Frogs for Snakes

Yesterday, at the beginning of their annual goal-setting retreat, some members of Boulder City Council publically questioned the wisdom of considering an emergency ordinance that would allow camping in public places in Boulder.

The action was taken in responce to intense lobbying by 60 or so members of the “homeless community”[1], many telling heart-wrenching stories, no doubt true, of their travails. The mayor admitted to feeling “boxed-in”, others, according to the Daily Camera, pointing out that they should avoid rash decisions based on emotions but should, rather, think policy decisions through [my words] before acting.

No one wants to appear heartless, especially when the cameras are on, and collectively we have failed our least privileged in this country, but allowing camping in public parks[2] would have effectively denied their use by the rest of the population which seems to violate most notions of justice.

Of course, now council might seem to be willing to tell people whatever they want to hear to get them off their back only to reneg later (“tell us yes but do us no”  in one of my father’s favorite phrases), making them just like every other group of politicians in the world, so it will be interesting to see how they handle not THIS issue so much as similar situations in the future.

Anyway, they deserve some credit for re-thinking the situation, though I’m pretty sure some private communications from constituents helped motivate that.

[1] A ridiculous term, I think. “Community” denotes a social coherence that just isn’t there–this was lobbying by members of an interest group, but the syntax is awkward: “…members of the homeless interest group…” just doesn’t ring.

[2] That’s assumed by many to be the outcome of an ordinance that halts issuing tickets for camping in public places.