Whatcom Resident Proposes Power Solution as Public Policy

While I was riding on my disability scooter, it ran out of power. I had just ridden up Taylor Street Bridge on my way home from Boulevard Park. As a disabled person, I really appreciate this beautiful ride that gives me a sense of freedom.

Seeing a close outlet, I plugged into it. It was next to the public restroom at the top of the Taylor Street hill. For twenty minutes I waited, thinking I was charging my scooter but eventually realized the outlet did not work. There was no sign indicating such.

A worker came by and informed me the outlet was off, saying that it was turned off because homeless people used it too frequently for ridiculous things like blowing up tents, and thus the power bill was raised too much. As someone who realizes many homeless people are veterans and/or mentally and economically challenged people, I was rather concerned about this reasoning. I am fortunate to have my earned Social Security that allows me enough income for a home plus basic living needs. (I emphasize the word “earned” as the WA food stamp form has SS as unearned income but it is definitely earned.)

On my four-year-old scooter, I do not always know when my battery will die. So I charge frequently, but when I travel distances and up hills, it is difficult to know just how much battery is available.

Puget Sound Energy power specialist Lev (800-562-1482) said that the cost per kilowatt hour for 120 outlets is various but depends on wattage necessary. Power scooters, he estimated, may take about 10 cents an hour and cell phones about a penny.

Charging a battery costs little money and I’m not the only one who needs electricity for cell phones, picnic outings, and medical equipment. There are homeless persons with electrical needs, and their needs for electric power should be respected. Although Whatcom County has achieved reductions in numbers of homeless vets, some are war veterans. It is especially sad that people needing electricity in our city parks seem to be thought of as undeserving of assistance.

Discriminating Against the Homeless?

Because of my concern about homeless people’s supposedly ridiculous, wasteful needs, I sent the City Parks Director, James King, an email. He responded in a more politically polite manner than the worker I talked with, writing:

It is true that power outlets in rental park pavilions and shelters are turned on only during paid reservations. This has been department practice for several years. I understand that prior to making this department-wide practice, we had issues with citizens (homeless and otherwise) using park shelter and pavilion electricity for activities such as charging cell phones, operating hot plates and other cooking devices and powering inflatable bounce houses. We cannot say how much electricity was used for these activities because of the way that the various outlets, lights and other electrical utilities are metered. For example, the specific outlet that you encountered is on a meter for the restroom building as a whole, as well as the lights along Taylor Dock. 

I thanked him for his response but wanted more feedback so inquired with other people and agencies.

Who Pays Costs?

Some people said that it didn’t really matter because libraries allow people to plug in, so it is not really an issue. Well why should a library pay and not the public park?

Businesses and libraries that allow me to plug in do not worry about this minimal cost. Is this more an issue of condemning and thus getting rid of homeless people? I am not homeless and get sympathy for being disabled, so I ask myself, is this not a subtle discrimination issue and is it fair to the homeless? Or maybe it’s a way to make people rent a covered park shelter for $21 to $24 an hour.

Those rents help the park budget, and thus help fund the $111,000 salary for the director as well as the various paid workers. I am not indicating I think the director’s salary is too much. Especially when I read Nader writing “… big corporate bosses … make $11,000 to $20,000 per hour … their average pay was up another 6 percent in 2011 along with record profits for their companies.” Ralph Nader, Common Dreams (June 8, 2012), “Don’t 30 Million Workers Deserve 1968 Wages?”

I question the income discrepancy and how we in Whatcom County can stop the effects of it locally. Why aren’t our parks more giving to the needy or even to just the average citizen? Why can’t someone plug into an outlet who has not rented a park space? Not everyone can afford $21 an hour. The website Median Household Income Estimates by County lists the average 2012 Whatcom income as $51,268 (http://www.ofm.wa.gov/economy/hhinc/medinc.pdf.) Of course that is the average income, not the lowest. So if public parks are for everyone, why can’t we supply a few cents for electrical needs?

If the parks department can afford lights for the walkers, why should they be concerned about the amount disability and homeless people use? And even if their reasoning is valid, why couldn’t the city provide outlets that are metered like our parking meters? At least people would not have to feel stranded, disabled or in some other need. We have food stamps. Why can’t we have some power stamps? Or better yet, why can’t we have solar panels lighting lights and power outlets?

Seattle Perspectives

There has been an article and a letter in the Seattle paper, Real Change: “Parks to Homeless: Plug in Somewhere Else” by Amy Row, Editor, August 8, 2012; and on August 22, 2012, a letter writer, George Robertson, responded, “Like It, Share It.”

Certainly, Bellingham does not have the same problem or amount of homeless people as Seattle, but we are neighbors and having similar issues to deal with.

In “Plug in Somewhere Else,” Amy Row writes:

Parks isn’t the only agency cracking down on access to its outlets. Last month, The Seattle Times reported that Seattle Center covered electrical outlets in the restaurant area of the Armory because homeless people who plugged in their laptops there were monopolizing tables meant for dining.

Seattle Center spokesperson Deborah Daoust said Center management has received a few comments from the public since the issue was in the news. Daoust said there are still outlets unlocked and open for use in other parts of the building. She said Seattle Center management is exploring the idea of installing a power charging station, with an emphasis on supplying power to those who need it for medical devices.

Living and Dying Issue

Oh, right, it is not just disability issues: it is medical needs issues. Do we want to cause someone’s death because we don’t want to give them a few cents of electricity for medical needs?

In George Robertson’s apt response, he wrote: “Seattle Parks has over the years accumulated a group of employees with the wrong attitude about their jobs. It is time to weed them out. Parks are for all of us and turning off things that are popular with various segments of the public is exactly the opposite of what a public parks department should be doing.”

Whose Policy?

It is true that Mr. King, Bellingham’s Parks director, did not initiate our power policy. His letter states, regarding the one meter for the restroom building and the Taylor Dock lights:

We are not able to say how much of that power goes toward running the hand dryers in the restrooms as opposed to lighting Taylor Dock after dark.

Try calling Puget Sound Energy power usage specialists. They and/or Lev will give you an estimate.

How Tax Money is Spent

Interestingly, the day I found that the average 2012 Whatcom income as $51,268, I saw this in Common Dreams (CommonDreams.org/voew/2013/09/23):

If you make $50,000 a year, you pay:

$ 247.75 for defense

$ 3.98 for FEMA

$ 22.88 for unemployment insurance

$ 36.82 for food stamps

$ 3.96 for welfare

$ 42.78 for retirement and disability to government workers (civilian and military)

$ 235.81 for Medicare

$4,000 in corporate subsidies

So, who is worried about a few cents for supplying electricity to homeless people?

Possible Solution

Mr. King indicates there is a public solution: Call or email the City Parks Department and request that power outlets be available to the public: email: parks@cob.org; phone (360) 778-7000. Or talk with your city council representative. Mr. King needs feedback. I also suggest adding that solar outlets are a great idea too.

As a disabled person, I am often thankful for how many people are considerate of my difficulties; many people and businesses allow me to tap into power outlets to recharge. Many people want to be helpful but do not know what help is best. So I emphasize again, I would love people to call the Parks Department to request a change in their policy.

The freedom my scooter allows me to travel about town on my own with only the help of some batteries, I treasure. But I do need minimal power and the guarantee that it is available. Please call for a power solution — not just for me but for so many others — some needing it for their lives.