City Aggressors Continue Attack Against Homeless

January 28, 2010 by Ian
Filed under: Issues, Update

Basically, the people calling themselves the city of Keene are trying to get the property owners to do the city’s dirty work and evict the homeless men from the lean-to behind the Hannaford shopping center. They are fining the owners hundreds of dollars each day the homeless are allowed to inhabit the land, so it will be up to the owners to remove them. Despite the homeless men working to improve their shack, one of the head aggressors makes it clear what the real issue is:

“The bottom line is there’s been no permit for the structure itself,”
Medard K. Kopczynski, assistant city manager

It doesn’t matter that these men worked to improve the safety of the structure they built and have happily occupied for months, you see, they didn’t BEG the city people for permission to build it in the first place. It’s not about safety – it’s about OBEDIENCE.

Now the city is threatening the property owners. If they don’t pay the fines (which they will), the city people will steal their property, just like they will do to you if you don’t pay their arbitrary extractions. Does anyone really believe that government is protecting you or serving you?

The Keene Sentinel’s David Greisman reports on the city gang’s continued aggression against peaceful homeless people. Story below. See OTN’s interview with the homeless men here.

The owners of a property where homeless men have taken shelter are facing an ultimatum from Keene city officials: have the men move out of the makeshift shack they built, or potentially pay up every day until that happens.

The land, behind the West Street Shopping Center in Keene, belongs to Timothy N. Robertson, a Democratic state representative from Keene, and his sister, Dorothy Arwe, also of Keene.

“My sister’s given in,” Robertson said this morning. “She’s the majority person behind the property. It’s a 60-40 deal. She says we’re going to do whatever they say, through her attorney, I guess. I say, ‘Fine, just don’t involve me.’ ”

Arwe, who Robertson said is spending the winter in Hilton Head Island, S.C., could not be reached for comment.

Robertson said documents from the city first came to his lawyer and Arwe’s lawyer. He said he received the documents Monday and spoke to his sister about them Tuesday night.

“I assume it didn’t impress her that we were (being fined) $275 a day since Dec. 10,” Robertson said.

Dec. 10 is the day city inspectors first visited the shack, which has no city permit.

The Sentinel has not yet obtained a copy of what Robertson received. Robertson was en route to Concord this morning and was not able to provide a copy.

Keene City Attorney Thomas P. Mullins had no comment Wednesday evening and was not available for comment Thursday morning.

Cheshire County Superior Court officials said they have no record of the documents.

That is because the city has not filed anything in court yet, according to Keene City Manager John A. MacLean.

The documents sent to Robertson and Arwe are part of what MacLean called a dialogue between attorneys. MacLean said he did not have a copy of the documents.

“The dialogue has been entered into, and a filing could take place, but hasn’t,” MacLean said. “It’s an attempt to try to start talking about this and how to resolve it.”

City officials have said that the shack lacks a permit and does not meet building code, and that the ultimate responsibility would fall on the landowners.

Robertson has said he neither gave nor denied the men permission to be on the land.

“They’ve got to live somewhere,” Robertson said last year. “I don’t have any great solution to the problem, but I don’t really want to treat them as criminals or untouchables. I don’t want to be a villain just because these people are troubled people. Where do they go if they don’t go there? I think it’s probably better than a lot of places.”

Robertson has said that if unlawful activity occurs on the land and he is not the one taking part in it, then he should not be held responsible for it.

“Sure, I knew what was going on,” Robertson said this morning. “It just never occurred to me that it’d be my fault. I’ve never met the people. I’ve never seen the encampment.”

For decades, homeless people have taken refuge in a place known to some as “Tent City,” behind the West Street Shopping Center.

Its residents change from year to year. In 2009, a group of people who are homeless for various reasons started what they call “InTentCity,” pronounced “Intensity.” At one point, there were eight people living in a village with tents, shelves and amenities.

This winter there have been fewer people, now living inside a shelter that has insulated walls, electricity from a generator, beds, wood stoves and a DVD player. Those remaining had said they would not live in shelters or stay on friends’ couches.

City officials took notice of the shack after a December article about the site in The Sentinel.

Upon visiting, inspectors saw several issues. In response, the shack’s residents made safety-related changes to their wood stoves, added smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and gave the building a second exit.

There were still concerns about how the shack was constructed.

“The bottom line is there’s been no permit for the structure itself,” Medard K. Kopczynski, assistant city manager and health director for Keene, said in December.

“It’s built out of logs with scrap materials. It has no foundation. Gravity is holding it together. It doesn’t meet any sort of code. It doesn’t meet any sort of standard. There are natural concerns that come out of that,” Kopczynski said.

But rather than make another code inspection, the city opted to work through the property owners.

Robertson said he planned to talk to his attorney.

“I think it’s negotiable, probably,” Robertson said. “They’ll say, ‘If you do what we said, we’ll waive the fees.’ ”

Robertson said his sister “says she’ll do whatever the city tells her. I assume they’ll negotiate with her. She and I will work it out. I assume I’ll pay my share.”

theKINGofKEENE

Gee, I always assumed that you'd pay your share, too, Timmy. You still owe me, motherfucker. You are such a girlyman-gameplayer, Timmy. Remember, if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice. And you still owe me, motherfucker. Put your money where your lying-ass mouth is, Timmy. Sell those homeless guys that land for dirt cheap. You sure don't need it. Then you can explain to the City how George Corrette is "one of my(your)boys", and why you feel the need to stick your nose into other people's legal business. Anybody interested is invited to review my Kangaroo Court record for the several instances in which Timmy Robertson has stuck his uninvited nose into my legal business. I'd say that given your seat at the Geriatric Daycare, indictments for Official Oppression, Obstruction of Gov't Administration, and Unsworn Falsification should be forthcoming. Also given that you acted specifically to affect Court proceedings, I'd like to see you spend some time in jail for Contempt of Court. God knows,(slur intended, you Godless commie/fascist socialist atheist), better people than you have been locked up for much less than what you've gotten away with. So far. Specifically, in 1996, Tim Robertson got "judge" Howard B. Lane jr., and then-police persecutor Richard R. Richards(Dickies-R-dicks!)to fraudulently drop pending criminal charges for assault, against Mr. Corrette. I was the victim. I was attacked at the Monday night Community Kitchen meal, then held at the Keene Unitarian Universalist Church. At the time, Timmy & I were both members there. Ah, the irony. I'm neither surprised nor disappointed at this latest turn in the homeless guys saga. And please stop describing them as "peaceful". Todd Maliska tried to fight me at last falls homeless candlelight vigil. As all freekeeners know by now, if you stand up for what you do believe, be prepared to be shot down…Stop stonewalling, Timmy. Pay me what you owe me, Timmy.
http://soundclick.com/thinkliberty thinkliberty

Here is what happened when they tried this a couple days ago in Fresno

Picture:
http://media.fresnobee.com/smedia/2010/01/28/12/h…

Read about it:
http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/1799751.html
SnowDog

This is an example of how people, working together, should not be jointly held accountable for the actions of the majority. Timothy Robertson is not the majority partner, and has no say in the decisions his partner makes; yet without the limited liability provided to those doing business in groups, he would be held responsible.

Limited liability to those acting in groups, should be limited to the group, as an entity in itself.
http://www.soundclick.com/thinkliberty thinkliberty

The city of fresno continues to chase the homeless after kicking them out of their shelters, they are doing it again: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/01/27/18636…
Peacemaker

Thanks for sharing this story and giving us the latest example of what it means to live under tyrants.

I think it's high time the the faces (ast. city manager, building inspector, etc) and contact info of these thieves (and every other Keene of city gang member or Keenes' Tower of Tyranny) be posted so more people can let them know what they think.

Love to see an interview but I doubt these rats would be willing to show their faces, but I tell you who should be locked up: every single city of Keene Gang member.

I don't care how nice of clothes or what constumes they wear: a theif is a theif and should always be treated as such.
theKINGofKEENE

"snowdog"= *"SNOWJOB"*i.e., WHITEWASH-COVER-UP…there's no cover-ups here in Keene, is there, Timmy???…///…Hope you're feeling better now, PEACEMAKER. That's some strong language which I can only agree to the spirit of…Thanks for the links THINKLIBERTY, I'll check 'em out shortly…///…Timmy Robertson can try to play these games. I too, used to play these kinds of headgames on people. He claims that his sister is a 60% owner, and so he can't make decisions regarding the property. But, he can sure be her public spokesman. Except he's not saying anything. Timmy could years ago have posted his land. Or given his explicit permission for the arboreal INTENTCITY. He's done neither. Is his sister equally unable to make decisions, or is that just Timmy's excuses???…Timmy can continue to fence-sit with the permissions issue, like Democrats always do with any issue, or he can REPUBLICAN UP, and take a side. I'm calling you out here, Timmy! Either publicly state that those squatters have your permission to be there, or say they don't, post your land, and begin the legal eviction process. The kids'll be warm and safe until late Spring, you know how slow the local court system is!(((HAH! Broderick is laying off Court staff! The rats are jumping ship! Hit her while she's hurting and sink that bitch!!!…))) You continue to try to play both sides against the middle, Timmy, both sides lose. We all lose. That's how you like it, isn't it, Timmy???…///…I most wanna see those homeless guys left alone by those who have no good will for them, so the rest of us who care, who actually give a shit about people before money and power, can actually help those folks help themselves. I'm happy to have a bunch of drunks camping in the woods(bushes, really!…), I just want them safe as can be, given their situations. Let the City call off it's fucking code enforcement goon squad. So let's see the local faith community pull together here. Habitat for Humanity. Homeless Amnesty. Peace Out!
freedomseeker

I grew up in the Monadnock Region, and know only too well the constrictions placed on people in Keene and surrounding towns. If you are not mainstream living in Keene is nothing but a hassle.

I moved, or as I prefer to say, escaped. Now I live in an area where you can live in a shack, camper, or lean-to without being on a police watch list. We have our share of castle grande dwellings and people who fit the mold of the dominant culture. The difference is we live side by side without all this DRAMA.

Just what do the "good" people of Keene expect the homeless to do? How do these "good" people sleep at night knowing there are countless homeless people trying to stay warm in a cardboard box? Oh yea, I forgot, they don't care as long as they don't have to see these people.

To the Robertson's I can only say, I remember you, I remember your quest for property, and how easily you could turn a blind eye to anyone unlike yourselves. You make me sick, you and all the others like you. Drive your fancy cars, rest warmly in Hilton Head, give your little share to charity and feel all warm and fuzzy. You hide your indulgences behind a fancy facade. You make me sick.
theKINGofKEENE

OOOH! freedom seeker speaks my mind too! I agree w/you! I've known Timmy since I was a kid. JEEE-ZUS h. KEE-RIST! (Funny thing is, Timmy actually thinks he's a *LIBERAL*!!!…Scary thing is, he's correct!!!…
theKINGofKEENE

Hmmm…too bad we couldn't have gotten the Fresno chief of police…ME-OLA = PAY-OLA…screw you, kenny…/// OOPS!…OH!, OH!, we're on…is this mic turned on???…OK, we're live here, inside your brain. Go follow the links for Fresno. Seems the homeless have Father/Son saviors out there, too…Hopefully, I won't need any of the 100 nights shelter…Maybe we could import some more homeless from Fresno???…WE GOT A GREAT NEW CAMPGROUND OUT BEHIND HANNAFORDS!!!…(wait till you see all the Nature trails the homeless are working on out there…)…Enjoy!/
Freedomseeker

PEE ESS

We have no parking meters, but I do consider myself to be related to Robin Hood. I give clothes, blankets, books, and other useful items away, free for the taking. I am a dumpster diver by profession. I rescue things that overindulged humans have tossed away as invaluable. Over the past year I have found 112 items of clothing that are NEW WITH TAGS in dumpsters.

So far my prized dumpster item is a reusable grocery tote with the Brattleboro Food CoOp logo. I do miss that CoOp.
the kingof keene

good for you, freedomseeker…jumanjiville/keene does have some good dumpsters…a few months ago, i found a bicycle tossed in a dumpster!…(…needed work…), so there's good stuff to be had for a little time on the *MAYOR'S AD HOC RECYCLING COMMITTEE*…That's what ya' tell the cop, if ya get hassled. works every time…