Guest guest Posted July 27, 2006 Report Share Posted July 27, 2006 Orlando Bans Feeding Homeless Downtown Jul 25 1:55 PM US/Eastern ORLANDO, Fla. City officials have banned charitable groups from feeding homeless people in parks downtown, arguing that transients who gather for weekly meals create safety and sanitary problems for businesses. The measure, approved Monday, prevents serving large groups in parks and other public property within two miles of City Hall without a permit. The American Civil Liberties Union vowed to sue, saying it's a superficial fix that ignores the city's homeless problem. City commissioner Patty Sheehan pushed for the ordinance after complaints from business owners and residents that homeless people were causing problems at a downtown park popular with joggers and dog walkers. A group called Food Not Bombs, which has served weekly vegetarian meals to homeless people for more than a year there, said it would continue illegally. Robin Stotter, who is opening a restaurant downtown, said he would support homeless people by pledging money for food and shelter, but supported the ordinance. " The homeless issue is not going to be solved today, " he said. " It's a safety issue, and the public deserves a safe place to be. " Two of the city's five commissioners voted against the ordinance _ including Robert Stuart, the head of a homeless shelter. Stuart said the city was moving to " criminalize goodhearted people. " " We're putting a Band-Aid on a critical problem, " said commissioner Sam Ings, the other opposing vote. http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/07/25/D8J35ML02.html -- Jul. 20, 2006 Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal Feeding homeless outlawed ACLU calls measure unenforceable By DAVID MCGRATH SCHWARTZ REVIEW-JOURNAL If someone looks like he could use a meal, be warned: Giving him a sandwich in a Las Vegas park could land you in jail. The Las Vegas City Council passed an ordinance Wednesday that bans providing food or meals to the indigent for free or a nominal fee in parks. The measure is an attempt to stop so-called " mobile soup kitchens " from operating in parks, where residents say they attract the homeless and render the city facilities unusable by families. The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada called the ordinance blatantly unconstitutional, unenforceable and the latest attempt by the city to hide and harass the homeless instead of constructively addressing their plight. " So the only people who get to eat are those who have enough money? Those who get (government) assistance can't eat at your picnic? " asked ACLU attorney Allen Lichtenstein. " I've heard of some rather strange and extreme measures from other cities. I've never heard of something like this. It's mind-boggling. " The city's new ordinance, which officials could begin enforcing as early as Friday, defines an indigent as a " person whom a reasonable ordinary person would believe to be entitled to apply for or receive assistance " from the government under state law. Mayor Oscar Goodman, who has been a vocal advocate of cracking down on the homeless in city parks, dismissed questions about how marshals, who patrol city parks, will identify the homeless in order to enforce the ordinance, the violation of which would be a misdemeanor. " Certain truths are self-evident, " Goodman said. " You know who's homeless. " City officials said they instituted the law in part because of recommendations from some who work with the homeless who say offering food separately from other services, such as counseling and drug treatment, is counterproductive. " This is not a punishment; this is to help people, " Goodman said. " The people who provide sandwiches have good intentions, but they're enabling people not to get the help that is needed. " Residents near Huntridge Circle Park, on Maryland Parkway near Charleston Boulevard, say people who bringing food to the homeless draw them to the area. But one advocate who feeds the homeless at the park said she will continue to do so. " I'm going to do whatever I think is necessary to keep people alive, " said Gail Sacco. Sacco has been cited twice while feeding the homeless, for holding a gathering of 25 or more people without a permit. That ordinance is currently the subject of litigation by the ACLU of Nevada, and Gary Peck, the group's executive director, said the ordinance adopted Wednesday probably will be included in the lawsuit. City Attorney Brad Jerbic said the city tried to negotiate with the ACLU and Sacco, including attempting to find a place where Sacco could provide food to the homeless. Peck said negotiations " ended badly because, from our perspective, they're not negotiating in good faith. They're trying to figure out ways of making homeless invisible or kicking them out of our community. " Sacco said the city's approach has been to spout rhetoric and push the problem out of view, instead of offer constructive solutions. " If the city and county and nonprofits are getting out there doing outreach to the people, then (the homeless) won't be at Circle Park and I won't have anyone to feed down there, " Sacco said. " If they're just putting people in jail, the city is making it look like they are doing a wonderful job on the homeless issue. It's just a farce. " Sacco said in addition to providing food, she works to get the homeless housing, treatment, identification and jobs. For the past month, the city has been cracking down on the homeless at Circle Park, arresting those inside the park before it opens at 7 a.m. and citing others for trespassing if they're on private property. Neighbors have applauded the city's efforts, which have also included threats to increase the number of mentally ill homeless that they force to be hospitalized. But Peck said despite residents' concerns, any sweep or crackdown has to be done in a legal manner. " It doesn't matter if they're unsightly, if neighbors don't like them. It doesn't trump the Constitution, " he said. The council unanimously passed the ordinance. Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian was absent. Councilman Steve Wolfson, who last week raised concerns that the measure would prohibit someone from giving a sandwich to a homeless person, said after talking with Jerbic he felt comfortable with how the ordinance would be enforced. " The marshals will get specialized training on enforcement, " Wolfson said. " If you bought a couple of burgers and wanted to give them out, you technically would be in violation, but you wouldn't be cited. " Jerbic said police make judgment calls based on the severity of the crime, and this would be no different. Lichtenstein said the city's statements were a clear indication they intend to use selective enforcement, which is unconstitutional under the equal protection clause of the Constitution. http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jul-20-Thu-2006/news/8589438.html -- City ordinance driving homeless to Catholic Charities July 24, 2006 06:06 PM MDT A controversial Las Vegas ordinance is still sending shock waves throughout the valley. It outlaws feeding the homeless in public parks. Opponents have called the ordinance cruel but as News 3's Marie Mortera tells us, one local charity says it'll get the homeless off the streets and back on their feet. And since the ordinance, more have come through their doors. No one hungry walks away hungry from Catholic Charities. The portions at the meals are unlimited and hundreds eat them up. It's an operation they have run for decades but since last week the tables have been more full. 75 more of the homeless have sat at the tables in Catholic Charities a week after Las Vegas city leaders outlawed the feeding of the homeless in public parks. Homeless advocate Gail Sacco says the ordinance is not solving any problems. " It's clearly just another assault on the homeless. Not going to cut down population here. " At Catholic Charities you can find a shower, a bed, cool off from the heat, and even find a job. These are things you won't find at the park. Catholic Charities' David Little says the homeless people need to stop by, " They need to come in for help. " It wasn't too long ago when David Little himself was looking for help. The streets were his home for a year before starting over at Catholic Charities. Now, Little works at the shelter, has a real home and believes others can get that too but only if they are led in the right direction. Something he hopes will happen with this ordinance. " They need help to get off the streets. It's not going to get better for them. It's only going to get worse if they stay out there. " Not everyone agrees, however. On Sunday the group " Food Not Bombs " protested at Circle Park. They say the fine of $1,000 and possibly six months in jail is cruel for someone who just wants to do a good deed. They plan to protest the ordinance at City Hall on August 10. http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=5190919 & nav=15MV -- [excerpt] October 26 2002 -- The Santa Monica City Council banned programs that served meals to the homeless living in public parks and outlawed sleeping in doorways of downtown businesses. http://www.epath.org/toknowus/inthenews/newsarticles.php?article=22 -- [excerpt] TAMPA - A group of young people, one toting a camcorder, gathered with friends Sunday afternoon across the street from Massey Park. The tape rolled as police made three arrests at the park. All were charged with trespassing after ignoring repeated warnings not to feed the homeless without a permit. http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=04/04/18/0036631 -- Dallas Institutes New Laws on Homeless Thursday, March 09 2006 @ 10:55 PM PST [excerpt] DALLAS - Panhandling banned. Shopping carts prohibited on city streets. The distribution of food to the homeless restricted to designated areas. With a series of ordinances governing its growing homeless population, Dallas is gaining a reputation as a city uncharitable toward some of its neediest citizens. Dallas Institutes New Laws on Homeless http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20060309225554296 & mode=print If George Bush said that the Earth was flat, the headline would read, " Views Differ on Shape of the Earth " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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