Housing NOT Harassment
The Center City Commission is hiring a private security force to harass the homeless poor in Downtown Memphis.
The private security force will be hired at the cost of $122,000 for three months. If this continues the cost will total nearly $500,000 for a year. Why not invest this money in starting a free city shelter for homeless persons? There is no free shelter for homeless persons in Memphis!
The privatization of security by the Center City Commission reduces public accountability for policing. The use of non-unionized security rather than professional unionized Memphis police officers who are directly accountable to city government is a dangerous step and follows the privatizing of other areas Downtown. Why is Downtown being transformed into a private playground for the wealthy patrolled by private security?
The security force is likely to carry weapons such as batons, pepper spray, tazers, or possibly even guns. Due to lower levels of accountability, the private security industry engages in more acts of abuse threatening public safety itself. How accountable will this private security force be to the public?
The Center City Commission should focus on promoting investment in low-income housing and concrete support services for the homeless rather than seeking to criminalize persons for being poor. A creative response to the needs of the poor is needed; not further privatization of public responsibilities.
The Center City Commission should focus on improving the quality of life for ALL Downtown residents; not just the wealthy. Increased harassment of the homeless poor decreases the quality of life of all persons. It is no solution to the root causes of homelessness. Housing, jobs, free shelter, rehabilitation and treatment for mental illness are needed, not an armed private security force.
A privatized security force crackdown on the homeless poor is a step
in the wrong direction. Contact the Center City Commission to demand that
they stop this shameful plan for private security and instead affirm that
homeless poor are persons with dignity who have the right to be in public
space.
Phone: 901.575.0540
Larry Bloom, Director of Safety
Jeff Sanford, President
