tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327749411188045018.post6216811896359548741..comments2008-11-02T19:58:56.663-08:00The Primate Fiascohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00932729715976215459noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327749411188045018.post-42134347221646500042008-10-30T09:31:00.000-07:002008-10-30T09:31:00.000-07:00As you probably know, Poverty Is Not A Crime is a loosely affiliated group of<BR/>street people (three of whom spoke at the last city council meeting), student activists,community organizers,<BR/>business owners and town citizens, sponsored byorganizations like Arise for Social Justice, the Northampton chapter ofFood not Bombs, and the Freedom Center, as well as some student organizations--and we're working against the new ordinance that would de facto criminalize panhandling by restricting it wherever there's foot traffic and panhandling is actually viable--we're doing so on the basis of 1st Amendment rights, b/c it is a class specific and classist law (despite the self-conscious addition of charitable solicitation as being included in the legislation in the latest revision), and because it will destroy the bohemian subcultural mix of Northampton that makes up a huge part of its appeal in the first place by shoving an entire class of people out of the way. Would you consider coming to our next garage band parade/protest in front of City Hall @ 6:20 PM on November 6th (a Thursday)? Or would you speak (I'm sure you do so quite eloquently, considering how you write) at the public comments section of the city council meeting in the Municipal Buidling behind City Hall, at 7 PM--get there at 6:50 PM just to make sure you have a crack at the sign in sheet before it's too late. They'll be introducing the revised ordinance at this next meeting, though it won't be voted on yet, instead, cycled through several committees. But we need to make sure the council understands that Northampton residents are *not* in favor of the ordinance. At least call your city counselor and the city counselors at large (Dostal and Bardsley) and urge them to vote against the legislation. http://marginalutility.livejournal.com/489074.html?mode=reply this entry in my livejournal has the contact info for all the city councilors, plus a ward map to find out what ward you're in and which city councilor represents you, as well as a sample phone script--which I don't think you'll need.Catyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12269408950348611307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327749411188045018.post-33935502065069664282008-07-08T14:57:00.000-07:002008-07-08T14:57:00.000-07:00Keep on blogging -- and consider moving to Amherst!Mary E.Careyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038834344347616519noreply@blogger.com