Melville’s happy ending for the year’s end
MELVILLE – One less person on the street thanks to concerned residents and business owners.
Salesman ‘Gule Obama’ felt so connected to Melville that when he fell on hard times two months ago he chose the busy corner of Third Avenue and Seventh Street as his new home.
Much to the chagrin of some residents, the Ethiopian who has lived in South Africa for ten years has slept on the illegal deck outside Kiyoto Sushi since then.
While NMT and our Caxton family were in Melville changing Christmas bulbs on 27 November (see page 1) we heard residents hurling insults at the man from the balcony of their apartment.
But some business owners were quick to defend him stating that he was a Melville regular; dressed neatly at all times, drove a VW and regularly spent money at different establishments on the strip.
Patricia Eatock, Region B’s social worker soon arrived and mentioned that she has documented up to one thousand homeless people in Region B, some who chose to remain on the street.
“Even though I would like to bring him to a place of safety and help him restart his life, I cannot force him to leave as the pavement is public property and he is doing nothing illegal.”
“It’s problematic because according to the law, there is no vagrancy or loitering anymore. Also, the owner of the building [where he hangs his clothes] needs protection too, as he pays taxes for the property,” said Eatock.
“Brixton Police are happy to assist, but the law says that you cannot move someone against their will,” explained Councillor Amanda Forsythe regarding the presence of the police who seemed helpless.
“He can only be moved if he is a danger to himself or the community and at this point he is not.”
Representatives of the All-Ethiopian Engagement Council came to assist after receiving a call from a shop manager that one of their fellow nationals needed help. After much coercion, Obama agreed to leave the street in a few days with his countrymen as long as he didn’t feel pressured.
“I just want to decide like a normal person,” he said, “everything has been taken from me and I just want to restart my life.”
