I'm really curious about what people think about this. In Philadelphia, PA the mayor just announced a plan to make is a crime to feed homeless people in public parks. They already have similar laws in Las Vegas, NV and Orlando, FL. People who are caught handing out apples or sandwiches can get hefty fines.
Here is a link to one article:
http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/1125455--proposed-homeless-feeding-ban-to-go-public-today
What do you think about that? 1|1|horrible! saw a video about orlando a while back|cinda68|lacinda68@gmail.com|19:18:34|03/15/2012|
Absolutely hateful and ridiculous, it isn't hurting anyone to feed homeless people in public parks. Other than the snotty rich who can't stand to look upon such a thing, right? 2|2|I think it is one more step toward our society becoming UNhuman.|Barb09|Barb0969@AOL.com|20:07:48|03/15/2012|
I looked and looked and found no coupons for troll food......SO, I don't feed the trolls!! 4|3|I agree with Barb.....we are becoming more hardened and desensitized to others....and when it is something as simple as helping someone with food (a necessity, not a luxury!) who is the govt to say who we help and how we do it! |saint6811|waylan@comcast.net|21:04:00|03/15/2012|
" You'll get what's coming to you ... Unless it was mailed."
5|3|I agree w/Barb & Joy as well.....|maraj|maraj64@hotmail.com|21:36:25|03/15/2012|
Altho if I look at it from another stand-point, I can understand the concept if there truly is an issue about health & safety of the homeless. But I think it's more of a "control" thing as I feel it should be our own choice if people personally want to help those less fortunate. If the govt. really is concerned, then maybe it needs to look at erecting more homeless shelters or food kitchens, or getting rid of all the emissions from factories & vehicles that are so harmful to the ozone layer. :-p But enacting these cruel laws that take away from people who are already down on their luck is easier for them to manipulate & control, kicking them when they're down. :(
Smile... it makes people wonder what you're up to!
Please identify yourself in 1st email w/name/username. Due to recent problem trades, if I haven't traded w/you before, I will probably require you send your end 1st or I'll need LEGIT trade references/feedback. I will be happy to provide the same. IF you plan to hold your end til you've received mine, I will need to know that IMMEDIATELY, BEFORE trade is finalized.
6|4|There has been a homeless person near my regular grocery store a few times. A couple times I am taking my WELL FED children through the Burger King drive thru right there with him in view and I have bought an extra burger or two....and we handed it to him. If that makes me a hardened criminal....throw away the key!!|Barb09|Barb0969@AOL.com|21:41:48|03/15/2012|
I looked and looked and found no coupons for troll food......SO, I don't feed the trolls!! 3|1|NO, it should not be illegal to feed the homeless regardless where it is or where they live or don`t live. |driller|harj@frontier.com|21:00:18|03/15/2012|
~Judy in MI~ :) 7|1|Oh my gosh I feel much better after reading all your comments...|sunriver|sunriver@gmail.com|22:33:23|03/15/2012|
This has been bothering me most of the day and I needed to hear a bunch of people say they agree that it's wrong to criminalize kindness! Homeless people already deal with many ordinances (many have urban camping laws and get tickets for sleeping, tickets for trespassing, loitering, etc.) I have befriended some homeless people here and from listening to them I see that some wind up as criminals because they do not have a roof over their heads. Several years ago our local paper published an article which listed the 10 most ticketed people in town (or maybe it was 20, something like that... complete with photos) anyway they were mostly homeless people and almost all of the citations were for sleeping!
I hadn't realized those other cities (Vegas, Orlando) were doing that until I read that article today and did 5 minutes of research. I don't want to travel to either of those cities now and will never give them our tourism dollars as I see food as a human right.
Thanks all! Vanessa
9|2|That's what I was thinking.......|maraj|maraj64@hotmail.com|23:04:21|03/15/2012|
Stupid & inhumane laws like that are going to make more homeless people feel like they have no choice but to resort to stealing, etc. to get food or money for food. They'll start to feel that maybe jail is the lesser of the 2 evils cuz at least in jail, they'd get a roof over their head & 3 squares.
Then some govt. official will start in again about over-crowding issues, the need for bigger or more jail/prison facilities, & rest assured, there goes our taxes again.
I'd much rather it went for more homeless shelters or food kitchens or to have the choice of paying out of my own pocket to provide food for someone in need than to have that choice taken away from me as well. :(
Smile... it makes people wonder what you're up to!
Please identify yourself in 1st email w/name/username. Due to recent problem trades, if I haven't traded w/you before, I will probably require you send your end 1st or I'll need LEGIT trade references/feedback. I will be happy to provide the same. IF you plan to hold your end til you've received mine, I will need to know that IMMEDIATELY, BEFORE trade is finalized.
8|1|Treating people like stray cats...(even stray cats deserve to be fed but that's just my opinion, lol)|noway|mizzbishop@gmail.com|22:42:26|03/15/2012|
that's messed up. Why don't we just put all the homeless people in shelters and them if no one claims them, kill them?
this whole concept devalues human life, how sad. 10|1|Very cruel law, very inhumane. I wonder if it is in response to the Occupy Wall St. movement? Here in Rochester NY|lv2qpon|jcummins1@rochester.rr.com|15:50:44|03/16/2012|
they are making the homeless leave Washington Park. 11|1|I don't see anything wrong with helping the homeless....more inside~*~|RebekkaVA|queen_vulture@msn.com|16:00:57|03/16/2012|
I know some people are leery of giving them food, because they say "what if they aren't really homeless, just trying to take advantage of the situation" and I say that's on them, if they aren't really homeless, then shame on them, taking from those that are in need, we've helped homeless too, one time when we lived in Northern VA, there was a lady and her kids digging in the trash cans near a local sandwich place we like to go to, we were just getting in our vehicle and noticed them, Will took the lady and her kids inside, ordered them an extra large pizza and drinks, the lady was so thankful, she cried and said "but I can't pay you back" Will told her, I'm not doing this to get anything in return, he said noone should go hungry" We've lived on both sides, we've had lots of money and then we've had none, when Will got cancer, we lost everything (job, home etc), so we know what it's like and if we can give someone a hand up, then why not...We are still on a fixed income, but if we see someone in need, we will try and help if we can...I wanna make "Blessing Bags" that way we can carry them in the car, just use a gallon size ziplock bag and put in granola bars, fruit cups, pudding, other edible items, then maybe trial size shampoo etc and some change in case they need to make a phone call, then when we see someone, we can just hand them one....Sorry for rambling, but to me Charity starts at home and if we can't help our own people here in our country without it being a crime, then why do we send money overseas to help people? Shouldn't that be a crime then???
~*~REBEKKA~*~
a.k.a. "Queen Vulture"
Married to my Soul Mate William
"My husband has cancer, Please pray for him"
Mommy to:
Timothy 5/80
Matthew 10/92
Cheyenne 9/99
Grandmother to Alayna 3/10
*EMAIL*: queen_vulture@msn.com
Feedback link: http://www.refundsweepers.com/dcforum/feedback/796.html
12|2|I think what the mayor is saying......|melpaul|Melpaul199@aol.com|20:05:38|03/16/2012|
In Philadelphia there are so many soup kitchens all over the city He wants the homeless
people to go to these places, instead of the volunteer groups walking around the city with sandwiches and handing them out to them on the street
I voulunteer in these soup kitchens and there are over 50 of them in the phils city area
BTW I am not a good fan of Mayor Nutter I disagree with alot of his plans
13|3|If it were illegal in my state I'd have to register as a repeat offender!|kdrink|kdrink34@yahoo.com|20:23:13|03/16/2012|
I feed the homeless every day, well almost. I don't give $$$. Too long of a story and I'm not going to get into it. I once had very little cash but was able to buy a few groceries for a homeless man and sat by the highway with him and we had lunch. I don't see anything wrong with giving someone food. No human being should go hungry, at least not in the USA (or anywhere for that matter). We are a wealthy nation, but really to make it illegal? I guess the politicians must worry about how their community looks with homeless people in it-they might not get re-elected, so if you "force" them to move on then everything must be fine, right? Wrong, but what we don't see, won't make us think, right? Right! imho. 14|4|There is nothing wrong with feeding the homeless......|melpaul|Melpaul199@aol.com|20:33:40|03/16/2012|
The point he wanted to make was the volunteers take the food to the shelters or the soup
kitchen where they can have it and its already there
15|1|easy solution feed them in front of the mayors house and any other politicions houses|tollman62|thebossatnight@yahoo.com|13:03:47|03/17/2012|
email me if interested
please send your board name in your email thanks
I am looking for offers in concealed cash ayor, no fee paypal, Stamps or BTFE or make an offer in????
I mail all my trades from the post office and get a receipt.
you always hear noises in the dark when you work at night 16|2|Amen !! Love one another. we are our brother's keeper .|BMOREGAL|bmoregal2000@aol.com|14:01:55|03/17/2012|
The needs of the many, outweigh the greed of a few.
wish list
morningstar farm veggie foods
Sabra hummus
activa $1
yo plus
millstone coffee $1
kashi foods $1
Bear naked cereal
Malto meal cereal IP ok
Tide $2
Purex 3-1 $3
Silk soy milk $1
baby wipes $1
Toilet paper $1...marcal, cottonelle ect
free food or paper items
Btfe
Doggie treats, Eukanuba
poptarts
Target pharmacy coupons for $10 GC wyb meds
please send w/l as i have lots to trade but no PP,Thanks in advance...Iris
17|3|They are not against feeding the homeless|fbutte|fyb33@yahoo.com|16:57:01|03/17/2012|
They do not want homeless to fill the parks as surely will happen. Then people will be afraid to go to the park. Thru such programs as share, the homeless can get food without going to a shelter.
A similiar sitution is happening near home. WE found several homeless living in our very large park. As word gets around, more and more will be coming. The park will no longer be a pleasant , safe place. It will be filled with trash and refuse.
I take my overage, items purchased nearly free to SHARE centers.
In Vancouver where I visited I was constantly harassed by homeless asking for money. Not a pleasant situation, when they curse you if you do not give.
Not heartless, place there is a place and time for everything.
18|4|Can you tell me more about what SHARE is, like what city?|sunriver|sunriver@gmail.com|20:52:53|03/17/2012|
I'm always interested in learning more about what other cities are doing, which is why I am asking. But I am also not sure why homeless people in a park equals more trash and refuse? Are there not trash cans in the park? The homeless that I encounter are really good about trying to pick up after themselves and even each other as long as they can find trash cans. Our city locks all park bathrooms by 5 pm and there is just one single port-a-potty that is downtown. There is no trash can anywhere near the potty and so the maintenance person has said he sometimes has to pick up dirty clothes in it since there is nowhere for them to put them (and it is the only place where some can change their clothing), but all in all they really aren't trying to be nuisances. They work pretty hard at staying invisible.
Earlier today in a nearby city I handed a woman some money (she was with a kid of about 12) and she told me that people had been driving by laughing at her. I just can't stand hearing that! She's inspired me to go volunteer sunday night (all night) at the overnight church shelter that the city allows once a week or when temps are freezing.
19|5|I don`t get the trash part?????? I do know, if that is the case, then they should be looking at all these NEW shopping centers, that keep popping up, that used to be farm land, that have tons of trash that needs to be picked up. Very sad, that they would pick|driller|harj@frontier.com|21:26:04|03/17/2012|
on homeless, that are just trying to stay alive, not get sicky, go potty, eat, etc.
~Judy in MI~ I have noticed any Meijers that has opened, now you can drive by and see tons of trash in every direction, blowing in the wind. I would think they need to concentrate on stuff like that instead of picking on those who are trying to survive. Grrr
20|6|what does food have to do with sleep?|kdrink|kdrink34@yahoo.com|22:20:46|03/17/2012|
I guess I am a little confused LOL which happens more often than not. Ok, so in some states it is illegal to feed the homeless, but a certain organization will feed them instead of public citizens. Ok i get that, but the homeless people still need a place to sleep, which in many cases is a park or an alley. So, I still say that making it illegal for the common person to feed the homeless is again a way not to address the issue but rather a hope of the elite to 'move them on' to another community so that it can become their problem. 21|7|But if they are wanting them to move on, then they are not addressing the issue, just putting it on someone else to solve the problem. Being homeless could happen to anyone at anytime. |driller|harj@frontier.com|23:33:49|03/17/2012|
So if these soo called towns/cities don`t want them sleeping in the parks, then I guess they could do something to get arrested, that way they would
have a place to sleep, for the night anyways, if not longer.
~Judy in MI~
22|1|Set up tents in every park for them to sleep|cinda68|lacinda68@gmail.com|11:44:28|03/18/2012|
Shame on these people, so worried about their precious parks and how the vagrants will just spoil it all for them. How exactly do homeless people make the park unsafe? How are they a threat?
Oh to be queen for a day, I would set up tents in every park and put up big WELCOME signs. 23|1|Homeless man with phd|cinda68|lacinda68@gmail.com|11:51:17|03/18/2012|
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eNPAH46oI8
"55 year old Maurice Johnston lives in Boston, by way of Cleveland. He has a Masters Degree in Plasma Physics from Dartmouth College, and a masters in Electrical Engineering and acoustics from Purdue University. He's worked over 10 years at Lockheed Aerospace & Aerodyne Research Corp. Maurice has taught in Science and physics, and took care of both his parents in their time of need. Maurice is very well spoken, (he sounds like Obama) and is very kind, so why is Maurice homeless....." from youtube
*This man is not scary at all and should blow any misconceptions about homeless people out of the water. 24|2|I watched the video, thanks Cinda for posting this. It hit a soft spot with me. Anyone who did this for his parents is a very caring and sensitive person.|driller|harj@frontier.com|15:19:42|03/18/2012|
Almost makes me want to contact him to see if he wants to come to MI. Only thing is, there is not much as far as work here.
I have had jobs that I needed an extra hand, but no one seems to want to work for even $100 a day cash. Sigh And the job
would not be regular job. Going to think about whether or not I want to contact this person, but do know , just by watching
this video, he is one of the select few that I would be willing to help. He seems to be a down to earth person, just trying to
survive & it is what is inside a person and how they see life that makes the person believe and NOT give up.
~Judy in MI~ 25|3|Just another "Law" for the Government to Take away our "FREEDOM"|Mightymom7492|Mightymom74@att.net|15:47:14|03/20/2012|
I really sick of the government trying to take away our FREEDOM!