The Problem: Hillcrest Business Association (HBA) / Hillcrest Maintenance Assessment District (MAD) have created a security committee, appropriated funds, and contracted with a private security team. This team's purpose is to respond to hotline calls requesting the removal of undesirable homeless people, one sleeping bag at a time.
They have found $80,000 to pay for the displacement and criminalization of poverty, but have chosen to abandon all outreach efforts.
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The Event:
W...
The Problem: Hillcrest Business Association (HBA) / Hillcrest Maintenance Assessment District (MAD) have created a security committee, appropriated funds, and contracted with a private security team. This team's purpose is to respond to hotline calls requesting the removal of undesirable homeless people, one sleeping bag at a time.
They have found $80,000 to pay for the displacement and criminalization of poverty, but have chosen to abandon all outreach efforts.
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The Event:
We are taking our concerns directly to the HBA.
Hillcrest Business Association (HBA) is having a board meeting, that is open to public comment and communiy action. We intend to be present at as many HBA meetings and events as possible.
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The Protest:
We intend to get as many bodies on the inside of this meeting as possible. We will not be turned away. We will not be ousted. We intend to peacefully disrupt business as usual, and give Hillcrest businesses a taste of the response to come if they continue to support this heartless task force. Attacking impoverished people with nowhere else to go is not acceptable in Hillcrest.
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The Demands:
We are still formulating demands and are open to suggestions. Please post below.
We demand that the security committee be disbanded, the service contract terminated, and any future initiatives regarding homelessness to follow strict guidelines and involve San Diego homeless advocates. Their expertise could help craft policies that do not criminalize homelessness ... Possibly drawing from http://www.sdrescue.org/ and http://my.neighbor.org/
We demand that Hillcrest Business Association revoke the raise and $4000 bonus promised to Ben Nicholls, executive director of Hillcrest Business Association.
We demand that Nicholls be removed as director and replaced by somebody who has not voted Yes to any of the agenda items regarding this security initiative.
Other possible demands being floated:
-implementation of a HBA member quorum that would make it more difficult for HBA to take unilateral action on large budget items.
-enforcement of drug testing practices, as the HBA is a city contractor. Right now the HBA has to say they are drug free, but does not have to prove it via testing
-termination of practices that punish and police, implementation of policies that provide meaningful assistance and services
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Transparency:
We will be tracking business leaders who publicly denounce this taskforce. We will be making a list of homeless-friendly businesses. We will do what we can to make sure that those businesses do not get swept up in a boycott.
If you know of businesses that are friendly and outspoken, please message me personally.
We have asked Ben Nicholls, executive director of Hillcrest Business Association, for further information regarding the funding and implementation of this plan. We do not believe that all 92103 businesses are aware that their dollars are paying for this.
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Press Inquiries:
We are declining inquiries from Hale Media & San Diego Gay & Lesbian News, founded by Johnathan Hale, former scandalized director of the Hillcrest Business Association.
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Quote from Todd Gloria:
“Private security can help address issue like crime and trespassing on private property, but being homeless is not illegal. Combating homelessness requires commitment to long-term strategies that connect people living on the streets with housing and supportive services. My office has dedicated funding for social services and outreach in Hillcrest over the last few years and will continue to work on compassionate and proven efforts to address homelessness.”
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Follow the facebook page for more info:
https://www.facebook.com/savehillcresthomeless