The eyes of Portland's houseless are on the City Council as they deliberate a new camping ban

Hosted by:

Paul Roland

Produced by:

KBOO

Program::

Wednesday Talk Radio

Air date:

Wed, 05/31/2023 - 8:00am to 9:00am

Guest Jeff Liddicoat has been living on the street for several years and advocating for the rights of the houseless

As the Portland City Council is slated to take up Mayor Ted Wheeler's new public camping ban proposal, the city's houseless and their advocates are stepping up their organizing to oppose it. The proposed ordinance will be discussed at the Council's Wednesday, May 31 session.

Today's guest is Jeff Liddicoat, long-time activist on numerous issues, including advocating for houseless people. Jeff’s regular job is staffing the Right to Survive Hygene Station serving the homeless in inner SE Portland. He’s been doing that since the start of the pandemic. Prior to that in 2020 he had co-founded Stop the Sweeps Portland, which has since reorganized and will have its first general membership meeting next Thursday from 6-8 pm at the Social Justice Action Center 400 SE 12th Ave. https://stspdx.substack.com/

Liddicoat's work on homeless issues in the 90s drew national attention and secured a temporary halt to sweeps. When the sweeps restarted, Liddicoat joined the homeless living on the street. And he is still there, living at his outdoor art studio, information hub, and protest camp at the corner of Southeast 12th and Burnside Road.

https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2023/05/portland-mayor-ted-wheeler-seeks-to-criminalize-homeless-peoples-daytime-camping-warming-fires-other-common-actions.html

https://www.portlandmercury.com/news/2023/05/25/46525836/portland-city-council-will-consider-public-camping-ban-ordinance-that-would-fine-jail-unhoused-residents

Opening song: John Cougar Mellencamp's "Eyes of Portland."