Homeless Take Care Of their Own

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Panhandling can be seen daily in my neighborhood, and I will share 3 stories I was involved in, and thank Channel 12 reporter Albert Pefley for reporting on the story.

The first encounter was while traveling on Military Trail.
There was a young woman standing in the street, holding a sign “Homeless and hungry, please help, God bless you” I stopped and asked her how she became homeless, and truly can’t remember her response. I told her I was willing to drive her to a homeless shelter where she could receive help. Without missing a beat, she said she would never go to a homeless shelter, because she was raped in one. Now I take a good look at her. She was well dressed in clean clothes, and a smile that you knew her parents spent a fortune on her mouth with teeth any one would be envious of.    I didn’t contribute any money.

On 45th. St. There was a young man holding a sign “Hungary, Will work for food. Thank you and God Bless.” I stopped and offered to pay him if he would mow my lawn, and explained I lived in the neighborhood and had a lawnmower he could use. His response ” I have been here all day in the heat, and am going to leave now.   I didn’t contribute any money.

I saved the best story for last. Coming off 95 onto 45th. St. there was a young couple, well dressed. The man was holding a sign “Trying to make it home for Christmas” while the young lady sat on a suitcase. I had a flashback to the time I was traveling from one state to another in an effort to get home to my parents for Christmas, in a car that was not reliable. I stopped and gave the young man $25.00. He thanked me profusely, and I was on my way.

A few days later I saw them again, in the same place, he was holding the sign while she took her place on the suitcase. I pulled over, got out of the car and demanded my money back. The last time I saw them they were running down 45th, St, suitcase in hand. I learned my lesson, and also learned the truly homeless, (easily spotted because they have their worldly possessions in a garbage bag, and the lucky ones push a grocery cart) They have never asked anything of me. You actually have to buy them a sandwich and cold drink and offer it up. Most will accept, some have refused. When good folks realize they are contributing to the problem, and stop donating money, the problem will cease to exist.

City Commission Meeting 11/15/2021 My comments will be in Italic.

10.7. “Public Hearing and First Reading of Ordinance No. 4983-21 regarding the repeal of Sections 54-127(2), (3), & (5) and 54-147(a)(1) pertaining to panhandling or soliciting in certain public areas of the City.”

Panhandling is the way some folks earn their living, like a 9-5 job. What bothers me is the City’s attempt to curb panhandling in certain sections of the City, namely the downtown (Clematis St) and Northwood Village. I assume it is OK to panhandle in other parts of the City, and believe me they do. I believe panhandling and homelessness are two separate issues, but obviously I’m wrong. Advocates have made changes in panhandling, and I hope the fight doesn’t stop there, and homelessness situation is also looked into. Below readers will find a story by the Miami New Times concerning the homeless in WPB Fl. and I have included excerpts and the entire story can be found below.

“Because of a recent U.S. Supreme Court case and other court rulings, the city of West Palm Beach may join a list of other cities in the state that have had to throw out their ordinances that outlaw panhandling.

In the face of intense backlash from homeless advocates and civil-rights organizations, the West Palm Beach City Commission voted unanimously to criminalize certain homeless behavior in order to preserve the city’s “aesthetic beauty.” Please note the dogs food & water dish. They care for their own, loyalty is rewarded.

During the meeting, Mayor Keith James said the ordinance was not meant to target homeless people but merely meant to regulate behavior that harms businesses in downtown and Northwood. And he claimed the ordinance was perfectly legal because the regulation is limited to two areas of the city, allowing homeless individuals to move to other areas.

Commissioner Joseph Peduzzi, who began to question the ordinance during the discussion, pushed back against the mayor’s argument, saying that if homeless people are driven to other parts of the city, at some point they may have nowhere else to go.”

Another commissioner who challenged the ordinance, Cory Neering, said he has a family member who experienced homelessness in West Palm Beach and was unable to find space in any shelters in the city. Neering was concerned that people who couldn’t find shelter space would wind up getting arrested or fined because they had no choice other than to sleep outside.

But James resisted requests from commissioners to table the ordinance for further review, saying he wanted a vote on it right away. After a long period of discussion, the ordinance finally passed without the language prohibiting sleeping outdoors; the prohibitions on public urination and defecation and on panhandling remain intact.

Jackie Azis, a staff attorney for the ACLU of Florida, says that even without the outdoor sleeping provision, the ordinance violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution because prohibiting people from asking for donations infringes on their freedom of speech.
“The concern is that the government cannot tell people what they’re allowed to talk about in public,” Azis tells New Times. “What they passed is the same as telling the community, ‘You can’t talk about politics in downtown.'”

Although the pandemic has left many people jobless and without their livelihoods this year, South Florida cities haven’t stopped trying to criminalize homeless behaviors or otherwise make life difficult for marginalized people. In May, Miami Beach passed a panhandling ban that was challenged by the ACLU. (The city quietly removed the ban.) In Fort Lauderdale, advocates alleged that the city built an unnecessary parking lot in order to drive out a homeless encampment.

Azis says the ACLU is prepared to challenge West Palm Beach’s ordinance in court and is eager to hear from anyone who is arrested or fined for panhandling once the new law takes effect.”

Mayor Keith James has stated, on more than one occasion, he is not criminalizing homelessness. What does he call making the act punishable by a fine of up to $500 or 60 days of jail time? Channel 12 also reports they have reached out to City Commissioners and Mayor James for comment, and have not heard back. I’m shocked! Not really, they are the government, and explain nothing. I Have a bed to sleep in, food in the refrigerator, hot water to shower with, and I thank God every day for my blessings. Other’s are not so fortunate. In closing I should inform readers at the time the ordinance was passed neither Commissioner Fox or Warren sat on the dais, but replaced Commissioner Neering and Ryles, who decided not to seek re-election, and broke my heart.

Update on contaminated water situation!

The contaminated water situation residents faced when we were not advised by the City for 8 days we were drinking and using tainted water.Mayor James denied being aware of the situation. City Administrator, Faye Johnson made no such claim, leaving Public Utilities Director Poonam Kalkat aware. There is no one that will ever convince me Ms. Kalkat kept the news to herself. She reports to Johnson who reports to James. Ms. Kalkat recently took one for the team and handed in her resignation letter. My opinion, wrong person resigned.

https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/west-palm-beach-passes-anti-homeless-panhandling-ban-11787350

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