Plea goes to get Portable Toilets for the Homeless in Fresno, Ca cause the City won't help

[annm4peace]

I received the email below from my progressive friend in Fresno, CA. I just had to share with others.
this is what it is like for a city that is in a "conservative controlled area" for the last 40 years.
(the Center is Fresno Non-violence Center) I hope you can share with others, and if you like send the Mayor a postcard and tell her what you think. and if you can also, send a post card to Mike and the Homeless and let them know you care.



*****************************************
Dear Friends of the Center: Some of you may have received this email from Mike already. This is such a worthy cause and I hope that some of you out there will be able to contribute to it.
Angela

Hi Angela,

The portable toilets and trash bin the Community Alliance provide to the homeless on F street (between Ventura and Santa Clara) gives the 100 (more or less) people living there some dignity. It keeps the neighborhood clean and prevents a health hazard from developing. Why on earth the City of Fresno refuses to provide these basic public services to the homeless (which they provide to every other household in this community) is a shame.

The reason I’m writing today is to ask for your help so we can continue this important service. I just received a bill for the portable toilets of $427.59 and I don’t have the money to pay it. This is what it costs for one month of service - which includes emptying them once a week and a sink with hand sanitizer.

The trash bin, which has just been paid for next month, costs $182.16. If you can help us to continue providing this much needed service, that would be great. You can send a check to the Community Alliance (see below for the address) or you can make a donation at our PayPal account, by going to: http://m1e.net/c?58484509-voglldh7.B7kk%406763989-90bBzh2UWsR2M and clicking on the “donate” button on the upper left.
There is a good chance that if we can get through this month there will be some institutional support (from a faith based group) that will cover most, if not all, of the costs. So, we just need to get through one more month. Let me know if you can help.

Mike Rhodes
Editor
Community Alliance Newspaper
PO Box 5077
Fresno Ca 93755
Voice: 559-978-4502
E-mail: [email protected]
www.fresnoalliance.com


************************************************************************************************************************************

It shouldn’t surprise me but it still does. The small progressives are trying to collect some change to provide porta pottys for the homeless in Fresno, cause the city won’t do it. Incredible

Here is the contact for the current Mayor

Ashley Swearengin, Mayor
2600 Fresno Street
Room 2075
[phone]
http://www.fresno.gov/Government/MayorsOffice/Biography/Default.htm





It makes me think,, what would Jesus do ? Maybe ask the Homeless Czar of Fresno City

City of Fresno has a Homeless Czar: Gregory Barfield
( Gregory was the City of Fresno’s, first Homeless Prevention and Policy Manager, and was responsible for the implementation of the 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness adopted by the City of Fresno and the County of Fresno in September of 2008.
Office of the City Manager
559 / 621-7788
[email protected]

So what is he doing to help (or is really hurt) ?
http://fresnoalliance.com/wordpress/?p=357




The previous Mayor of Fresno, Alan Autry, (sadly he was Mayor for 8 years, sort like George Bush)



(Yep, he was Bubba in the Heat of the Night) used to have weekly prayer services, go and speak on a National "Christian" show, and would have a annual Christian only Prayer inside City Hall. Very homophobic (although he did play one on Cheers)
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/05/03/18496559.php



He would often be on the 700 Club with Pat Robertson
http://www.cbn.com/700club/guests/interviews/Alan_Autry010907.aspx


This what happens when "Conservatives" take over your government.

Mayor Autry also abused, and harassed the homeless saying they need to give up drugs and alcohol and find God.
http://www.peoplestribune.org/PT.2008.07/PT.2008.07.07.html

The Mayor, the Chief of Police and lets not forget the Sheriff that sent deputy in to spy on Peace Fresno
liked to boast of their born-againess and love of Christ,, yet couldn't stop abusing the homeless.

the City of Fresno did receive Fed money to help the homeless but the Mayor gave it to the Fresno Rescue mission and an some program in the city to help the homeless that doesn't want to show it's acct book.
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/04/13/18677085.php



The Hill on G Street



Part of the H street Encampment
by Mike Rhodes Wednesday Apr 13th, 2011 7:05 PM



E street offramp (Golden State)



The F street encampment
by Mike Rhodes Wednesday Apr 13th, 2011 7:05 PM
by Mike Rhodes Wednesday Apr 13th, 2011 7:05 PM


You would think the Feds would investigate but they seem to busy going after peace activists.



The City of Fresno refuses to provide basic public services for the homeless. These two portable toilets are paid for by the Community Alliance newspaper. The CA also provides this encampment on F street with a trash bin.

Mike has written countless stories of the abuse by the City and County of Fresno against the homeless, and of the Homeless themselves.. and has led petitions, marches, call ins etc. (just go the his website and Click Homeless and read several horrific stories)
http://fresnoalliance.com/wordpress/?p=1313

Just fyi, Fresno can be 115 degrees for days during the summer.. imagine being in tent on concrete with no shade or in the metal sheds that the city thought would be good for a homeless person.

[SoCalNative]

1. Someone should call RimJob over at FR

He probably has some extras they could use.

[annm4peace]

2. If you saw Rimbo in person you wouldn't say that

You would think he might be one of those on the street.

He is probably one step or one donation from being on the street himself

[annm4peace]

9. I wonder if the Free Clinics could happen in Fresno ?

x

[Newest Reality]

3. If the City of Fresno

refuses to provide essential services for its citizens in need, then are those citizens really considered to be citizens?

Or, is Fresno, (as are so many other areas) demonstrating that citizenship is based exclusively on an unspoken, but obvious socio-economic requirement.

There is no justice in that at all and the general welfare of the people is not being served on city, state or federal level in that case.

[Coleen Rowley]

4. Thanks for posting!

And thanks for sharing the photos---reminds me 3rd world refugee camps.

[Sirveri]

5. The city can't afford 600$ a month? Really?

WOW. Pretty sure it's less a case of lack of ability and more a case of lack of desire.

If I was able to pay this entire thing myself I'd do it in a heartbeat.

[annm4peace]

6. these are just some of the pictures

it is shameful that we treat fellow Americans like this.

I posted more that people would make calls or hopefully some national person picks up the treatment of the Homeless in the last 10 years.

Mike has a lot of pictures and interviews that a person who does documentaries could easily make a documentary.

the biggest thing is this is city is a perfect example of the neo-conservatives 30 year attack and control of city government.

something that some communities are just starting to see.. like in Wisconsin. It is the when the media is taken over by conservatives, big box neo-con christian churches, then 'conservative city officials".

You end up with less jobs, more homeless, more police state and people with 1/4 of them being children living in these horrific conditions.

[Overseas]

7. K&R.

[MplsAnnie]

8. When 20% of the country has 84% of the wealth and the bottom 40% have .4% of the wealth,

this is the result. The unlimited greed at the top has created a lot of suffering for millions. It's clear Fresno would like to just see them disappear. We live in a dark age when the super greedy are viewed as the super successful.