An urgent call to stand up and be heard!

Isn't there something right about living in a city where you can find a meal if you need it. Isn't it actually a good reflection on our city that we have such a huge homeless population here? Wouldn't the fact that the outcast and the hurting feel a little more safe, a little more cared for, and possibly even a little less hated in our city than others be a point of pride in Tampa. I can't tell you how many homeless friends have expressed that Tampa is a city where you don't have to go hungry. Don't we want to preserve this relationship with the poor? Aren't places like Ybor, where the rich and the poor actually share the same sidewalks, beautiful because of their economic and cultural diversity.

Our city has progressively gotten more hostile toward our neighbors in need as the economy has worsened and the numbers and visibility of those needing help has drastically increased. Laws and ordinances prohibiting panhandling are being discussed and passing in our city council. While they are being pressured by businesses and the wealthy in our community they are still in a position to make decisions on what is right and just and fair. They are elected into office and are kept there by making decisions that the city (their district) will support. Sadly the poor and homeless are in many cases not voters, whether felons or just disaffiliated, their voice and their cause is not being heard. There is an urgent need for voting citizens to stand up and be heard. To advocate for our friends and neighbors who are going with out and sustain themselves off the generosity of others. Please come to the public hearing that is being held tomorrow at 9am at 315 E Kennedy Blvd. on the 3rd floor. Each person will be given 2-3 minutes to speak to the council and be heard. We need to let our city officials know that we are not in support of this law and that if further actions or ordinances are passed to the detriment and  relegation of the poor in our city we will be forced to pull our support and campaign against these leaders that are working against the most needy in our community.

This ordinance is directly addressing the panhandling population and legislating their right to ask for help under the issue of public safety. Of course our city has addressed public safety issues and passed ordinances regarding the caution vests, daylight hours, and age requirement to be on the streets. There is also no data that has been presented that demonstrates a public safety problem. This is an issue of living in a society that is uncomfortable with, and hostile toward the needy. They are despised and rejected. Take a few minutes to talk with someone who panhandles and they will tell you about the terrible things our neighbors scream out their windows at them. They are not out there because it is easy or preferable to work. They are not lazy or dangerous. They are needy people. They are fathers, brothers, mothers, and friends. They are people and they have a right to make their needs known and this is protected by our first amendment right. Of course our clever city council is only addressing transactions between vehicles and pedestrians on our city's main arterial roads. While this is a step in the wrong direction it is not, as our mayor and some councilmen hope for, a complete ban. It is however directly effecting 500-600 jobs because the newspapers can't be sold on the corners, directly displacing the poor from the most visible places in our city, and catering to our least conscious and concerned neighbors. I want and cherish the opportunity to give a sandwich or a dollar to a neighbor in need. Don't you?

Plus our city is cutting cost all over the place and has limited resources for the police force and cannot really afford to enforce these laws. If a corner has no accidents then we don't spend money on a traffic light and this same principle should be called upon here.
These leaders must be accountable for how they are using our money as well as how they are considering ALL of our community members.

Please come and make your voice heard. Invite your peoples.

"...if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet
 and the people are not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them
...his blood I will require from the watchman's hand.'" -Is 33:6

I love you all and hope you will join me tomorrow morning,