The figures of power in City of Grand Rapids want to change the Disorderly Conduct and Nuisance provisions of the City charter. These ordinance changes will negatively affect our community as a whole; disproportionately criminalizing and terrorizing our unhoused neighbors with tactics such as fines, jailing, civil forfeiture (state sanctioned theft) of personal property deemed a nuisance, and more.

It is no coincidence that these ordinance changes act completely in the interests of the businesses in Grand Rapids. Police and businesses are the ones who have cooperated to craft these precisely detailed changes.

How is the community negatively affected? First, most of us are just one crisis away from experiencing housing insecurity and possible homelessness. The solution is not fines and jail, but systemic change, including policies that support folks in maintaining adequate housing and meeting other basic needs. Second, an injustice against one - especially against the most vulnerable - is an injustice against all. Several folks who are unhoused are multiply marginalized by current systems, whether they are a person of color, are disabled (including living with mental illness), are queer or trans, or are from generational poverty. And third, hidden between the lines of this ordinance are very powerful movement-breaking and protest-breaking tools. These changes make it much easier for the police to be used against the people when they do direct actions for justice, by restricting what public areas they can be in and whether they can address others in those public areas. What if handing someone a flyer for a cause is considered "accosting" that person?

So please, write a letter to the Grand Rapids City Commissioners, the Mayor, the Police Chief, and the Public Safety Committee Liaison expressing the need for Housing not Jail.