Thursday, January 12, 2006

A Disturbing Day--Meanest Cities

Criminalization Report Issued--Homeless Man Beat to Death

On the same day that the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty released Dream Denied: Criminalization of Homelessness in the U.S. two young monsters in Ft. Lauderdale beat to death a homeless man with a bat. The report lists the 20 Meanest Cities toward homeless people. While Ft. Lauderdale moved off the list this year, 7 of the top 20 cities are in the South and 6 are in the West. The meanest city list is developed by looking at laws and city actions against homeless people like anti-panhandling, sweeps, broad enforcement of laws against homeless people. I have always felt that municipal governments that are "mean" to homeless people give cover to deranged young people who feel that it is acceptable to attack homeless people. I feel like hate crimes directed at homeless people increase in the cities that are constantly attacking homeless people with police, laws, and city attorneys.

The press release for the report is posted on our website. The Top 5 are
1. Sarasota, FL,
2. Lawrence Kansas
3. Little Rock, AR
4. Atlanta, GA
5. Las Vegas, NV

No Ohio City was listed. Chicago is 11th and Pittsburgh is number 20.

Posts by Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless staff and Board.

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