Homeless for a night: Berkeley mayor sleeps with city's down-and-out

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 4/24/03 | Charles Burress

[NEWwoman]

LOL! I bet your prediction will come true.

[honeygrl]

There was a period with no homeless? I don't remember that. Our town has always had "The Man who Lives Under the Bridge" and "The drunk Guy with One Leg."

The Drunk Guy with One Leg is always asking for rides from the college kids who often comply.

[Ruth A.]

Those unaware that the event wasn't the mayor's idea might easily have assumed publicity-seeking motives.

I'll admit to reading this quickly and not wanting to re-read, but whose idea was this stunt anyway?

Too many in our society live from paycheck to paycheck and don't save or "can afford" insurance and put themselves at incredible risk when something tragic happens. Those self-reliant safeguards can help a person get through a rough spell. Their families should be able to help, too.

They have a nurse and a carpenter/painter. Was there a plumber there who could have fixed the toilet? After all they are using it. Why wait for the government to fix it? But, no, we must wait for the government to help...

This mayor wants to experience the homeless pain, but should be doing some creative thinking. How can these people work to gain their self-respect and start pulling themselves up again? Graffiti problems, litter problems...

[Ben Bolt]

Oh nice .. Now he can run around with his puss all over the media telling folks how enlightned & in tune he is with the common folks . What a louse .

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Have you been through it?

Yes, I have - but I'm not out living under a newspaper or on a city park bench whining and playing the victim card.

EEE

[jokar]

Any measure that establishes legal charity on a permanent basis and gives it administrative form
thereby creates an idle and lazy class, living at the expense of the industrial and working class.
-Alexis De Tocqueville, Memoir on Pauperism

[NEWwoman]

Great quote. I copied it and pasted it in a file I'm compiling of memorable quotes.

[Chuckster]

Those who would rob Peter to pay Paul can always count on Paul's support.

[jiggyboy]

Yep, I believe that's John Sesaki, one of the reporters from KTVU TV in Oakland.

BTW, a few tidbits not mentioned in this article:

- The sprinklers in the park, which are normally turned on at 10 PM every day of the year to discourage this kind of thing, were specially turned off that night.

- If this reporter says he used the outside toilet, well, ok. I saw a report on local TV that said he (also?) used a toilet inside City Hall in the middle of the night. (Maybe the visit to the outside toilet was just for show and this reporter wasn't around for the second trip?)

- While his comrades resumed panhandling for change for coffee to start their day, he passed on the chance for true solidarity and just went and bought one for himself.

[watchme]

hehe I also donate the plasma all the time as I am a poor college student, it's not just something homeless people do . :)