#Denver City Council

[clearancecreedwatersurvival]

I love judging local city council candidates based entirely on how bad their answer is to the question: what do you think are some solutions to the housing crisis?

Similarly, very easy to judge school board candidates based on how they answer the question: do you think kids in schools should be allowed to discuss sexuality and gender expression with school staff members?

[reasoningdaily]

Denver's City Council unanimously approved a $4.7 million settlement to over 300 Black Lives Matter protesters arrested by Denver police in the summer of 2020.

The settlement was approved as part of the city council's consent agenda and covers over 300 people who participated in protests surrounding the police killing of George Floyd. This settlement is separate from the $14 million payout to 12 injured protesters, which went to a jury trial last year -- and which the city is appealing in federal court -- and a $1.6 million settlement to seven injured protesters earlier this year.

The $4.7 million settlement approved Monday will go to protesters who say their First Amendment rights were violated by the Denver Police Department.

"Denver used its militarized police force to unlawfully arrest over 300 people for protesting the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor," said Claire Sannier, one of the arrested protesters and plaintiffs in this lawsuit. "The city has agreed to pay for this one instance of violent suppression of free speech, while they continue to brutalize and imprison people every day. Our message is that Black Lives Matter is as necessary now as it was in 2020."

Front and center in the initial lawsuit filed against the city are text messages sent among Denver police leadership appearing to show them only enforcing a curfew against protesters.

"Over 300 people were arrested for the simple act of protesting. The U.S. Constitution does not allow police to clear the streets of protesters simply because they do not agree with their message," said Elizabeth Wang, of the civil rights law firm Loevy & Loevy and lead attorney for the plaintiffs. "In addition to compensation to protesters, the settlement prevents the City from enacting any curfew enforced against those engaged in protest activity in the future. This is a win that will protect free speech in Denver for the years to come."

CBS News Colorado reached out to the Denver Police Department for comment. A department spokesman deferred to the City Attorney's Office, which denies that the department violated anyone's constitutional rights.

"The City and County of Denver has reached a settlement in a federal class action lawsuit filed on behalf of over 300 individuals who were arrested for violating the curfew order during protests in May 2020," the City Attorney's Office said in a statement. "The class plaintiffs alleged enforcement of the curfew order violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. Denver denies its curfew order was unconstitutionally enforced. Under the proposed settlement, the total amount for class members is expected to be between approximately $3.0 to 3.5 million with the remaining approximately $1.22 to 1.72 million allocated to attorneys' fees, costs, and settlement administration expenses. The settlement must be approved by the District Court."

[fatehbaz]

Dozens of bison from a mountain park outside Denver were transferred Wednesday to several tribes from across the Great Plains [...].

About a half-dozen of the animals from Colorado will form the nucleus of a new herd for the Yuchi people south of Tulsa, Oklahoma, said Richard Grounds with the Yuchi Language Project. [...] The herd will be expanded over time, [...] Grounds said. He compared the burly animals’ return to reviving the Yuchi’s language [...].Bison were “the original caretakers” of that land, he said. “We’ve lost that connection to the buffalo, that physical connection, as part of the colonial assault,” Grounds said. [...]

The transfers also included 17 bison to the Northern Arapaho Tribe and 12 to the Eastern Shoshone Tribe — both of Wyoming — and one animal to the Tall Bull Memorial Council, which has members from various tribes, city officials said. [...]

American bison, also known as buffalo, have bounced back from near-extinction in the 1880s but remain absent from most of the grasslands they once occupied.

Across the U.S., 82 tribes now have more than 20,000 bison, and the number of herds on tribal lands have grown in recent years. [...]

The animals transferred to the tribes Wednesday descend from the last remnants of the great herds. They were under care of the Denver Zoo and kept in a city park before being moved to foothills west of Denver in 1914. Surplus animals from the city’s herd were for many years auctioned off, but in recent years city officials began transferring them to tribes instead [...]. To date, 85 bison from Denver have been transferred to tribes and tribal organizations.

---

Headline, image, caption, and text by: Matthew Brown and Thomas Peipert, of The Associated Press. “US tribes get bison as they seek to restore bond with animal.” As published at The Seattle Times. 15 March 2023.

[beardedmrbean]

DENVER — In what could be a national trend, racist, anti-Kamala Harris signs popped up Thursday near multiple bus stops along Colfax Avenue in Denver and in at least one other state.

“I wish I could say I were surprised, but in a year when a Black woman could become POTUS those with hate in their heart are going to coordinate these kinds of atrocious, expensive campaigns to stir division,” Denver City Councilwoman Shontel Lewis said in a statement on X.

The first Denver sign was reported around 5 a.m. by a bus driver at a stop near the intersection of Colfax Avenue and Oneida Street, according to a news release from Denver’s Regional Transportation District.

RTD officials said the metal sign was attached to the bus stop’s pole with rivets and appears to have been installed shortly before it was reported.

Around 8:20 a.m. Thursday, one man in Denver’s Congress Park neighborhood spotted two white women putting up another sign at an RTD bus stop near the intersection of Colfax Avenue and Garfield Street.

“It was one of those things where you know something is out of place, but you don’t know what’s going on,” Congress Park resident Greg Bell said.

Bell said he passed the two women — who were carrying a white stepladder and trash bags he believes were holding the signs — as he made his way into a Sprouts on the corner of the intersection to run a quick errand. His receipt was time-stamped for 8:23 a.m.

As he left the store, Bell said he saw the pair setting up the stepladder in front of the bus stop and one woman climbing onto it while holding a white, metal sign.

When Bell saw photos posted on social media later Thursday morning, he said he immediately recognized the building behind the bus stop sign and realized what the women had been doing.

“This is appalling, illegal and hateful,” Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser wrote in a statement on social media Thursday. “Hate against any of us must be treated as hate against all of us.”

Photos posted by Lewis, the councilwoman, show the signs screwed into the RTD bus stop pole at Colfax Avenue and Garfield Street, outside of National Jewish Health and just west of Colorado Boulevard.

One white sign reads “Blacks must sit at the back of the bus. Kamala’s migrants sit in the front.” Another yellow caution sign on the same pole warns riders of “Kamala’s illegals,” with imagery of people running that is supposed to mimic immigrants crossing the border.

The caution sign is designed after real road signage that used to be posted in California, warning drivers near the San Diego border to watch for migrants running across the freeway. The last of the signs was removed in 2018.

“As a community, we must stand united against hate in all its forms. The recent appearance of racist signs in Denver is deeply troubling and does not reflect the values of our city,” the Denver City Council said in an emailed statement Thursday. “Denver is a place of inclusivity, diversity, and respect, and we will not tolerate messages of division or hate. We stand with all residents in condemning these acts and reaffirm our commitment to building a community where everyone feels safe, valued, and heard.”

As of 10:45 a.m., signs had been found at three RTD bus stops near the intersections of Colfax Avenue and Oneida Street, Colfax Avenue and Yosemite Street and Colfax Avenue and Garfield Street, according to RTD officials.

RTD officials said similar signs had appeared Thursday at Chicago Transit Authority bus stops and that Colorado officials are connecting with other agencies across the county to “assess the magnitude of the coordinated racist activity.”

Shortly before the Legislature ended its property tax-focused special session Thursday, two Denver lawmakers decried the signs from the state House floor, several blocks away from where one of the signs was posted. Several other Democratic lawmakers stood around them, and other legislators stood at their desks, a sign of solidarity in the chamber.

“What I think is important is that we confront our history, and note that if any of us care to say that we have moved forward, that all of us demonstrate that in standing here, undivided, on the declaration that this is hate, and that it’s unacceptable,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, a Denver Democrat and the House’s assistant majority leader. “I also want to say that we don’t know who put these up. And so we don’t know who’s part of the problem. We know that we cannot continue to allow people to believe that this is acceptable or allow people to believe that they can grow power from posting signs like this.”

RTD officials are working with the Denver Department of Transportation and the Denver Police Department to remove all the reported signs and investigate each of the incidents, according to a Thursday news release.

“RTD strongly condemns the hateful, discriminatory message portrayed by the signs,” transportation officials wrote in the release. “There is no place for racism or discrimination at RTD or within the communities we serve. The signs do not reflect the organization’s adopted values or promote a welcoming transit environment for all, nor should such vile messaging be tolerated or supported by anyone.”

[captainkirkk]

✩ WEEKLY FIC ROUND-UP ✩

All the fics I’ve read and really enjoyed in the past week-ish. Reminder: This list features any and all ratings and themes. Please look at tags and warnings on ao3 before reading.

The Magnus Archives/ What We Do In the Shadows (Crossover)

gaslight gatekeep girlboss by thepolysyndetonaddictsupportgroup

"Look, believe it or not, I had no intention of killing the Vampiric Council when I came here,” declares Nadja, sitting alone on the couch. “But Guillermo and I arrived at the first council meeting and did the whole, you know, the whole thing, the first day thing. Introductions and all that, yes hello wonderful to meet you, yes this is my bodyguard, yes he has slaughtered a tremendous number of our kind”--she flaps her hand absently--“normal first day things, you know? It was fine.” She pauses. “It got really fucking weird on the second day."

Or: Nadja and Guillermo seize control of vampiric politics, puppeteer world powers, and have the hottest of hot girl summers.

Unfortunately, they also really miss the stupid assholes they're in love with. With no way left to find them, they have no choice but to consult an Archivist.

DC/Danny Phantom Crossover

Teenage Hero Burnout #56: Interview With A Ghost. by STOVE

Red Robin, (aka Tim Drake) decides to host a YouTube series called "Teenage Hero Burnout'' after he makes a video by the same name talking about his own experiences. He interviews current and past heroes who started their careers as teens and discuss how it shaped their outlook on heroing & life in general.

(This fic is a one-shot. Teenage Hero Burnout is a hypothetical series that I will not be writing, but others are welcome to write their own episodes.)

All For the Game

One More Time (With Feeling) by elesary

Andrew Minyard went to sleep next to Neil Josten in their bed in Denver six years after graduation. He woke up on plane to Tucson between Wymack and Kevin, on their way to recruit Neil Josten, striker sub.

boyfriend privileges by mostly_maudlin

Andrew knows he treats Neil different. So why is it so bothersome that everyone else seems to know it, too?

Five times Neil gets boyfriend privileges, and one time it doesn't piss Andrew off.

SVSSS

The Peace Between Divine Pec- ah-hm sorry - uh…Peaks by AceOfDivineChlorophyll

Well, being kidnapped and tied up had to be the worst part of Shen Qingqiu's day right? Surely it couldn't get worse even if he was being presented to some new and upcoming demonic warlord as tribute after all it would all be mote when Luo Binghe escaped the Endless Abyss right? Well... unless the demonic warlord in question WAS Luo Binghe.

Thankfully... it might not end up going at all how he, or the demons, thought it was going to.

invasive blindfold removal surgery by postcardorigami

Part 1 of side effects may include indefinite photosensitivity

Oh, he thought absently, dizzily. Oh. I love him. I really, really love him.

That wasn’t a new thought—Shen Qingqiu had always known that he loved Luo Binghe. Thinking otherwise wasn’t a concept that had occurred to him. He’d loved him as a fictional character, as a sticky and eager-to-please disciple, as a troubled young man. He loved Luo Binghe the same way he loved the world around him: easily, wordlessly, endlessly, and in full acceptance of all faults and flaws.

But this- this felt like-

I think, Shen Qingqiu thought, for the first time in this life or the one he’d left, I think I’m in love with him.

And- and then-

I want to tell him where I come from.

or Shen Qingqiu, in order: hits the ground, pulls himself back up, and comes out. About several things.

Dreaming of Gardens in the Desert Sand by TGP

Huan Hua Palace master Luo Binghe never thought there'd be any reason to worry about the master that threw him away all those years ago. Surely, he was safe and cared for by the martial siblings he'd so thoroughly enamored.

Luo Binghe was wrong.

(Or, the one where the Jinlan City event doesn't happen and Luo Binghe's plan to slowly show he can be a righteous cultivator actually goes as he expected, with consequences he did not)

starry-eyed by shoutowo

"Shi-Shizun,” Luo Binghe says, going cross-eyed in an effort to see what Shen Qingqiu just placed on his forehead. “What is this?”

“A star,” Shen Qingqiu explains, while not explaining at all.

or, Shen Qingqiu has a sticker sheet.

Clone Wars

(you were) meant to save them by cjwritesfanficnow

The building was only five stories. With the gravity on Melida/Daan, it should’ve been over in seconds... but he—

just—

kept—

falling—

And then there was nothing around him, but he was still falling, down down down, infinitely, through space, stretched thin, twisted and pulled and the Force curled so tightly around him that he couldn’t tell where he ended and it began, and then—

And then he was falling straight out of a clear sky and down down down—

Onto another battlefield.

-

In which Obi-Wan is abruptly transported from the civil war on Melida/Daan to the Clone Wars.

(Alternately, in which I noticed how few clones there are in all my other fics, and this wouldn't leave me alone.)

Tactical Engagements by elwenyere

Even before he managed to open his eyes, Obi-Wan felt the tug against the base of his neck, the snarled thread of energy that only ever meant one thing: something had gone very, very wrong.

-----

Or, Cody, Obi-Wan, and the 212th are sent to Ringo Vinda with Anakin and the 501st, and it changes the field of engagement.

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

In late May, 19 Republican attorneys general filed a complaint with the Supreme Court asking it to block climate change lawsuits seeking to recoup damages from fossil fuel companies.

All of the state attorneys general who participated in the legal action are members of the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA), which runs a cash-for-influence operation that coordinates the official actions of these GOP state AGs and sells its corporate funders access to them and their staff. The majority of all state attorneys general are listed as members of RAGA.

Where does RAGA get most of its funding? From the very same fossil fuel industry interests that its suit seeks to defend. In fact, the industry has pumped nearly $5.8 million into RAGA’s campaign coffers since Biden was elected in 2020.

The recent Supreme Court complaint has been deemed “highly unusual” by legal experts.

The attorneys general claim that Democratic states, which are bringing the climate-related suits at issue in state courts, are effectively trying to regulate interstate emissions or commerce, which are under the sole purview of the federal government. Fossil fuel companies have unsuccessfully made similar arguments in their own defense.

RAGA’s official actions — and those of its member attorneys general — closely align with the goals of its biggest donors.

The group, a registered political nonprofit that can raise unlimited amounts of cash from individuals and corporations, solicits annual membership fees from corporate donors in exchange for allowing those donors to shape legal policy via briefings and other interactions with member attorneys general.

A Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) analysis of IRS filings since November 24, 2020 shows that Koch Industries (which recently rebranded) leads as the largest fossil fuel industry donor to RAGA, having donated $1.3 million between 2021 and June 2024.

Other large donors include:

• American Petroleum Institute (API), the oil and gas industry’s largest trade association

• Southern Company Services, a gas and electric utility holding company

• Valero Services, a petroleum refiner

• NextEra Energy Resources, which runs both renewable and natural gas operations

• Anschutz Corporation, a Denver-based oil and gas company

• American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, a major trade organization

• Exxon Mobil, one of the largest fossil fuel multinationals in the world

• National Mining Association, the leading coal and mineral industry trade organization

• American Chemical Council, which represents major petrochemical producers and refiners

Many of these donors are being sued for deceiving the public about the role fossil fuels play in worsening climate change: many states — including California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Rhode Island — as well as local governments — such as the city of Chicago and counties in Oregon and Pennsylvania — have all filed suits against a mix of fossil fuel companies and their industry groups. In the cases brought by New York and Massachusetts, ExxonMobil found support from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who filed a friend-of-the-court brief in defense of the corporation.

Paxton has accepted $5.2 million in campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry over the past 10 years, according to data compiled by OpenSecrets and reviewed by CMD.

Fossil Fuel Contributions to the Republican Attorneys General Association Includes aggregate contributions of $10K or more from the period November 2020 to March 2024.

Note: This funding compilation does not include law firms, front groups, or public relations outfits that work on behalf of fossil fuel clients, many of which use legal shells to shield themselves from outright scrutiny. For example, Koch Industries, through its astroturf operation Americans for Prosperity, has deployed a shell legal firm in a major Supreme Court case designed to dismantle the federal government’s regulatory authority.

CARRYING BIG OIL’S WATER

This is far from the first time RAGA members have banded together to try to defeat clean energy and environmental regulations. In 2014, the New York Times initially reported on how RAGA circulates fossil fuel industry propaganda opposing federal regulations.

The Times investigation revealed thousands of documents exposing how oil and gas companies cozied up to Republican attorneys general to push back against President Obama’s regulatory agenda. “Attorneys general in at least a dozen states are working with energy companies and other corporate interests, which in turn are providing them with record amounts of money for their political campaigns,” the investigation found. That effort, which RAGA dubbed the Rule of Law campaign, has since morphed into RAGA’s political action arm, the nonprofit Rule of Law Defense Fund (RLDF).

Since then, RAGA’s appetite to go to bat for the industry has only grown.

In 2015, less than two weeks after representatives from fossil fuel companies and related trade groups attended a RAGA conference, Republican AGs petitioned federal courts to block the Obama administration’s signature climate proposal, as CMD has previously reported. Additional reporting revealed collusion between Republican AGs and industry lobbyists to defend ExxonMobil and obstruct climate change legislation.

There was also the 2016 secret energy summit that RAGA held in West Virginia with industry leaders, along with private meetings with fossil fuel companies to coordinate how to shield ExxonMobil from legal scrutiny. Later that year, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey — aided by 19 other Republican AGs — successfully brought a case before the court that hobbled Obama’s signature climate plan.

Morrisey is currently leading the Republican effort to take down an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation that targets coal-fired power plants.

Often, the attorneys general bringing these cases share many of the same donors who backed the confirmation of Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices, as pointed out by the New York Times.

And in 2021, Republican attorneys general from 19 states sent a letter to the U.S. Senate committees on Environment and Public Works and on Energy and Natural Resources hoping to persuade senators to vote against additional regulations on highly polluting methane emissions, a leading contributor to global warming.

Since 2022, RLDF’s “ESG Working Group” has been coordinating actions taken by Republican AGs against sustainable investing. Communications from that group obtained by CMD show that it was investigating Morningstar/Sustainalytics and the Net-Zero Banking Alliance. Republican AGs announced investigations into the six largest banks for information on their involvement in the Net-Zero Banking Alliance later that year.

LEGACY OF RIGHT-WING ACTIONS

It’s not only about fossil fuels. Attorneys general who are members of — and financially backed by — RAGA have a long track record of pursuing right-wing agendas. In Mississippi, Attorney General Lynn Fitch helped bring the legal case that ultimately overturned Roe v. Wade. In Texas, Paxton has attempted to overturn the Affordable Care Act and sued the federal government over Title IX civil rights protections, and safeguards for seasonal workers, among other policy irritants to the far Right. With support from fellow Republican AGs, he also led one of many efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

In recent years, other pro-corporate major donors have included The Concord Fund, which is controlled by Trump’s “court whisperer” Leonard Leo, Big Tobacco, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform.

[eraserdude6226]

This must be the dumbest council member on Denver's City council. I mean it's on every network and her answer is "gangs what do you mean".

But I bet there's a "D" next to her name as well!!

[bighermie]

Denver City Council Member Wants White Owned Businesses Taxed Extra and Redistributed to Black Owned Businesses (VIDEO) | The Gateway Pundit | by Mike LaChance

[meandmybigmouth]

Black Girls Told To 'Go Back To Africa' During City Council Meeting

Black Girls Told To 'Go Back To Africa' During City Council Meeting (msn.com)

Two Colorado elementary students were subjected to racist comments and slurs during a city council meeting.

According to Denver 7, two Black children spoke at a Denver City Council meeting earlier this month, asking members for more classroom space.

An unidentified person referred to as a "Zoom-bomber" interrupted the students, launching a racist tirade against the girls. The Zoom bomber told the children to "go back to Africa" and used several racial slurs, including the N-word, before their microphone was muted.

CLASSLESS WHITE TRASH IS STREWN ACROSS AMERICA!

[deltamusings]

Tax white businesses more because they totally won’t move away or anything.  If they do we just go to those cities and put socialists on those councils too.  

That’s exactly the attitude on the left, folks.

[meret118]

An ambitious experiment in Minneapolis is changing the way librarians work with their homeless patrons and challenging how we share public space.

. . .

Minnesota also votes big and blue. In five of the past seven Presidential races, the state has led the U.S. in voter turnout. An astonishing eighty per cent of eligible voters participated in the 2020 election.

. . .

Minneapolis was among the first large cities in America where a woman oversaw the public library: Gratia Countryman’s thirty-two-year tenure began in 1904, not long after she graduated from the University of Minnesota. “Her gospel was books and human concern,” Benidt noted. The year after Countryman started, she wrote, “If a library is to perform its functions of elevating the people, it will need to adopt methods other than buying a fine collection of books and housing them in an attractive building and then waiting in a dignified way for people to come.” She placed books in factories, fire stations, hospitals, and prisons, ran an early version of a bookmobile, and is thought to have created the first children’s department. Early on, the library counselled immigrants seeking citizenship and offered books in twenty languages.

In Countryman’s day, the unhoused people of Minneapolis stayed in flood-prone encampments—Swede Hollow, Bohemian Flats, Rooseveltville-on-the-Mississippi—which the police sometimes burned to the ground. Countryman created a reading room for “drifters flopping in cheap motels and boardinghouses,” the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. She explained, “They have no homes, they have not even the privilege of a chair in many of the lodging houses; where shall they go in the daytime?” One biographer said that Countryman “was a hundred years ahead of her time.”

. . .

Forty to sixty per cent of unhoused Americans are working, but, as the Council on Homelessness recently reported, “There is no county or state where a full-time minimum-wage worker can afford a modest apartment.”

. . .

Social workers began embedding at libraries when it became clear that libraries attract patrons who might never show up at another government building. Hansen-Miller, who previously worked at a hospital, calls it “meeting people where they are.” The San Francisco Public Library, in 2009, became the first of the nation’s seventeen thousand or so public libraries to appoint a full-time social worker. Social workers and social-work students can now be found in libraries from Denver to Philadelphia.

----

The world would be so much better if librarians were in charge.

[ausetkmt]

Homelessness in the United States presents a complex and multi-faceted societal challenge, reflecting deeper issues of economic disparity, housing instability, and insufficient social safety nets. As of the most recent reports, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that on any given night, over half a million people are experiencing homelessness across the country. This figure encompasses individuals living on the streets, in emergency shelters, or in transitional housing programs. The causes of homelessness are diverse, ranging from economic factors like job loss and unaffordable housing to personal issues such as mental health and substance abuse.

The concept of criminalizing homelessness has emerged as a contentious response to this issue in many U.S. cities and states. This approach involves the enactment of laws and ordinances that effectively make it illegal to perform life-sustaining activities in public spaces, such as sleeping, eating, or panhandling. These laws are often justified as measures to maintain public order and safety, but critics argue that they merely punish the visible symptoms of homelessness without addressing its root causes. The criminalization of homelessness raises significant ethical and legal questions, particularly regarding the rights of the most vulnerable populations in society. It also leads to a cycle of arrests, fines, and jail time for homeless individuals, which can exacerbate their situation and make it even harder to secure stable housing and employment.

Denver, Colorado, presents a particularly illustrative case study in the criminalization of homelessness. In recent years, the city has implemented various urban camping bans and other ordinances that target public activities commonly associated with homelessness. These measures have sparked significant debate and legal challenges, highlighting the tensions between urban development, public space management, and the rights of homeless individuals. Denver's approach reflects a broader trend in American cities where rapid urban development and rising housing costs often collide with growing homeless populations, leading to contentious policy decisions and public debates.

The situation in Denver and other U.S. cities underscores the need for a more nuanced and compassionate approach to homelessness. While the criminalization of homelessness might offer a short-term solution to the visibility of the problem, it fails to address the systemic issues that lead to homelessness in the first place. This approach also raises critical concerns about the rights and dignity of homeless individuals, calling for a reevaluation of how society and policymakers perceive and respond to this complex issue. Ultimately, the case of Denver highlights the challenges and controversies inherent in addressing homelessness in urban America, serving as a microcosm of a national issue that demands thoughtful, holistic, and humane solutions.

Understanding the Criminalization of Homelessness

Understanding the criminalization of homelessness requires delving into the legal and societal mechanisms through which individuals experiencing homelessness are penalized for their status. This criminalization is a process where activities necessary for survival in public spaces - such as sleeping, eating, or begging - are legally prohibited, leading to penalties that range from fines to imprisonment. It represents a legal approach to homelessness that prioritizes public order and aesthetics over addressing the underlying causes of homelessness.

At the core of this criminalization are various laws and ordinances enacted by city councils and state legislatures. Anti-vagrancy laws are one of the oldest forms, traditionally outlawing the presence of people perceived as 'vagrants' in public spaces. Modern versions of these laws might target behaviors like loitering or sleeping in parks. Anti-panhandling laws restrict begging or soliciting in certain areas, often justifying these restrictions as necessary for public safety or to prevent fraud. Laws against sleeping in public spaces, sometimes referred to as "urban camping bans," prohibit sleeping, resting, or storing personal belongings in public areas. Cities might also enforce sit-lie ordinances, which make it illegal to sit or lie down on sidewalks in certain parts of the city during specific times.

The rationale behind these laws often revolves around concerns for public health and safety, maintaining the aesthetic quality of urban spaces, and supporting local businesses that might be affected by the presence of homeless individuals. Proponents argue that such laws are necessary to prevent public spaces from becoming unsanitary or unsafe, and to ensure that commercial districts remain attractive and accessible to shoppers and tourists.

However, public attitudes towards homelessness and these laws are deeply divided. On one side, some view these laws as necessary measures to maintain order and protect the rights of the broader community. They argue that the presence of homeless individuals in public spaces can lead to increased crime, decreased property values, and a general deterioration of the neighborhood quality.

On the other hand, critics of these laws see them as inhumane and counterproductive. They argue that criminalizing homelessness does not solve the problem but merely pushes it out of sight. By penalizing behaviors that are a direct result of being homeless, these laws make it more difficult for individuals to escape the cycle of homelessness. Paying fines or serving jail time can be particularly challenging for someone without stable income or housing, and having a criminal record can make it even harder to find employment or rent an apartment.

Additionally, these critics highlight that criminalization often ignores the systemic issues that lead to homelessness, such as lack of affordable housing, inadequate mental health services, and systemic poverty. They advocate for a more compassionate approach that addresses these root causes, providing support and services to help individuals transition out of homelessness.

The criminalization of homelessness reflects a tension between maintaining public order and addressing the needs of the homeless population. It raises significant ethical, legal, and practical questions about how society chooses to respond to this complex social issue. While the goal of maintaining clean and safe public spaces is understandable, the methods of achieving this through criminalization are increasingly being scrutinized and challenged. The debate continues as communities grapple with finding the most effective and humane ways to address the persistent challenge of homelessness. 

Historical Context of Homelessness in the United States

The history of homelessness in the United States is a tapestry of socio-economic changes, policy shifts, and evolving public attitudes. Tracing its roots, one can observe that homelessness as a widespread issue became particularly noticeable in the late 19th century, coinciding with industrialization and urbanization. However, it was the Great Depression of the 1930s that brought the plight of homeless individuals into stark relief, as massive economic downturns left many without jobs or homes. This period saw an unprecedented number of Americans experiencing homelessness, leading to the establishment of transient camps known as "Hoovervilles."

Post-World War II America witnessed a period of economic prosperity that somewhat mitigated the homelessness crisis. However, this was not to last. The deinstitutionalization movement of the 1960s and 1970s, aimed at reforming mental health care, inadvertently contributed to a new wave of homelessness. Many patients, released from psychiatric institutions, lacked adequate community-based support and resources, leading to increased rates of homelessness, particularly among individuals with mental health issues.

Economic factors have also played a crucial role in the history of homelessness in the U.S. The late 20th century saw significant changes in the economy, including deindustrialization, a shift to service-based jobs, and rising housing costs. These changes disproportionately affected low-income individuals, making housing unaffordable for many. The 1980s and 2000s economic recessions further exacerbated this trend, leading to spikes in homelessness. Additionally, urban renewal projects often led to the demolition of affordable housing units, replacing them with developments out of reach for low-income individuals.

Social policies have had a mixed impact on homelessness. The federal government initially took a welfare-oriented approach, with programs in the 1960s and 1970s aimed at providing housing and support services. However, in the 1980s, there was a significant policy shift. The federal government reduced spending on affordable housing and welfare programs, leading to a reduction in available resources for those at risk of homelessness. This period marked a gradual shift from welfare approaches to an emphasis on law and order, culminating in the criminalization of homelessness.

This shift to criminalization became increasingly prominent in the 1990s and 2000s. Cities across the U.S. began enacting ordinances that targeted homeless people, penalizing activities such as sleeping in public, panhandling, and loitering. These laws were often justified as necessary for public safety and urban cleanliness, but they did little to address the root causes of homelessness. Instead, they led to a cycle of fines, arrests, and incarceration for many homeless individuals, exacerbating the challenge of re-entering society and finding stable housing.

The history of homelessness in the United States is marked by a complex interplay of economic upheavals, social policy changes, and shifting public attitudes. From the welfare-oriented approaches of the mid-20th century to the more recent trend of criminalization, the nation's response to homelessness has evolved, reflecting broader societal values and economic realities.  

[vomitdodger]

A Marxist teacher in Colorado was voted in to fill an open state House of Representatives seat on Saturday. The teacher has previously called for a "FORCEFUL Cultural Revolution" against "Whiteness."

Tim Hernandez will now be a state representative in Denver after a committee of Democrats filled the seat after its incumbent, Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, was elected to the Denver City Council, according to Fox News.

He seems nice! Isn’t that kind of insurrectiony though? Hmmm. Maybe we should indict him. I’m sure the gutless GOP will get right on it. Maybe after some more mean tweets and threats.

[nbadenverweeders]

Denver city council needs to explode like to charge reblog to cast

[musicfren]

Protests March 2nd (this Saturday). Mostly USA, some global

Albuquerque, New Mexico

11:00 a.m.

Tiguex Park

Sponsored by: SWC4P

Alfred, NY

3:00 p.m.

Corner of N Main St and Pine St.

Sponsored by: Cattaraugus-Allegany Liberation Collective

Angelica, NY

12:00 p.m.

Angelica Park Circle (37 Park Cir)

Sponsored by: Cattaraugus-Allegany Liberation Collective

Arequipa, Peru

2:00 p.m.

Plaza de Armas

Asheville, North Carolina

2:00 p.m.

Pack Square, N Pack Square

Sponsored by: PSL WNC, ANSWER Great Smoky Mountains, UNCA SDS, ETSU MSA, Unequolada

Atlanta, Georgia

1:00 p.m.

190 Marietta St NW (Intersection of Centennial Olympic Park Dr and Marietta St NW.)

Austin, Texas

1:00 p.m.

City Hall

Sponsored by: PSC and PYM

Baltimore, Maryland

2:00 p.m.

Baltimore City Hall

Sponsored by: Party for Socialism and Liberation, Baltimore Artists Against Apartheid, Hospitality for Humanity, The Banner of the People, Teachers & Researchers United, People's Power Assembly

Belmont, NY

1:30 p.m.

Belmont Park Circle (7 Park Circle)

Sponsored by: Cattaraugus-Allegany Liberation Collective

Boston, Massachusetts

1:00 p.m.

Cambridge City Hall

Contact: ANSWER Boston -- 857-334-5084 · boston@answercoalition.org 

Brainerd, Minnesota

1:00 p.m.

Intersection of Highways 210 and 371 -- Baxter, Minnesota (near Kohl's Department Store)

Sponsored by: Brainerd Area Coalition for Peace and Brainerd Lakes United Environmentalists (BACP-BLUE)

Boise, Idaho

4:00 p.m.

700 W Jefferson/Capitol Bldg

Sponsored by: Boise to Palestine

Burlington, Vermont

1:00 p.m.

622 Main St.

Calgary, Alberta

3:00 p.m.

Calgary City Hall

Sponsored by: Justice For Palestinians Calgary, Independent Jewish Voices, Calgary Palestinian Council

Caracas, Venezuela

9:30 a.m.

Sponsored by: Comuna el Panel 21, Brigada Internacionalista Alexis Castillo, Fuerza Patriótica Alexis Vive, Alba Movimientos Venezuela

Charlotte, North Carolina

3:00 p.m.

First Ward Park

Sponsored by: Party for Socialism and Liberation; Charlotte United for Palestine

Charlottesville, Virginia

4:00 p.m.

Free Speech Wall on the Downtown Mall

Sponsored by: SJP at PVCC

Champaign-Urbana, Illinois

2:00 p.m.

West Side Park (400 W University)

Cincinnati, Ohio

3:00 p.m.

City Hall (801 Plum St)

Sponsored by: PSL SW Ohio, PAL Awda Ohio, Students for Justice in Palestine UC, Ceasefire Now Covington, Coalition for Community Safety

Coatesville, Pennsylvania

11:30 a.m.

2nd and Lincoln Hwy

Chester County Liberation Center

Columbus, Ohio

3:00 p.m.

Goodale Park

Sponsored by: PSL Columbus, ANSWER, SJP OSU, PLM-JUST

Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador

1:00 p.m.

Corner Brook Public Library (Courtyard)

Sponsored by: GCSU, CFS-NL

Cornwall, Ontario (Canada)

12:00 p.m.

691 Brookdale Avenue

Davis, California

1:00 p.m.

University of California Davis Memorial Union

Dayton, Ohio

12:00 p.m.

444 W 3rd St

Sponsored by: Party for Socialism & Liberation Southwest Ohio, Code Pink Miami Valley, Gem City Action, YS Uproar, S&F Volunteer Collective

Denver, Colorado

1:00 p.m.

400 Josephine St

Sponsored by: Colorado Palestine coalition, Denver PSL, Denver DSA, Denver Boulder JVP, DAWA, Denver SDS, Denver FRSO

Detroit, Michigan

2:00 p.m.

Hart Plaza

Sponsored by: USPCN, FRSO, SDS, SJP, PYM

Eastham, Massachusetts 

12:00 p.m.

In Front of the Windmill

Sponsored by: Cape Codders for Peace and Justice

Flagstaff, Arizona

6:00 p.m.

Heritage Square Downtown Flagstaff

Falmouth, Massachusetts 

1:00 p.m.

Falmouth Village Green

Sponsored by: Falmouth for Ceasefire Now

Havana, Cuba

8:00 a.m.

Sponsored by: Union of Young Communists, Women's Federation of Cuba

Fayetteville, Arkansas

12:00 p.m.

Wilson Park Gazebo

Sponsored by: Friends of Palestine NWA and Christian Voice for Peace

Fort Wayne, Indiana

2:00 p.m.

Allen County Courthouse

Fresno, California

4:00 p.m.

Blackstone & Nees Avenues

Sponsored by: Peace Fresno

Gainesville, Florida

1:00 p.m.

Corner of W University and NW 13th

Sponsored by: PSL

Geneseo, New York

1:00 p.m.

Corner of Main Street and Route 20A

Sponsored by: Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace, Chapter 23 Veterans for Peace

Grand Rapids, Michigan

2:00 p.m.

Monument Park

Sponsored by: Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids

Hamilton, Ontario

2:00 p.m.

Dundas Driving Park, 71 Cross st

Houghton, NY

10:30 a.m.

9722 NY19

Sponsored by: Cattaraugus-Allegany Liberation Collective

Huntsville, Alabama

10:00 a.m.

Whitesburg Dr and Airport Rd

Sponsored by: North Alabama Peace Network

Indianapolis, Indiana

5:00 p.m.

Indiana State House East Steps

Sponsored by: ANSWER Indiana, Jewish Voice for Peace, Students for Justice in Palestine – Butler, PSL Indianapolis, the Middle Eastern Student Association at IUPUI

Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts 

1:00 p.m.

Cambridge City Hall

Joshua Tree, California

10:30 a.m.

Downtown Joshua Tree (Corner of 62 and Park Boulevard)

Sponsored by: Morongo Basin Resistance

Kansas City, Missouri

3:00 p.m.

Mill Creek Park, 47th Mill Creek Pkwy

Sponsored by: Al-HadafKC, Free Palestine KC, PSL MO

Kingman, Arizona

10:00 a.m.

120 W Andy Devine Ave (Meet at the Route 66 Sign)

Sponsored by: Alohaproj.com

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2:00 p.m.

Sponsored by: Sekretariat Solidariti Palestin

Lander, Wyoming 

8:00 a.m.

Centennial Park

Sponsored by: Fremont County for Ceasefire Now!

Las Cruces, New Mexico

11:00 a.m.

Downtown Plaza

Sponsored by: Las Cruces PSL, Telegram group, NMSU Students for Socialism

Las Vegas, Nevada

2:00 p.m.

3449 s Sammy Davis Jr dr

Sponsored by: Npl_palestine and fifthsunproject

Los Angeles, California

1:00 p.m.

Los Angeles City Hall (200 N Spring St)

Manchester, New Hampshire

4:00 p.m.

Manchester City Hall Plaza

Martinsburg, West Virginia

11:00 a.m.

Martinsburg Town Square

Sponsored by: PSL

Memphis, Tennessee 

1:00 p.m.

Corner of Ridgeway Road and Poplar Avenue

Sponsored by: Palestinian Association Community Center

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

1:30 p.m.

Zillman Park (2168 Kinnickinnic Ave)

Sponsored by: PSL Milwaukee, Milwaukee 4 Palestine

Mineral Point, Wisconsin

10:30 a.m.

State Street at the Capitol

Sponsored by: Poor People's Campaign

Nanaimo, British Columbia (Canada)

2:15 p.m.

Maffeo Sutton Park

Sponsored by: VIU Muslim Women Club

Nashville, Tennessee

4:00 p.m.

1 Public Square

Sponsored by: Inspire Youth Foundation supported by PSL Nashville

New Orleans, Louisiana

4:00 p.m.

Jackson Square

Sponsored by: New Orleans For Palestine, JVP New Orleans, PSL Louisiana

New Paltz, New York

12:30 p.m.

93 Main Street

Sponsored by: Women in Black

New York City, New York

1:00 p.m.

Washington Square Park

Sponsored by: Nodutdol, Black Alliance for Peace, No Tech for Apartheid, Audre Lorde Project, Ridgewood Tenants Union, Uptown 4 Palestine, DRUM NYC, Anakbayan, Bayan, Mamas 4 a Free Palestine, Healthcare Workers for Palestine, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Jews Against White Supremacy, Defend Democracy in Brazil, Al-Awda NY, NYC Dissenters, South Asian Left, Columbia University SJP, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, CUMC for Palestine, Black Men Build, UAW Labor for Palestine, Labor for Palestine, NYC City Workers for Palestine

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

1:00 p.m.

Corner of Robinson and Hudson near the Skydance Bridge

Sponsored by: Oklahomans Against Occupation

Olean, NY

8:30 a.m.

Lincoln Park

Sponsored by: Cattaraugus-Allegany Liberation Collective

Peterborough, Ontario

4:00 p.m.

Confederation Square

Sponsored by: Nogojiwanong Palestine Solidarity

Pensacola, Florida

2:00 p.m.

Main and Reus St.

Sponsored by: PSL, Answer, Panhandle for Freedom and Justice in Palestine, Mobile for Palestine

Phoenix, Arizona

6:00 p.m.

Arizona State Capitol

Sponsored by: PSL

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2:00 p.m.

City Hall

Sponsored by: Party for Socialism and Liberation, ANSWER Philly, Philly Boricuas, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Jefferson University SJP, Philly Liberation Center, AMP Philadelphia, Philadelphians of Palestine, Black Alliance for Peace

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

11:00 a.m.

William S Moorehead Federal Building (1100 Liberty Ave)

Contact: ANSWER Pittsburgh -- pittsburgh@answercoalition.org

Pompano Beach, Florida

1:00 p.m.

1641 NW 15th ST -- Pompano Beach, FL 33069

Sponsored by: Al-Awda, JVP, SJP @ FIU

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

1:00 p.m.

Market Square

Sponsored by: Occupy Seacoast

Port Angeles, Washington

12:00 p.m.

Clallam County Courthouse at 4th & Lincoln St

Sponsored by: FSP, PSL

Portland, Maine

1:00 p.m.

Longfellow Square

Sponsored by: Maine Students for Palestine, Maine Coalition for Palestine

Portland, Oregon

1:00 p.m.

Lownsdale Square

Sponsored: Party for Socialism & Liberation, ANSWER, Oregon to Palestine Coalition, Portland DSA, Entifada PDX

Providence, Rhode Island

1:00 p.m.

World War 1 Memorial, Memorial Park, South Main st.

Sponsored by: PSL RI, Brown Grad labor Organization, JVP RI, Palestinian Feminist Collective, Falsteeni Diaspora United, SURJ RI, RI Antiwar committee 

Raleigh, North Carolina

3:00 p.m.

201 S Blount St Raleigh, NC 27601

Sponsored by: Refund Raleigh, Migrant Roots Media, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Muslims For Social Justice, Democratic Socialists of America, Muslim Women For, Jewish Voices for Peace, NC Green Party, Peoples Power Lab, NC Environmental Justice Network, PAX Christi Triangle NC

Richland, Washington

1:00 p.m.

John Dam Plaza

Sponsored: Party for Socialism and Liberation - Eastern Washington

Rochester, New York

1:00 p.m.

Rochester City Hall

Sponsored: FTP ROC, Coalition to End Apartheid, ROC DSA, JVP, U of R SJP, ROC Voices for Palestine

Salt Lake City, Utah

1:00 p.m.

Sugar House Park

Sponsored by: Palestinian Solidarity Association of Utah, PSL Salt Lake, Mecha de U Of U

San Antonio, Texas

2:00 p.m.

Municipal Plaza Building (114 W Commerce St.)

Sponsored by: Party for Socialism and Liberation

San Diego, California

ANSWER San Diego -- (619) 487-0977

San Juan, Puerto Rico

12:00 p.m.

El Morro

Sponsored by: Boricua Con Palestina

Santa Barbara, California

11:00 a.m.o

Pershing Park

Sponsored by: Central Coast Antiwar Coalition

San Francisco, California

2:00 p.m.

Harry Bridges Plaza

Sponsored by: Palestinian Youth Movement, ANSWER Coalition, American Muslims for Palestine, US Palestinian Community Network, Muslim American Society, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Islamophobia Studies Center, Oakland Educators for Palestine, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, Northern California Islamic Council, Jewish Voice for Peace Bay Area, Islamic Circle of North America, United Educators of San Francisco, Do No Harm Coalition, Arab Resource & Organizing Center, Workers World Party, Palestinian Feminist Collective, QUIT, Labor for Palestine, Students for Justice in Palestine, Healthcare Workers for Palestine, Democratic Socialist of America - San Francisco, Union Nurses for Palestine, Friends of the Filipino People in Struggle, Democratic Socialists of America East Bay

Savannah, Georgia 

2:00 p.m.

Springfield City Hall and Senator Warren's Office

Sponsored by: Western MA Coalition for Palestine, Western MA Showing Up for Racial Justice, Northampton Abolition Now, Demilitarize Western MA, Amherst for Palestine, Community Alliance for Peace and Justice, Islamic Society of Western MA, Code Pink

Seattle, Washington

1:00 p.m.

Denny Park

Sponsored by: PYM, PSL, ANSWER, SPV Endorsers: Samidoun, Healthcare Workers for Palestine, South Asians Resisting Imperialism, SUPERUW, Falastiniyat, FGLL, Tacoma DSA, SU SJP, MSA UW, ASA UW, BAYAN, Somali Student Association, NOTA

Seoul, South Korea

3:00 p.m.

Sponsored by: International Strategy Center

Spokane, Washington

Details TBA

Springfield, Massachusetts 

2:00 p.m.

Springfield City Hall and Senator Warren's Office

Sponsored by: Western MA Coalition for Palestine, Western MA Showing Up for Racial Justice, Northampton Abolition Now, Demilitarize Western MA, Amherst for Palestine, Community Alliance for Peace and Justice, Islamic Society of Western MA, Code Pink

Springfield, Missouri 

12:00 p.m.

Park Central Square

St. Louis, Missouri

2:00 p.m.

Kiener Plaza - 500 Chestnut St

Sponsored by: Party for Socialism and Liberation, Voices of Palestine Network, American Muslims for Palestine

Syracuse, New York

1:00 p.m.

Clinton Square

Sponsored by: PSL - Syrcause

Tallahassee, Florida

12:00 p.m.

Sidewalks in front of Florida State Capitol Building

Sponsored by: Revolt Collective (rev0ltcollective on Instagram)

Taos, New Mexico

11:00 a.m.

Outreach/petitioning event, contact Suzie at 575-770-2629

Sponsored by: Taoseños for Peaceful and Livable Futures

Tillamook, Oregon

1:00 p.m.

1st and Main

Sponsored by: Racial and Social Equity Tillamook

Tri-Cities, Washington

Details TBA

Tokyo, Japan

2:00 p.m.

Shinjuku Station South Exit

Sponsored by: Palestinians of Japan

Toledo, Ohio

1:00 p.m.

Franklin Park Mall: Starting location is the corner of Sylvania and Talmadge

Sponsored by: American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) and Toledo 4 Palestine (T4P)

Troy, New York

11:00 a.m.

3rd & Fulton

Sponsored by: Troy 4 Black Lives

Tucson, Arizona

5:00 p.m.

Catalina Park (941 N. Fourth Ave.)

Sponsored by: Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance

Tulsa, Oklahoma

1:00 p.m.

Yale Ave and Admiral Place

Sponsored by: Oklahomans Against Occupation

Ventura, California

1:00 p.m.

Oxnard City Hall

Victorville, California

1:00 p.m.

9700 Seventh Ave.

Sponsored by: Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance

Wailuku/Kahulu

3:00 p.m.

March from Wailuku Safeway to Queen Kaahumanu Center

Sponsored by: Maui for Palestine, Hawaii for Palestine, Rise for Palestine, Citizens for Peace, Kauai for Palestine, Kona for Palestine

Washington, D.C.

1:00 p.m.

Israeli Embassy (3514 International Dr NW)

Sponsored by: PYM, MD2Palestine, ANSWER 

Waukegan, Illinois

1:00 p.m.

Jack Benny Plaza (corner of Genesee and Clayton)

Sponsored by: PSL Waukegan

Wellfleet, Massachusetts 

10:00 a.m.

Town Hall Lawn

Sponsored by: Cape Codders for Peace and Justice

[questioningespecialy]

The Denver City Council on Monday rejected a proclamation that would have added Denver to the growing list of American cities that have called for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

That final vote — 8-4 — came via a hastily launched virtual meeting after council members vacated the council chamber at the Denver City and County Building following repeated disruptions of the meeting by pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Councilman Chris Hinds was unable to cast a vote due to issues logging into the online meeting.