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Homeless Protester Says Mayor's Proposed Ban Is PersonalMayor wants to make it illegal to sit, lie down on downtown sidewalksRelated Content
ANCHORAGE—Mayor Dan Sullivan says he wants to increase public safety in downtown with a new city ordinance that would ban anyone from sitting or lying down on public sidewalks, but it’s a move that a 39-year-old homeless man says personally targets him.
For about a month, John William Martin III has been protesting outside of City Hall, in an effort to talk to the mayor about the city's policies toward the homeless.
The municipality managed to get Martin kicked off City Hall steps, though, by getting a judge to rule that Martin, who is a registered sex offender, violated his conditions of release by camping on city property without a permit.
"They're always going to dig dirt," Martin said. "Since that's part of my life, they're going to bring it up."
The proposed ordinance would make it illegal for anyone to sit or lie down on public sidewalks within the downtown improvement district, which encompasses most of downtown Anchorage, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Under the Sullivan administration’s proposal, violators would be fined up to $100.
The proposed ordinance would not apply to those with a medical condition or disability. It would also not affect those who are sitting on a bench on a public sidewalk, nor those waiting for a bus.
Martin says the proposed city law targets him personally, and says it will not make homelessness go away.
"It's chasing homeless people out of the forest and into the streets of the city," he said. “So instead of eliminating homelessness, it’s just putting it right in everybody's back door."
Sullivan says the proposed law is needed to increase safety in downtown Anchorage. "The reason we introduced the ordinance is because no one has the right to block pedestrian access on a public walkway, or otherwise impede a pedestrian's ability to walk down the street," Sullivan said in a written statement.
But some Anchorage Assemblymembers say they aren't sure if the ordinance is necessary.
"Is it an overbearing problem, I don't know that,” said Assemblymember Paul Honeman. “Anecdotally I would say that it hasn't been a huge issue."
"I wasn't aware there was any issue until I saw the ordinance,” said Assemblymember Elvi Gray-Jackson. “Quite frankly, I was surprised."
The proposed ordinance would also prohibit panhandling in the same area. Violators would be fined more than $300.
The Anchorage Assembly plans to hold a public hearing on the proposed ordinance on July 21.
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jesus who said on Friday, Jul 15 at 9:15 AM
give the homeless over to the churches and let the Christians care for the downtrodden it's what their Jesus would do. local spokesman for god "Jerry Prevo" has many acres of compound that could be used for shelters.;o)
70754257mikey372002 said on Friday, Jul 15 at 9:16 AM
dan sounds like hav eto much free time on your hands, and waste police time on this issue, look at the gang and drugs around anchorage, way to much free time on your hands, voters time to elect a new mayor who can get this city going in a posative direction, Ohh and dan boy how do you get money from homeless and panhandlers, throw them in jail until they pay, mmmm sounds like something stupid you didnt ask yourself before talking of such a stupid idea, Or let me ask is it because the police dept isnt making enough money from arresting drug and gang members. So they have to harrass homeless for money. what a great worthless mayor, Voter wise up next election.
70754322Anonymous said on Friday, Jul 15 at 9:44 AM
how about one way ticket to SF they love streat people and its warmer
70755984Homeless Political Party said on Friday, Jul 15 at 9:45 AM
Mayor Dan Sullivan is an embarrasment to our city, if someone is protesting and exercising his or her first amendment rights, or just wants to sit or lie down and look at the sky without aid of a designated government bench, he or she has a fundamental right to do so. Dan Sullivan should be impeached for trampling on the basic human rights and dignity of the homeless. We should thank this homeless man by renaming the Sullivan Arena, the John William Martin III Arena, in honor of his freedom of speech!
70756036outrageous said on Friday, Jul 15 at 9:54 AM
While i agree this takes it a it too far, Im tired of homeless ppl thinking thier entitled to our streets simply becasue thats where they "live". I cant walk down a dtreet in the downtown area without being leered at ridiculed asked for money. Someone asked me for $20 the other day and when i said no they were offended. WOW! Im hoping this doesnt pass as it is something stupid but the homeless are a problem that needs to be addressed. i cant take my daughter down there without being worried a homeless person is going to say something rude to her.
70756587Cazamus said on Friday, Jul 15 at 10:33 AM
The homeless are great people, except the ones that are sex offenders, or drug/alchohal fiends, or the ones that get agitated by not paying for their "bus fare". I help out on Christmas/Thanksgiving on feeding them, but not for a second do I believe that they all just somehow got cheated and ended up in their situation. Every person deserves a hand up, not a hand out and maybe Dan Sulivan's plan to make it harder for the homeless to beg all day and drink all night will motivate these people to change some aspect of their life. Yes there are some who suffer from mental disabilities, but that is not an excuse to give them all the right to continue business as usual. For those of you who pretend that these are misunderstood tramps from some 1950's sitcom, go visit them when you are not there to give them money or help them in any way, and you will see the greed and ugliness that resides in their souls.
70758776tourism said on Friday, Jul 15 at 10:35 AM
Should the downtown area cater to the homeless or tourism? Which one supports the local businesses more? There are many towns that don't allow any loitering at all. Tourists go there because they feel safe and dont' have to worry about being approached by strangers asking for money. This person is registered sex offender. How safe would you feel letting you daughter walk downtown by herself nowing this. Tourists read the paper to.
70758897Anonymous said on Friday, Jul 15 at 10:36 AM
why dont the homeless do for themselves and stop begging and work like any other citizen and pay there taxes. if they cant then get them out working and picking up garbage for the city and making a living so they can get them selves shelter and food and clothing.
70758968Anonymous said on Friday, Jul 15 at 10:37 AM
its not the christains job to take care of any homeless, it is there choice
70759059Dbuck said on Friday, Jul 15 at 11:18 AM
I think it is funny to fine a homeless perons $100-$300 for these infractions. Isn't the point of a punishment meant to change the unwanted behavior into a more positive behavior? How is charging a homeless person with maybe some change in their pockets going to change the undesirable behavior? LOL!
70761503Dean said on Friday, Jul 15 at 11:29 AM
well I think there are to many laws now and probably some type of loitering law already in place and let Anchorage residents pay there own house taxes why do homes people who smake pay for anchorage residents house taxes maybe if they were paing there own house tax a few more might not be able to afford to and be homeless themselves
70762164Anonymous said on Friday, Jul 15 at 11:54 AM
isnt it fishing season why isnt this guy working on a boat or at a processing plant. there are plenty of jobs out there for sex offenders. as i have seen it this guy is wasting everyones time by doing this when this entire month he could have been working instead of iritating everybody with the support homeless people crap. there are so many programs to help people get back on there feet.
70763379Guest said on Friday, Jul 15 at 12:20 PM
If there isn't there should be a loitering law not to mention creating a public nuisance, hazards, dangers, pedestrians and bikers have to manouver around these people, not to mention these homeless people are harassing/soliciting passerbyers for money instead of getting a job, that the majority of them are capable of doing but choose not to and expect to live off the rest of us. The world doe not owe them a living, we pay our dues and so should they.
70764743Mike J. said on Friday, Jul 15 at 1:13 PM
Oh boo hoo for Mr Martin. He's where he is and the way he continuously refuses to live by any authority or rules other than his, with his multiple sex offenses, assaults and such. Then he's the self-appointed spokeman for homeless,demanding to meet with the Mayor to discuss homeless issues? Local media eatting it all up. Martin on the news happy with all the free stuff people have given him. Yeah, he's just having a good time jerking everyone around, once again thumbing his nose to authority.
70767541your mom said on Friday, Jul 15 at 1:58 PM
I would worry more about the unregistered sex offenders than the registered ones. Do some research, theres one in every neighborhood. If a 18 year old has sex with his 17 year old girl friend he is considered a sex offender so try not to panic so much.
70769674KENAI GUY said on Friday, Jul 15 at 4:52 PM
PLEASE, YOU BLEEDING HEARTS. MAYBE WE SHOULD LET HIM SLEEP, URINATE, CURSE, AND DEFICATE ANYWHERE HE WANTS TO. AFTER ALL WE ARE JUST MAKING IT HARDER FOR HIM TO LIVE HIS DREAM. WHAT A BUNCH OF FOOLS YOU ARE. HE NEEDS TO BE SENT BACK TO THE PLANET HE CAME FROM. HE CERTAINLY IS NOT FROM THIS ONE. WHO CARES WHAT HE WANTS. GET A JOB, GO FISHING, PICK FRUIT IN CALIFORNIA. JUST STOP ASKING HARD WORKING PEOPLE TO TAKE CARE OF HIM. FOR PETES SAKE - CALL A SPADE A SPADE ALREADY.
70775923Andrew said on Friday, Jul 15 at 7:11 PM
Its a tough one alright - On one hand you got homless buming around asking for cash and bugging people - On the other you have personal freedom of the public to sit protest and the right to public gathering.... It did not say with a permitt of in the free speach zone ,,,.....
70781233compuuuter said on Friday, Jul 15 at 7:56 PM
i would personally vote for some of you instead of mayor sully...:) However, i really like this idea bcoz there's no reason for anyone not having an emergency to sit or lay on a sidewalk. KENAI GUY, Mike J., and Cazamus, :), :), and :).
70782524compuuuter said on Friday, Jul 15 at 8:11 PM
$20?! "outrageous"... that's, well, outrageous! i mean i believe u- i'm a bus user and at least once a week, it's "Hey, U Got (bus money?) (food) (smokes)?" that person is just greedy and i hope he or she didn't hurt u. they are not all like this but there are enough who are, i carry a mini pepper spray everywher.
70782903compuuuter said on Friday, Jul 15 at 8:21 PM
KENAI GUY, Mike J., and Cazamus, :), :), and :). there's no reason for anyone not having an emergency to sit or lay on a sidewalk. i wish i would've been across the street with my tape player, playing the "Goodbye Earl" song. Even if they made me use headphones, what the heck. It's Friday.
70783122ffs said on Friday, Jul 15 at 8:26 PM
send the homeless to the capital
70783251Dean said on Friday, Jul 15 at 10:19 PM
Well I see a lot of people say its there choice first of all we have been in a recession and I think most people can pull themselves up and do better then they are we alaskans have not felt the recession like the lower 48 but even still when you have IG Insurance GM Chrysler and everyone else with there hand out getting billon and trillon I see the priority to get a couple of homeless of the street who cares if they freeze to Death boozing themsleves up there just homeless people and how many people became homeless over Enron Utility how many workers who did nothing wrong ended up with nothing except bills they couldnt afford to pay because the company they woked for no longer exists then you have a 50 year old guy or women starting at the bottom of the ladder somewhere and that if they can get a job because there are so many college kids looking for work that the company doesnt have to worry about medical insuance for the youger guy
70785397JEAN MASSEY said on Sunday, Jul 17 at 10:50 AM
This guy is a slug. He is lazy ( like most bums). It is NOT the city or the tax payer that has to look out for him. He can get assistance like all the other welfare leeches by just applying.He is a convicted pervert, and dosen't need sympathy. I'd throw his but on a bus ( well airline) and send him to the WHite House with a note pinned to his shirt,for OLE BUMO BOY to read. Here is another unemployed sex offender,which isen't much higher on the ladder than the aliens terrorist that are flocking in, so Obumo add hism to your staff, he will fit in perfect with all the other low life you have in your administration.He is probably a registered Democrate as well.
70839106robert sparks said on Thursday, Jul 21 at 4:43 PM
Wow, lets give the Anchorage police the power to give us an expensive citation for just sitting on a sidewalk downtown, whether you are causing any problem or not, so that we can screw over one homeless guy. It makes so much sense, why hasn't anyone thought of this before Mayor Sullivan!
71098209Brandon M. Mommsen said on Thursday, Jul 21 at 5:25 PM
@ Jean Your method of labeling a man who is simply protesting what he considers to be unconstitutional, and exercising his rights, and your application of terms such as "welfare leech" and "pervert", especially for a crime you know nothing of, do not face what may be a problem, and only perpetuate ignorance. You know nothing of this man's life, so what qualifies you to call him "lazy" or "a slug". I can not beleive people have to speculate so much as to why there is such a prevalence of homelessness, when all they ever do is label anyone they see in unkempt clothes with a sign. I am not asking people to take someone of the street and in to their homes, but just to stop being so oblivious. But maybe there is no need to confront you, as you seem to be one of the countless people that use any slight provacation as an excuse to critisize the president, "aliens terrorist" [sic], and a political party you do not agree with.
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