Abbott and two pastors in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, were charged for feeding the homeless in public on Sunday, the city’s first crackdowns under a new ordinance banning public food sharing,…
Abbott is 90.
Now he faces possible jail time and a $500.00 fine. link
Their official response to this…*
Mayor Jack Seiler defended the law and its intent. “I’m not satisfied with having a cycle of homeless in city of Fort Lauderdale,” said Seiler. “Providing them with a meal and keeping them in that cycle on the street is not productive.” link
I wonder if this could be fought on freedom of religion grounds? For example, if one’s religion commands you to share your food with the homeless/poor?
“The people feeding them are enablers, and they enable the homeless by making their lives easier,” Deal told the New Times of Broward County. “Hunger is a big motivator. Are people more likely to seek help when they’re hungry or when they’re fed and happy?”
I sure wish I was as happy as a one-time fed homeless person :rolleyes:
It seems like the rule is based on the idea they can zone where food serving is allowed, as well as certain health and safety requirements for toilets.
Are you opposed to zoning and health and safety aspects of this, or think there should be an exception? Should the city have the power to zone in this way?
This. If I want to share a pizza with my buddies in a port-o-john while one of them is taking a shit that is our business. Fucking government gettin all nosy into my personal life.
So if someone sets up a food giveaway program that makes everyone sick, doesn’t adhere to basic safety rules for people and staff, and is in a part of the city not set up for the traffic pattern, and types of property in the area, that should be fine?
I can see the sense of it.
Homeless go hungry.
The homeless become more desperate.
The homeless steal more.
The emergency care, gun sales and home security industry boom.
Homeless are precessed through the jails where they get their free meals.
It’s win win for everyone!
This is disgusting. We’ve had some attempts to restrict programs that feed the homeless here in Philly. The real goal of such laws is always clear- keep the homeless away from tourists.