No More Homeless Feedings in 30 Days Says Nutter

[BarryG]

Would it legal for the city to require a permit to do the outdoor feeding? Then strictly enforce that they keep the area clean and orderly or they lose the permit.

I don't understand going into court and arguing about "dignity." What does that have to do with whether something is legal or not?

[eldondre]

Would it legal for the city to require a permit to do the outdoor feeding? Then strictly enforce that they keep the area clean and orderly or they lose the permit.

I don't understand going into court and arguing about "dignity." What does that have to do with whether something is legal or not?

it's probably not the feeding itself but the loitering long afterwards. do people like bringing their children to a park full of homeless who may be mentally ill?

[DCnPhilly]

I used to have a sociology professor (from Toronto, btw) who said that it's easier to name famous Bostonians throughout history than it is to name famous Philadelphians, because New England's Calvinism urged individual perfection while Quakerism encouraged fitting in with the crowd and (his words) "reaching for the Bronze medal." He was making off-the-cuff remarks at the beginning of a lecture, but I still hope it didn't prejudice me for good before I even came here.

I don't think that's necessarily to blame in this case, even if it is true. If only the city had held up its end of the bargain it had made with the churchies, we wouldn't be hearing about this problem any more. Feeding the homeless is too serious an issue to be dicking around like they have. Nutter's office needs to realize that when you're negotiating with religious zealots and drama queens, you need to bring extra-shiny bargaining chips; they can't just say "HAHA F*CK YOU" and expect them to go away.

That's funny about your professor. I had a roommate who used to say, "Philadelphia: Striving for mediocrity."

I don't know if its as unique to Philly so much as its unique to cities with rents low enough to house unemployed do gooders. New York got too expensive for idealists.

[thoth]

I used to have a sociology professor (from Toronto, btw) who said that it's easier to name famous Bostonians throughout history than it is to name famous Philadelphians, because New England's Calvinism urged individual perfection while Quakerism encouraged fitting in with the crowd and (his words) "reaching for the Bronze medal." He was making off-the-cuff remarks at the beginning of a lecture, but I still hope it didn't prejudice me for good before I even came here.

In addition to personal perfection, Calvinism also apparently inspired covert racism, jerky sports fans, and importing lots of drunken Irish people to work in mills.

Hmmm, looks like Quakerism did, too.

I would have an equally hard time naming famous Bostonians or Philadelphians throughout popular history. Oh except one: world ****ing champion PHILADELPHIAN BEN E. FRANKLIN. So what if he was born in Boston? He is more closely associated with our city than, I would say, any other historic figure is associated with any other American city.

[RainboTeabagger]

In addition to personal perfection, Calvinism also apparently inspired covert racism, jerky sports fans, and importing lots of drunken Irish people to work in mills.

Hmmm, looks like Quakerism did, too.

I would have an equally hard time naming famous Bostonians or Philadelphians throughout popular history. Oh except one: world ****ing champion PHILADELPHIAN BEN E. FRANKLIN. So what if he was born in Boston? He is more closely associated with our city than, I would say, any other historic figure is associated with any other American city.

Ben Franklin loathed Boston. He couldn't wait till leave when he was still in puberty.

[Naveen]

it's probably not the feeding itself but the loitering long afterwards. do people like bringing their children to a park full of homeless who may be mentally ill?

I don't know a lot about this issue so maybe it's been covered before, but why do these organizations put so much importance on doing the feedings in the Parkway? Is it because it's already a homeless haven? Or is there some idea of doing this in the most visible area so as to draw attention?

[BarryG]

I don't know a lot about this issue so maybe it's been covered before, but why do these organizations put so much importance on doing the feedings in the Parkway? Is it because it's already a homeless haven? Or is there some idea of doing this in the most visible area so as to draw attention?

It's the latter. They claim it's because it's where the homeless are, and the judge apparently bought that... but the reason they are there is because that is where the feedings are.

[mixiboi]

Its funny tho, one of the groups used to do it in North Philly...until something happen and they stopped....Yet they still use that name:

https://www.facebook.com/NPFNB

Not the A in their logo isn't a mistake....and here is the national site that has all what you need to start your own way to feed the homeless on the streets...

SEVEN STEPS TO STARTING A FOOD NOT BOMBS GROUP

[DCnPhilly]

I don't know a lot about this issue so maybe it's been covered before, but why do these organizations put so much importance on doing the feedings in the Parkway? Is it because it's already a homeless haven? Or is there some idea of doing this in the most visible area so as to draw attention?

It's a group called Food Not Bombs, and they use the homeless as a way to draw attention to loosly related anarchist causes in a highly visible area. I'm not even making that up. They say so on their website.

[mixiboi]

Mayor Nutter's Homeless Feeding Plan Does Not Make Philly Better | The Philly Post

In my mind, homelessness and hunger are public issues, and we shouldn’t hide them away. These problems belong in the open, among us, because they are ours—and seeing our people feeding those among us who need feeding adds to rather than detracts from the miracle that is Sister Cities … and the entire Parkway for that matter. I hope we don’t squash it.

[BarryG]

Mayor Nutter's Homeless Feeding Plan Does Not Make Philly Better | The Philly Post

In my mind, homelessness and hunger are public issues, and we shouldn’t hide them away. These problems belong in the open, among us, because they are ours—and seeing our people feeding those among us who need feeding adds to rather than detracts from the miracle that is Sister Cities … and the entire Parkway for that matter. I hope we don’t squash it.

Ok, let's create a Hamsterdam on the Parkway too, drug use and prostitution should be allowed to go on. These are public issues, why hide them away in Kensington and other struggling neighborhoods? Illegal dumping is a public problem all over the city too--don't enforce the anti-dumping laws on the Parkway. It may seem counterintuitive but this may actually improve Sister Cities park and our tourism industry.

[mixiboi]

People will always try and find a feel good way to feel good..without lifting a hand to do something good...

[Volanova]

Mayor Nutter's Homeless Feeding Plan Does Not Make Philly Better | The Philly Post

Paraphrased: "I'm proud of the fact that the city encourages those who use the homeless as a banner for their so-called good deeds, even when they're not actually providing any sort of long term assistance. It's great that they're keeping them out of shelters where they can receive real psychological, physical and professional assistance."

These people really need to get off their high horse and spend their efforts in trying to fix the broken system that allowed those who truly need help to stay on the streets.

[DCnPhilly]

All that the city, church, and organized private organizations do for the homeless also deserve to be in the open and this "organization" IS NOT IT. Somehow this group has admitted to using the homeless as pawns and our guilt ridden do gooders refuse to listen to their own words at the expense OF THE HOMELESS. It's unbelievable that this is still being discussed.