Homeless Life on the Mississippi.....

 

Homeless people live and roam the stretch that runs up and down the Mississippi River, including the area around where the 35W bridge collapsed.

Minneapolis Police spokesman Captain Mike Martin made a statement about a homeless man that went back to the area to retrieve his belongings, but fail to identify the man and stated without reservation that there were no Homeless fatalities. Didn't hear him speak about injuries either.

The relationship between the homeless population and the Minneapolis police is not a friendly one. And the reputation of the Police departments profiling iniatives on both men and women, but especially men, in Minneapolis, is not good either.

A new ordinance, a few more bridge barriers and shelter lotteries make for more people out on the streets and down by the river.

Sorry, but I'm not going to rely on Captain Martins report as being gospel, not just yet. The local media should give the homeless guy a name, face and give him his 15 minutes of fame.

I bet Mike Mosedale from City Pages could find the guy known only as the "Homeless man." Click on and read Mr. Mosedales 'Life on the Mississippi' below......

UPDATED August 9, 2007 Downtown Journal By Jake Weyer and Sarah McKenzie From the interview, police believe no homeless individuals were killed during the collapse, Martin said.

The best article to date, about Minnesota people along the Mississppi.....

From City Pages Life On The Mississppi by Mike Mosedale Volume 24 - Issue 1184 - Cover Story - August 13, 2003 "I declare myself to be an act of art. My existence is my performance" said D. Sinn. The five-mile stretch of the river between Lower St. Anthony Falls and the Ford Dam is among the urban river's wildest zones--a virtue it owes to its geology.

July 23, 2007 Downtown Journal Issue By Nicholas Backus "Jim Minor, president of Downtown’s People Serving People (PSP), said the organization’s shelter has seen a 25 percent increase in the number of residents this summer compared to last summer."

Homelessness in Minnesota Posted April 16, 2007 MNSpeak "52% of homeless adults suffer from a chronic mental condition; 53% of homeless youth have been the victims of domestic violence; 25% of homeless men are military veterans."

The Homeless Speak Out in Saint Paul Posted April 1st, 2005 MN Homeless Coalition "Unfortunately, due to inadequate resources, roughly 1,000 individuals are turned away from shelter each night. Children and unaccompanied youth regularly account for nearly half of those sheltered and turned away."

November 22, 2006 That homeless person could be you By MN Daily Stephanie Archer Guest columnist "It is estimated that on any given night, approximately 21,000 people in Minnesota are homeless or insecurely housed."

Check out "30 levels in Bridge Building" AND "What Once Was: Twin Cities" from Eluko79 posted Saturday, August 11, 2007 by awakening

Minnesota Say 'NO' To New 35W Bridge Builders! Sunday, August 05, 2007 by awakening