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Orlando Florida declares feeding the homeless a crime, arrests advocates Glenn Wright
Orlando, Florida recently passed a law limiting the number of times charitable groups will be allowed to feed the homeless in popular city parks contained within what is known as the Greater Downtown Park District. Food Not Bombs, an international political action group, which has fed the homeless for years in Lake Eola Park, described by Orlando as its “crown jewel” park, lost a legal challenge to the feeding law in April. A federal district court found the law did not unconstitutionally restrict the group’s ability to express its political opinion by feeding hungry people. Food Not Bombs members have subsequently declared their intention to disobey the law and continue to feed the homeless as they have in the past. In the last week, several of the group’s members have been arrested by Orlando police. One group organizer, Benjamin Markeson, pointed out: “We’re out there week after week sharing food with poor and hungry people to send a political message about our opposition to poverty and inequality in our community…and I think it’s time for the administration of Mayor Buddy Dyer (D) got serious about doing something about poverty in our community.” Mayor Dyer recently applauded the implementation of the Orlando’s new “donation station” meters in downtown Orlando, which were provided, Dyer was quoted as saying, to give “people an alternative opportunity to contribute”. The “alternative” Dyer mentions is to contributing money to panhandlers downtown. The money collected in the homeless meters will not go directly to homeless people, however, but will be given to The Central Florida Commission on Homelessness, a group established almost ten years ago, whose mission is to “end homelessness in Central Florida in a decade”. The website for the group says “The Central Florida Commission on Homelessness has established committees and workgroups.”
Court-ordered charity principles fundamentals at COSAC He’s not just using his time constructively to work and put Community service which serves Johnny McCorhis life back together with a job in a homeless shelter, but he’s mick Homeless Shelter gives David Goldberg, who helping to put other lives back together, too. had a domestic violence problem, a chance to rebuild. “I’d never raise my hand to anyone again,” said David. Using Doing his community service in a way that gives honsuch reflection to see others’ future in a homeless shelter, he our to his Jewish roots, cafeteria worker David Goldsaid, “There, but for the grace of God, go I,” He says courtberg laughs when asked the age- old punch-line, “and ordered community service has taught him. what’s a nice Jewish boy like you doing in a place like The shelter is housed in a former “flophouse,” turned from a this?” In a shelter known for its Catholic origin. neighborhood eyesore into a place from which the otherwise University of Florida grad, otherwise-employed 31 unemployable can be productive. The entire block was a lot year old Goldberg, put his time and effort now into less to the city and the county over a dozen years ago. something constructive. But just like the changes in community servants such as Da80-100 hours in 2-hour allotments by Judge Geoffrey vid Goldberg, the shelter has given some showing to the comCohen gave David a chance to munity. redeem his being sorry for a The decrease of empty storefronts on domestic violence charge. In- Using such reflection to see others’ Federal Highway and new construcstead of losing time from his future in a homeless shelter, he tion taking place could be metaphors life, in a cell, Goldberg says, both the David Goldbergs persaid, “There, but for the grace of for “I (here) feel a sense of ‘mitzforming mitzvahs and the homeless. God, go I,” vot.’” A difficult word to limit Just as the legal system was once alfrom the Hebrew, it’s literally lowed to ignore the David Goldbergs, “commandment,” but used also to mean: the blessing the homeless and what Gentile scripture calls “the least of of doing a right thing which pleases our Creator. these, my brethren,” today there’s a very much different apGoldberg continues, “I’m sorry for what I did; anger proach. management counseling and doing this service for the The trial of O.J. Simpson showed that domestic violence can’t community help.” be ignored, but the O.J. Simpson trial also showed that affirmaAlthough “faith” is a popular Gentile word, “Emutive action was the least that the legal system must do. Not just nah” is the Hebrew from which it comes. Goldberg’s for the women who often were the targets of such violence, emunah came in part from the rabbi who prepared but for the men who had to learn to live in a society without him for Bar Mitzvah (a Jewish 13 year olds “confirviolence at home. For families to live in safety. Instead of remation.”) He goes to the Jewish community center turning the David Goldbergs to society as convicted felons, the for the celebration of the 10 high holy days. community service mode gives an opportunity for the offender Contributed by James Batic (Israpost)
to use community service as a way to return to the community, as much so as for the sheltered homeless. This is at least one more large reason for the community to see the shelters and their residents as much an asset as the David Goldbergs become when they return to their business/professional occupations. “If I successfully complete this, I won’t be adjudicated, so I might want to go to medical school,” he says. He’d certainly be a more responsive member of society. The mistakes which got him to the Johnny McCormick Shelter are different ones, but not that unimaginable to see amongst the homeless. The major differences between the David Goldbergs and the persons to whom he serves food seems to be just in the difference of the mistakes they make. David Goldberg’s mistakes could’ve seriously hurt someone else; the average homeless can seriously hurt themselves. But society doesn’t benefit by either loss, does it?
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