To the editor:

As a graduate of the Leadership Lawrence program, in which I was exposed to many people in this town with big hearts who care about those less fortunate than themselves, I was shocked and saddened to read in the Lawrence Journal-World Sept. 17 edition that the city of Lawrence proposes to create an ordinance to specifically ban loitering at bus stops.

It is also disconcerting that the Journal-World, by virtue of running this story as a front page article and writing the story about and featuring an image of Native American Indians, appears to be promoting discrimination.

The J-W story quotes Karin Rexroad, public transit administrator, as saying that “there hadn’t been a problem with homeless nonpassengers using the 15 new shelters and more numerous benches” and that “we’re thinking proactively.” One has to wonder, if indeed there has never been such a problem to date, why would such an ordinance be instituted anyway? Even if there were a documented problem, would not our law enforcement system be able to take care of any such problem under existing city ordinances? Surely, it is not a crime to hang out in a public location minding one’s own business? What’s next? An ordinance banning loitering in public parks?

Shame on the city for even considering such an ordinance. Shame on the Lawrence Journal-World for trumpeting the city’s cause. Shame on us all for not reaching out even further to those in need of our help.

John Wysocki,

Lawrence