Mayor Michael Brennan: "Now is not the time to eliminate programs that help men, women and families find stable housing or get life saving health care."

Portland announced earlier today that tonight it will conduct a search of the city to determine how many men, women and children are experiencing homelessness in the city on this day. The program, known as a Point-in-Time surveys, will be asking questions such as: Who is homeless? What factors led to becoming homeless? What can the city and state do to prevent homelessness? This survey is a requirement of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Portland is one of three similar programs in the state and as a result receives $2.9 million in funding from HUD for employment assistance, job training, affordable housing development and emergency shelters. Information gleaned from the survey will be used to direct planning and priorities as identified by the city’s newly formed Taskforce to Develop a Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness.

“The results we get from tonight’s Pint-inTime survey will be critical as they give a voice to the hundredsof men, women and children experiencing homelessness every night,” said Mayor Michael Brennan. “At a time when resources are diminishing and numbersa re increasing, it is clear that we need to do more for the city’s and state’s most vulnerable. Now is not the time to eliminate programs that help man, women and families find stable housing or get life saving health care. Rather, it is the time to work together and find innovative solutions.” Govenor LePage’s supplemental budget proposal calls for the eliminatio of several programs utilized by the state’s homeless population including Targeted Case Management, a program that helps individuals experiencing homelessness locate and secure stable housing. Last year, this program helped more than found hundred famlilies achieve stable housing, said a press release issued by the city spokeswoman, Nicole Clegg.

With the beginning of the downturn in the economy four years ago, the number of individuals experiencing homelessness within the city has increased by twenty percent. Due to increasing homelessness and need for emergency shelter, the city in partnership with ZPreble Street has had to expand shelter capacity by opening a community overflow shelter.

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City's Trial Attorney Mark Dunlap, Norman, Hanson & DeTroy

Judge Thomas Warren’s courtroom in the Maine Superior Court, Portland, was the scene of the continuation of a battle between OccupyMaine and the City of Portland – a battle that would permit the occupiers to remain at Lincoln Park until their goals are met or at least until the outcome of the litigation before the court is decided. The battle began last October in Monument Square and moved to Lincoln Park at the suggestion of the city manager. Ultimately, the city council denied a request for a permit to remain there making it into a David and Goliath battle in which the Davids claimed they were denied their First Amendment rights.

Six people, four Occupiers, testified consistently for the plaintiff in the case against the City; citing economic inequality as the unifying theme and that despite the cold weather, a substantial number of occupiers remain camping at Lincoln Park. In contrast, the City’s out-of-house legal counsel, Mark Dunlap, introduced 7 city employees to testify on behalf of the City. One notable was District Attorney Stephanie Anderson who testified that her courthouse office overlooks Lincoln Park. She told John Branson, legal counsel to the occupiers, that since the cold weather had arrived, she sees no activity in the Park and everyone has left. Branson pointed out that her afternoon office hours and the darkness of the day preclude her from seeing general assemblies taking part in the Park – weekdays and on Sundays when she doesn’t work.

Also testifying for the City was Portland Police Officer Nicholas Goodman. He testified he was instructed by his superiors to take photographs of the poor health and safety conditions at Lincoln Park one morning earlier this month. Photos showed trash strewn about the Park as though a tornado had swept through the Park. Branson asked Goodman whether he know that the previous night there had been a severe wind and rain storm – with winds gusting up to 28 mph. Goodman said he was unaware of the storm the previous night. Branson continued to poke huge holes in the creditability of the defendants, although Dunlap was unable to reciprocate in kind against the plaintiffs who were solid testifiers.

However, whether or not about 6 hours of testimony will convince Judge Warren to rule that First Amendment rights supercede a local ordinance against “loitering” in city parks that would allow occupiers to remain – remains to be seen. The Judge said his decision will be short and probably available by the end of the week.

The cost for the legal services of attorney Mark Dunlap, of Norman, Hansen & DeTroy, to the city will be in the area of $10,000 to $15,000 according to Gary Wood, city corporate counsel. If the City wins the case, occupiers will have to decide whether or not to appeal the case. In all, it could take between 90 days to a year to play out said Wood.

However, some members of OccupyMaine believe that no appeal will be filed by it should the motion to vacate go forward.

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President Kara Larson and Festival Coordinator Chase Sheaff for Portland Performing Arts Festival

“This is the core, but not all of it. It’s large enough to draw people into Portland,” said Kara Larson, late yesterday afternoon. “We are creating fringe events to go along with these core events. There are lots of other conversations going on in Portland as well,” added Karson, president, of the newly formed Portland Performing Arts Festival. Karson was speaking at the first public announcement of the Festival at the Portland Public Library to about 50 people who attended.

Larson moved to Portland just over a year ago for personal reasons. Formerly, she’d been in charge of sales and marketing for a performing arts center at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. Shortly after she moved here, people began encouraging Larson to begin a festival for the performing arts here in Portland. So, she decided “to do just that.” The inspiration for the inaugural Festival is the 17 day Spoleto Festival, held every spring in Charleston, SC.

The core artists will perform mostly in the evening with ‘fringe’ artists performing during the day. Responsible for the fringe performances is Chase Sheaff, festival coordinator. The festival will be responsible for their marketing and sales, but the artists need to select their own perfomrance venue.

State Senator Justin Alfond and his wife Rachael donated the seed money – $10,000 – without which the Festival could not have taken place said Larson. Professional photographer Arthur Fink won a raffle entitling him to a complimentary four day pass for the Festival.

In conclusion, Larson said: “We will need lots of help, money and enthusiasm from people in Portland. If you can help, please let us know.”

Please call (207) 370-7806 for more information, visit www.portlandfestival.org and email info@portlandfestival.org.

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Seven year old, Damian, Displays His Sled Following a Run Down the Eastern Promenade Today

Portland has declared a citywide parking ban starting at 11 pm tonight, January 20th and ending at 8 AM tomorrow morning, January 21st. The parking ban has been declared so that Public Service crews can clear and remove snow from today’s storm. This is the second mandatory parking ban of the 2012 winter.

Vehicles left on the street during a ban will be towed at the owner’s expense tow fee – $70; impound fee – $35, tiacket cost – $30. and all outstanding tickets must be paid. Vehicles not claimed within 24 hours will be charged $25 storage fee per day). Vehicles will be towed to the city’s impound lot located at the Ocean Gateway International Marine Terminal, 40 Commercial Street (phone number 774-3025.) At the end of the day following a parking ban, unclaimed vehicles will be towed to private tow company lots and storage fees of $25 per day will accrue.

There are a number of places people can park at no charge during a parking ban. The most convenient for Hill residents are: Parking lots on Munjoy and Wilson Streets, formerly known as the Adams School, Cutter Street lots, off the Eastern Promenade; and many parking garages in the area are open for paraking bans at reduced rates – check with individual garages for rates and hours.

Vehicles can begin to park in these designated areas at 5 pm tonight. Vehicles must be moved from the city lots by 7 am tomorrow morning, Saturday.

People can call the parking ban hotline at 879-0300 or check the Time and Temperature sign for up-to-date postings.

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