Philly Homeless People Are More "Dignified" If They're Hungry?
When I used to be a runner, I liked seeing the volunteers (I think they were volunteers, not from the city) who set up a table at the edge of the Santa Monica Palisades park to feed the homeless.
In Philadelphia, the city is going to start enforcing a ban on such outdoor feeding programs. Nice!
From CBSPhilly, Cherri Gregg writes:
Mayor Michael Nutter has said the ban will protect the dignity of the homeless, cleanliness of the parks, and eliminate food health concerns. But dozens of opponents testified at a City Council Committee hearing on Thursday, calling the Mayor's reasons for the ban misleading."These regulations are clearly designated not with the intent of protecting the health and dignity of the homeless, but are designed to tuck the homeless in a corner and pretend that the problem does not exist in our city," said Reverend Brian Jenkins of Chosen 300 Ministries.
For years, the group has held feedings for the homeless along the Ben Franklin Parkway.
"The people are the number one resources of this city, not the Barnes Museum," said Erike Younge, writer at the One Step Away, a newspaper which represents the voice of the city's homeless. "Feeding people and serving the needs of the people is a fundamental right. And to ban it or to oppose it and not to work to solve this problem is unconstitutional and inhumane."
via ifeminists
There will be no eating in the Potemkin Village.
Whatever is not mandated is prohibited.
That will be all.
AMartel at June 1, 2012 1:08 PM
The do-gooders on Skid Row, here in downtown LA, cause more problems than thye solve. Zglass bottle are weapons, scraps attract rats, people who try to store food get robbed--it's not as simple as it seems.
KateC at June 1, 2012 1:39 PM
Once the Philly government can answer yes to all of the above, I give them full permission to ban charities feeding the homeless.
Jim P. at June 1, 2012 8:47 PM
I wonder if 80% of the unsheltered homeless were women instead of men that anyone would have a problem feeding them.
Hell, you'd probably see nearly as many commercials to raise money to help them as you do for homeless pets. Cue Sarah Mclachlan!
Pat at June 1, 2012 8:56 PM
I see it more as another attack on religion. Making and passing inane regulations on charities, mainly religious based ones. Then when people say there are starving, the gov't will step in with new welfare programs and more state sponsored groups (and through sep of church and state) religious one will not be allowed.
Joe J at June 1, 2012 10:25 PM
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