MU YDSA claims recent proposals would criminalize homelessness in Columbia

Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The University of Missouri’s Young Democratic Democratic Socialists of America allege recent proposals from UM System President Mun Choi would lead to criminalizing homeless.

The group held a town hall Wednesday night where roughly 50 students gathered to discuss policing and housing in the city. Councilwomen Valerie Carroll (Ward 1) and Vera Elwood (Ward 2) attended the town hall, offering insight into the issues.

Judy Carter with Columbia Mobile Aid Collective and Susan Maze with the Boone County Community Bail Fund were also at the meeting.

The town hall was held in response to recent calls from action from Choi after Stephens College student Ayanna Williams was shot and killed downtown in late September.

Since then, the city has taken steps toward increasing policing downtown, and Choi has called for a possible loitering ordinance and the cleanup of homeless encampments.

“The safety of our campus and the broader community is central to the success of our students and the university.  The university is committed to its ongoing collaboration with city of Columbia, Boone County and other partners to address crime-related issues, and it is appreciative of the actions already taken to make Columbia a safe and welcoming community.  Continued vigilance, accountability and decisive action are needed,” an MU spokesman wrote in a Wednesday statement to ABC 17 News.

YDSA views the proposals as “irrelevant” to addressing gun violence.

“We just want to make sure that students have a role in this not only just for discussion, but for actually acting,” YDSA Treasurer Cruz Lewis said to the crowd.

Carroll and Elwood were two out of the four council members who wrote letters in response to Choi’s proposals in October. The two wrote in the letter that they believed the city needs to separate the issue of homelessness and crime, as the two are not always related.

Students voiced concerns over the city’s clearing of homeless encampments in the city, asking if there have been any discussions amongst law enforcement and city leaders to dial back those efforts. Elwood said it isn’t always up to the city.

“If it is within the certain distance of a watershed we are required to send people in to remove it at the federal level so we need to be looking out for all of the reasons that people are coming under attack,” Elwood said

The city proposed a median ordinance last month that is expected to affect panhandling. The City Council is expected to vote on that during its Nov. 17 meeting. However, Ward 3 Councilwoman Jacque Sample is seeking a delay on the vote until council members are able to hear more information from other organizations and groups.

If adopted, the ordinance will:

Prohibit crossing a major road anywhere except in a crosswalk, a pedestrian-control signal or an intersection if those things aren’t available.

Prohibit being on a median less than 6 feet wide except when crossing the road.

Prohibit getting out of cars while in a traffic lane or within a major intersection.

Prohibit approaching cars on a major road unless the car is legally parked.

Prohibit people in vehicles from engaging with pedestrians at major intersection.

Students at Wednesday night’s meeting pushed back against the ordinance, emphasizing, again that the ordinance would criminalize homelessness in the city. Elwood said the council is still expected to vote on the ordinance during its Nov. 17 meeting, but she is pushing for it to be tabled. Elwood said it isn’t clear when the council would vote on it, if it is tabled.

Students also asked council members their thoughts about what they claim is over-policing in the city. Carroll said having a good balance between policing and public health is crucial.

“There is a place for policing and particularly as a lot of our resources are thin, sometimes they’re the only people you can call on,” Carroll said. “I also wanna say that they’re not always the best resource and I think we need to put our funds in developing um better mental health resources in this city.”

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