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A proposed ordinance designed to move the homeless out of downtown Kokomo has been delayed after facing community opposition. On March 25, the Kokomo Common Council moved to continue the legislation, and Mayor Tyler Moore has indicated an intent to review the matter through the institution of a community “task force.”
The ordinance would authorize city employees to remove the property of “camping” individuals from public spaces. It further makes such camping illegal, but it is unclear on what will happen to the affected homeless after their property is seized. The ordinance exempts the “camper” from the requirements of the ordinance if there is no place to which they can be relocated. Currently, Howard County’s shelters for the homeless are full and have been so for years, at least for men.
Councilman Bob Stephenson was the only council member to raise questions about the ordinance and to vote against it on first reading. But it was not well received by the nonprofit community devoted to providing aid and assistance to the homeless. Representatives from those organizations appeared at the council meeting to express their displeasure, only to find the ordinance continued.
These nonprofits, at least some of whom were never consulted by the Moore administration before the proposed ordinance was copied from a similar measure in Elkhart, didn’t wait to see what would happen next. There were reports that Moore rushed to meet with the nonprofits on March 22 after the legislation met with opposition.
From those meetings, the Lantern was informed that Moore intends to form a “task force” to include the service providers in the conversation. Dennine Smith, executive director of Coordinated Assistance Ministries (CAM), was among those in favor of being consulted about alternatives to the legislation. CAM released an official position on the matter earlier this week.
“CAM's mission is to show God's love by meeting unmet needs and to empower individuals and families in our community,” the position states. “A part of empowering people is advocacy. As advocates for individuals experiencing homelessness and housing instability, it is our desire to work in partnership with our city, with others who serve this population, and with community stakeholders to discuss some alternative approaches to addressing the issues raised in Ordinance 7128.
“There has been a productive conversation about the development of a task force, as well as discussions about other efforts to address the need for shelter beds. I anticipate that we will have more details in the coming weeks.”
Currently, the ordinance is scheduled to be heard on second and final reading by the council on April 8. Whether the ordinance actually gets that hearing is a question. Moore has the ability to request his ordinance be pulled, and he can veto the measure if the council passes it over his hypothetical protestations.
The Kokomo Common Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Mon., April 8, in caucus before holding its public meeting at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall.
Katcher announces run for Dist. 30
Mike Katcher has announced his candidacy for the office of Indiana State Representative for Dist. 30, which represents much of Kokomo and parts of eastern Howard County and western Grant County. Katcher will run as a Democrat.
Katcher, a literal former rocket scientist, retired as an engineer at Haynes International. He previously ran for a seat on the Kokomo Common Council.
“The reason I am running is to offer my experience and skills in an effort to give to Indiana what America gave to me: the freedom of worship or not, public education, literature, neighborhood, family, healthcare, and work,” said Katcher. “I am tired of the loss of freedoms put into law by my Republican colleagues in the Indiana House. This job is not rocket science, but Indiana is slowly losing these freedoms and as a result increases in drug addiction, crime, and gun violence while reducing life expectancy.”
Katcher also introduced one of his positions on the problems facing the local community as well as the entire state. He took a stand against the Kokomo Common Council’s recent legislative attempt to relocate the homeless from downtown.
“An example of this loss of freedom is the new ordinance proposed by the Kokomo administration that proposes the arresting and stealing property from the homeless in our community,” said Katcher. (The homeless) need a place to stay that is safe, that provides privacy and a place to sleep, wash and congregate with friends.
“Instead of forcing them to relocate, why not provide them a place to satisfy their needs at a low cost to the city? There is an enormous amount of funds dedicated to the battery plants and buying land for these factories that could be, in a minor proportion, devoted to the homeless.”
Katcher went on the characterize many of the homeless as veterans or mentally disabled and posited that their homeless condition was exacerbated years ago when the state of Indiana closed much of its mental hospital infrastructure. He proposed the City of Kokomo take more aggressive measures to provide services to the homeless population.
“The homeless need safety, the freedom to come and go as they please, and personal hygiene,” said Katcher. “Small, dispersed areas of the city should be purchased and set aside for them with small, insulated dwellings that can be locked, have a bed, shower, toilet, and wash basin. This might provide privacy and security which they now lack.
“These dwellings could be set up in rows for economy. Japan provides at railway stations, small secure containers set one atop the other to allow overnight passengers between trains to nap or sleep in self-locked privacy and safety. Common toilets and showers are provided. The containers are large enough for the guest to sit up and read in light. This sounds better than a cardboard box on pavement outdoors, or a park bench or a water fountain shower or a hallway toilet.”
Katcher will face incumbent Republican Mike Karickhoff in the general election in November.