New Hampshire’s largest city is already Cleaning the streets This comes just days after the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a pivotal decision that could have a major impact on the country’s worsening homelessness problem.
While much of the attention on homelessness has been focused on California and other West Coast states, Manchester, New Hampshire, has also had a major homeless problem in recent years, with 140 Manchester residents experiencing homelessness and another 400 or so living in shelters. Website Said.
“I’ve come across human waste when walking with my kids. I’ve had to teach them to be careful of needles.”
“I’ll be completely frank with you,” said Manchester Police Cmdr. Allen Aldenburg“Over the last few years, this has put a strain on the police department and the community at large.”
The Supreme Court justices handed down their ruling last Friday. 6-3 Cities can ban sleeping or camping in public places like streets and parks, and by Tuesday night, Manchester leaders had already voted to change the city’s local ordinances to make public places safer.
of Previous Ordinance Manchester has banned sleeping and camping in public spaces from sunrise to sunset, but the measure can only be implemented if there is space available in local shelters.
On Tuesday, Mayor Jay Ruais and city council members met and voted overwhelmingly 14-1 to impose a total ban on camping in public spaces, effective immediately. The measure allows police to issue $250 fines to violators and has allocated $500,000 in additional funding to the city’s police department to step up enforcement.
Despite local leaders’ enthusiasm for the new ordinance, some residents voiced opposition during public comment sessions at the meeting. Critics often repeated hackneyed platitudes and seemed to express deep sympathy for homeless people but little concern for local families.
“Arrests aren’t going to get us out of homelessness,” one man said.
“Homeless people need homes, not handcuffs,” one woman added.
One woman boasts that she regularly visits homeless encampments and doesn’t believe they pose a public safety risk: “I frequently pass homeless encampments while walking the streets,” says Phoebe Youman. “I’m a young woman, under five feet tall, and I usually walk alone, and I’ve never been made to feel uncomfortable or harassed by anyone living on the street or in their car, let alone posed a safety risk.”
Adam Alvarez, a father and business owner who lives in the area, offered a much different take. “I’ve seen camps set up on school grounds where our kids, my kids, are supposed to be safe and secure,” said Adam Alvarez, of Manchester.
“I’ve come across human waste when walking with my kids. I’ve had to teach them to be careful of needles.”
Mayor Ruais later defended the measures and slammed those who accused mayors of unfairly attacking the homeless.
“This is not a criminal act. [homelessness]”Nobody goes to jail as a result of this. It’s a deterrent,” he said.
Ruais also noted that the city is offering assistance to those who want and ask for it. “What we can’t tolerate are people breaking our laws or ignoring our ordinances,” he said.
Aldenburg added that homeless people can use public parks just like anyone else, as long as they abide by the rules.
“If they’re in the park too and they behave appropriately and they’re not drinking there, urinating there or sleeping there, then they’re welcome to be there,” he said.
Aldenberg also said the new ordinance would allow all Manchester residents to enjoy our beautiful city, “if you want to come and sit in the park with your family on a nice day like today…” [will] I think you’ll feel more at ease that way.”
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