We at uSpark cover the news through explainer posts and memes via our socials. Our followers are on Instagram and they get our news there. We want to make news about local politics accessible and in a format that our followers can share in.
Our coverage about the "no-sit-lie or sleep" ordinance started on August 7th with an explainer post.
Sources: The National Coalition for the Homeless, Fresno Bee, KMPH FOX 26, Fresnoland, ABC30 Action News
We also used memes as a conversation starter, which resonates a lot with our audience. It's a great way to make local news more relatable.
Caption that came along with meme: More harsh punishments are coming for those that don’t have a place to live. Fresno City Council and the mayor made it illegal to sit, lie, and camp in public spaces. Our street families will face fines and/or jail times. Advocates have consistently said there aren't enough beds in shelters to accommodate our unhoused community. So what is the game plan here? Are we turning our local jail into a homeless shelter now? Spending millions of taxpayer dollars to criminalize poverty? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Another thing we do is collaborate with local activists and community organizations that our followers want to hear more about. It’s an unique approach to how we do community journalism. We connect people to information and resources so that they can lead change in their community.
These images were created based on the information provided by the community advocacy organization We Are Not Invisible.
Our digital forum provided a space to hear from our followers and to have a discussion about the ordinance. We had a lot of interesting responses with most expressing opposition to the ordinance.
We kept our followers updated throughout the week, posting breaking news as it came up.
For example on Thursday 15th we posted late breaking news to our socials, informing our followers of urgent and current developments: Our friends over at the Central Valley Community Action brought this to our attending. During today’s Fresno City Council meeting, they will be discussing purchasing the Elkhorn Correctional Facility located in Caruthers for those arrested under the “NO-SIT-LIE OR SLEEP” ordinance. This will take place during a closed session meeting. Closed session meetings are not open to the public but are still listed in the city council meeting agenda.
Fresnoland reported that the city’s attorney, Andrew Janz, “will be directing his prosecution team to not engage in any plea bargaining with unhoused people who are arrested under the city’s anti-camping ban and to seek maximum prison sentences for unhoused people.”
Let this sink in. The money, logistics, the time spent by city staff, etc. to make this happen. The sole purpose of this is to criminalize the unhoused. This didn’t happen overnight.
“It costs taxpayers $31,065 a year to criminalize a single person suffering from homelessness — through enforcement of unconstitutional anti-panhandling laws, hostile architecture, police raids of homeless encampments, and just general harassment. The cost of providing them supportive housing — $10,051 per year.”-The Homeless Voice
On Thursday August 15 Fresno City Council voted to approve the "no-sit-lie or sleep" ordinance.
The vote breakdown:
In Favor: District 2 Mike Karbassi, District 3 Miguel Arias, District 4 Tyler Maxwell, District 6 Garry Bredefeld
Opposed: District 1 Annalisa Perea
Absent: District 5 Luis Chavez
The mayor has the power to veto the ordinance but it is most likely he won’t since he has come out in support of the ordinance.
Our work couldn't be possible without the collaboration of We Are Not Invisible and Central Valley Community Action, and without the support of our financial supporters.