You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Home Front: Politix
Homeless To Be Bribed Away From Democrat Convention
2008-07-16
Hundreds of Denver's homeless could be cooling their heels in a movie theater or museum while the Democratic National Convention is in town next month.
I guess the LBJ legacy of public housing, health care and money every Monday before election day hasn't worked sufficiently ...
The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless plans to get 500 movie tickets as well as passes to the Denver Zoo, Denver Museum of Nature and Science and other cultural facilities for the people it helps.
Because the homeless types have been pining for the Museum of Nature and Science ...
Bus tickets will be provided for events beyond walking distance, said John Parvensky, the non-profit's president.

Many day shelters will have expanded hours during the convention, and big screen TVs are being donated to some shelters so patrons can watch convention goings-on without being seen by delegates and TV cameras caught up in the mayhem. "We're trying to let folks know what activities are planned, and what other places they'll be able to go without being harassed," Parvensky said.

A two-day voter registration drive is also planned at shelters and health clinics to ensure that metro area homeless people have access to the polls in November.
And neatly printed instruction cards on exactly how to vote ...
Backers of the plan say it's a more sanitary and humane way to take care of people.

But not everyone buys it.
Cynics ...
"It just sounds like another way to get rid of them," said Kayne Coy, 17, who volunteers feeding the homeless twice a week at Civic Center Park through the Food Not Bombs organization. As for the convention, Coy said: "I've heard rumors that all the homeless people are going to be sent away to Aurora or somewhere else."

Parvensky vigorously denied that there will any attempt to hide the homeless during convention, which runs Aug. 25-28.
"No, no, certainly not!"
Tight security around the Pepsi Center means some homeless people will get booted out of their regular camps along the South Platte River. Then, there's the protests and parades. "A person who typically sits under a tree in a park that is now occupied by 1,000 protesters won't have the peace and quiet they're desiring," Parvensky said. "Particularly those with mental illness can't cope with crowds."

Parvensky is confident Denver police won't target homeless people unless a law is being broken. Aggressive panhandling and begging for money in front of an ATM machine are both banned. But he remains concerned for people's welfare.
Because he cares ...
"Our concern going forward is that the city doesn't control everything - the Secret Service plays a role," he said. "We don't know what will happen if protests get out of control and people get caught up in something they didn't intend to."

But some homeless people also aren't enthusiastic about the plan. Ronnie Wand, who was panhandling across the street, said he will believe the free tickets when he sees them. "I don't care," said the 62-year-old, who expects to land in jail for vagrancy during the DNC.
Posted by:Anonymoose

#10  Homeless fight over territory to beg at street corners. Several strategic spots here in Denver near Pepsi center and the theater district are good spots.
I've heard that many use liquor stores for addresses and have their checks mailed there and use them as a debit card instead of having to carry money on them taking the chance getting mugged themselves.
Denver with the looper and ritter plan on giving these homeless folks free housing without any rehab or preconditions. Makes me ill.
Posted by: Jan    2008-07-16 23:48  

#9  Non stop. Burn the bus when it gets there.

or just drive it right into the bay. Let em swim for oakland.
Posted by: bigjim-ky   2008-07-16 15:49  

#8  How about tickets to Invesco Stadium for the coronation, oops, I meant, acceptance speech? ;)
Posted by: Swamp Blondie in the Cornfields   2008-07-16 15:22  

#7  Bus 'em to Boulder where they should fit in fine.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2008-07-16 14:46  

#6  Just give them a one-way bus ticket to San Francisco, $50 and 3 bottles of cheap scotch each.

Non stop. Burn the bus when it gets there.
Posted by: OldSpook   2008-07-16 14:42  

#5  "A person who typically sits under a tree in a park that is now occupied by 1,000 protesters won't have the peace and quiet they're desiring," Parvensky said. "Particularly those with mental illness can't cope with crowds."

He was there FIRST! He deserves to be ARMED!
Posted by: Besoeker   2008-07-16 14:14  

#4  This really stinks to me. Little story - I was in Houston for a conference downtown. All by myself, I didn't know the layout at all. On my walk to the conference building I was approached by a local what some would call a vagrant. He asked for a handout and I said, "Nope I don't hand out money....but if you show me around I'll pay you for the tour: show me where to buy food, what to see, etc. He gave me a great tour, gave me a ghetto pass by introducing me to the local big wigs and always waved and asked me how everything was going whenever we crossed paths that weekend. I bought him a couple of lunches and paid him some cash for his services. Would it not make sense to do something similar with these homeless folks, give them a job for the weekend? You know, clean and feed, give them a uniform, and upon completion earn a wage or donation to a shelter of their choice?

Instead they get this jackassery, "We don't want people to see you, but look at how much we respect you. Here, register to vote and think kindly of the democrats when you do." BTW, I am not familiar with Colorado law but don't you have to have a permament physical address in order to register (or can they claim a shelter as such?)?

So did the Colorado Coalition for the Juden Homeless think about asking the zookeepers/movie ushers/currators/bus drivers about their bribe and hide idea? Ronnie Wand seems to have a good idea what will happen which the cost of course is passed onto the tax payers. Then what do the police do when the holding tanks are filled and the protesters get naughty what will they then do?

I guess I do understand why they would not want the mentally unstable homeless looking like the sane ones when side-to-side with the Boulder activists. /snark
Posted by: swksvolFF   2008-07-16 12:14  

#3  Oh, boy. Can't wait to go to the movies, the zoo, or the Museum of Nature and Science that week. If they want to get rid of them, they should give them 100 gift certificates to an out of town liquor store.
Democrats love the "homeless". As long as they don't have to see, smell, touch or hear them. Except at Thanksgiving and Christmas for as long as it takes to get a photo op.
Posted by: tu3031   2008-07-16 11:41  

#2  Booze & Cigarettes to vote for them.

'Bribes' to keep them away.
Posted by: Mullah Richard   2008-07-16 11:38  

#1  Why not just give them tickets to the Rockies game that weekend; and when the game is up a free weekend getaway at scenic Camp Amache.

Actually, come to think of it, that would probably be more humane than being sent to the zoo and forced to spend the weekend with the animals, forced to watch 'Swing Vote' with kostner, or forced to sit in a shelter and watch the dnc on multiple big screen TV's.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2008-07-16 11:31  

00:00