Activist groups are starting to make noise that the CCC’s proposed panhandling and single beer ordinances are attempts to “criminalize poverty” and run the homeless out of Downtown. This is absolutely untrue. The CCC has said time and time again that the condition of being homeless is a separate issue from the behaviors of panhandling aggressively and being drunk and disorderly.
The CCC posted a great story today. Gaston Davis was at one point homeless. He went through the program at the Union Mission and became an assistant at the Mission. He went on to receive a degree at SWTCCC, and 11 years ago he founded the Center City Commission’s Blue Suede Brigade program. Blue Suede Brigadiers walk the streets of Downtown Memphis, welcoming tourists, giving directions, and handing out maps and other helpful info. That wonderful 16-person program was founded by a formerly homeless man. I did not know that prior to today.
Gaston knows what it’s like on the street, and trains his Brigadiers to provide help to those in need. And you know what? Gaston supports the panhandling and single beer ordinances. If the hidden agenda behind the ordinances were to run homeless people out of Downtown, I seriously doubt a formerly homeless man would be such a strong proponent of them.
There was a great comment to this story left on Facebook: “I fear that some other self-proclaimed ‘advocates for the homeless’ care more about advancing their political ideology than providing help to the truly needy.” EXACTLY!!!!
This page provides details on the ordinances, and ways you can show your support. Please sign the petition!