FWD-HPN. Re: Cleveland's Mayor Settles Dumping Case with Homeless
P. Myers (mpwr@u.washington.edu)
Mon, 5 Jan 1998 06:41:56 -0800 (PST)
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This was a good article, Tom, but I wonder...was a small battle won, in
order to preserve the national status quo?
Evidently the city thought they would lose the lawsuit...if so, the win
could have set precedent to end mean sweeps nationally, not just in this
city. I don't understand how/why a fight, the outcome of which stood a
good chance of use for future similar lawsuit decisions, was sold out to
benefit only a few...
Since the Supreme Ct. is operating, at current conservative
majority, with a bent to stare decisis, or leaning toward upholding
precedent...this could have been a wonderfully groundbreaking case...but
it's loss would have damaging consequences for homeless in this city... a
tough call...and, I wonder, was this a case of advocacy or activism? Who
made the decision to accept the terms?? How was that choice framed? What
were the variants?
It seems dreadfully cruel to lay the solution at the feet of the poorest
of the poor, but I think in this case, we won...but we lost, as well.
Thanks for the article, Tom.
PatM