least listen to my call when I reach out to most city desks.

[annm4peace]

55. that is a good question on the money

I'll ahve to try to do a search and see.

I know that mike at Community Alliance newspaper asked about the money donated to another city program.

[jsmirman]

56. Let me know what you dig up

I'm certainly up for another call next week.