VICTORY Against Police Brutality Targeting the Homeless #RightToKnowAct Settlement: City to Compensate Homeless People for Destroyed Possessions

Yesterday, I got an email from Picture the Homeless with some good news:

Huge news, friends.

The NYC Comptroller has found in favor of three homeless men - members of Picture the Homeless, represented by the New York Civil Liberties Union - who demanded compensation after the police illegally seized and destroyed their belongings, including life-sustaining medication and irreplaceable family photos (video of the incident is here, but be warned - it's disturbing to watch).

This is a victory for homeless people, who see police get away with brutality and abuse against them every single day. But it's not enough. And on Wednesday, we'll gather on the steps of City Hall at noon to demand that Mayor de Blasio act immediately to end his policy of widespread NYPD abuse and brutality against the homeless.

"I'm glad that the city is acknowledging that something bad happened," said Jesus Morales, a Picture the Homeless member and claimant. "They assaulted me while I was asleep and they tossed my belongings in a dump truck. It's not right. I'm not an animal. None of us are. For what I suffered, and what hundreds of people are suffering every day, the city needs to do more to stop these out-of-control cops."      

At the press conference, members of Picture the Homeless told their stories bout the police confiscating their property, harassing, and intimidating them.

There is so much more to do to take on the punishment of the poor in the streets of New York City and around the country.  Legislation, such as the Community Safety Act, is a start, noted Brad Lander who was on hand to speak at the press conference. He pointed out  that it is illegal for discriminate in New York based on someone's housing status.

Listening, I stood by a few of my friends, carrying signs declaring, "Hey de Blasio you're not off the hook!" and "Pass the Right to Know Act!"

Much of police reform begins with the Mayor, who ran on this issue.  Yet seems to have forgotten about his commitment to create a new kind of police force.  When the NYPD arrest or harass the homeless, it is a reflection of the administration.

In this new era, it is up to us to do as much as we can to support those on the margins, those neglected, or abused by the state.  Thank goodness for groups such as Picture the Homeless for speaking out.

Homeless advocates speaking out about police abuses in New York.

January 4, 2017 – The New York Civil Liberties Union and Picture the Homeless today announced a settlement on behalf of three homeless New Yorkers who were kicked awake and whose belongings were thrown into a trash compactor by police and sanitation workers. In the settlement, New York City will provide compensation for the personal items police illegally seized and discarded, which included social security cards, birth certificates and medication. Today’s announcement closely follows the anniversary of the day the NYCLU filed the notices of claim and launched a campaign, #TheThingsWeCarry, asking for humanity in the treatment of homeless New Yorkers.

Claimants and allies will speak at a press conference today at noon on the steps of City Hall. 

“Homeless people deserve to be treated with dignity like all New Yorkers, and the city acknowledged that it had no right to treat their few possessions like garbage,” said NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman. “It’s important that these three people were compensated, but some of the personal items they lost were worth far more to them than just their monetary value. We will continue to remind the city and the NYPD that everyone has a right to be treated with basic dignity and that homelessness is not a crime.”

In the early hours of October 2, 2015, three homeless New Yorkers, Floyd, Timmy and Jesus were sleeping in a small area partly sheltered from the rain in East Harlem when they were woken up by police with flashlights and sanitation workers in white hazmat suits. They were told they were no longer welcome. The three began to gather up their belongings along with the other homeless people at the location. But before they could do so, sanitation workers seized their personal possessions and threw them in a sanitation truck with operating trash compactors. The three tried to convince the officers to let them keep their belongings, but they were ultimately forced to watch as their possessions were destroyed.

The illegal destruction of their property was caught on video, which the NYCLU obtained via a Freedom of Information Law Request and released when the lawsuit was filed in December, 2015. The footage shows homeless people being kicked awake and watching as their possessions are dragged away in front of them and thrown in a trash compacter.

“I'm grateful that the city is paying me back for the things the cops stole from me because I'm homeless, I need new shoes and a warm jacket, and my disability benefits aren't enough,” said Floyd Parks, NYCLU client and member of Picture the Homeless, an organization of homeless New Yorkers. “With this settlement, we got our foot in the door. People will know how we've been treated and that the cops should stop kicking around and abusing homeless people."・

“It is only fair that the city has agreed to compensate our clients for destroying what few possessions they had,” said NYCLU Staff Attorney, Jordan Wells. “Rather than having to pay out individual claims like those of our clients, the city should move away from targeting and criminalizing the homeless. This incident underscores the need for the NYPD to implement consistent policies to ensure officers treat homeless residents with professional courtesy and respect.”

The NYCLU’s three complainants, all members of Picture the Homeless, lost some of the most valuable possessions they owned. Floyd lost his birth certificate, social security card, blood pressure medication, inhaler, clothing, a list of important names and phone numbers including shelters, and a silver cross necklace. Jesus lost his birth certificate, social security card, clothing, jacket, shopping cart and personal hygiene products. Timmy lost his birth certificate, social security card, shoes, jackets, a Steelers jersey and personal hygiene products.

The officers’ actions are part of a disturbing pattern in which the NYPD effectively criminalizes homelessness. The NYCLU filed a complaint in May of last year on behalf of Picture the Homeless urging the New York City Commission on Human Rights to investigate the NYPD’s practice of forcing homeless people in Harlem to “move along” when they have not violated any laws but are simply present on streets, sidewalks and in other public spaces. The NYCLU argues that the NYPD’s actions violate the Community Safety Act, which prohibits “bias-based profiling,” including targeting people based on their housing status.