Turn ballparks and stadiums into homeless shelters? Hmmm...

[Zalatix]

Not sure what to think about this.

DUers, any thoughts?

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/florida-law-turn-ballparks-homeless-shelters-151458504.html

Florida law would turn its publicly funded ballparks and stadiums into homeless shelters
By 'Duk | Big League Stew – 3 hours ago

Could the new Marlins ballpark or the Tampa Bay Rays' Tropicana Field serve as a homeless shelter for the 270 or so nights a year that they're not used for baseball?

If two Florida lawmakers have their way, they might. As reported by the Miami Herald, state legislators have unearthed an obscure law that has not been enforced since it was adopted in 1988. It states that any ballpark or stadium that receives taxpayer money shall serve as a homeless shelter on the dates that it is not in use.

Now, a new bill would punish owners of teams who play in publicly funded stadiums if they don't provide a haven for the homeless. Affected ballparks would include the Miami Marlins' new ballpark in Miami's Little Havana, the Tampa Bay Rays' Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg and several spring training facilities. It also includes the homes of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Miami Heat, Jacksonville Jaguars and Florida Panthers.

[zbdent]

1. allegedly "liberally-biased media" focuses on "rapes" and the homeless trashing the place

while Barbara Bush (the old lady) strolls around saying how wonderful these people have it ...

(see Katrina)

[RZM]

2. Why 'rape' in quotes?

A rape is a rape is a rape. Are you implying that media figures fabricate rape stories at homeless shelters? Or that they give them undue attention? Because if it's the first, you should show evidence and if it's the second, you should lose the quote marks.

[Kurska]

3. Doesn't seem feasible.

I'm a huge sports fan, but a lot of these stadiums are used for concerts and other events when sports aren't being played in them. In addition this would require you constantly move the homeless in and out of the ball park, do you want to be the stadium worker who has to wrangle up 200 people with nowhere else to go before the evening game?

That said, if this forces teams to run a homeless shelter somewhere else I'd be cool with that. Just don't think the ballpark is a good place to do it.

[Zalatix]

4. Damned good idea.

Maybe all the rich people should have to chip in for that.

[Erose999]

5. This reminds me of the Superdome during Katrina.

That, and theres no plan for housing the people the nights these facilities ARE used for events. And "events" is not just the sports. The Phillips Arena (home of the Hawks, Thrashers, etc) and the GA Dome (home of the Falcons) have all sorts of events throughout the year including concerts, motocross/monster trucks, festivals, conventions, trade shows, etc etc.