Another Person Charged With Feeding The Poor In Florida

[Spoder]

Florida is fucked up.

Tune in for more at our regular broadcasting hour.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

He prepared the food there and distributes it elsewhere.

He does that because he realizes they can't always get to the church.

Exactly. If you are only serving those able to make it to a church miles away from where they generally sleep, then what you're doing is feeding only the highest functioning element of the homeless population.

[Vamtrl]

As far as necessary so long as they can eat? Do you think they will sit still and starve to death because they might have to walk a bit? What do you think they do all day exactly?

Speaking from experience, I mostly panhandled, checked the social services hotline to see if a shelter bed had opened up, and kept out of the sight of the police to the best of my ability. The aforementioned sores on my feet kept me from being able to walk too far. Others drank or did drugs to drive away their demons, or simply ranted at nothing that anyone else could see.

If you could walk to the shelter for the night, then you could have walked for the food right

[Infected Mushroom]

A 90 year old man this time, along with two pastors.

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL (WPLG/CNN) – It did not take long for City of Fort Lauderdale to make good on the promise to criminally charge those who violate a new ordinance that effectively outlaws groups from feeding the homeless in public.

On Sunday, the city charged three people, including two ministers and a 90-year-old homeless advocate, and they could face up to 60-days in jail for their so-called crime.

“I fully believe that I am my brother’s keeper. Love they neighbor as thy self,” explained Arnold Abbott.

90-year-old Abbott prepares hundreds of meals each week for the homeless in the kitchen of the Sanctuary Church.

“We serve two entrées at every feeding,” Abbott said.

But Abbott’s work now has him in trouble with the law.

He faces possible jail time and a $500 fine for feeding the homeless after he was charged Sunday with violating a new ordinance that virtually outlaws groups from sharing food with the hungry in the city.

“One of police officers came over and said ‘Drop that plate right now,’ as if I was carrying a weapon,” Abbott said.

Also charged was a minister from Coral Springs and Sanctuary Church pastor, Wayne Black.

“We believe very strongly that Jesus taught us that we are to feed his sheep,” said Pastor Black.

Mayor Jack Seiler warned arrests were coming.

“We enforce the laws here in Ft. Lauderdale,” said Mayor Seiler.

“It’s man’s inhumanity to man,” Abbott said.

Back in 1999, Abbott sued the city for banning him from feeding homeless on beach, a lawsuit he won.

“I’m going to have to go to court court again to sue the city of Fort Lauderdale, the beautiful city. These are the poorest of the poor. They have nothing. Don’t have a roof over their head, and who could turn them away?” Abbott asked.

Abbott is going to be firing up these stoves again on Wednesday when he has another food sharing plan for the beach. He says he doesn’t want to be arrested but he’s prepared for the possibility.

Another unjust law, three more brave folks willing to stand up to injustice in the name of humanity. If the city is so concerned with homeless people congregating, then the appropriate answer is more comprehensive services for the homeless population of the area, not shutting down those who are doing their best to help. Providing food for hungry people is the most basic form of charity, one recognized as an essential good by every major religion and culture that comes to mind. The existence of laws such as this seems to go against what it means to be human.

Thoughts?

No it should not be criminal. They're just helping people stay alive.

Also.

There should be no homeless people in America.

Its time to triple the social welfare funds and build free housing for all.

[Atlanticatia]

This is...just...I can't even.

What the fuck?

[Yumyumsuppertime]

Speaking from experience, I mostly panhandled, checked the social services hotline to see if a shelter bed had opened up, and kept out of the sight of the police to the best of my ability. The aforementioned sores on my feet kept me from being able to walk too far. Others drank or did drugs to drive away their demons, or simply ranted at nothing that anyone else could see.

If you could walk to the shelter for the night, then you could have walked for the food right

Shelter? Hah. What makes you think that there were shelter beds available? There are an estimated 36,000 to 54,000 homeless people in the city of Los Angeles. There are approximately 2,000 shelter beds. Even then, you have to be prepared to expose yourself to the untold dangers of Skid Row if you're "lucky" enough to find a bed in one.

[Atlanticatia]

Tbh, it's more the fact that it sort of adds on to the "fuck the poor" mantra when there really isn't any other option for them. Sure, it might be different, if there was quality emergency public housing, liveable welfare benefits, but in a country where homeless people are left to charity, charity shouldn't be illegal.

[Greed and Death]

The problem is it creates pedestrian traffic issues when you do it out of a food truck. Officials prefer it be done in a gymnasium or cafeteria.

Is it a problem when selling food out of a food truck causes pedestrian traffic? Or only when you're giving the food away?

IT can be, which is why food sellers require permits.

[Cetacea]

So if I'm on the beach in Floriday eating and offer a homeless guy a burger I'm breaking a law?

Thats just wacko

[MERIZoC]

Fuck florida law. The lawmakers who made them, and any officer who enforces them is utterly despicable, and anyone who doesn't vote these lawmakers out of office should be ashamed of themselves. America's criminalization of the homeless is utterly disgusting.

[Clayton Island]

Deleted.

[Crimiea]

So, they are against the state providing food and water for those in desperate need, but they are also against private donations of food and water from individual civilians to the homeless? What, exactly, do they want in regards to the homeless?

[Threlizdun]

Unsurprising. It's in the interest of the state to keep the poor weak.

[Empire of Narnia]

Another Liberal law created to attack their enemies-the religious and the poor.

[Nirvash Type TheEND]

Florida resident here. Florida is actually like this. Shit sucks, yo.

[Nirvash Type TheEND]

So, they are against the state providing food and water for those in desperate need, but they are also against private donations of food and water from individual civilians to the homeless? What, exactly, do they want in regards to the homeless?

SOYLENT GREEN IS PEEEEOOOOOPLEEEEEE

[The Grim Reaper]

Speaking from experience, I mostly panhandled, checked the social services hotline to see if a shelter bed had opened up, and kept out of the sight of the police to the best of my ability. The aforementioned sores on my feet kept me from being able to walk too far. Others drank or did drugs to drive away their demons, or simply ranted at nothing that anyone else could see.

If you could walk to the shelter for the night, then you could have walked for the food right

If I repossess your house and everything you own, you would still walk for food, right?

There's nothing wrong with making life harder just because it lets me remove the responsibility of having to look at homeless people in public, right?

[Nord Amour]

Once again, people insist on legislating against such evils as kindness and empathy.

I commend this man for standing against such an idiotic law.

[Reploid Productions]

Another Liberal law created to attack their enemies-the religious and the poor.

I'm pretty sure if I were to look up the political affiliations of whoever approved this piece of garbage legislation, I'd not likely find that many liberals involved.

EDIT TO ADD: And having just looked up the mayor, I am disappointed that a guy calling himself a Democrat is backing the thing.

[Nord Amour]

Another Liberal law created to attack their enemies-the religious and the poor.

And what is the evidence that this law is inherently "liberal?'

[MERIZoC]

Another Liberal law created to attack their enemies-the religious and the poor.

I'm pretty sure if I were to look up the political affiliations of whoever approved this piece of garbage legislation, I'd not likely find that many liberals involved.

Well…..
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fort-lauderdale/fl-homeless-feeding-citations-20141102-story.html

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."

And he's a Dem.

[MERIZoC]

Another Liberal law created to attack their enemies-the religious and the poor.

I'm pretty sure if I were to look up the political affiliations of whoever approved this piece of garbage legislation, I'd not likely find that many liberals involved.

EDIT TO ADD: And having just looked up the mayor, I am disappointed that a guy calling himself a Democrat is backing the thing.

Ooh. Ninja'd.

[Ironbarrow]

Do it in a private place?

Exactly! The homeless should be fed in their own homes.

Ah.

The more distinguished ones reside in box castles, you have to speak to the raccoon butler before entering with your food.

[Nord Amour]

I'm pretty sure if I were to look up the political affiliations of whoever approved this piece of garbage legislation, I'd not likely find that many liberals involved.

Well…..
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fort-lauderdale/fl-homeless-feeding-citations-20141102-story.html

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."

And he's a Dem.

He's not a very "liberal" Democrat.

Another Liberal law created to attack their enemies-the religious and the poor.

I'm pretty sure if I were to look up the political affiliations of whoever approved this piece of garbage legislation, I'd not likely find that many liberals involved.

EDIT TO ADD: And having just looked up the mayor, I am disappointed that a guy calling himself a Democrat is backing the thing.

The Democrats are not the good guys. SURPRISE

[Nirvash Type TheEND]

In Tampa (my city) they effectively criminalized homelessness by making it illegal to 'store personal property in public.' I.E. Sleeping in alleys, on benches, under bridges et cetera.