No More Homeless Feedings in 30 Days Says Nutter

**ArcticSplash** · 03-14-2012, 02:35 PM

Mayor Nutter moves to ban outdoor homeless feeding | 6abc.com

Cue the bitchings from the non-profits in 5...4...3...2...

**Gladys** · 03-14-2012, 03:04 PM

So apparently if you are having a picnic it's ok. so just have picnics for the homeless. This is ridiculous. Like when Guiliani wanted to close the shelters starting on Jan 1. the depth of winter. that went over really well.

If we can solve this - according to this guy... maybe he should come to philly and tutor our mayor.

Shaun Donovan - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - 03/05/12 - Video Clip | Comedy Central

**daveandrach** · 03-14-2012, 04:57 PM

Wanting to up the aesthetic quality of the Parkway is at least understandable. The city is making major moves with the Barnes et al to make this a more amenable destination in the city. The problem is with the discrimination inherent to the law. Even if your intent was to remove the homeless and the charities feeding them "out of a trunk of a car" (Bull****, btw, at least with the charities I know who serve dinners in Logan Circle.), I would be more amenable to a law that was less degrading/discriminatory/etc. like "The city requires permits for Food gatherings of over 15 people in the Parkway portion of Fairmount Park". You can't just say, Homeless people can't eat here. And then to further hide your whitewashing as being about the dignity and sanitary conditions? You've not only completely misunderstood what dignity looks like to someone who is homeless (the freedom and choice to dine wherever they want/can) but also demeans the many organizations who are serving with their hands and wallets.

**BenDee** · 03-14-2012, 05:18 PM

This move was a long time coming. I don't have an issue with feeding the homeless outside, but there is a reason Philly is known for a homeless problem - we not only do jack squat to keep them away from the tourist areas, we have a system that keeps them in tourist areas: Continually feeding the homeless in Logan Circle/City Hall is one, another is the soup kitchen across the street from the convention center! We won't shed this reputation if we continue allowing non-profits to feed the homeless in tourist areas, and this law goes a long way to doing just that.

**Tartan69** · 03-14-2012, 05:23 PM

Good on Mayor Nutter. I agree with BenDee...regardless of what you may or may not feel is the "right" thing to do, the fact is that having homeless constantly camp out along the parkway is BAD for the city.

**Gladys** · 03-14-2012, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by BenDee

This move was a long time coming. I don't have an issue with feeding the homeless outside, but there is a reason Philly is known for a homeless problem - we not only do jack squat to keep them away from the tourist areas, we have a system that keeps them in tourist areas: Continually feeding the homeless in Logan Circle/City Hall is one, another is the soup kitchen across the street from the convention center! We won't shed this reputation if we continue allowing non-profits to feed the homeless in tourist areas, and this law goes a long way to doing just that.

worry less about shedding the reputation and more about solving the problem. check the link i posted above. it's actually cheaper to help them get back on their feet and/or the medical care they need.

**Tartan69** · 03-14-2012, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by Gladys

worry less about shedding the reputation and more about solving the problem. check the link i posted above. it's actually cheaper to help them get back on their feet and/or the medical care they need.

The issue is not with the homeless that want help. There are PLENTY of resources for them. The issue is caused by the ones that don't want help and prefer to live on the street or the ones that are too crazy or lazy to improve their situation.

Continuing to take food to them on the parkway is not what helps them. Give a man a fish / teach a man to fish, right?

**Gladys** · 03-14-2012, 09:03 PM

hence the phrase mental health care. if they are mentally ill you can get them treatment.

there aren't plenty of places for hungry people to go though. i'm talking under employed, social security doesn't meet expenses, that sort of thing. it can happen to any of us.

**Shaky** · 03-14-2012, 09:16 PM

They do not want help, and they can' be forced to accept help. They will refuse anything but food, booze, or cash. If you try to talk to them about it they will become verbally and/or physically violent. According to current practice, they are entitled to sleep where they want, eat where they want, bathe where they want, defecate and urinate where they want without consequence no matter what there effect on the community.

Originally Posted by Gladys

hence the phrase mental health care. if they are mentally ill you can get them treatment.

there aren't plenty of places for hungry people to go though. i'm talking under employed, social security doesn't meet expenses, that sort of thing. it can happen to any of us.

**eldondre** · 03-14-2012, 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by Tartan69

Good on Mayor Nutter. I agree with BenDee...regardless of what you may or may not feel is the "right" thing to do, the fact is that having homeless constantly camp out along the parkway is BAD for the city.

right on, good for nutter. parks belong to kids, parents, and other adults not just self righteous suburban groups. nobody is stopping them from setting up "soup kitchens" like many other outfits to help the homeless. long overdue. maybe they'll ban pervs in libraries next

**Tartan69** · 03-14-2012, 11:57 PM

Originally Posted by Gladys

hence the phrase mental health care. if they are mentally ill you can get them treatment.

there aren't plenty of places for hungry people to go though. i'm talking under employed, social security doesn't meet expenses, that sort of thing. it can happen to any of us.

Well then instead of taking the food to them, set up a soup kitchen as Shaky mentioned and make them go to the food. These food van people think they are doing a good deed when in fact they are simply enablers that are making the problem WORSE.

**The Truth Hurts** · 03-15-2012, 07:57 AM

It's been an issue for many years, now all of the sudden they are able to pass this? No doubt the timing of the Barnes being opened is the reason. They have Sister Scullion on board, so I'm guessing Project Home will be receiving a nice donation at some point in the future.

**DocAwesome** · 03-15-2012, 09:12 AM

**Naveen** · 03-15-2012, 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by eldondre

right on, good for nutter. parks belong to kids, parents, and other adults not just self righteous suburban groups. nobody is stopping them from setting up "soup kitchens" like many other outfits to help the homeless. long overdue.

This.

Oh, and are these groups feeding the homeless really from the suburbs (I've seen that mentioned in a few places)?

**Hiki** · 03-15-2012, 10:09 AM

If someone is providing meals for people in public whose responsibility is it to check if there are homeless? Is the provider required to check for ID before providing them a meal? How are they to know if the ID is fake? I could see a new enterprise of providing all homeless people on the parkway fake ID's.

**Gladys** · 03-15-2012, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by Hiki

If someone is providing meals for people in public whose responsibility is it to check if there are homeless? Is the provider required to check for ID before providing them a meal? How are they to know if the ID is fake? I could see a new enterprise of providing all homeless people on the parkway fake ID's.

homeless is a misnomer. they aren't all homeless. hungry yes. i ran a soup kitchen for many years and people would be surprised who is in need.

**Hiki** · 03-15-2012, 10:51 AM

I have yet to actually read the exact language of the bill but from what they are reporting it bans feeding homeless. If I pull up my car and open my trunk and put a sign up that says "Free food for those wth homes" will it violate the ban?

**Ho Chi Minh** · 03-15-2012, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by Gladys

homeless is a misnomer. they aren't all homeless. hungry yes. i ran a soup kitchen for many years and people would be surprised who is in need.

Exactly. The people hanging around the Parkway are not some downtroddened souls. They are bums. That's it.

If some are suffering from mental issues, they should be institutionalized. You can't say someone is too crazy to function in society yet it's ok for them to live on the street.

**Gladys** · 03-15-2012, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by Ho Chi Minh

Exactly. The people hanging around the Parkway are not some downtroddened souls. They are bums. That's it.

If some are suffering from mental issues, they should be institutionalized. You can't say someone is too crazy to function in society yet it's ok for them to live on the street.

no that's not what i'm saying.

I'm saying you don't have to be homeless or a "bum" to be hungry. A surprising number of hungry people are not homeless. the last week before your social security or disability check can be devastating and some people simply aren't employed enough. I've seen men in suits regularly need a meal. They were a bit thread bare but took care of themselves. You really need to open your mind a bit to the real issue, it's not just one huge stereotype.

Right now i'm talking about hungry not homeless. the two are not always intertwined.

the issue is a lot more complicated than one general term can manage. In regards to your other point, people with mental illness should have access to treatment just as any other illness.

**InYourVacancies** · 03-15-2012, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by Ho Chi Minh

If some are suffering from mental issues, they should be institutionalized.

Then ask the state why they shut the majority of them down. There's a reason that the largest mental health treatment center in the country is the L.A. County Jail.