Les Vegas Parks: Don't feed the bears... I mean people.

mike · #1 07-21-2006, 11:52 AM

The Los Vegas city council passed an ordinance making it against the law to feed the homeless. We all know that feeding the homeless only makes them fat and lazy and they loose their natural instincts for hunting.

Of course the ACLU, you know those guys who wrote the constitution, are against this.

Quote:

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada called the ordinance blatantly unconstitutional, unenforceable and the latest attempt by the city to hide and harass the homeless instead of constructively addressing their plight.

"So the only people who get to eat are those who have enough money? Those who get (government) assistance can't eat at your picnic?" asked ACLU attorney Allen Lichtenstein. "I've heard of some rather strange and extreme measures from other cities. I've never heard of something like this. It's mind-boggling."

But the mayor and residents speak up.

Quote:

Mayor Oscar Goodman, who has been a vocal advocate of cracking down on the homeless in city parks, dismissed questions about how marshals, who patrol city parks, will identify the homeless in order to enforce the ordinance, the violation of which would be a misdemeanor.
"Certain truths are self-evident," Goodman said. "You know who's homeless."

City officials said they instituted the law in part because of recommendations from some who work with the homeless who say offering food separately from other services, such as counseling and drug treatment, is counterproductive.

"This is not a punishment; this is to help people," Goodman said. "The people who provide sandwiches have good intentions, but they're enabling people not to get the help that is needed."

Residents near Huntridge Circle Park, on Maryland Parkway near Charleston Boulevard, say people who bringing food to the homeless draw them to the area.

And of course there are people who don't believe in laws, only what John Lennon or Bob Marley say in their music.

Quote:

But one advocate who feeds the homeless at the park said she will continue to do so.

"I'm going to do whatever I think is necessary to keep people alive," said Gail Sacco.

Sacco has been cited twice while feeding the homeless, for holding a gathering of 25 or more people without a permit.

We have this same problem here in Hawaii. The weather is nice and the state is run by Democrats. So what happens? All of the good beaches are FILLED with homeless people everywhere. All of the parking near the beach is full with dead vehicles filled with clothing and junk. Set up soup kitchens and they will come.

Mr. Joe · #2 07-21-2006, 01:57 PM

I recall going to San Francisco Golden Gate Park when the Vietnamese Boat People had been brought there as refugees. The Cops on horseback were riding around trying to catch kids who were trapping squirrels with rat traps in the park! It was tragic and funny at the same time.

We go about in various ways trying to accomplish the impossible. I'm not sure there is an easy answer, but obviously passing laws against kindness and eating is not going to work!

When I lived in Las Vegas there was a spot in the desert across the tracks, close to Caesar's Palace. No one bothered the homeless in that weed filled area, where they slept in old refrigerator boxes. As long as they didn't stand in front of the casinos and beg, they were left alone. There was an area near the highway where they could sleep in old cars. A toilet was provided. The Mormons had some soup kitchens where the would eat, and parking was provided for their shopping carts, in which they collected cans, and other salable refuse. Guess they must have gotten too numerous now. I don't have an answer, do you? If they were Bears, we could tranquilize and relocate them...
(PS-the time is actually 1:37PM)

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