| thomasquinn 32989 06.11.2014 00:48 |
This is what they call 'law enforcement' in that backwards excuse for a state. http://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/04/justice/florida-feeding-homeless-charges/index.html?hpt=hp_t4 This is insane and totally incompatible with any form of civilization! |
| musicland munich 06.11.2014 00:59 |
Quote from the article :"I'm not satisfied with having a cycle of homeless in the city of Fort Lauderdale," Seiler said. "Providing them with a meal and keeping them in that cycle on the street is not productive." ...I'll bet he have jobs,homes and enough social workers by the hand to break that cycle ;) |
| Donna13 06.11.2014 16:50 |
I think it would be silly to conclude that this old man is saving lives by feeding homeless people where they are congregating in a public park. Instead, I would guess that he is adding to the problem in a small way by feeding them in a location where they are not welcome. Public parks are meant for daytime recreation, not living in. Also they have to be safe for the general public. Other resources are available for the homeless such as food stamps, social security, free clinics, homeless shelters, government subsidized housing, church sponsored help, etc. The main problem with warm areas of the country is that people who want to sleep outside can do that and survive. So, as you travel south from areas that freeze in the winter to areas that do not freeze, you will observe more people just hanging around. There are also homeless people in the cold cities who refuse to be taken to a homeless shelter even for one night. Some die in the cold. I guess there is a big difference between those who find themselves homeless through economic circumstances (and are willing to get help) and those who are out in the open air by choice. |
| YourValentine 07.11.2014 01:44 |
There is no excuse for throwing an old man into jail for feeding homeless people, period. |
| Donna13 07.11.2014 06:52 |
George Clooney and his father were arrested not too long ago while protesting at an embassy. How old is George Clooney's father? Saying that a 90-year old man cannot get arrested is age discrimination. Anyway, he is not in jail. When jail time and/or fines are involved, it is probably up to a judge. He will probably just be warned or have to pay a fine. I have a crazy and irresponsible neighbor (she lives about a half mile away) who lets her dog run around, and people (not me) call Animal Control and the dog has been picked up by Animal Control many times. This kind of offense can carry a 6 day jail sentence for the dog owner, but I doubt it would ever come to that. It hasn't so far. |
| thomasquinn 32989 08.11.2014 04:51 |
Have you even read the article, Donna? I doubt it, judging from your narrow-minded reply. You are trying to make it out that homeless people are being a deliberate nuisance, rather than admitting the reality: America has a huge poverty problem and homelessness is a growing crisis, especially since the crisis started. These are human beings left without shelter or a means of supporting themselves, many have psychological problems ranging from addiction to schizophrenia and from OCD to PTSS and feeding them is a form of basic human decency. Anyone who places the recreational value of a park above the lives of human beings is scum. |
| Donna13 08.11.2014 10:51 |
link Update from Mayor Seiler on City's Homeless Initiatives Innovative Leadership Key to Addressing Homelessness Let’s set the record straight. Contrary to reports, the City of Fort Lauderdale is not banning groups from feeding the homeless. We have established an outdoor food distribution ordinance to ensure the health, safety and welfare of our community. The ordinance does not prohibit feeding the homeless; it regulates the activity in order to ensure it is carried out in an appropriate, organized, clean and healthy manner. While the ordinance regulates outdoor food distribution, it permits indoor food distribution to take place at houses of worship throughout the City. By allowing houses of worship to conduct this activity, the City is actually increasing the number of locations where the homeless can properly receive this service. At recent outdoor food distributions, citations were rightly issued for non-compliance with the process enacted to ensure public health and safety. Contrary to what was reported in the media, no one was taken into custody. Had these activities taken place indoors, at a house of worship, they would have been in full compliance with the ordinance. Experts agree, however, that homeless individuals need more than just food. The homeless need shelter, clothing, and comprehensive medical and social services in order to help them get back on their feet. Few cities have done more for the homeless than Fort Lauderdale. We are taking a comprehensive approach by working with numerous agencies, non-profit, charitable and faith-based organizations that, like us, are dedicated to effectively addressing this complex and important issue. Our overarching goal is to provide a long-term comprehensive solution for the homeless population. While aiming for that goal, we are concurrently working to protect public safety and maintain quality of life for our neighbors, businesses and visitors. Our efforts include: Fort Lauderdale was the first City in South Florida to establish a dedicated Homeless Outreach Unit as part of its Police Department. This Unit makes approximately 8,000 referrals a year working with the homeless to provide them with access to housing, critical medical care and social services. The award-winning initiative stands as a model that has been replicated by local, state, and national police departments and law enforcement agencies across the country. Fort Lauderdale is home to the only full service comprehensive Homeless Assistance Center in Broward County. The Center has been operating here since 1999. Recently, the Fort Lauderdale City Commission unanimously passed an ordinance allowing the Homeless Assistance Center to expand its size and scope of operations to accommodate more beds and serve more homeless. The City maintains an active partnership with Mission United, a program dedicated to providing housing and social services to homeless Veterans. In addition to Mission United, the City maintains partnerships, provides resources and support to Broward County, the Broward Partnership for the Homeless, Housing Authority of the City of Fort Lauderdale, Salvation Army of Broward County, United Way of Broward County, Hope South Florida, and the Task Force for Ending Homelessness. These partnerships represent an outstanding example of how homelessness needs to be addressed – by bringing together a variety of agencies and organizations to collaborate, share resources, and leverage strengths in a unified effort to comprehensively impact homelessness through the coordination and delivery of essential programs and services. Fort Lauderdale is the only city in South Florida and one of 235 communities in the United States taking part in the 100,000 Homes Campaign, a national effort to move disabled, chronically homeless people from the street to a place of their own. Using the motto "Housing First," the campaign reverses the traditional approach that required the homeless to go through addiction counseling and job training before earning a roof over their heads. Through the Housing First program, Fort Lauderdale is providing the most vulnerable homeless individuals with housing, medical, and social services. The program is funded by a $441,000 federal grant that the City of Fort Lauderdale secured from HUD. It is currently providing permanent supportive housing for 22 chronically homeless people. The City is proud to report that our initiative was recently re-funded by HUD. During the current year, we will have an additional $455,000 to continue to operate and expand this effort to serve even more chronic and vulnerable homeless in our City. As part of our comprehensive strategy, the City has passed new ordinances that aim to reduce the public safety hazards and inappropriate nuisance activities that are negatively impacting our community. As a City, we have a responsibility to ensure that all of our public spaces are accessible and can be safely enjoyed by everyone – families, children, residents and visitors. Our quality of life in Fort Lauderdale and our economic viability are directly linked to our stewardship of public spaces. The City continues to provide leadership in the implementation of innovative ideas to protect our quality of life while ensuring continued funding for programs and initiatives that address humanitarian needs. The City, our neighbors, and our businesses have a long and distinguished history of compassion toward those in need. We encourage those groups that are feeding the homeless to partner with agencies and organizations that, like Fort Lauderdale, are taking a comprehensive approach to this issue so that we can begin to make real progress – instead of enabling the downward cycle of homelessness to continue. If you would like to make a contribution to local non-profit agencies that help fund homeless assistance, substance abuse, and community support services in Fort Lauderdale, please visit: link Again, thank you for your interest in this important humanitarian issue. Mayor John P. “Jack” Seiler City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
| Donna13 09.11.2014 07:10 |
Not only are there safety issues involving the general public (imagine a small child in the park finding a discarded needle, for example), but in the past, homeless people have been attacked and killed. They are targets. Getting them off the street and into a program to help them (which many of the homeless do not want due to mental illness) is a way to keep them from being victims. The old man, by starting his own non-profit, rather than supporting existing charities and programs as a non-paid volunteer, would be able to collect a salary for himself. So, it was to his advantage to do this for a long time. Feeding the homeless out in the open at the beach or in a park would do two things: get him more visibility (better for fund-raising), and attract more homeless (also, advantageous for fund raising). |
| thomasquinn 32989 09.11.2014 08:06 |
You are one hell of a cynic, grasping at straws like the back-pedelling press statement put out by the city only *after* international outrage followed. You're not going to convince me that you're so naive that you don't know that old political trick. I find you rather sickening. |
| Donna13 09.11.2014 09:14 |
"International outrage" should be toward CNN for not stating clearly enough that the old man was not put in jail. Maybe they should use shorter sentences. If you read what they wrote carefully, you will understand that the old man was not put in jail and they did not say he was. Outrage on this forum should be toward those who repeatedly and with frequency try to mislead others. |
| The Real Wizard 11.11.2014 00:58 |
Nice to see Christian America once again practicing the "love thy neighbour" and "give to the poor" gospel mantra they preach. |
| Donna13 11.11.2014 12:42 |
Most people want to give to others and help in any way they can. |
| Donna13 11.11.2014 13:01 |
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| pittrek 12.11.2014 10:01 |
I fully understand WHY are they doing this but seriously they must know somebody with an IQ higher than 30 who can come up with a better solution |
| Donna13 12.11.2014 22:51 |
I'm pretty sure the sanitation issue is a legitimate concern, however, I think in this case it is a convenient way to justify what the city really wants to accomplish, and that is to make it much more difficult to feed the homeless outdoors. It is an attempt to get the homeless out of the habit of congregating in places that would otherwise be "nice" for tourists, and people who live and work in the city. Anyway ... nobody was handcuffed and nobody was arrested. I watched the video. The old man was calmly approached, quietly spoken to, and slowly led away from the food table (the cop was gently holding his arm). Then the cops wrote out the citations (pieces of paper that tell you to appear in court) for the old man and the two church ministers. A citation is for a minor offense. They weren't blindsided. They knew the new laws had gone into effect, and they were purposely defying the new laws. These people who are getting hysterical and saying that it is now against the law to feed the homeless in Fort Lauderdale and that an old man was arrested or that he is facing jail time are just repeating a false story. A person can still feed the homeless in Fort Lauderdale. And a person can still feed them outdoors if following all the new rules. I'm not saying it is a good situation down there. But there are plenty of legitimate criticisms to be made based on facts. We don't need TQ implying all sorts of nonsense based entirely on his imagination and false conclusions. A sheltered person is still considered "homeless", so being "homeless" is not necessarily synonymous with being outside, on your own, going hungry or going without medical care. For those who prefer to remain on the streets - that is a much more difficult problem. |