City councils are cracking down on charity groups that feed the homeless without a permit. The stake-out was almost comical in its absurdity: On April 4, 2007, undercover police counted how many times Eric Montanez, a 22-year-old volunteer with Food Not Bombs, dipped a serving ladle into a pot and handed stew to hungry people.
Once Montanez had dished up 30 bowls, the police moved in, collecting a vial of the stew for evidence as they arrested him for violating an Orlando, Fla., city ordinance: feeding a large group. Two days into his trial yesterday, Montanez was acquitted by a jury of the misdemeanor charge, but was cautioned to obey the law.
there is a famous news story that was shown around the world, of the St. Petersburg police, going through a homeless camp and slashing opr otherwise destroying, all their tents. And it was on church property.
Heck! Maybe they could stop the drug problem the same way. Make sure the illegal drugs meet Goverment standards.
If you want to give food away. Just make it and let them serve themselves. If the cops come.....ask them to arrest all of those people stealing the food. If the cops do arrest them....they get housing for the night to boot.
I don't think its a black and white (no pun intended here) issue...there are alot of "gray" areas...
If any of those people sicken and/or die as a result of what was being fed to them...do you think the people go after the server?...no....they will be lined up at the governments doors with law suits aplenty....
Nature of the beast...
**Note: In no way am i suggesting that this man's intentions were misplaced...or that compassion should not be shown to those less fortunate....
after frquenting alex jones site over the last week or so i think you'll find that this kind of underhand behavior by the government is just scratching the surface. depending of course on whether his claims are based on facts or if he's just a raving lunatic. think i'll reserve judgement for now ;)
I actually don't think this is a common sense thing. I think it is a totally cynical local government pandering to property interests by keeping the neighbourhood tidy and free of dirty homeless people.
If that means they get made a fool of in court and the media occasionally then they are willing to pay that price to intimidate the scruffy people out of public spaces.
The local authorities would not have done this without a push from behind by the local bourgeoisie.
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The stake-out was almost comical in its absurdity: On April 4, 2007, undercover police counted how many times Eric Montanez, a 22-year-old volunteer with Food Not Bombs, dipped a serving ladle into a pot and handed stew to hungry people.
Once Montanez had dished up 30 bowls, the police moved in, collecting a vial of the stew for evidence as they arrested him for violating an Orlando, Fla., city ordinance: feeding a large group. Two days into his trial yesterday, Montanez was acquitted by a jury of the misdemeanor charge, but was cautioned to obey the law.