This case started in 2009 against the City and County of Sacramento for their habitual confiscation and destruction of homeless people's property, without notifying them beforehand or storing their things for later retrieval. The case was also seeking to do away with the anti-camping ordinance that makes it against the law to camp or to store property on public property (and on private property for more than one day), but the court threw that part of the lawsuit out. It seems like "property" is the big protection our judicial system can offer. The county settled for $200,000 with a promise to notify campers beforehand and to store their possessions for a time.
The City of Sacramento did not settle during the mediation process, so the case is going to Federal Court. The Law Office of Mark Merin, with Cathleen Williams and Mark Merin as the attorneys. We encourage attendance to show the jury the interest.
Lehr, et al. vs City of Sacramento, et al.
May 9-11, 16-28, 23-25
Federal Court Building
501 - I Street
Court Room 7, 14th Floor
Sacramento, CA
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| Attorneys Mark Merin and Cathleen Williams |
Go get 'em, Paula!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the first post ever on this blog!
ReplyDeleteUm, tap, tap, tap. Maybe I've said this before. ..."Housing First" and "Permanent Supportive Housing" are cheaper by far in the long run but there are powerful ways we can help in the interim.
ReplyDeleteIt's so sad that it takes a sledgehammer (or 2 X 4) to educate; ...but take what it will. Great job by Mark Merin and Cathleen A Williams for the fantastic win but this is only absolute minimal justice that doesn't compensate for the terrible suffering and disruption of lives caused by survival gear and absolutely treasured or important possessions being confiscated during the worst possible times.
The USA isn't signatory to some important International Human Rights agreements, but, as UN Rapporteur Catarina de Albuquerque pointed out in a (heretofore publicly under-addressed) letter to Mayor Kevin Johnson, we *ARE* signatory to some (having the effect of treaties, the strongest law possible) prohibiting discrimination based on a lack of shelter and others requiring clean drinking water and sanitation for everyone.
Personally, I would encourage Vice-Mayor Angelique Ashby to look into the declaration of a Shelter Crisis to help facilitate some of the wonderfully functional and cost effective ideas that Safe Ground has proposed. ...cost, negligible. ...and the benefits could be profound. A declaration of a Shelter Crisis deserves to be discussed.
Especially with some of the negative effects and dangers of AB 109 looming our Homeless are all the more desperately in need of our protection and help. As they reach for the next rung up the ladder to get help out of horrible situations and improve their lives they need more than having their fingers cruelly stepped on by the police.
Not everything costs a lot of money and Safe Ground has offers of financial help. Sometimes a simple relaxation of a zoning ordinance or prohibition would do the trick. ...besides aiding here a Shelter Crisis declaration would enable use of many unused buildings, for instance, that could help.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/09/californias-homeless-crisis_n_1243223.html
We have people dying out on the river and it's going to get worse. That blood has been, and more will be, squarely on our hands and while we have done much for the long term we can do so much more to help the desperate interim need.
Let's avoid more horrendous law suits we simply can't afford.. Let's get to those that want and need help. Even interim measures pay off "big time."
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0608-homeless-savings-20120608,0,5536032.story
There are in excess of 130 communities sharing in and attesting to the phenomenal savings across the country. Let's get campers where we can have appropriate services within easy reach and attainable while they try to put their lives back together. ...and let's not forget about pets, couples, and children! Safe Ground has proposed responsible interim solutions that encompass all of these.
Lives can be saved. Lives can be rebuilt. We just need the will.
But they desperately need the help. We can do this!
Frank L. Topping, Chair:
Sacramento County Human Services Coordinating Council 2012 Goal #1 Committee -- Implementation of Policy HS9 of the Human Services Element of the Sacramento County General Plan (and additionally) "Advocating for Responsible Alternatives to Accommodate our Homeless."