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Blogs by Ann Massey
Ban the beggars: Tough strategies proposed in Miami and Melbourne 7/18/2013 3:11:10 PM
Is the worldwide crackdown on the homeless, the forerunner of anti-vagrancy laws. It may soon be illegal to be homeless in Miami. Miami City Commissioner, wants anyone blocking the streets to be thrown in jail. In Melbourne Lord Mayor Doyle called for vagrants to be removed from the streets after complaints about begging. "If they just go back on the street, or refuse to do any of the diversions, then eventually they are going to find themselves on the the track where it may even be jail," he said.
Zero Tolerance:WA Politician Wants to Introduce Vagrancy Laws
In my new book about homelessness and poverty, Leonard Hardie, a politician out to make a name by scapegoating the homeless advocated the introduction of vagrancy laws whereby beggars would be jailed for begging, trespassing and sleeping on the streets. His draconian proposals included-- closing toilets after dark, removing drinking fountains, forcing soup kitchens to comply with strict health and safety guidlines (expensive upgrades), and the creation of a tactical anti- vagrancy unit. When he was nominated by the Western Australia Liberal Party for the seat of Perth, zero tolerance was the theme of his speech:
Liberal Candidate for Perth's Address
"I'm looking for a big job and reclaiming the CBD is one of the biggest and most serious challenges facing the state government. Our city has wonderful facilities paid for out of the public purse, and yet ordinary West Australian families aren't the ones taking advantage of the facilities their taxes support.
Many of you here today own shops, cafes and restaurants and know only too well that the city is losing out to the suburbs.Why when so much money has been poured into the city are our shopping malls, restaaurants, entertainment venues, parks and gardens empty? Why aren't young people enjoying the city's unique atmosphere? And why aren't families enjoying the free entertainment that has been laid on?
Take a walk a walk through the streets. You won't need to look hard to find the answer. Vagrants are the ones travelling in luxury on the free transit system. Beggars, the very ones who are frightening off the shoppers, are lolling around on the benches in the malls, enjoying street entertainment meant to induce people into the city. And derros have turned our once lovely parks and gardens into places where it is no longer safe for young children to play with bare feet.
My friends we must face the fact that the city has been high-jacked by homeless layabouts, and is quickly degenerating into a no-go zone for decent, hard-working West Australians. My fellow citizens, like you, I'm sick of hearing about the problem when there is a simple solution. I'm talking zero tolerance. We must oust the usurpers, chase the ragged army from the field of battle, and take back the city on behalf of ordinary working people who have a legitimate right to the peaceful enjoyment of the facilities paid for from their pockets."
Author's Comment:
Leonard Hardie is a construction, but his sentiments and policies are not dissimilar to those proposed by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne and the Miami City Commissioner. To see what outrages occur when he's given his head in Salvation Jane.
