Florida City to Pass Law Allowing Cops to Seize Homeless People's Belongings

[fried eggs]

Messing with homeless people's property is a time-honored tactic used by cities across the U.S. to deal with homelessness by bullying the homeless until they go elsewhere. Police often threaten to confiscate homeless people's things, and cities sometimes bulldoze over their encampments, leading to a loss of essential items like medicine or documents.

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida is about to codify the total disregard for the property rights of the homeless into law. As Scott Keyes writes in Think Progress, the city is close to passing a measure that would prohibit keeping personal items in public. Police would be able to seize personal belongings after a 24-hour notice, but if they decide the materials pose a threat to public safety, health or welfare, officers can take them without prior notice and just leave a note. The city keeps confiscated property for 30 days (7 days if it's deemed a safety risk). Anyone who wants their things back before they're disposed of must prove ownership and compensate the city for its trouble, paying “reasonable charges for storage and removal of the items,” according to the language of the measure (the fee could be waived if they prove they can't pay it).

Read More: http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/city-pass-law-allowing-cops-seize-homeless-peoples-belongings

[Jefferson23]

1. Florida looking to rank first in the country as most hateful?

Must be a contest I am not aware of...good job, assholes.

[Victor_c3]

2. A quote I've seen a few times on this forum seems very appropriate right about now

“The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.”

- Anatole France



At least it'll affect rich people to the same degree it'll impact homeless people, right?

[Bragi]

3. Florida, where human compassion went to die /nt

[COLGATE4]

4. Along with what seems to be

about 90% of its population. Not for nothing is Florida known as "God's Waiting Room".

[ladjf]

5. That's mean. nt

[Aristus]

6. For everyone who isn't homeless, this is called theft.

Goddamn those officious assholes.

Whatever happened to protecting the defenseless?

Whatever happened to the America of the Berlin Airlift? Of the Peace Corps? Of the Freedom Riders?

When did we become John Galt's wet dream?

[newcriminal]

7. This is disgusting.