Florida
Related: About this forumMiami homeless law set for final vote Thursday
A law that homeless advocates say would violate a longstanding pact between the city of Miami and its homeless is expected to go to a vote by the City Commission on Thursday.
The camping prohibition law, proposed by Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, would make it illegal to erect tents and place cooking equipment and cots on public property, like sidewalks. More controversially, the law as it was composed last month when it received tentative approval would also create potential jail time for placing everyday items like blankets, pillows and sleeping bags on public property.
Sarnoff recently announced that he would remove the more typical, everyday items like pillows from the legislation after his proposal drew intense criticism from homeless groups, including the publicly funded Miami-Dade Homeless Trust. Sarnoff says his concerns are about safety, and giving police broader authority to encourage the citys roughly 600 homeless to leave the streets and enter a temporary shelter program at Camillus House in Overtown.
But advocacy organizations say the law still threatens to undercut the Pottinger Agreement, a 1998 settlement to a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of the citys homeless. The agreement, which was recently amended to accommodate Camillus Houses temporary shelter program, gives the homeless the right to engage in life-sustaining activities, and allows police to arrest them only after first offering an available shelter bed or temporary mat.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article13556864.html
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Apparently arresting the homeless is the same as giving them food and shelter. Hey ChiciB1 if you're out there Miami is finally going the way of Sarasota!
edgineered
(2,101 posts)it isn't a few politicians in dc, tallahassee, or miami. it is the rw of the entire country. from now on when encountering anyone spouting their bs they will hear that its not a few in dc, its you and everyone like you.
how long before we finally have enough of this? it is up to us. we have to speak up, things are out of control.
d_legendary1
(2,586 posts)Greed is a great motivator to jail people who have nothing left to lose. Not too long ago I just posted a story regarding the prison system here in Florida (speaking of greed).
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141035470
In this case its the same cubans (who typically vote Republican) who keep voting these same crooks into office. The Suarez, the Regalados, and all these crooks make a living off the local government here (that line about career politicians doesn't fly well when translated into spanish). But regardless of which spanish speaker is in charge they all understand the language of money. They'll do everything and anything to make sure they get more of it, much like the rest of the elected officials across the country.