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another day, another worry
2022-Jan-18, Tuesday 06:33 pmWhile I was at work today, the call went out for more warm bodies to help prevent another demolition. This was at the "North Loop" location, in downtown Minneapolis where I work. I could easily stop by after work, so I did. It's a mixture of good news and bad news.
Bad news: This encampment is larger than the "Near North" encampment closer to my house that I've been writing about. More people outdoors in Minnesota winter. :(
Good news: The city failed on its first attempt to demolish this site. That pile of garbage was created by the city as it bulldozed many tents. The city also left behind burning garbage across the entrance, seemingly trying to prevent anyone else from entering. The driver of that van had pushed embers aside, so he could drive in and deliver care packages from the YMCA (or was it YWCA?). He's the one who told me about what happened earlier.
Bad news: Here are those embers still burning, many hours later. My pessimistic guess is that the City left behind dangerous conditions, so someone could arrive later and declare, "Look how unsafe this site is! Open garbage piles! Open fires!" and try again to escalate the eviction priority. If so, then it sounds like corrupt bureaucracy. *sigh*
Good news: I didn't seem necessary at all this afternoon, so I left. Also good, local charities are still trying to help people out, despite Minneapolis trying to destroy what comforts they have.
A decade ago during Occupy, I slept overnight in downtown Minneapolis a few times during freezing weather. It's not easy. Our society needs to do better. Why do so many people favor systems of cruelty that criminalize poverty and homelessness? Who hurt them?
Bad news: This encampment is larger than the "Near North" encampment closer to my house that I've been writing about. More people outdoors in Minnesota winter. :(
Good news: The city failed on its first attempt to demolish this site. That pile of garbage was created by the city as it bulldozed many tents. The city also left behind burning garbage across the entrance, seemingly trying to prevent anyone else from entering. The driver of that van had pushed embers aside, so he could drive in and deliver care packages from the YMCA (or was it YWCA?). He's the one who told me about what happened earlier.
Bad news: Here are those embers still burning, many hours later. My pessimistic guess is that the City left behind dangerous conditions, so someone could arrive later and declare, "Look how unsafe this site is! Open garbage piles! Open fires!" and try again to escalate the eviction priority. If so, then it sounds like corrupt bureaucracy. *sigh*Good news: I didn't seem necessary at all this afternoon, so I left. Also good, local charities are still trying to help people out, despite Minneapolis trying to destroy what comforts they have.
A decade ago during Occupy, I slept overnight in downtown Minneapolis a few times during freezing weather. It's not easy. Our society needs to do better. Why do so many people favor systems of cruelty that criminalize poverty and homelessness? Who hurt them?