Arrested for feeding homeless people

[Vod]

Arnold Abbott handed out four plates of food to homeless people in a South Florida park. Then police stopped the 90-year-old from serving up another bite.
"An officer said, 'Drop that plate right now -- like I had a weapon,'" Abbott said.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/04/justice/florida-feeding-homeless-charges/index.html

I can see their point... if you keep feeding the problem, it will never go away.

Give a man a fish...

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[freedomno1]

Cop shouldn't be harassing a 90 year old mans actions "Jail won't work )
Not like he has anything else to do but give food to homeless people.
Then again who creates a law that bans public food ordnance that's like saying we ban giving out meals lets give them some money so they can get alcohol and knocked up instead.

But Abbott, who has been helping feed homeless people in the area through his Love Thy Neighbor nonprofit since 1991, said authorities are targeting the city's most vulnerable residents.
"These are the poorest of the poor. They have nothing. They don't have a roof over their head," he said. "Who can turn them away?"

Well damn hes already been doing it for 23 years law's can be a real B***h though.

In 1999 he sued the city for banning him from feeding homeless people on the beach -- and won, according to WPLG.
He said the threat of charges won't stop him from doing it again.
"I'm not afraid of jail. I'm not looking to go, but if I have to, I will," he said.

On Wednesday, Abbott said he'll be at Fort Lauderdale Beach, ready to serve another meal.

(Wonder if the cops arrested him today though)

[Weezelone]

I commend the guy for doing this good deed for over 2 decades. And at the old age of 90 I'm surprised he's still getting trouble from the law at this stage in his life. Guess that's what you get for helping the homeless...

[Fabrizio89]

I can see their point... if you keep feeding the problem, it will never go away.

Give a man a fish...

Yes, I agree with you to a certain extent. But when the system cannot provide for people, who should do so if not others? This is really scary, they are basically saying you cannot help people that cannot survive on their own. They surely won't start a riot because no one would follow homeless people, so they are not a danger. They are worth less than animals in a zoo, because at least those produce a revenue. I'm sure we'll see concentration camps open again one day, and homeless people won't be the only ones to go there.

[handsomestofall]

I can see their point... if you keep feeding the problem, it will never go away.

Give a man a fish...

...They are worth less than animals in a zoo, because at least those produce a revenue. I'm sure we'll see concentration camps open again one day, and homeless people won't be the only ones to go there.

Agreed.
But that's the country we live in. It's mostly about the greenback and the GREED. If you can't get enough
of the $$$, you must utilize your police force and military. When there's a will, there's a way.

HOA

[Vod]

This is really scary, they are basically saying you cannot help people that cannot survive on their own.

How do you know these people cannot survive on their own?  What if they are just lazy, like dank?  If a city has provided services to a person for a couple years and they are able to work but unwilling, why should the city keep paying for those services?

[Divinespark]

That's really shocking. What's the world coming to, I wonder?

[Tstar]

That's really shocking. What's the world coming to, I wonder?

they should award that guy who was giving food to peoples
but looks like they don't want to see hungry people getting food

[madken7777]

I can see their point... if you keep feeding the problem, it will never go away.

Give a man a fish...

Yes, I agree with you to a certain extent. But when the system cannot provide for people, who should do so if not others? This is really scary, they are basically saying you cannot help people that cannot survive on their own. They surely won't start a riot because no one would follow homeless people, so they are not a danger. They are worth less than animals in a zoo, because at least those produce a revenue. I'm sure we'll see concentration camps open again one day, and homeless people won't be the only ones to go there.

Economic depression isn't exactly a fault for the common man.

Kicking people when they are down doesn't solve the fundamental issue.

[newflesh]

Looks like compassion is anti-american...

The 'problem' will go away when the homeless people die of starvation, meanwhile the 1%ers will find more loopholes to avoid paying tax.

[Namby Pamby]

It's ridiculous that someone got arrested for helping another...doesn't matter if you keep feeding them the problem witll always be there....we are always going to have homeless because of the forever rising prices....for arresting a man for doing a good thing which is just in the morals of humans is just sad people will be scared of helping each other in the future and that will be a very bad day.

[Cleave]

I should imagine some people do this to exploit others....but that doesn't mean you should get disciplined for it....if anything they should investigate and get rid of the people who are exploiting.

[Elwar]

They have signs up to not feed the bears/wildlife/pigeons...

[jaysabi]

This is really scary, they are basically saying you cannot help people that cannot survive on their own.

How do you know these people cannot survive on their own?  What if they are just lazy, like dank?  If a city has provided services to a person for a couple years and they are able to work but unwilling, why should the city keep paying for those services?

IF that were the case that they're just lazy, let them be lazy. Doesn't justify the law. Don't criminalize charity, it's just needless regulation.

[u9y42]

How do you know these people cannot survive on their own?  What if they are just lazy, like dank?  If a city has provided services to a person for a couple years and they are able to work but unwilling, why should the city keep paying for those services?

IF that were the case that they're just lazy, let them be lazy. Doesn't justify the law. Don't criminalize charity, it's just needless regulation.

You know the saying: no good deed goes unpunished.

The idea that someone might care, or want to help others is a dangerous one, after all...

[awesome31312]

No this is wrong

Obviously the government is right

[spazzdla]

Arnold Abbott handed out four plates of food to homeless people in a South Florida park. Then police stopped the 90-year-old from serving up another bite.
"An officer said, 'Drop that plate right now -- like I had a weapon,'" Abbott said.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/04/justice/florida-feeding-homeless-charges/index.html

I can see their point... if you keep feeding the problem, it will never go away.

Give a man a fish...

EXCEPT you need a city issued permit, you can only fish in certian areas, you can only fish at certian times and you can only catch a certian amount.

Odds are that man would die.

[Gumbork]

This is really scary, they are basically saying you cannot help people that cannot survive on their own.

How do you know these people cannot survive on their own?  What if they are just lazy, like dank?  If a city has provided services to a person for a couple years and they are able to work but unwilling, why should the city keep paying for those services?

I agree 100%. If you continue to feed the homeless then they will have no incentive to improve their lives and get a job, ect.

I think the rational behind the law is actually due to health code concerns though

[Sindelar1938]

He was an old man who did what he thought was right to help the needy
Yes incenting folks to work is important but cannot be expected of an old guy
The reaction was shocking nevertheless

[TaunSew]

People had incentive to work but then we had stagflation and inflation.  Minimum wage in the United States is no longer adequate for a decent lifestyle and this removing a lot of incentive to work when entitlements and handouts (and undeclared income) are worth more.



Minimum wage in Florida is a bit under $8 and thus a lot of people there are only making $8.50-$10 a hour.   Florida has long been a tourism and retirement economy where most of the work is part time and/or seasonal.  


So working (to make a rich person richer) would only pay for a room in somebody's basement and that would require like 100 hours of pre-tax work each month for this hypothetical low income person.


People say these minimum wage jobs are a step to something better but I'm not honestly seeing it.  I remember the 1990s when you did see teenagers working at McDonalds but nowadays I see a lot of aged (50+ year old) people working in fast food and other low income positions.