Ft. Lauderdale makes it illegal for homeless to sleep in downtown and to panhandle at intersections
26 replies, posted
[quote]A city in Florida already notorious for its treatment of the homeless is going a step further. Last week, the Ft. Lauderdale City Commission unanimously approved two separate measures that restrict basic survival necessities for many homeless people, including sleeping in public areas and asking others for money.
The first, Ordinance No. C-14-41, makes it illegal for anyone to sleep in public in the downtown area. According to commissioners, it was necessary because of Ft. Lauderdale’s interest in the “preservation of property values and the prevention of the deterioration in its downtown.”
The second measure, Ordinance No. C-14-38, cracks down on people who ask drivers for money at an intersection. Under the new law, panhandling is now illegal at “busy intersections,” which includes dozens of stops in the city. The measure won’t just apply to homeless people, but anyone trying to raise money for charity, including children. Commissioners justified the move by pointing to the fact that there were 154 pedestrians involved in traffic accidents last year. But notably absent from that statistic is how many of those accidents involved panhandlers.
According to the Sun Sentinel, violators of the new laws could face both a $500 fine and 60 days in jail.
Both measures passed by 5-0 votes, despite overwhelming testimony in opposition to the proposals. One local pastor, Craig Watts, cautioned commissioners against “laws that criminalize misfortune.” He called it “ethically dubious at best,” noting that the religious community opposed these measures.
Another individual who testified, Casey Cooper, told commissioners about his experiences being homeless over the past two-and-a-half years, noting that he “didn’t grow up in a wealthy middle class family like you did,” but instead grew up in foster care. He was never adopted, so when he turned 18, with no family, he found himself on the streets. “So if people like you who are banning me every night, I have to worry about where I’m going to sleep at, where’s the next meal at, how am I going to get the next piece of clothing, worry if the cops are going to mess with me, and you’re going to try to pass a law that’s [...] going to ban homelessness?” Cooper asked commissioners. “Sleep is a human right.”[/quote]
[url=http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2014/09/22/3570021/florida-city-criminalizes-homelessness/]ThinkProgress[/url]
Florida, you disappoint me sometimes.
What would they pay the five hundred dollar fine with?
[QUOTE=TheNerdPest14;46050507]Florida, you disappoint me sometimes.[/QUOTE]
Sometimes?
[QUOTE=Malos;46050512]Sometimes?[/QUOTE]
Not always. Sometimes, it makes me glad. Like that kid who fended off the gator.
Dumb. Florida. Morons.
Does Florida have homeless shelters for these people?
What the hell are they supposed to do? Make a job magically appear out of their ass?
[editline]22nd September 2014[/editline]
[QUOTE=Megadave;46050572]Dumb. Florida. Morons.[/QUOTE]
Let's. Use. Full. Stops. For. Dramatic. Effect.
that'll solve the problem.
[editline]22nd September 2014[/editline]
yep totally solving the problem
[editline]22nd September 2014[/editline]
btw, this isn't shocking or anything, there's tons of municipalities that have made it illegal to be homeless and panhandle
personally i think the penalty for being convicted of being homeless is being given a home (without bars on the doors) but that'll never happen here because people still equate homeless to laziness
[QUOTE=Kardia;46050574]Let's. Use. Full. Stops. For. Dramatic. Effect.[/QUOTE]
He was referencing this.
[IMG]https://i.imgur.com/1sTx4H7.png[/IMG]
[QUOTE=daschnek;46050669]He was referencing this.
[t]https://i.imgur.com/1sTx4H7.png[/t][/QUOTE]
I fucked up.
might as well have stopped the title at "Ft. Lauderdale makes it illegal to be homeless."
The way we treat the homeless in this country is sickening
Most of them are mentally ill or junkies that need to be taken off the street and put into rehab or some kind of facility that can give them proper care.
[QUOTE=Perfumly;46050755]The way we treat the homeless in this country is sickening
Most of them are mentally ill or junkies that need to be taken off the street and put into rehab or some kind of facility that can give them proper care.[/QUOTE]
A good amount of the mentally ill/addict ones are on the street because they refused rehab or some kind of facility that can give them proper care.
[QUOTE=asteroidrules;46050783]A good amount of the mentally ill/addict ones are on the street because they refused rehab or some kind of facility that can give them proper care.[/QUOTE]
Then there must be a better solution, still. The mentally ill aren't exactly in control of themselves.
Sometimes I like to think my state is half decent but then shit like this happens and I get depressed over the fact I live in Florida.
how is florida this fucked up, i don't get it
[QUOTE=Rofl_copter;46050922]how is florida this fucked up, i don't get it[/QUOTE]
Cuban saboteurs
Well you guys are giving Florida a bad rep on this post... like the weather is pretty awesome and you guys got some kickass beaches. Having so many babes on one beach should be illegal, not this shit!
[QUOTE=Madtoker;46051014]Well you guys are giving Florida a bad rep on this post... like the weather is pretty awesome and you guys got some kickass beaches. Having so many babes on one beach should be illegal, not this shit![/QUOTE]
This is what people think Florida is like
Would like to see the people rating this 'Winner' be put in the position of these homeless people and see if they'd still rate it the same
My family had been living there for a few years, and when I visited them for a college break, I never wanted to go back. It's a place that panders to rich people. Jobs are scarce, wages are low, and prices are high.
And compare to where I come from, everyone is rude.
The only thing my family liked about that place was the nightlife, which never ends.
[QUOTE=Madtoker;46051014]Well you guys are giving Florida a bad rep on this post... like the weather is pretty awesome and you guys got some kickass beaches. Having so many babes on one beach should be illegal, not this shit![/QUOTE]
There is a stark difference between tourist Florida and actual Florida
fort lauderdale sucks as a whole though.
up in tallahassee we've got a shelter and whatnot but wow that's just bad
The panhandling isnt a huge deal. Rarely enforced. The sleeping thing too. I doubt it'll be strictly enforced.
[QUOTE=Code3Response;46051197]The panhandling isnt a huge deal. Rarely enforced. The sleeping thing too. I doubt it'll be strictly enforced.[/QUOTE]
it's still a huge issue that it's on the books
Well the ban on panhandling at busy intersections is good because it reduces the chances of somebody getting hit by a car while trying to guilt everybody into giving them money. Something that happens all too often here in Florida.
The one homeless guy I see around here in Oviedo has the right idea: he panhandles outside of stores, hiding in places you won't see until he strikes.
Not putting a single person at risk that way.
[QUOTE=TheNerdPest14;46050507]What would they pay the five hundred dollar fine with?[/QUOTE]
Hard labor. That'll stop the miscreants!
Its sad that we can't find the money for more shelters and rehabilitation programs. It would actually help the economy in the long run to invest in the homeless. But of course long term investment is always the hardest to get support for.
Passing laws penalizing homeless behaviors is easy and free. Actually fixing homelessness costs money.
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