#42: Give "Them" a Seat at the Table.

A Letter to the Brattleboro [VT] Select Board.

I’ve made a recording of my entire four-part serial short story entitled “Self Portrait” (although it has nothing to do with me) which I posted over the last few weeks.

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Read Full Brattleboro Reformer Article Here.

Street Cred is primarily about people not policy. But when I read about a movement in my town to ban panhandling, I decided to weigh in.

The concerns are legitimate: shopkeepers say the increasing number of panhandlers in town is hurting their businesses; kids talk about feeling not safe some places downtown—most seriously, an area near the local Boys & Girls Club; and surely most of us feel some discomfort (if not annoyance or anger) when being “forced” to have encounters with people who have serious issues with alcohol, opioids, and/or mental illness.

I’ve now written several dozen posts about my relationships with my friends downtown. There are a couple of things in the article I disagreed with. There’s a common somewhat sensationalistic description of needles being found all over the place downtown. The fact is that in the eight years I’ve lived downtown, I’ve only seen a handful (bad word choice) of needles. I know where I could see more if I went looking for them. But I have no reason to. And I know where the needle disposal boxes and needle exchange sites are if anyone asks.

I apologize for implying that this issue is overstated. My own experience may be true but I’m not taking into consideration the experiences of several businesses and nonprofits in areas where there’s substantial drug activity who have to clean up needles in their parking area and around the front door before they even can start their days.

More concerning is the suggestion that a new homeless shelter in the planning stages—to replace one that was destroyed (in every sense of the word) by a tragedy—be moved to another town. The idea that the most liberal town in arguably the most liberal county in the most liberal state in the country can’t have more than ±40 shelter beds is a bit troubling. As is the description of people who panhandle as transients. Many are from Brattleboro and surrounding towns. Virtually all are from northern New England. And they’ve been here for quite a while.

Regardless, in response to public concerns, I agree it makes sense that the Select Board explore creating “safety zones,” in the same way we have “drug-free zones” or “pedestrian safety zones” — even bike lanes for that matter.

So, based on my relationships with many people who ask for money, I wrote an open letter to our Select Board with suggestions about how they might go about making their decisions,. It was published in our daily paper the other day and will be, I expect, in our weekly paper next week.

Like I said, I’m focused on people not policy, but I decided to reprint this letter below. I’ll let you know what solutions the town ultimately decides to try.

Brattleboro Reformer
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Friday, August 16, 2024

Invite 'Them' to the Table.

An Open Letter to the Brattleboro Select Board.

I don't have a solution to the panhandling issue (Reformer, August 7) but I do think there are tactics that may not have been considered.

• Have people without a permanent home testify at the meetings. They know more about "panhandling" than any of us.

• Have people from Groundworks and other social service organizations testify.

• Treat it like a traditional planning challenge, including:

Qualitative Research:
Many people on the street would be happy to talk about their lives and why they panhandle.

Quantitative Research:
Determine how the money people raise panhandling is spent. I know this is difficult. Frankly, truth is not necessarily the strong point of many people on the street. But there are ways to go about getting some reasonably useful data about how much is spent on:

• Food

• Alcohol and pot

•Illegal drugs, including opioids

• Deductibles for prescriptions. Including antibiotics, painkillers (legal), Suboxone, fibromyalgia, and steroids for cancer-related issues. (Yes, even people on Medicaid are supposed to pay those deductibles)

• Travel for personal reasons including visits to children in custody and family members who are sick

• Clothes for part-time jobs—including protective shoe wear and appropriate clothing for home care and other part-time positions.

I hope these suggestions are helpful.

P.S. In the recent Reformer article, all of the housed people were named; none of the unhoused people were. That speaks volumes.

David Blistein Brattleboro, Aug. 14