Criminalizing Homelessness in America
by lizard
American cities continue to address homeless in really awful, inhumane ways. The arrest of a 90 year old for feeding the homeless has garnered international headlines. This from the BBC:
Arnold Abbott, a 90-year-old Florida man, has been called a hero for opposing new restrictions on feeding the homeless outdoors in Fort Lauderdale.
The new laws say that organisations wishing to feed the homeless must do so at designated feeding sites, or must provide portable restrooms and running water.
Abbott, who has fed the hungry at the beach on Wednesdays for eight years, refuses to comply.
I like Russell Brand’s take:
In Manteca, California, they’ve banned the homeless from sleeping outside. Yeah. From the link:
Last week, the city council of Manteca, CA unanimously passed two ordinances aimed at clearing out the homeless population.
One will ban people from sleeping or setting up encampments on any public or private property as of December 4, although the homeless won’t be jailed or fined. It will, however, allow the police to tear down any homeless sleeping areas as soon as they appear without having to be invited by the property owner, as was the case previously.
Explaining why the ordinance is necessary, Police Chief Nick Obligacion said, “The goal is actually to correct the wrong. So, if the correction is them leaving Manteca, then that’s their choice.” He also opposes any sort of shelter for the homeless.
Police Chief Nick Obligacion is an asshole.
If America really was a Christian nation, this wouldn’t be happening.
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November 13, 2014 at 10:08 am
It really has come to this — humanity all but lost, dignity never quite made it before suspending the Bill of Rights. Who isn’t a criminal in America?
Bozeman isn’t much better. One “warming center,” but you are booted out onto the streets early each morning. But, hey, we have military police and a Bearcat in the event the peons ever get uppity.
November 13, 2014 at 1:27 pm
“All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.”
November 13, 2014 at 1:32 pm
Denver was a much warmer climate, plush homeless shelters, and your EBT cards can be used to buy weed.
November 26, 2014 at 12:49 am
Russel Brand, really, and you want to be taken seriously….but I absolutely agree that the Florida twits messing with the old dude feeding people should be charged with a crime.