Fairhope, Alabama
USUAL LIBRARY SPOT CLOSED OFF
While their usual places at the library are being remodeled, at least one of Fairhope's homeless is hanging out now at the Community Park near the splash pad.
"Missy" (aka Wanda Hudson, notable for her foot-long fingernails) has been a fixture on a library bench for several years; numerous private offers to provide shelter have been rejected according to police and other reports.
A police spokesman once told the Times she remains there because the people of Fairhope are so generous, bring her food, clothing, and even money.
Her supporters claim she is harmless and should be left alone; others worry she may be mentally ill and could do harm some day: They think a better place should be found for her.
There are at least two other homeless in town by our count, who live in their vehicles.
CITY COUNCIL SPLIT
Two city councilmen privately agree something should be done to address the homeless problem here -- ie. new laws?); but at least one other wants her left alone too.
She is violating no laws while living on city property, he says.
(The city council rarely acts unless all are in agreement, a somewhat unusual arrangement that makes it hard to get things done -- since majority votes are all that's needed for most governments elsewhere.)
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| Community Park |
USUAL LIBRARY SPOT CLOSED OFF
While their usual places at the library are being remodeled, at least one of Fairhope's homeless is hanging out now at the Community Park near the splash pad.
"Missy" (aka Wanda Hudson, notable for her foot-long fingernails) has been a fixture on a library bench for several years; numerous private offers to provide shelter have been rejected according to police and other reports.
A police spokesman once told the Times she remains there because the people of Fairhope are so generous, bring her food, clothing, and even money.
Her supporters claim she is harmless and should be left alone; others worry she may be mentally ill and could do harm some day: They think a better place should be found for her.
There are at least two other homeless in town by our count, who live in their vehicles.
CITY COUNCIL SPLIT
Two city councilmen privately agree something should be done to address the homeless problem here -- ie. new laws?); but at least one other wants her left alone too.
She is violating no laws while living on city property, he says.
(The city council rarely acts unless all are in agreement, a somewhat unusual arrangement that makes it hard to get things done -- since majority votes are all that's needed for most governments elsewhere.)
Comments
I would further direct them to Fairhope’s Code of Ordinances, at Chapter 14, Article (§ 14-1(b)), which incorporates that state law, by reference: “Any person or corporation committing an offense within the corporate limits of the City of Fairhope, Alabama, or within the police jurisdiction thereof, which is declared by a law or laws of the State of Alabama, now existing or hereafter enacted to be a violation, shall be guilty of an offense against the City of Fairhope, Alabama.”
Moreover, Chapter 20, Article II of our local code extensively regulates vehicle parking. Thus, if our community—through its elected representatives—decides that overnight parking is undesirable, for example, our laws can be amended to reflect that public will.
Whatever one’s opinion of Ms. Hudson and the nameless others, leadership requires honest acknowledgment of the facts. Opinions may differ as to the public health and safety, as well as economic, effects of our homeless policies, and we must also consider the effects of our policy on the homeless, themselves, whether those policies skew toward censure or indulgence. Regardless, we must not avoid hard decisions through obfuscation and confusion.
The people of Fairhope are a generous people, but they must be informedly guided by reason rather than misinformation and/or emotion.
No wonder nothing gets done around here!!
The town has the duty to remove her immediately for loitering.
We are still working on better assistance for those in need but we can't help those that refuse help.