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PMJA 2020: Loitering Laws Hit Connecticut's Most Vulnerable Residents

Tucker Ives
/
Connecticut Public Radio
Sade and Donny, with Donny's service dog Oreo. They're members of the “Housing Not Jails” initiative of the Connecticut Bail Fund; they are both residents of New Haven and currently homeless";s:

Aired live February 5, 2019

Cities and towns have laws to keep people from engaging in behavior that may disturb others, like sleeping on park benches, drinking in public, or just plain “loitering”.

What does it mean when just hanging out in a public space puts you in violation of these laws?

This hour we take a hard look at loitering ordinances and other laws that advocates argue criminalize individuals, especially those experiencing homelessness. How should cities draw the line between promoting public safety and discriminating against some of their most vulnerable citizens?

We check in with the city of Middletown, and talk with business leaders and advocates for those experiencing poverty about what it means to “loiter” on Main Street.

And we hear from a homeless couple who has experienced the far-reaching consequences of these local laws.

GUESTS:

Lucy leads Connecticut Public's strategies to deeply connect and build collaborations with community-focused organizations across the state.
Carmen Baskauf was a producer for Connecticut Public Radio's news-talk show Where We Live, hosted by Lucy Nalpathanchil from 2017-2021. She has also contributed to The Colin McEnroe Show.

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