No feeding the dirty people

[Britt.]

Bullshit.

Seriously...

Makes we wanna go to gather people up, & go to Vegas (not to screw around in gambling establishments).

Whether or not I do that, if I purchase some food, which I do on a regular basis, I think I should be able to give it to anyone I want to give it to, especially if they need it more than I do.

I'm fairly confident feeding the birds in the parks is entirely legal.

[Jennifer5]

this is exactly what's wrong with this world. a few people do something good and try to help who they can... and then it become illegal... wow.. what a stupid law... and the opposite of what they should be doing.


thanks for sharing Britt.

[suzer1013]

At first I thought this was regarding a thread over at the UMC boards regarding open communion. But then I read the article. Atlanta has had some folks complaining about people who feed the homeless -- something about how it "attracts" more homeless. Oy. How about helping the homeless, rather than punishing them? At least, so far, it isn't illegal to give food to a hungry person here. However, Atlanta did pass an anti-panhandling statute last year. We don't want "those people" bothering our tourists on their happy-shmappy way down to the Aquarium, do we? Argh.

Susan

[Dash]

Makes ya wanna go feed some homeless don't it? Sort of a nonviolent protest, in the form of charity.

[BruceChris]

"The law, in it's infinite fairness, makes it ilegal for rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges" - Now who said that? Voltair, or some Frenchman, I think.

P&L, Chris

[suzer1013]

Originally Posted by Dash

Makes ya wanna go feed some homeless don't it? Sort of a nonviolent protest, in the form of charity.

Let's do it! We can call it the Sandwich Revolution! My work hours make it difficult for me to participate in the various feeding ministries in town, other than donating items. I wish I could be out there in the park handing out food.

I once, when I bought my lunch, had them bag half of it (the portions were very generous) so I could give half to a homeless man I had passed on my way into the sandwich shop. By the time I came back out of the shop with my bags, there were two other homeless men standing there with the first, and I felt awful just giving the lunch to one, but I was out of money. I hoped, perhaps, they could share it, but it would have been a pretty meager lunch for three. I wished I'd had the money to go back and buy the other two some lunch as well. I probably should have just given away the rest of my lunch, as I'm far from hungry myself.

Susan

[NathanATX]

I truly believe that we need to raise our voices against ALL forms of injustice.

This horrible, classist, discriminatory action needs to be stopped.

[Zerbie]

Almost 4000 people voted YES to "should it be illegal to feed the homeless."

I hope most of those people were just screwing around, but I'm concerned that maybe they really think that way.

This law strikes me as evil.

[Vanessa White]

If a person must think about this logically, it just doesn't make sense that a person would choose to want to remain homeless, just to get a free sandwich here and there. If they are doing it to discourage homelessness, it is not going to be effective. Like all other human adversity issues, problems have to be solved from the root, not what they see as the result. Everyone wants a quick fix instead of looking at what causes the problem in the first place. I am ashamed to say that, a small city here in PA., very local to me, made national headlines two weeks ago by supporting a measure that makes English the official language of the city. The crime rate has increased at the same time that the Spanish-speaking population has increased, so I guess to make English the official language somehow defeats crime?!?!?! WHATEVER........

[Jennifer5]

really... if you don't feed homeless people.... the don't go away... they just go hungry... where are these people's hearts

[SBP]

Originally Posted by Vanessa White

If a person must think about this logically, it just doesn't make sense that a person would choose to want to remain homeless, just to get a free sandwich here and there. If they are doing it to discourage homelessness, it is not going to be effective. Like all other human adversity issues, problems have to be solved from the root, not what they see as the result. Everyone wants a quick fix instead of looking at what causes the problem in the first place. I am ashamed to say that, a small city here in PA., very local to me, made national headlines two weeks ago by supporting a measure that makes English the official language of the city. The crime rate has increased at the same time that the Spanish-speaking population has increased, so I guess to make English the official language somehow defeats crime?!?!?! WHATEVER........

Laws like these are so called "feel good" measures for a lot of people to make themselves FEEL like they are actually doing something about a "problem" without actually DOING anything at all. Seeing as how the root of problems such as these can ONLY be addressed by people willing to, oh, get off their lazy, overprivileged behinds, and most seem loathe to do just that!

What they fail to realize, or just fail through lack of concern is that not only do these measures do NOTHING to alleviate the problem, in most cases they exacerbate it by making the targets that much more difficult to help. Not to mention being just plain mean spirited and punitive towards folks who's only crime has been to be "visible" and thus, "uncomfortable" for "regular" folks to have to see. Why? Because it reminds them of what they are NOT doing!

The saddest part, is that measures like these pass not because of a handful of spiteful people want them to....but because the masses of fair and well intentioned people do NOTHING to prevent them.

Remember the quote, "The only thing that evil needs to win, is for good people to do nothing."

Peace & Love 2 U All~

[Jennifer5]

Nice quote... I'll save that one...

Why is it that we can (our country) can spend to much on roads, weapons, and war... but our homeless are still homeless.... and it keeps getting harder and harder to take care of each other... because if we try to help it looks like we're the ones doing something wrong... you know... I'm going to copy that original post and send to all the people I know... even if that isn't many...

[Zerbie]

Okay, I've been poking around a bit to see what contact info I could find for the Las Vegas City Council.

See:
lasvegasnevada.gov/Government/council.htm

From what I could find so far, if you click on the City Council page, by clicking on the map, you can pull up a webform and type comments which will then go to the councilperson who represents that district. I was not able to find individual emails, but I didn't try all that hard yet.

If anyone else finds email contacts, please post. I am thinking, why don't we each send a brief letter to each member of the council?

[suzer1013]

Seems Orlando has just done the same thing. Story from Salon.com:

Orlando Bans Feeding Homeless Downtown

- - - - - - - - - - - -


July 25,2006 | 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.

[NathanATX]

Originally Posted by Zerbie

Okay, I've been poking around a bit to see what contact info I could find for the Las Vegas City Council.

See:
lasvegasnevada.gov/Government/council.htm

From what I could find so far, if you click on the City Council page, by clicking on the map, you can pull up a webform and type comments which will then go to the councilperson who represents that district. I was not able to find individual emails, but I didn't try all that hard yet.

If anyone else finds email contacts, please post. I am thinking, why don't we each send a brief letter to each member of the council?

I just used the webform and sent the following message:

"I am very offended by the recent criminalization of the act of feeding homeless people. You should know that national & international social justice organizations are gearing up for a campaign to highlight the absurdity and the inhumanity of this action.

Will this just be one more tick on Las Vegas' reputation or will you take a stand for justice and human rights?

Nate Black"

[nowvoyager]

So these city councillors akin people to pigeons -- stop feeding them and they'll go away. This story lends the Good Samaritan parable an even greater revolutionary message. Do you feed someone in need or ignore them and hope they'll go away. Yes, lets bombard them with written criticism..

How about empowering the individuals to shake off their reasons for homelessness instead? I am proud to say that my city has sponsored a successful bid to host the Homeless World Cup in 2008, this is where teams of homeless people across the world are sponsored by businesses and charities to travel abroad and play soccer for their country. They were previously held in Edinburgh, and our Australian team did extremely well. The benefits; health, exercise, occupation and self esteem, were inestimable to the homeless participants.

How about Vegas try that with their ill-gotten taxes, instead of this absurd ordinance?

[Jennifer5]

I haven't written anything because I don't fully understand what to click on to send them an e-mail

[Zerbie]

Jennifer, when you go to the City site, find the map of the various districts/wards that includes photos of the councilperson representing each ward. Click on each section of the map - and a webform will (or should) open that you can fill out and then it will go to the office of the councilmember whose ward you clicked on, on the map. Clear as mud?

[Jennifer5]

okay, I guess the question now is which ward to send it to... a certain one? or all of them?

[SBP]

Originally Posted by Jennifer5

okay, I guess the question now is which ward to send it to... a certain one? or all of them?

Hi Jen~! If you have the time to do it, I'd hit ALL of them! That's what I'm in the process of doing~! With things like this, overkill is always better when trying to get your point across. It makes it less likely that you can be "ignored". Especially when you copy your letter (email) to the editor of the local paper as well~!

Keep up your awesome efforts~!!

Peace & Love 2 U~!!!