Don't Feed the Gators - or Homeless
Violators could be fined $300 for feeding homeless
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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 26: A homeless man panhandles October 26, 2009 in New York City. In a recently released report by the advocacy group Coalition for the Homeless it was revealed that the numbers of homeless people using New York City shelters each night has reached an all time high. Since Mayor Michael Bloomberg took office eight years ago there has been a 45 percent increase in shelter use with over 39,000 homeless people, including 10,000 homeless families, checking in to city shelters every evening. The group also said that 2009 has turned out to be 'the worst on record for New York City homelessness since the Great Depression. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Miami officials are trying to clean up downtown and get rid of the homeless people who congregate on busy streets and they figure the best way to do that is stop feeding them.
Better yet, they want to stop you from feeding them.
A proposed ordinance that could be discussed Thursday would make it illegal for any regular Joe to give a cup of Joe, sandwich or bag of chips to any homeless person in the downtown area.
You could be fined $300 if you are caught by the Good Samaritan police giving grub to the needy.
City officials claim the ordinance is in the best interest of the homeless because it protects them from getting contaminated food. It will also save the city time on litter clean up.
The idea seems a lot like the strategy animal control people use when trying to get rid of a nuisance alligator, bear or pack of raccoons.
Surprisingly, homeless advocacy groups are backing the ordinance, according to CBS4. Seems odd because most nonprofits are often asking for all the help they can get.
The ordinance does have a provision that would allow you to give away your lunch: become a trained specialist in dealing with the homeless. That would require formal training or state registration as a non-profit organization that works with the homeless.
That seems like an awful lot to do just to help someone in need. In a time where people need so much, Miami is making a little harder to give. Actually, illegal.
Posted Thursday, Mar 11, 2010 - 2:25 PM EST
