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San Antonio Woman Fined $2000 For Feeding The Homeless
Based on the newsflow in the last few weeks, Americans must increasingly consider themselves lucky just to avoid getting shot in the back or being run over by trigger-happy, heavily armed officers of the law. Unfortunately while we (hope we) mostly jest, the reality is that America has quietly turned into a heavily weaponized police state right under everyone's noses. A police state in which one doesn't have to be considered even a remote threat by the authorities to suffer. Consider the completely innocuous act of feeding the homeless, with a permit, which as San Antonio philanthropist Joan Cheever, founder of the nonprofit food truck, the Chow Train, discovered last week was enough to get her ticketed and fined $2000 for feeding the homeless.
What is strange is that neither was this the first time she had acted generously toward the homeless, nor the first time the local police were aware of her actions: for the past 10 years, Cheever has devoted her Tuesday nights to providing hot, restaurant-quality meals to homeless people in the downtown area. SAPD officers would routinely pass by and wave. Often, she jokingly asked if they planned to arrest her, and they laughed. She was profiled on Rachel Ray's cooking show for her charitable efforts.
But everything changed last Tuesday when he got a citation which carries a fine up to $2000 issued by four San Antonio Police Department bike-patrol officers.
According to the San Antonio Express News, while Cheever was in Maverick Park serving a meal that included lamb meatballs, spaghetti, a garden salad and a vegetable soup, SAPD officers cited her for violating the city code, because she transported the food to the park in a vehicle other than the mobile truck for which she has a food permit.
"I told the officer that we cook dinner in the truck and then we put it in health-department-approved catering equipment, like every caterer or restaurant-delivery service in this town, and then serve it. And he said, 'You can’t do that.’"
David Martin Davies, host of “The Source” on Texas Public Radio, witnessed and recorded Cheever’s Tuesday night encounter with the police officers.
“She seemed aware going into it that there was a change in the way the police were acting, and something like this might be coming,” Davies said, adding, “She’s unabashed. She’s not going to back down.”
Cheever is scheduled to go before Municipal Court on June 23, but she remained defiant after receiving the citation, arguing that under the 1999 Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, she has a right to serve food to the homeless because she considers it a free exercise of her religion.
"This is how I pray," she told the local NBC affiliate, "when I cook this food and deliver it to the people who are less fortunate."
The Chow Train founder will be holding a candlelight vigil at Maverick Park Tuesday night to raise awareness about the incident, according to the restaurant’s Facebook page.
I'm raising money for The Chow Train Donation Fund. Click to Donate: http://t.co/4AJyNhUN2G via @gofundme
— The Chow Train (@TheChowTrain) April 16, 2015
What may explain the police's sudden aggression to the philanthropist? According to Express News, the incident is merely the latest incident in a series of homeless crackdowns by the local police.
Over the past year, it’s become increasingly obvious that the city wants its homeless population out of the view of downtown tourists. It wants to push the homeless west of downtown to Haven for Hope, and discourage any acts of compassion that might divert them from that destination.
Last September, then-Police Chief William McManus floated the idea of making it a Class C misdemeanor to give cash to local panhandlers, an example of municipal overreach that met with scorn from the public and was abruptly dropped.
Express-News reporter Benjamin Olivo also reported that benches had been discreetly removed from Houston Street because city staffers worried that the benches led to loitering and panhandling in the area.
“(The city) has already made being poor and homeless a crime,” Cheever said, “and now they’re going after Good Samaritans.
“I always say, 'We’re not working against Haven for Hope, we’re working with them.’ They have a waiting list, and they send their people over to us, and we feed them.”
In a statement by the SAPD, the local police noted that “Haven for Hope is the city’s designated service provider for the homeless population,” and added that Cheever’s citation “was issued for failing to adhere to the Downtown Mobile Food Truck Rules & Regulations. The regulations are in place to ensure public health and safety.”
Perhaps the biggest irony of all is that under the current administration's policies, which have been called socialist by many and are precisely meant to improve the standard of living of the 99% not the 1%, Obama has been eager to demonstrate his emapthy toward the disenfranchised if only in front of the teleprompter. What is sad is that a "progressive" president, one elected precisely to promote acts of philanthropy and kindness (with the Fed funding the cost via trillions in debt monetizations) concurrently allows this kind of behavior by those tasked with enhancing the quality of life for all, not just Goldman's or JPM's rogue traders.
Then again, talking out of both sides of his mouth is perhaps the least of Obama's faults.
Meanwhile, here is Joan Cheever in less troubled days.
From left, volunteer Elaine Olivier, founder/ Chef Joan Cheever, and her husband, Dennis Quinn, prepare dinner before the Chow Train feeds the homeless in partnership with Resurrection Ministries, Tuesday, February 28, 2012.
Joan Cheever, founder of The Chow Train, puts a piece of bread on a plate given to an individual at Maverick Park on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013. Cheever and other volunteers have cooked gourmet-level meals to feed the homeless and the hungry for years. The non-profit group serves meals at various locations around San Antonio and recently served up a Thanksgiving meal to feed the needy. Cheever primarily does the cooking of all the food which she gets from donations.
Ray Salines dines on a plate of feed at a stop by The Chow Train off Austin Highway on Tuesday, Nov. 19 2013.
Joan Cheever (center), founder of The Chow Train, coordinates getting plates of to be served at a location near Austin Highway on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013.
Patrick Harris eats a meal from the Chow Train off Austin Highway. Joan Cheever, who founded the nonprofit food truck, and her team offer free, gourmet-style meals to feed the homeless and the hungry.
Chow Train volunteers Shannon Murphy-Sachanowicz (center) and Diane Sharp (right) fill up bowls of soup to serve at a location off Austin Highway on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013.
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"What is sad is that a "progressive" president, one elected precisely to promote acts of philanthropy and kindness (with the Fed funding the cost via trillions in debt monetizations) concurrently allows this kind of behavior..."
It's not completely clear to me how this is Obama's doing.
I visit San Antonio for a week every year. The homeless, especially above the Riverwalk, are a big issue. To me having them go to another location and get room and board is a good solution. I personallly don't give individuals money, but will donate to homeless shelters in the city. The individual homeless usually use it for things other than food--drugs and alcohol or the medication or choice.
So I have no problem with this. If she wants to help, roll out to the shelter and feed them there.
Every temperate city has a problem with these people. I've heard that Hawaii will even give them one way plane tickets to somewhere else as a resolution . . . homelessness is a big problem and I don't hear any politicians talking about it
I believe that the problem is the bankster system that create that homelessness.
It´s like , I don´t know, cutting all the trees of the planet, and then saying that the lack of air for brathing is the problem. lol
But don't you think, just maybe, as Americans, they have the RIGHT to be out in the public area? They have the RIGHT to own no home? I will go even further and say they have every RIGHT you have as an American. How about, for that one week you are in San Antonio each year, you are told what area to be in? Oh would that violate YOUR rights?
US military feeds ISIS in Syria.
These women should be allowed to feed the homeless in Texas.
Fat cops met their quota for the month?
According to my calculations, two grand would buy a lot of homeless chow.
And that smirking cop doesn't look like he's skipped too many meals.
Yea they did it one time in last year in Houston amd it was this publicized thing.... Yet Obama flies in peeps from other countries.... To have the right to be homeless children for bill Clinton pumping
Can't she invite the homeless to her own house? If you look at the photos, people have to eat standing or seating on the ground with dirty hands and without any bathrooms.
It seems that these heartless dwellers in the downtown for some strange reason don't like people urinating and pooping, throwing garbage, clothes, food around, and molesting pedestrians.
So, how is "feeding the homeless" defined in law?. I mean, if I know the guys, and say that they´re my "friends", I would be able to feed them?
Or if I register myself as a non-profit, and give the guys 1$ so they can give it back to me, and then receive the food, will that be legal? lol
San Antonio is officially and un-Christian city. An in-Human city. It has lost all my respect. This must not go unchallanged by its citizens.
No such thing as a Christian nation or Christian city; only nations and cities with Christians...praise the Lord of Glory!
Everything that is wrong with America right here "folks".
If Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes in San Antonio he'd be straight into the pokey.
Good and Plenty is strictly Federal concern. Do not try to get a cut of the action.
progressivism is really steath marxism.
Who are the SAPD protecting? Certainly this woman got served.
I don't want their protection or their service.
They can fuck off.
This is why the luming hyperinflation and destruction of the petrodollar are good for us. All of this non-sense will go away. If police exist afterwards, they will be used sparingly to fight real crimes. In Mexico, the police would have been given a plate of food and been on their way.
I agree, the problem is that places like North Korea show us just how bad a communist thugocracy can get before it finally surrenders power.
BREAK THE LAW, PAY THE FINE......
Why is that so difficult for most of you to understand?
btw, down arrowers who don't tell me why I am wrong are just cowards....plain and simple!
OFFEND SOMEONE WITH A CALLOUS REMARK, EXPECT DOWN ARROWS......
Why is that so difficult for you to understand?
(btw, I did not arrow you down)
I did and gave you one up. There i said it!
You want me to tell you why you are wrong.
Because you are a fucking brown nosed cock sucking shit for brains faggot, a fucking retarded moron who no doubt owes your fucking entire miserable little existence to being a parasitic cunt feeding on others and are utterly incapable of self determination.
Are we clear now
BREAK THE LAW, PAY THE FINE......
Why is that so difficult for most of you to understand?
You are wrong on this because there is a common law concept of a law having to be morally acceptable to be valid and enforceable. Particularly when laws are created by lifetime elected officials without, or in opposition to, the approval or will of the people being governed. And no, a small group of wealthy people that hold sway over elected officials does not constitute "the people", particularly in high per-capita income cities and counties where many of these "don't feed the homeless" laws are popping up.
This isn't about the police. This is about their communist masters who want the homeless depending on the government only. No room for private philanthropy there.
So there is no law there regarding feeding the homeless?
I bet you are one of those anti-American dolts who says that Obama doesn't have to obey the law either...
Do you want to read some really scary shit
http://www.kirbytx.org/users/utilities/FINAL_Citizens_Guide_to_Code_Comp...
Who the fuck do these cunts think they are
Timothy Wilson, Mayor Ernest Spradling, Mayor Pro-Tem
Lisa Pierce, Council Member Jerry Lehman, Council Member Donald Aldridge, Council Member
Mike Grant, Council Member
City AdministrationTimothy E. Bolda, City Manager Patty Cox, City Secretary
Department HeadsRoger Aguillon, Director of Public Works Kevin Riedel, Fire Chief
Kevin M. Bois, Chief of Police
SAVE YOURSELVES
KILL THEM ALL
KILL THEM ALL
Just a little advise friend . . . this kind of statement in the comments on ZH, or any other web site on the internet, is crossing a BIG red line and risks your having a loud knock on the door (more like forcible entry) at 4 a.m. by the local, state or federal SWAT guys - what ever jurisdiction is related to the person or group you are threatening. Just saying . . . . . be careful!
Perhaps you might know the great movie that line came from
Save yourself,
Kill them all
Jury Trial! Jury Trial! Jury Trial!!!! She definitely needs to take this to court, represent herself (with some coaching from an attorney on court procedures) and explain the concept of "jury nullification" to the jury in her closing statement. I am pretty sure that 99% of all attorneys out there would not mention the term "jury nullification" at any time during court proceedings out of fear of being reprimanded or even sanctioned by the judge.
Round up the usual suspects! sicksarc
Its ironic that the USA which has thousands of churche and Christer radiostation and claims to be the greatest nation on earth has sunk to this level.
Meanwhile here where most people are atheists, I see true altruistic people helping others in need. NO churches needed.
No such person as an atheist; unless a Creator of all life doesn't exist, which means the atheist doesn't exist since the Creator did not create...see how simple that is.
Life has always existed in some form. Your western thinking is so inferior. Everyting is Cause and Effect. more succinctly simultaneous cause and effect. Nam-Myo-Ho-Renge-Kyo . - Buddha
Buddhists are atheists meaning they don't believe in a Supreme BEING,
I can see how simple you are, thats for sure and you don't even know what an atheist is. Go talk ot your invisible guy/gal in the sky , see if you get any results. Then try chanting ''Nam-Myo-Ho-Renge-Kyo'' for anything you want or need.
Hey you could have just passed out the "Little Debbie" snack foods without any violation (I think) and then had Michelle Obama come down and protest about abusing the Homeless with snack food.
-----------------------
That Chow Train will have more funds rolling in then they can handle; that is how God works evil for good...too bad so many miss the "Chow Train" on that simple concept.
I believe I would take my chances of eating her food, permit or not, as opposed to what i may find in that garbage can behind the restaurant over there.
Quotas, people.
Maybe the city could build a camp for the homeless, maybe some way out of town -away from the pollution you know.
And build a fence around it, and guard the perimeter with armed police. Stop terrorists from smuggling in gourmet meals n stuff, frightening the locals.
Protect and serve of course.............
And then we'll all be safe?
You can always vote these clowns out, San Antonio