Don't feed the homeless in Dallas unless its at a designated feeding area

[NNN0LHI]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/D/DALLAS_HOMELESS?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

Dallas Institutes New Laws on Homeless

DALLAS (AP) -- Panhandling banned. Shopping carts prohibited on city streets. The distribution of food to the homeless restricted to designated areas.

With a series of ordinances governing its growing homeless population, Dallas is gaining a reputation as a city uncharitable toward some of its neediest citizens.

The National Coalition for the Homeless recently ranked Dallas sixth among the Top 10 "meanest" cities in the country. No. 1 was Sarasota, Fla.

Dallas officials say they are trying to steer the homeless toward help and make the streets a little safer for them. But advocates for the estimated 9,000 homeless people in Dallas say the city is pursuing a harsh and pitiless policy.

"That's like a form of social Darwinism, if you cut off food to force people to get help, and it really doesn't work that way," said Michael Stoops, acting executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless.

[ReadTomPaine]

1. The one 'charity' a homeless person is sure to get...

is a bus ticket out of town. And that's not just true of Dallas, sadly.

[seemunkee]

2. Do they have those little machines to buy treats?

Like at the petting zoo?

[underpants]

13. Yeah and then when no one is around the homeless can

crawl around to get all the little bits that fell on the ground.

Nice image that would be huh?

your post is funnier than it is sad but it is both.

[CornField]

3. All those homeless folks wouldn't look good for their economic plans

Yesterday, on NPR, the head of the Dallas Film Commission was on the air discussing how they (Dallas) plan to make sure JR is shot in Dallas. (The television show is going to be a film.) She went on about the various incentives being offered to film makers if they want to bring their business to Dallas.

[fasttense]

4. If I lived in Dallas, I'd start giving out sandwiches to every homeless

person I saw. Let them arrest me for giving a hungry person a sandwich.

[meganmonkey]

12. Just call it 'lunch with a friend'

What're they gonna do? }(

[mattclearing]

5. That's really fucked up.

I'm beginning to think we need a "Worst" page to nominate threads to.

This one would rate highly.

[Benhurst]

6. The good folks of Dallas are just showing us how

Christians act.

:sarcasm:

[rucky]

7. Or else what?

They'll fine the homeless person for panhandling?

Fuck Dallas. I left for a reason.

[MuseRider]

8. No way,

That is heartless.

[Arkansas Granny]

9. This sounds like "don't feed the bears" to me. What do they

call the "designated feeding areas", sanctuaries?

[Stephanie]

10. Pan-handling is constitutionally protected ,isn't it? 1st amendment?

Isn't that free speech?

[MidwestTransplant]

11. Maybe they can be fed near "Free Speech Zones?"