When Adele MacLean joined others in an Atlanta park to feed the hungry the Sunday before Thanksgiving, she left with a citation and a summons to appear in court.
The case was dropped when she showed up in court earlier this month, but she and her lawyers say the citation for serving food without a permit was improper and demonstrates callousness toward the homeless. The city and some advocates say feeding people on the streets can hinder long-term solutions and raises sanitation concerns.
“I’m still outraged this is happening,” MacLean said after her court appearance Dec. 14. “I’m concerned that the city, whenever they want to crack down on the homeless, they’re going to go after anyone that tries to help them.”
About 40 cities nationwide had active laws to restrict food sharing as of November 2014, and a few dozen more had attempted such restrictions, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless. Interim Director Megan Hustings said she doesn’t have updated numbers but that she’s heard about more cities considering such regulations.
More here
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Prisons are big business. We should bring back work houses and debtors farms and put these people to honest work and make money whist doing it.
ReplyDeleteSo.......It's not OK to feed the homeless in the streets.
ReplyDeleteBut those same people feel it's ok for the homeless to use the public streets as a restroom.
If you feed stray animals they never go away, and rely on you to feed them forever. Same goes for welfare families and the homeless.
ReplyDeleteYou are rather cold hearted Bud.
DeleteStay classy Georgia!
ReplyDeleteNo work, no eat! Plain and simple.
ReplyDeletePlenty of trash to pick up, mowing, raking, painting.