No secret here, seems diabolically obvious ... Redding California city
government I believe will use new pot dispensary regulations and tax revenue to hire new "Marijuana" code
enforcement officers to ride the already broken backs of our continually
criminalized homeless population.
You know, the kind of Redding
code enforcement officer that haunts the continually police raided
homeless camps and homeless street population already, dressed
impeccably in leather gloves to protect the fists, and a rather
oversized "Flak jacket." Modern day spiritual Roman Centurion ? A macabre representation of Redding City hall compassion to
say the least.
For years the homeless who have tried to take refuge at the Good News
Rescue Mission have confided to me they refuse to stay there because the
program members run the facility like a " prison yard," And I can
personally attest I have seen more drugs at the mission then on the
street. Seems like a good representation of Redding Police Chief Roger
Moore's description of South City Park at a recent city council meeting.
One
day at a recently raided homeless camp, I asked the Redding police
community service officer ... " Its just us ... tell me ... knowing what you
know. would you, or if you had a family and no other option, stay at the Good
News Rescue Mission?
"No" was his response.
So if Redding police community service
officer Bob Brannon because of conditions would never stay at the
mission, Redding's only night time homeless shelter, why do we expect the homeless population to freely want to do so?
Alas nowhere to go.
Redding's Marijuana recreational high helps homeless to continue to die...
I knew Robert when he took refuge under the covered entrance to Trinity Lutheran Church on Hilltop until they kicked him off the property several years ago. I have never witnessed him panhandling. Robert told me he was a Vietnam veteran, who often could be seen with a guitar. Apparently Robert spent the last years of his life sitting in front of the Target Department store. It is my understanding somebody ran over Roberts foot, and infection set in.
Folks in Target can tell you more, and they have been nice enough to purchase this memorial stand where this well known and loved homeless man dwelled.
Robert died of esophageal cancer which jives with what the folks told me at Target because they were not sure if it was the cancer or the gangrene or both that killed him.
*Folks working at Target gave him things periodically to survive and in the process monitored him.
*Folks working at Target noticed he was starting to fail healthwise and called help for him, so this homeless veteran didn't have to die on the street, but in the relative comfort of a health care facility.
*Folks working at Target bought and placed the thoughful memorial you see now next to the entrance of Target.
*Folks working at Target have proved again by their Love and Compassion that "Handouts Do Help"
No matter what the heartless have to say...
*******
I came into contact with Robert Moore several times. During conversations around town in his lucid periods he was very soft spoken and at times you could see a sparkle in his eyes. He would always seem to make it to the food bank just about when we were ready to close, so I waived the 2x a month rule for him. He often needed sleeping bags, blankets, and other basic survival gear.
He was always so thankful and appreciative, and if he were still alive im sure he would tell you handouts do help.
Another poor soul fallen through the ever expanding cracks in Redding's social safety nets.
A touching personal tribute to an all to common tragic tale...
Please meet Tony, a homeless man who has spent day and night during Redding's
exceptionally cold winter outdoors. As hundreds of people a day pass by Tony
across the street from the downtown post office, many of them leave love
offerings... clothes, food, blankets, .......money.
Usually he can hobble over to the covered Raba bus station when it rains but he
could not even get up when Fire and EMS arrived. He was hunched over all day
which was very disturbing .
We noticed he was starting to fail healthwise and called help for him. I looked at the paramedic and said he was dying on that bench... He agreed
Redding Police and businesses are very hot to do a "Handouts Dont Help" campaign to try to drive some
of the homeless out of town, As a Christian we are very much against as we could
gage Tony's condition through out the day as we gave him love offerings
Tony spent over 2 weeks in the hospital.
As you can see, and if you were to ask Tony, handouts do help...
*******
A homeless senior citizen in her 70's who often panhandles to feed herself and feed her stray animal friends, Barbara or "Catwoman" camps out in the wooded area by the Sacramento River known as the Henderson Open Space. Recently she alleges that Bob Brannon, community work program officer for the Redding California Police Department has threatened to arrest her if she dident leave the Henderson area, and that she would loose her beloved pet dog.
She also alleges, as many homeless folks do, that Officer Brannon has taken her personal possesions and has cost her a great deal of money to replace. She loves to feed and take in unwanted stray dogs and cats, and it is said that she has developed a relationship with wild animals as well, feeding turtles and baby skunks as they rub up against her like baby kittens.
Unfortunatly when Bob Brannon discovers and raids her camp, he throws away any survival homeless camping gear she has managed to obtain.
Many, many homeless folks that live away from the Good News Rescue Mission wish to be self sufficient and panhandle for the most basic of survival needs, ( Tents, Sleeping Bags, Cooking Stoves, etc. ) which Officer Brannon of the Redding Police Department confiscates on a regular basis requiring folks like Barbara to panhandle to continually replace.
In order for many homeless folks in Redding and Shasta County to survive, your generous Handouts Do Help...
A gentle homeless soul in her 70's who loves to collect money to feed her stray animal friends.
Homeless for the majority of 16 years, she camps out in the wooded area by the Sacramento River known as the Henderson Open Space. Recently she alleges that Bob Brannon, community work program officer for the Redding California Police Department has threatened to arrest her if she dident leave the Henderson area, and that she would loose her beloved pet dog, and that he was sick of cleaning up after her.
"Catwoman" is a very warm and easy to talk to individual. She loves to feed and take in unwanted stray dogs and cats, and it is said that she has developed a relationship with wild animals as well, feeding turtles and baby skunks as they rub up against her like baby kittens. Unfortunatly when Bob Brannon discovers and raids her camp, he throws away pounds of Cat and Dog food, as well as any survival homeless camping gear she has managed to obtain.
"Catwoman" is a cancer survivor, and unfortunatly needs a constant supply of colostomy bags to maintain her health. The last thing this dear homeless senior citizen needs is a threat of arrest, and the loss of her beloved pet dog hanging over her head.
If you agree that homelessness is not a crime and Catwoman is not a criminal then please take the time to call the Redding Police Department at (530) 225 - 4200 and ask for Redding Police Chief Robert Paoletti.
Let him know that this is not Stockton, that we here in Redding are compassionate to our homeless senior citizens, and until Redding California and Redding Rotary is willing and able to provide adequate shelters and affordable housing for the growing numbers of homeless folks free of homeless camping tickets,criminalization and evictions that Henderson Open Space is big enough for everybody to share.
