I'm siding with the city on this one. If these charities want to feed the homeless so bad, they can do it on their own property instead of disrupting my recreational enjoyment of a city park.
Arrests Renew Fight Over Feeding Homeless At Park
By SHERRI ACKERMAN and ANDY REID The Tampa Tribune
Published: Mar 30, 2004
TAMPA - The arrests of two young men who joined a group feeding the hungry in a downtown park have reignited debate about the city's attitude toward the homeless.
The attention comes on the heels of The Salvation Army quietly ending an evening feeding program in Tampa - and as activists, in Tallahassee today for Homeless Advocacy Day, fight legislation they say unfairly targets the homeless.
Mark Parrish went to Tampa's Massey Park on March 21 for a picnic-style gathering of Food Not Bombs, a group that promotes feeding the homeless. The 24-year-old Tampa man ended up arrested by city police on a trespassing charge.
``You can feed the pigeons in the park, but you can't feed the homeless,'' he said Monday. ``It's just not right.''
James Dunson, 19, of Lutz, was arrested with the same group on the same charge Sunday. He also was warned not to trespass for a full year on city park or recreation property for the purpose of feeding the homeless.
Dunson could not be reached for comment Monday.
Parrish said the group plans to challenge the law, ``especially now that we know people who are out there and need the food. I don't think I could stop.''
Mayor Pam Iorio said she got an e-mail from Police Chief Steven Hogue about the ``trouble in the park.''
Like other city parks, Massey doesn't have restrooms or facilities needed to host homeless feeding programs, Iorio said. ``It's not appropriate that our public parks be places of food distribution.''
The city requires groups to pay application and rental fees and acquire insurance to use a city park, with special events limited to three times a year. Rule violators are supposed to be warned once, the mayor said.
Police reports show Dunson was warned at least once.
The arrests were news to Rayme Nuckles, executive director of the Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County. He said he wished the group had contacted him for guidance, but he supports efforts to bring attention to the issue.
``It's always good that people challenge authority from some perspective,'' he said.
Nuckles is in Tallahassee supporting the statewide homeless coalition and helping to fight a proposed bill that would allow for people with more than five misdemeanor arrests to serve six to 12 months in jail.
Tampa drew criticism last fall when Iorio stepped up enforcement at parks. Opponents accused her of trying to run out the homeless. She argued she had a duty to make the city a place where everyone felt comfortable.
``The sad thing is, you have a city that has not designated anywhere to feed the homeless,'' said Kristin Taylor of THORN Ministries, which feeds thousands of people at five locations each week. ``Where should we go?''
Taylor's ministry serves meals mostly on private property owned by people committed to the cause. She has had run-ins with the city, but, she said, ``I'd rather work with the city and see that people get fed rather than fight them and go to jail.''
Programs that continue to feed the homeless include The Salvation Army, Metropolitan Ministries, Trinity Cafe, Faith Cafe and various churches. Some limit enrollment to those in long-term programs, though.
The Salvation Army shut its free evening food kitchen March 18, citing an annual loss of $200,000, said John Darby, the organization's human services director.
``I don't think anyone is going to starve to death on the streets of Tampa,'' Darby said. ``Are people going to miss a meal? Yes, and I wish to God we could prevent that.''
I can't believe somebody actually said this:
``The sad thing is, you have a city that has not designated anywhere to feed the homeless,'' said Kristin Taylor of THORN Ministries, which feeds thousands of people at five locations each week. ``Where should we go?''
Easy answer: serve food the same way other people serve food; at their own places of business, with licenses and permits. Don't put your charity above my interest. If you want to do a group feeding, clear it with the city and make sure the location has the facilities to handle the crowd. Charity runs and walks have to get permits and provide security and bathroom facilities; so do "concerts in the park" events. If you want to have a special event in a public park, you get a permit to do it. The city doesn't have any place for designated races, either. You can't just show up and stage a 5k run. You want to use public property, you get a permit for it first. Don't think your cause is more noble than any other.
