FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - It was another round of citations and arrests from Fort Lauderdale police who broke up a homeless feeding at Stranahan Park. A 17-year-old, 25-year old Nikki Rye and a third person were among those with “Food Not Bombs” in trouble with authorities…. “I was laughing. I thought you know this is a sick joke,” said the 17-year-old minor who was cuffed and taken away. “They can’t stop us from feeding people.”…. Officials said the group violated Fort Lauderdale’s new city ordinance that places strict restrictions on where and how groups can feed the homeless. Before these young people though, 90-year-old humanitarian and longtime volunteer Arnold Abbott made national headlines after he was cited twice for feeding.
I can think of few things that say “epic lack of compassion” than arresting people for the heinous crime of…wait for it…feeding the homeless. Not only does Ft. Lauderdale fail the “What if God was one of us?” test, it sends exactly the wrong message. Granted, I know nothing of the scope and degree of the homeless problem in Ft. Lauderdale…but why would you think it appropriate to harass and arrest people whose only “crime” is showing kindness to the down and out? If you believe that homelessness in Ft. Lauderdale has reached crisis proportions, why aren’t you doing something to address the problem…instead of criminalizing those who are?
Along with cities that have passed ordinances prohibiting the homeless from sleeping outdoors, I suppose criminalizing feeding them is the next logical step. Why should a city address homelessness with kindness and compassion when they can force them out of town and onto another jurisdiction’s doorstep?
Making matters even worse is that Ft. Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler is defending the ordinance prohibiting feeding the homeless…because it’s all about health and safety, don’tchaknow?
Beyond that, is arresting people feeding the homeless REALLY the best use of police resources?
Innovative Leadership Key to Addressing Homelessness
Let’s set the record straight.
Contrary to reports, the city of Fort Lauderdale is not banning groups from feeding the homeless. We have established an outdoor food distribution ordinance to ensure the health, safety and welfare of our community. The ordinance does not prohibit feeding the homeless; it regulates the activity in order to ensure it is carried out in an appropriate, organized, clean and healthy manner.
While the ordinance regulates outdoor food distribution, it permits indoor food distribution to take place at houses of worship throughout the city. By allowing houses of worship to conduct this activity, the city is actually increasing the number of locations where the homeless can properly receive this service.
Let’s assume for a nanosecond that this statement is actually a reflection of reality. WHY would Ft. Lauderdale risk arresting those feeding the homeless (particularly a 90-year man)? Why take that sort of extreme, authoritarian action knowing the virtually guaranteed PR nightmare that would follow? I find it astonishing that Ft. Lauderdale would risk looking like the capitol of compassion-free self-interest, but when you hate the homeless Just. That. Much….
I get that cities are frustrated as growing homeless populations tax their abilities and resources…but that’s not an excuse for demonizing the homeless and those who attempt to care for them. Instead of catering to local business interests and others who find the homeless to be inconvenient and unseemly, how about working to find a solution that meets the needs of all parties? That Ft. Lauderdale chose not to do this leaves the impression that local government just wants to push the problem off on another jurisdiction.
What’s next? Forcibly rounding up the homeless, marching them to the bus station, and handing them one-way tickets out of town?
It’s What Jesus Would Do.
