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WorseBeforeBetter

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100. "Raleigh mayor pledges to find solution after police stop charities from feeding homeless"

Sun Aug 25, 2013, 08:54 PM

Aug 2013

By Andrea Weigl — aweigl@newsobserver.com

RALEIGH — The mayor and a city councilwoman pledged Sunday to find a solution after police barred charitable groups from feeding the homeless in downtown Raleigh’s Moore Square during the weekend. In the last month or so, police have been telling these volunteers to pack up their buffet tables, slow cookers and coolers or face being arrested. A city ordinance prohibits individuals or groups from distributing food in city parks without a permit.

Mayor Nancy McFarlane and City Council member Mary-Ann Baldwin said Sunday afternoon that a council committee will address the matter this week and that city leaders had not been involved in the decision to end the weekend food distribution.

....

“Raleigh is a progressive city that believes in the values of each of its citizens,” McFarlane said. “We are so fortunate to have dedicated citizens that want to reach out to those in need. We will be taking this issue into the Law and Public Safety Committee immediately to bring all the partners together for a transparent discussion to work out a plan to address the questions surrounding this issue.”

....

Baldwin, who chairs that committee, said Sunday: “I feel horrible that this happened. I want to find a solution that is collaborative so that we’re doing the smart thing as well as the right thing.”

http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/08/25/3135843/police-stop-charities-feeding.html#storylink=cpy

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Highlight:

Feeding Homeless Apparently Illegal in Raleigh, NC (w/MAJOR update at 4:43 PM) [View all] OneGrassRoot Aug 2013 OP

That is just despicable. It hurts to read these, but will never stop. Mnemosyne Aug 2013 #1

It's bad enough the being poor is a crime in our country, now helping the poor can get you arrested Heather MC Aug 2013 #32

That would have been an excellent decision. WTF is wrong with this country? nt Mnemosyne Aug 2013 #37

Also from the article... theHandpuppet Aug 2013 #2

thx--I'm nearby and will post to FB ASAP n/t zazen Aug 2013 #4

Yes, thank you. I hoped people would read to the end... OneGrassRoot Aug 2013 #6

Happy to help. theHandpuppet Aug 2013 #7

Thank you, Handpuppet! Will be calling these 'people' tomorrow. nt Mnemosyne Aug 2013 #38

holy crap! I hope the local news will have the guts to cover this zazen Aug 2013 #3

I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did... Synthesize Aug 2013 #5

Why? theHandpuppet Aug 2013 #8

I would have thought that the police and city... Synthesize Aug 2013 #10

Picking up a sandwich and a cup of coffee? theHandpuppet Aug 2013 #12

Who said anything about threat? Synthesize Aug 2013 #13

You talk about them as if they were cockroaches theHandpuppet Aug 2013 #14

Who, the business owners? oldhippie Aug 2013 #26

We'll see. theHandpuppet Aug 2013 #35

You're jumping off half-cocked. That poster said no such things. TransitJohn Aug 2013 #34

You have a nice day, too. theHandpuppet Aug 2013 #36

It's getting to the point... malthaussen Aug 2013 #42

There are many ways the poster could have made his or her point... theHandpuppet Aug 2013 #54

It would have been clearer if he had put the phrase in quotation marks. malthaussen Aug 2013 #58

I agree that use of the word "handout" is a poor choice of words. But especially totodeinhere Aug 2013 #63

Note to self ..... oldhippie Aug 2013 #69

Yes you do have to watch out for the word police around here. totodeinhere Aug 2013 #72

Yep...I was just about to get a bunch of us, find the poster, take him/her out back and shoot them BlueJazz Aug 2013 #84

It's a literal definition... Synthesize Aug 2013 #64

Actually opposition from business owners is very common in a lot of areas. totodeinhere Aug 2013 #45

Some businesa owners may see them as cockroaches TroglodyteScholar Aug 2013 #47

Why in the world would you call these homeless people cockroaches? Bay Boy Aug 2013 #91

I think it's rather curious and sad, really... theHandpuppet Aug 2013 #98

This happens in New York City every day of the week marions ghost Aug 2013 #22

Sadly Raleigh is not the only jurisdiction that has passed anti-homelsss laws. totodeinhere Aug 2013 #49

"People are tired of compassion." marions ghost Aug 2013 #71

Bet you can feed the squirrels in Raleigh. SummerSnow Aug 2013 #9

If arrested, what charges would be filed? Scuba Aug 2013 #11

Yes, ...that's my question. Is there a specific law against doing this? meti57b Aug 2013 #29

Everyone should know to ask the arresting officer: malthaussen Aug 2013 #43

You need a food license. former9thward Aug 2013 #60

Yeah, the blog doesn't indicate if they had one leftstreet Aug 2013 #76

Usually it is health/sanitation ..... oldhippie Aug 2013 #70

Our consumer culture allows Best Buy to line people up on Black Friday Babel_17 Aug 2013 #15

Only one true culprit... TRoN33 Aug 2013 #16

Doing everything? atreides1 Aug 2013 #80

I wonder if there is anyone willing to be arrested for feeding the homeless there? Dustlawyer Aug 2013 #17

The officer was explaining that he was not forbidding the free exercise of religious charity kenny blankenship Aug 2013 #18

Things like this are happening all over. Lady Freedom Returns Aug 2013 #19

Just out of curiosity, what would they charge you with in Springfield or Joplin, MO if HardTimes99 Aug 2013 #50

Well in Springfield, I think it was said to be $100 dollars to the one giving help. Lady Freedom Returns Aug 2013 #62

I was curious as to what statute (law) those being cited were being charged under, as it seems HardTimes99 Aug 2013 #85

If the churches intrude on government business they should lose tax exempt status. Nuclear Unicorn Aug 2013 #20

So it's come down to this. The powerful/corporations beat the public down into the gutter then... BlueJazz Aug 2013 #21

I'll bet the local Chamber of Commerce... theHandpuppet Aug 2013 #39

I remember my Uncle telling me. >> BlueJazz Aug 2013 #82

Ha-ha! Good advice theHandpuppet Aug 2013 #97

shameful just shameful ...nt littlewolf Aug 2013 #23

not much more to be said about the Raleigh Police Supersedeas Aug 2013 #57

I am no fan of the police that act out littlewolf Aug 2013 #81

It is both illegal to be poor, and illegal to help the poor gollygee Aug 2013 #24

They used the same language and imagery for those unfortunate enough to have HardTimes99 Aug 2013 #53

They should congregate at the Governor's Mansion marions ghost Aug 2013 #25

An arrest would have brought needed roody Aug 2013 #27

Do you realize how much crumbs Shankapotomus Aug 2013 #28

Since it's not likely that this policy started with the individual policeman Bay Boy Aug 2013 #30

This is a violation of your rights. burnsei sensei Aug 2013 #31

It's even a violation of the magical Free Market gollygee Aug 2013 #41

Just make it a weekly "protest." gulliver Aug 2013 #33

Isn't Nort Carolina one of those onethatcares Aug 2013 #40

They would probably think the Romans didn't go far enough n/t. malthaussen Aug 2013 #46

I was thinking along Lindsay Aug 2013 #51

If this isn't papa3times Aug 2013 #44

Unbelievable, shameful and sickening... mountain grammy Aug 2013 #48

NC is the nation's new toilet. nt valerief Aug 2013 #52

I am just plain too angry to comment. Where's the cop with the gallon of milk? marble falls Aug 2013 #55

By the photo: the stinking POS cop got HIS freaking cup of coffee. marble falls Aug 2013 #56

The cop is drinking Dunkin' Donuts coffee... RevStPatrick Aug 2013 #68

While he's in the middle of a stop and in front of folks he was keeping from getting their own. marble falls Aug 2013 #74

So... Did they go ahead and give the people the sandwiches... RevStPatrick Aug 2013 #59

Would it be possible to stage a boycott of businesses in the area whose owners have complained? Samantha Aug 2013 #61

... CrispyQ Aug 2013 #65

Is there some other news story/link about this? leftstreet Aug 2013 #66

Searching Google News comes up empty but a general search of the entire web will get you totodeinhere Aug 2013 #73

Looks like they all point back to the blog n/t leftstreet Aug 2013 #75

The local TV station is covering it... OneGrassRoot Aug 2013 #77

Oh, I didn't think they were making it up leftstreet Aug 2013 #78

Gotcha :) OneGrassRoot Aug 2013 #83

our society is changing, inch by inch, into something very ugly limpyhobbler Aug 2013 #67

The ugliness is with the top 10%, but Cleita Aug 2013 #93

Evil exists demwing Aug 2013 #79

“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, Fire Walk With Me Aug 2013 #86

Natalie Merchant's "City of Angels" just came up on my playlist... WorseBeforeBetter Aug 2013 #87

Oh yeah, this is a Christian nation...................nt Enthusiast Aug 2013 #88

Raleigh Mayor and Council digging into this... rubluetoo Aug 2013 #89

Good link. I'll add to OP. Thanks. :) n/t OneGrassRoot Aug 2013 #94

News update: OneGrassRoot Aug 2013 #90

Jaysus! Cleita Aug 2013 #92

MAJOR UPDATE at 4:43 PM Sunday: OneGrassRoot Aug 2013 #95

Kicking, for the needy being fed... WorseBeforeBetter Aug 2013 #96

This is great news! theHandpuppet Aug 2013 #99

"Raleigh mayor pledges to find solution after police stop charities from feeding homeless" WorseBeforeBetter Aug 2013 #100

Thanks. That explains a lot leftstreet Aug 2013 #101

Better to end homelessness. The current situation is due to Reagan era actions. freshwest Aug 2013 #102