Federal judge rejects Las Vegas ban on feeding homeless in parks

[NVMojo]

wooooohooooo!!!

LAS VEGAS (AP) - A federal judge ruled Monday that the city cannot make it illegal to feed poor people in city parks.

U.S. District Court Judge Robert Jones issued an injunction prohibiting enforcement of a City Council ordinance passed in July that prohibits "providing food or meals to the indigent for free or for a nominal fee" in a city park and defines indigent as a person whom a reasonable ordinary person would believe to be entitled to public assistance.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said handouts discourage homeless people from seeking help from social service providers set up to handle mental health and substance abuse problems. Neighbors had complained of large numbers of homeless people congregating at downtown parks, drawn by groups providing meals.

Jones told lawyers for the city and the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada that he intends to issue an order killing the measure. No date was set for final action.

more...

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2006/nov/20/112010007.html

[last1standing]

1. These are people, not pigeons.

Goodman needs to experience the pain and desperation of homelessness, himself. Maybe that would provide him with some introspection.

[Canuckistanian]

8. That's the first thing I thought of as well

And the IDEA of criminalizing an act of charity is horrendous.

There's no doubt in my mind that a Christian fundamentalist thought this abomination up.

On edit:
I stand corrected. Mr Goodman, the mayor, is of Jewish descent. And an asshole.

[NVMojo]

10. sadly, Mayor Oscar Goodman is a Democrat and good pal of Reid's

[Canuckistanian]

13. His wiki is interesting reading...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Goodman

[NVMojo]

16. he's a real interesting scream alright ...

Reid was the one talking about Oscar running against Jack Carter ...who was too clean for both of them, imho.

[Porcupine]

15. Giving now downgraded from a crime to a sin in Nevada

Update at 11:00

Seriously. As far as the GOP is concerned anybody who is homeless deserves to freeze, starve and/or be hunted for sport. If you can't find a job that fits, hey tough shit, not-my-problem is the attitude of most "Christians" in the US also.

I'm sure Las Vegas has at least one Mega-Church that does everything BUT feed the homeless.

[struggle4progress]

2. Great! Thanks for posting!

[WindRavenX]

3. awesome news!!

:bounce:

[flvegan]

4. They did that to the Food Not Bombs folks here in Tampa.

Folks got arrested...big hullabaloo. Shameful to keep people from helping other folks.

[ruiner4u]

5. Damn that activist judge!

How dare he ignore the will of the people by using two hundred years of constitutional law as a guide..


Next this usurper will say that gay people are... gag... PEOPLE

[williesgirl]

6. Let's have a big DU round of thanks for this judge. recommended

[Canuckistanian]

9. Can we send flowers to judges?

Or would accepting them make him an 'activist'?

[badgerpup]

14. Nope... I asked about that once.

When the judge (I can't remember her name) found Bush's wiretapping unconstitutional. :patriot:

It would be as construed accepting a bribe and saying that they can't be trusted to do their jobs unless they get some kind of 'reward'.
I know, I know...but the formalities and the illusions must be preserved.


edit for clarification of sentence structure

[Canuckistanian]

17. I guess that makes sense

We wouldn't want Scalia to be "influenced" by, say, an all expense paid hunting trip, would we?

[badgerpup]

18. Hey...you know that Cheney is above the law...

...he does as he damn well pleases, whether it's a no-bid contract or shooting his friend in the face.
:sarcasm:...but not very much

[Tesha]

20. A "Thank You" card, on the other hand, is entirely appropriate. (NT)

[buddysmellgood]

7. Aren't we all entitled to public assistance? I think the freaks that came up with this

have defined themselves as unreasonable and...well as freaks.

[lonestarnot]

11. Damn Merika hate'n judge! Parks don't need no homeless

roaming around reminding people that there are people with no homes! :sarcasm:

[troubleinwinter]

12. Neighbors had complained

of people congregating at downtown parks, drawn by groups providing meals.

Huh. I thought that was one purpose of parks. For peole to gather together for meals and picnics. Oh, I get it... "homeless" must not be people.

[Vidar]

19. Good for the judge. Shame on the city council.

[CheshireCat]

21. Good for the federal judge!

One night on my way home from work, the folks at NPR were discussing this horrendous law. I was appalled. Outlawing acts of charity - unbelievable!