City Plaza could be unifying symbol

For almost five years, Chico Friends on the Street has been on City Plaza, every Sunday. We’ve distributed sandwiches, granola bars, fruit, bread, pastries, juice, water, coffee, tarps, sleeping bags, blankets, tents, packs, socks, pants, shirts, shoes, soap, tampons, toilet paper, razors, combs, toothpaste, toothbrushes, masks and other items.

This was never entirely about charity; rather, it was a protest of our vicious anti-homeless laws and a gathering meant to affirm the rights of all people to our public space. Looking across the plaza, I’ve been heartened to see the homeless at HOME, at least one day a week. In a space offering some sense of relief from alienation and the invasive, often punitive policing that makes a difficult life even more difficult.

As the Jesus Center abandons its post as an unconditional charity of last resort, we need to consider making the plaza a “distribution hub,” every day of the week — not just Sunday. We need to think of the plaza, even more, as a unifying symbol where we uphold the rights and welfare of the oppressed. Meeting basic needs is a powerful vehicle.

I’m happy to see that our green spaces are now accessible to the homeless. Where some see blight, others of us see generosity: the sharing of our commons with those in need of a place to simply pitch a tent and lay their heads. Going forward, questions of justice and compassion in the public space will be on the front burner. How will we answer?

— Patrick Newman, Chico