Damn! there goes my Site B plans.... ========================== From the Chicago Tribune: Activists protest car sleeping ban By Lisa Fingeret Tribune Staff Writer November 3, 1999 Advocates for homeless people today rallied at Chicago City Hall against a proposed ordinance they said would punish people for being poor. Holding signs stating "Let's sleep at Ray's house" and "Give the poor a chance," supporters of the Latino Task Force Against Homelessness protested a measure proposed in September by Ald. Ray Suarez (31st) that would fine people $25 for sleeping in their cars. "They are sleeping in cars because they have no other option," said Lisa Williams, the group's assistant coordinator. "There is not a war on poverty, there is a war on the poor," said John Donahue, director of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. He said the city is removing homeless people from Lower Wacker Drive, clearing parks and now wants to make it an offense for people to sleep in cars. Suarez said he did not single out the homeless or any other group when he drafted the ordinance. He said he was responding to calls from residents who feel unsafe and are concerned about people sleeping in cars near their homes. "I am not saying that all people sleeping in cars are dangerous people. It is just that some residents don't feel safe," he said. The ordinance, in fact, does not mention homelessness, but at least one supporter said that does not matter. "Certainly, Ald. Suarez's recommendation does not mention homelessness by name, but come on, who else would be sleeping in their cars, someone with a nice warm house to go to?" said Sister Dorothy Pagosa, who works at the 8th Day Center for Justice, a social services group. Suarez said when he heard of the group's concerns, he asked that the ordinance be held in committee until he could meet with the Latino Task Force, which is part of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. A meeting is scheduled for Nov. 18.

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-- plonk! (realaddress@hotmail.com), November 03, 1999

Answers

Would that $25 fine apply if the car was moving?

-- snooze button (alarmclock_2000@yahoo.com), November 03, 1999.

People should be upset when they see people sleeping in cars.

They should be aware that it could easily be themselves sleeping in cars soon.

-- Sam (Gunmkr52@aol.com), November 03, 1999.

I wish for all people who come against the homeless in such a manner to find themselves homeless, to be at the mercy of such a law, if this is passed.

In the effort to pass this law, one of the prejudices of this world raises it ugly head again, -----the have's against the have nots.

I think those who come against the poor are disgusting and think they should be treated like the vermin they are.

Wise One

-- Wise One (wiseone@disgusted.com), November 03, 1999.

This reminds me of when I was a kid many years ago, once I went into town with my Mom, (town of 1.200 people, we lived 10 miles out on a farm) and BootJack was raking leaves around the Courthouse lawn. I told me Mom, "There's BootJack." BootJack did day labor for my Grandfather and occially would come down to the farm to help out. Mom replied, "yea, the sheirff is just trying help BootJack get his strenght back for he recently put him in jail so he would have a warm bed to sober up, feed him some good food, and let him get some exercise so he will be ready to work in the spring plowing season. That was compassion.

-- chicken farmer (chicken-farmer@ y2k.farm), November 03, 1999.

Is there some sort of RV construction kit that could disguise a car to look like a miniature RV motor home?

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), November 03, 1999.

Yes, an entire family of homeless living in the car.

-- spun@lright (mikeymac@uswest.net), November 03, 1999.

No civilian has a need for reclining car seats.

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), November 03, 1999.

Maybe they could car pool and share the fee.

Jeannie

-- jhollander (hollander@ij.net), November 04, 1999.

So what am I to do when I'm all plastered and don' wanna drive?

-- I'M (Hammered@the.Wheel), November 04, 1999.

The $25 fine only applies to occupants of moving vehicles if they are driving at the time...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), November 04, 1999.