first meeting of Homelessness Task Force in Arcata

community:
Homeless Task Force meeting goes awry

Conflict leads to removal of one man; wrong subject taken away by police

If you are crticial of homeless policies in Arcata and you have a lot to say, don’t say it at a Homeless Task Force meeting or you might have the police called on you.

Last Thursday at its second meeting, conflict arose when facilitator and HSU sociology professor Betsy Watson had police called to remove a man who went over his two-minute time limit for comment.

Watson said she acted with the authority of the Task Force to have the disruptive person removed.
“He wasn’t arrested, he was removed and that will consistently happen here,” Watson said.

Attorney Greg Allen, who was in attendance, said the call was an ominous sign of what may happen in future meetings.

“[If] you have that a few times the homeless who aren’t on the Task Force won’t feel welcome at the meetings,” Allen said after the meeting.

Allen added the Task Force has the authority to remove people from meetings and not the facilitator.
“I felt like a lot of the folks on the Task Force are not clear who has the authority,” Allen said.

Biome, the man who was asked to be removed, raised his hand before speaking and announced that he would go over two minutes. He was then reminded that this was against meeting rules.

He began reading a statement alleging misallocation of taxpayer money and warning Watson and Fox Olsen, director of the Arcata Endeavor.

“[Y]ou are…nearing the end of your leash,” he said.

As Biome went over his two minutes, Watson attempted to reign him in, Biome raised his voice and continued over her interruptions.

Watson glanced at the task force members, and then indicated to her aide Christina Fritschi to call the police.
“I looked at [the Task Force],” Watson said, “and they indicated to me—the vast majority—that I needed to take action.”

Watson said after the meeting that the Task Force had decided at its first meeting how “disruptive behavior” would be dealt with.

In response to Fritschi’s call to the police, a homeless audience member who goes by the name of “Quarter Mike,” said, “Give him his minute,” and began shouting at Watson.

“This is a fraud and you know it…we didn’t vote for you, pig,” Quater Mike said.

The police officer arrived, and removed Quarter Mike, instead of Biome who was originally identified to be removed from the meeting.

Biome, who was neither arrested nor confronted by the police, said after the meeting, “I just had one page. I told them it was going to be three minutes. I can’t believe they were on the horn with those cops within three minutes.”
Discussion followed, occupying most of the public comment period, about whether police should have been called, and whether it had been authorized.

Task Force member Kim Starr appeared passionate as she told the other members, “I don’t agree with calling the police. This is BS to call the police on the second day of dealings.”

Virgil Davis, a medical provider on the Task Force said, “I would much rather have one or two people leave…than have other people lose their public comment time.”

Nicole Alvarado, HSU student representative to the Task Force, said, “It was unfortunate…I don’t think the task force consented to having the police come out, but [Watson] was looking out for the safety of the people.”

The Task Force was created in December by a unanimous vote of the City Council.

Since then, three homeless services providers, three homeless individuals, two business owners, two Arcata residents at large, one medical provider, one clergy member, one formerly homeless individual, and one HSU student have been selected by a city council committee to draft a Homeless Services Action Plan.
The plan is scheduled to be released in November.


Updated Tuesday, March 08, 2005 Written by Adam Creighton - Staff Writer 125 reads