There were four people in the circle, three awake and one still asleep when pictures were taken this morning around 9 am. Mike, one of the young men, said it was all right to take pictures. When asked how many stay in the circle. He said more were here but one person always has to stay “to occupy.” He went on to explain to me that there were 10 empty houses for every homeless person. I asked him where. He hadn’t signed up for free housing but had signed up for food stamps. Mike is a young man in his 20’s or 30’s. He came from Louisiana a little over four years.

The gondola, one of the original ones, looks unharmed, as well as does the statue. The gondola, according to Jill Prestup, president of the Venice Historical Society, had graffiti and a bunch of bushes uprooted not long ago but all looks fine now. Broke her heart to see gondola is disarray. Someone had just watered the little bushes surrounding the gondola earlier. Prestup says they have to be hand watered.

Podium to the statue supported a “Homeless” sign but otherwise looked intact.

Looks like they’re packing up.

This writer is off to occupy the grounds at White House, Washington DC. Perhaps, they will invite one who is cold in for a cup of hot chocolate and a chat.