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Critics Say New Houston Hygiene Rules Target HomelessThe Houston City Council passed a set of new rules for library behavior April 27 that prohibit sleeping, eating packaged foods, using rest rooms for bathing, and having “offensive bodily hygiene that constitutes a nuisance to others.”Two council members opposed the ordinance, calling it an attempt to discourage homeless people from using the library. “I understand what they’re trying to do,” said council member Ada Edwards, “but when you start targeting a community like the homeless, I think that’s poor policy.” Houston Public Library Public Relations Manager Sandra Fernandez said in the April 28 Houston Chronicle that the library had received numerous complaints from patrons about the inappropriate use of the facilities. Admitting that some conflict between patrons and homeless people may be inevitable, Mayor Bill White also cited patrons’ reports of abuses of the facilities, adding, “I know there are complaints about people who use the rest rooms as basically part of their house.” Posted April 29, 2005. |
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