If someone looks like he could use a meal, be warned: Giving him a sandwich in a Las Vegas park could land you in jail.
The Las Vegas City Council passed an ordinance Wednesday that bans providing food or meals to the indigent for free or a nominal fee in parks.
The measure is an attempt to stop so-called "mobile soup kitchens" from operating in parks, where residents say they attract the homeless and render the city facilities unusable by families.
The city's new ordinance, which officials could begin enforcing as early as Friday, defines an indigent as a "person whom a reasonable ordinary person would believe to be entitled to apply for or receive assistance" from the government under state law.
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.
2006-07-20 11:18:11 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"Certain truths are self-evident," Goodman said. "You know who's homeless."
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created unequal and are endowed by this mayor with the duty to starve to death rather than to tarnish Las Vegas' "family friendly" image."
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."
2006-07-20 11:19:14 · update #1
What a crock o' ****!
If you REALLY wanted to help these people you would be following the meal wagons around and signing the people up for services. This isn't about helping the homeless, it is about getting them out of sight so they don't interfere with Vegas' main business, shaking down the tourist for every dollar they can get and pouring it into the casinos pockets.
This was a friendlier, more compassionate place when the mob ran it.
2006-07-20 11:44:08 · update #2
Sounds like some city politicians have way too much time on their hands.
No government has a right to tell me to whom I may provide food, for free or otherwise.
2006-07-20 11:24:02 · answer #1 · answered by Zombie 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Oh my god!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not a big fan of America but i do have cose friends who are American. Some of this info just consolidates my belief that i never want Europe to turn out like that. To ban an act of kindness is a heinous crime against humanity. You mean if a Gandhi or Mother Theresa came to feed the poor they'd be convicted-sad. I mean no offence to Americans but This shows the true quality of your culture. Aristotle said "We are what we repeatedly do, excellence and goodness then are habits, not virtues". Based on that-i think America is uncompassionate and selfish and needs reforming badly. Try spending tax on the poor rather than on bullets for foreigners in illegal wars.
Sorry again if i offend but Americanism really gets me goin'.
2006-07-20 12:07:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
WHAT!!!
Yes, lets not help others in need. Don’t give them food… give them money instead, they can buy the food themselves, or some of them can buy drugs and make the parks a much friendlier place to visit.
These people are on something good.
2006-07-20 11:30:55 · answer #3 · answered by s_an_dubois 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think of we'd desire to continuously initiate executing responsible criminals so as that we are in a position to used that saved money to get the homeless of the line and working. yet like the guy above reported feeding them might in elementary terms final see you later, so which you may desire to get them jobs and desire they stay working. otherwise the completed plan is going nowhere
2016-11-02 10:31:35 · answer #4 · answered by lurette 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a tough one...
On one hand, it does stop them from getting the help they need.
On the other hand, you're just helping out your fellow man.
I say do what you want, if you want to give them food or money, go for it, just be discreet about it. And if you don't want to, don't do it.
2006-07-20 11:23:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow! That is truly sad! I think somebody needs to work on changing the laws there!
2006-07-20 11:23:30 · answer #6 · answered by Naples_6 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How about if I throw it in a garbage can first? They could go pick it out.
2006-07-20 11:24:33 · answer #7 · answered by bobo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No that nice that you give. some one who homeless money or food God loves that.
2006-07-20 11:23:25 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No that is no crime. you are just helping somebody in need. somebody that is less fourtnate (spelled that wrong) than you and when you give to others GOD will bless you.
2006-07-20 11:21:23 · answer #9 · answered by babyshay926 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋