Miami Heads To Federal Court To Get Permission To Arrest Homeless People

[dixiegrrrrl]

There is lots of WTF in this story:

The City of Miami has taken to federal court to undo a 15-year-old legal agreement that protected homeless people from undue arrest and harassment by the authorities.
The city is concerned the homeless population is stunting downtown's growth,
and want the courts to alter a 1988 settlement that bars Miami police from arresting homeless people for such "involuntary, harmless acts'' without first offering them an alternative location to lay their head.

and

Police argue that the homeless are scaring not only families, but workers.
Fans pouring into the American Airlines Arena for Heat games, meanwhile,
are being met with more aggressive panhandlers blocking sidewalks and relieving themselves in public.

....the city acceded to the so-called Pottinger Settlement back in 1988
because the ACLU made a compelling case that police were abusing the city's most vulnerable citizens.
Back then, police routinely rounded up homeless, dumped their belongings in the trash and charged them with loitering.

Sounds like a big problem, no?
But get this:

What's more, advocates say that settlement has decreased the homeless population from 6,000 to just 351 -- with many of those 351 only still on the streets because they refuse assistance.
The act makes it illegal to arrest any homeless person, unless they refuse shelter and board.

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2013/04/miami_heads_to_federal_court_t.php

[sabrina 1]

1. Being poor is a crime in America. Throw the poor in jail, why not? We have elected officials

trying to take money from the poor to pay off Wall St's criminal debt. That would be the CCPI.

What is NOT a crime to be a corrupt Wall St thief who collapsed the world's economies by cheating and deception and outright criminal activity. THAT is just 'immoral' but not criminal.

War crimes are no longer criminal either in this great democracy of ours.

But being poor? Shameful!

[bluedigger]

2. The homeless should countersue the City of Miami.

It's lack of growth is what is causing their homelessness after all.

[RKP5637]

3. Save room for the seniors too ... pretty soon they'll have to be clearing the streets of seniors.

I'm waiting for someone to propose "Soylent Green" as part of a new law as seniors continue to be the target for fucking over.

[RKP5637]

4. If only everyone had more guns!

[Downwinder]

5. Who wants to save money? It would be cheaper to

put them in homes.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. but then you would lose the propoganda effect

of scaring the shit out of potentially homeless people.

[malaise]

7. Because you see private prisons are very profitable

and there is nothing these goons love more than slave labor