I agree with Skeye Hridayam’s Viewpoint piece of May 26. Eric Navickas has a big heart, especially for groups that tend to be picked on, like the unhoused. He was at that City Council meeting to stand up for those people, many of whom are not capable of speaking up for themselves at a council meeting.

Knowing Eric, I highly doubt that he meant to slur another group of people who are often picked on: our Black fellow citizens. I think he was saying: “Just like you wouldn’t exile a Black person for littering three times, you shouldn’t do that to our unhoused neighbors.”

It frightens me that the police can exile people for things that are so broad and subject to interpretation. Littering? Picture an unhoused man who has to leave his pack for a couple of minutes to use a restroom. Could that be a strike one for him?

What about the lady I saw sobbing in front of Albertsons? The police removed her. Her crying was probably a call: “Please help me. I’m in pain.” Two more public pleas like that, and could she be expelled?

Urinating? have you ever been in a public place and had to go so badly that you sought out a bush? Maybe you haven’t, but I have.

Dogs without current license tags? How many unhoused people, unable to even get a good night’s sleep, are going to have updating their dogs’ tags as a priority?

This ordinance is unfair. Police are not trained as judges.

Ambuja Rosen

Ashland