BRATTON TALKS WITH ACTIVISTS CHIEF DEFENDS HOMELESS SWEEPS.Byline: Mariel Garza Staff Writer Only hours after another sweep of a downtown encampment of homeless people, Police Chief William Bratton met Wednesday with a roomful of advocates for the homeless and defended the LAPD's actions as necessary. In a question-and-answer session with about 100 members of the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness, Bratton said he sympathized with advocates who feel frustrated frus·trate tr.v. frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing, frus·trates 1. a. To prevent from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; thwart: in their search for services and shelters for the city's homeless population. But he said the Los Angeles Police Department "LAPD" and "L.A.P.D." redirect here. For other uses, see LAPD (disambiguation).  This article or section is written like an . has a responsibility to regulate illegal behavior, which is the focus of its crackdown on the homeless. ``As to where do they go, I don't have that answer,'' Bratton said. ``I don't think society has found that answer. But society has also said you cannot live on the street. We're not doing them any favors by letting them live on the street.'' The problem, Bratton said, are those who refuse help. The comment drew an immediate response from many of the activists, who protested that no one prefers to stay on the streets. ``In the thousands of homeless people I have worked with downtown, I have never found one that would not take shelter,'' said Becky Dennison, executive director of the Downtown Women's Action Coalition. Police sweeps of homeless encampments, like the roust roust tr.v. roust·ed, roust·ing, rousts To rout, especially out of bed. [Probably alteration of rouse.] Wednesday under the 4th Street Bridge, along with checks on ex-convicts who are on probation, have become a sore spot for activists for the homeless. So much so that the coalition has supported a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), nonpartisan organization devoted to the preservation and extension of the basic rights set forth in the U.S. Constitution. of Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, to halt the LAPD's indiscriminate sweeps. A judge earlier this month imposed a temporary injunction temporary injunction n. a court order prohibiting an action by a party to a lawsuit until there has been a trial or other court action. A temporary injunction differs from a "temporary restraining order" which is a short-term, stop-gap injunction issued pending a on probationer A convict who is released from prison provided he maintains good behavior. One who is on Probation whereby she is given some freedom to reenter society subject to the condition that for a specified period the individual conduct herself in a manner approved by a special officer sweeps until the case can be heard. That was part of the reason the coalition invited Bratton to talk to the group, said Bob Erlenbusch, the group's executive director. Bratton and officials from the LAPD's Central Station said the injunction has not stopped police from moving homeless encampments. Police do it with care, they said, and with social workers and shelter referrals. ``We're not just displacing people,'' said Capt. James Rubert, commanding officer of the downtown station in Skid Row skid row a run-down area frequented by alcoholics. [Am. Culture: Misc.] See : Alcoholism Skid Row district of down-and-outs and bums. [Am. Usage: Brewer Dictionary, 1008] See : Failure , who has a special team of police officers on the homeless enforcement. ``We're trying to help.'' Bratton said later that despite his philosophical differences with the group, he found the meeting productive. ``It's always good to meet people, and meet people in this community particularly, who share our compassion and our concern,'' Bratton said. Erlenbusch, however, gave the chief mixed reviews. ``I was pleased he did make a few commitments,'' Erlenbusch said, alluding to Bratton's promise to return and to include homeless activists in new recruit training. ``On the other hand,'' Erlenbusch said, ``I was disappointed that he was so committed to his position that a fair amount of people here disagreed with - that there are people on the streets refusing services.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: A homeless man sleeps on the pavement downtown Wednesday despite signs posted against it at Los Angeles and 4th streets in Los Angeles. Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer |
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