Fort Lauderdale Business Owners: We Back the City on Homeless Feeding Regulations

Obviously, feeding the homeless is easy to gather support for, but what folks from around the country don't understand is that outside feedings cause all kinds of real problems for neighbors (residential and business). Most of the people who feed the homeless don't live anywhere near the feeding sites. What happens when you feed the homeless is they pee, poop, drink, do drugs, fight, harass people (especially women), engage in crime in close proximity to these sites.

People with a lot more brain power than you have already decided; It's unconstitutional.

Again, an example of someone who doesn't want to be bothered to see what real poverty looks like. God forbid you teach children empathy! The systematic dehumanization of the poor, making them disappear, and punishing those who help them is obviously the solution.

Why is it that the rights of the homeless who have decided not to contribute to society in way are more important than the rights of businesses or contributing citizens. The homeless people most affected by these new rules are not the suddenly homeless family who lost their job then their home, they are the chronically homeless who make a choice to not go to the shelters, not contribute and not abide by rules or laws. Some are mentally ill while others are addicted to drugs, alcohol, or maybe even the lifestyle of not being responsible for yourself in any way. Their rights should not intrude on others lives.

I'm not sure why you think only the rich and tourists use the parks, but I live in a neighborhood where there is a lot of crime. It's what I can afford. My grandchildren can't safely roam the neighborhood or walk over to a friend's house. With magnet schools most of their friends don't live near us anyway. That leaves us with parks and the beach as the only affordable place to get fresh air and exercise. But do you want to take small children to a place where they may see people using the bushes for toilets or explain why the playground smells like urine or worse. Or even have to explain why we recycle and use trash bins but the adults in the park don't.

While geography has nothing to do with the ethical treatment of human beings, I'll bite. I grew up in Fort Lauderdale, lived in Sailboat Bend for five years, worked downtown, then moved to Wilton Manors before recently relocating to Miami for work. #gotme #respondingtoinanelogicalfallacies

It's not unconstitutional to implement sanitation rules. Just like restaurants. Use your head.

Really Erica? Where do you live? I have a thousand dollars says it's not in downtown. Pretty easy to make hauty judgements when people aren't taking a shit in your bushes when you walk out your front door. Fuck you ;)

There is no reason to not back this rule -- feedings can take place, just not in place where there create another problem --- and the problem is that part of this group of homeless people are mentally ill, smell like urine, are on drugs, are drunk - and again are mentally ill. You do not have to be "rich" to upset when feeding locations are selected intentionally to cause the most disruption to others. If that is what you back - so be it. You are part of another problem. Feeding is allowed indoors where the homeless can wash their hands and go to the bathroom. Really not so evil Fort Lauderdale does not round up the homeless - there is a homeless camp across the street from City Hall and has been for months. We as citizens have a right to control situations to minimize the negative impact - while still helping others.

The point of this new ordinance, and its enforcement, is to feed these people in a proper venue. The beach and parks should not be used for this purpose. Why is it so hard to understand that if you really want to help these people have them come to where they can not only eat, but where they can use bathrooms, get clothing, counseling and referrals to places where they can get additional help. Why feed them in a park downtown where they then must urinate and deficate outdoors on public property or outside of businesses? Why encourage them to gather in numbers, where many of them end up drunk and unruly, thus making the parks unsafe for children and families and driving customers away from businesses? The unwillingness to feed these people at a church or community center is nothing but stubborn grandstanding. This whole situation has been blown way out of proportion . . . and made at least one old man an international hero in the process.

"Because feeding the homeless should never be a crime!"

https://www.causes.com/feedme

About time. This law was what the business and the people of the city wanted. and if the current people in charge didn't do nothing. Then they'd just vote in someone in who would. Im glad to see the business finally speak up about this because in essence, they are the ones who asked for it. Now its time for the residences to speak out like they do at the meetings. KUDOS again to the new times for posting this, unlike all the other media outlets posting unfair, one sided article just to manipulate the people, as I've been seeing a lot of lately.

I like to poop on grass sometimes...

Aren't there already laws in place that cover littering and public urination? Yes feeding the homeless may only be a band aid but sometimes the bleeding needs to be stopped until you get stitches.

And these euro trash/nouveau riche scum aren't even from Florida.

cc Nathan, Haylee & Nik #FNB

The Riverside Market, y u lie?

Eat the rich.

That's fine and dandy that they want it and all...but it's unconstitutional. the precedent was set in Philadelphia by U.S. District Judge William Yohn. People would love to legislate others into corners, but they can't in this country, because individuals have rights. This law is a violation of the first amendment. Go read the case yourself if you don't believe me. Restaurant owners in Philadelphia took the same position those you cite in the article do. Fortunately for Individual rights, I have as much right to the city as the business does. Don't even try to steal our rights under the guise of civility.

"My family and I want to walk through the park" is code for rich people who don't want to be bothered to look at real humans suffering from real poverty.

to claim that food not bombs threatened anyone is insulting. are there any supporters of the sharing ban who are not pathological liars and think that the way to deal with homeless people is to call the cops on them? pathetic.