Desperately searching for food in a downtown Houston dumpster, a homeless veteran was given a ticket by Houston police for “disturbing the contents of a garbage can.”
The ticket was issued by police on Thursday morning. The 44-year-old homeless veteran who was forced to dumpster dive for food is known only as K.J., according to the redacted ticket released by police.
(News 92 FM)
Homeless advocates are now coming to the defense of the homeless vet. Critics argue that this instance displays how the city’s 2012 ordinance banning the feeding of the poor without proper registration actually victimizes the homeless.
Joe Ablaza, a critic of the policy, told Houston’s News 92 FM that the homeless man once relied on the kindness of strangers and that was taken away. Now, he is forced to rummage through garbage for food and the city wants to even take that option away from the homeless, he explained.
“What little dignity this man has continues to be assaulted by the uncompassionate leadership of this city,” Ablaza wrote in a Facebook post.
More from News 92 FM:
The voluntary homeless feeding ordinance was passed last April in a 11-6 vote by Houston City Council. The program moves for registration of formal and informal food service organizations, free food handling training by the city’s Department of Health and Human Services, and coordination of locations and times of feeding.
Registrants are also required to obtain the consent of public or private property owners before distributing food.
Councilman James Rodriguez, who represents District I, told the Houston Chronicle the policy was meant to “treat our homeless with dignity, to be more efficient and to protect public property.”
Ablaza and other opponents aren’t buying it, however, saying Mayor Annise Parker has forced the homeless into a difficult situation.
Jason Baldwin, a Republican activist in Houston, reportedly went looking for the homeless vet on Twitter to offer him a warm meal.
K.J. is expected in court on April 10 of this year.
(H/T: Drudge)
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Comments (67)
LeadNotFollow
Mar. 12, 2013 at 3:46amHow dare this homeless American veteran to try and feed himself without any help.
That’s Mama Barry Obama’s Job.
B. Hussein Obama wants every American to suckle at the teats of the Government.
They want to control every drop of sustenance that goes into our mouths.
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Will-db
Mar. 12, 2013 at 4:37amYup, cos this is how the GOP thinks veteran’s should be rewarded. ‘Thanks for your service, now go and feed out of garbage bags’.
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drmeagle
Mar. 12, 2013 at 1:37am“The ordinance is specific to the Central Business District. It is a violation of city ordinance for anyone to remove any contents of any bin, bag or other container that has been placed for collection of garbage, trash or recyclable materials. (See the ordinance: Art. 1 Sec. 39-2, Houston Code of Ordinances). An officer has probable cause to issue such a citation when a person is seen opening a lid and rummaging through contents of a dumpster or trash can.”
But seems to me, with the City of Houston ordinance using the wording: “for anyone”, it also just made it illegal for police, FBI, etc. to search for evidence in trash cans too.
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drmeagle
Mar. 12, 2013 at 1:48amhttp://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/chapter39-2010may.pdf
Just read the actual ordinance (above). So Houston police have a “defense” as agents or employees of the city but the wording seems to still find the FBI not exempt from the misdemeanor.
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Obama_In_PeePee_By_Zee_Arteeest_Beck
Mar. 12, 2013 at 1:23am“Homeless Houston Veteran Ticketed for ‘Disturbing the Contents of a Garbage Can’ in Search of Food”
So-o-o-o, how’s that whole Police-(standing army)-Department thingy working out for everyone? America’s Founders knew, greatly feared, and warned us of it.
Past time to put an end to government thuggery and disband the police “standing army” departments (because they’re here for a reason … a very bad reason):
“America: Freedom To Fascism”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNNeVu8wUak
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JoeAblaza
Mar. 12, 2013 at 1:01amThanks For Running Story! Maybe we can change these policies and make Houston a compassionate city again.
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zoro51
Mar. 11, 2013 at 11:38pmthis IS america not a 3rd world dung hole OH WAIT OBAMA THE SOCIALIST IS THE FLASE PRESIDENT so perhaps one of HIS vacatioins he takes daily can HELP THIS VET BE DIGNIFIED HUMAN AND BE PRODUCTIVE IN SOCIETY… not a pauper kicked out by THUGS from texas… HOW BOUT IT MR SOCIALIST???…. HERES A PRIME EXAMPLE of wait i forgot YOU ONLY KISS MUSLUM ASS N FUND TERRORISM
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Will-db
Mar. 12, 2013 at 3:27amBut don’t you realise the GOP voted down Obama’s ‘Jobs for Veterans’ bill?
QUOTE:
“After the vote, at midday on Wednesday, Patty Murray, chairman of the Senate veterans affairs committee, accused Senate Republicans of “shocking and shameful” obstructive politics.
She said: “At a time when one in four young veterans are unemployed, Republicans should have been able, for just this once, to put aside the politics of obstruction and to help these men and women provide for their families.
“It’s unbelievable that even after more than a decade of war many Republicans still will not acknowledge that the treatment of our veterans is a cost of war. Today they voted down a fully paid-for bill that included bipartisan ideas to put veterans in jobs that will allow them to serve their communities. Jobs that would have helped provide veterans with the self-esteem that is so critical to their successful transition home.”
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Skrewedretiree
Mar. 11, 2013 at 11:18pmYup…and we send millions to moo-slums.
Hey, you voted for it, you got it. Any questions?
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sparkyrules
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:58pmWe treat our dogs better up North.
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FalseFactBob
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:58pmFun Fact: the War on Poverty. Democrats=1. Poor people=0
Don’t worry poor people you might have lost this battle but you haven’t lost the war
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sparkyrules
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:56pmCome on Glenn.I thought Texas was the best?
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stumpy68
Mar. 11, 2013 at 11:53pmCities do something to people they seems to melt
their brains and turn them into liberal dumbacRats
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COFemale
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:37pmYeah it would be such a horror a homeless person gets a meal made by someone who hasn’t had “food handling” training than rummaging through the dumpster getting spoiled or rotten food, possibly dying from that scenario.
This is how Democrats treat the homeless. So when they bring up women, the elderly and children will go hungry due to sequester, bring up yeah but you starve the homeless with your ridiculous regulations. Democrats nickel and dime you to feed their fetishes. Time to stand up and say no more.
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Tigress1
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:43pmExcellent, EXCELLENT point!
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Exrepublisheep
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:53pmTexas. No surprise.
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PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:37pmThis is a National Disgrace. No veteran should ever be without! How many buildings does the government own that sit vacant? While the GSA parties and throws money around with trips to Vegas and our honorable, brave veterans are reduced to this! It is outrageous and contemptible. I also just read today that because of the sequester education funding for returning veterans has also stopped even to those to which it is already promised. How low will this vile regime stoop? Then turn around and have a lavish birthday bash for the big fat mooch.
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Skrewedretiree
Mar. 11, 2013 at 11:28pmDon’t be too hard on the Regime. The “People” voted for this.
As a veteran myslelf…excuse me, “ex-serviceman”*, I know that the Regime like all the previous administrations likes to use those of us who took the oath and swore allegiance and wore the uniform and went into the front lines, wherever they might have been, like whores. Find us, feel us, **** us, forget us.
* The “veterans organizations” don’t recognize me because I have no Navy service medals for being on a destroyer escort nose to nose with the Russians in the Cold War, but a Navy Storekeeper miles away from combat during Desert Storm on a supply ship got a service medal and he is qualified to be a REAL veteran. Go figure.
They hand out decorations today like cotton candy at a fair.
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marybethelizabeth
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:36pmDon’t get caught without a minimum wage job in Texas. $2.13 an hour waiting tables
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Stelex
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:45pmThat was just for you sweetie, and they were being generous.
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Zipit
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:47pmWhat’s yer point!
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sparkyrules
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:50pmYou should know.
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TH777
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:54pm@marybethelizabeth: Kiss my A$$. You useless piece of garbage!
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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Mar. 11, 2013 at 11:28pmWaiters are paid differently, because they get tips. If you are a good waiter, you will make more than minimum wage on most good nights.
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civilwarcometh
Mar. 11, 2013 at 11:57pmMARYBETHELIZABETH <<< Don't let this little Alinsky wannabe change the conversation. Don't play their game…
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TH777
Mar. 12, 2013 at 12:09amCivilwarcometh to the rescue of marybethelizabeth. Now that is heartwarming.
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civilwarcometh
Mar. 12, 2013 at 12:14amTH777 is that what you got out of my post. Let be more clear. IGNORE the POS COMMIE! Now you shouldn’t have any problems understanding that. Unless you have some personal grudge towards me..
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The-Monk
Mar. 12, 2013 at 12:16amHi Civilwarcometh,
He missed the arrows.
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TH777
Mar. 12, 2013 at 12:40am@Cilvilwarcometh: It sounded like you were defending marybethelizabeth. I certainly do not have anything personal against you. If I misunderstood your post then I truly apologize.
@The_Monk: I guess I missed the arrow.
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civilwarcometh
Mar. 12, 2013 at 7:27pmIt’s all good i have done the exact same thing.
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TH777
Mar. 12, 2013 at 9:51pm@Civilwarcometh: Thank you for understanding! I really felt horrible for not understanding your post. I’ve seen your posts and I know you are typically on the “same page” as I am but for some reason I misunderstood your post. My apologies again!
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LostInTheSpin
Mar. 13, 2013 at 4:11amMarybeth, my **** cheeks are spread so you can plant your lips right in the middle of my brown round.
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ThorLoser
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:32pmI work in downtown Houston. Trust me, nobody in the downtown area is “forced” to dumpster dive for food. We have a some type of homeless service about every 5 blocks downtown and for 30 or so blocks southwest of downtown. The services have far more capacity than is currently being used. They are literally begging the homeless to just come in and get whatever aid they need. In addition, the folks from these services go out nightly and check on those who refuse to come in, giving them clothing, blankets, food and so on. They will literally refuse to go into the shelters to get food, then wait for the shelter to throw it away and then raid the trash. Note: If there were simply no capacity and not enough food, I would be angry at this ticket being issued. How do we help those who simply refuse help? The police are stuck. How do they say, “Dude, stop digging in the trash can and go inside and get a real meal”?
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spirited
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:41pmHow do they say, “Dude, stop digging in the trash can and go inside and get a real meal”?
> “Dude, stop digging in the trash can and go inside and get a real meal” & kick em in the pants.
That’s what the police used to do.
Haven’t ya seen any black n white movies?
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Tigress1
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:42pm“Dude, stop digging in the trash and get a real meal.”
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ThorLoser
Mar. 11, 2013 at 11:03pm*facepalm* Got me!
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TH777
Mar. 11, 2013 at 11:26pmDid you ever think that maybe the guy has a little pride he’d like to hold on to? Maybe he would rather dumpster dive then go in a building and beg for food. I say, Bless his heart! Let him eat any way he can. It’s just a freaking shame how illegals in this Country are being fed, housed and clothed through our system but our Veterans are not! The injustice in this world makes me sick and turns my stomach!
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ThorLoser
Mar. 12, 2013 at 12:20am@TH777
Looking at the story elsewhere, he was ticketted in Herman Park, which is several miles outside of downtown. I do not have any first hand experience or knowledge of the homeless situation in that particular area.
On the ticket, it said “disturbing the contents of a garbage can in the downtown central business district.” I looked up what that area is, by their own definition and as I suspected, Herman Park ain’t in it. The following link states “The Downtown District is bounded largely by the freeway ring around Houston’s central business core, including Interstate 10, Highway 59 and Interstate 45.” The ordinance cited is solely for the downtown district and isn’t applicable in Herman Park.
http://www.downtowndistrict.org/Home/AboutUs/Overview/default.asp
There are only 3,800 people who live in that area, up from just over 1,000 in the 90′s. To see how far it’s come, just watch _I Come In Peace_ with Dolph Lundgren. That was what it looked like then. Burnt out and empty warehouses, trash can fires, homeless everywhere, etc…
Link to the ordinance:
http://library.municode.com/HTML/10123/level3/COOR_CH39SOWALICO_ARTIINGE.html#COOR_CH39SOWALICO_ARTIINGE_S39-2DIRECOCO
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Tigress1
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:28pmDisgusting! Do they ticket the rats and raccoons from “disturbing the contents of a garbage can”? This man is HUNGRY! Don’t people know what that means? Where is the VA? NONE of our veterans should be starving! Take the money going to the Muslim Brotherhood and feed our veterans! $1.5 BILLION can feed a lot of veterans!
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media-bias-steals-elections
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:27pmSo if there are a lot of people waiting to see the police officer show up in court, and the police officer does not appear, this guy goes free? Should ask a local church to help him find a post office box to get food stamps, or help him find work?
One time, a guy with no legs was begging, I went to the nearest McDonalds, bought him lunch, and came back 20 minutes later with hot food for the guy? That was before we had food stamps that were as easy to get as they are now? I don’t give money to beggers now because they mushroom around the city? Better to give them a list of charities to go to, or a web site?
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spirited
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:25pmIt seems that municipalities are concerned with property values, & in general, control; not “dignity”!
This man’s ticket is a legal excuse to clean up neighborhoods; a ‘not in my backyard’ mentality.
Not allowing soup kitchens, shelters or churches to feed the poor, less fortunate, drug adicts, and/or the mentally unstable… as in the past, –because of nutrition /sodium/health conserns, yadda yadda– is just another government grab (plain and simple)!
It’s no different that the sudden requirement of permits for children’s lemonade stands, selling pumpkins for charity… etc. It’s is all for one reason. CONTROL, CONTROL, CONTROL.
>freaks
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The-Monk
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:21pmWhat’s next? Ticketing the owner of the garbage can? : (
CAEROGAP strikes again.
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spirited
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:46pmHello again MONK,
Do tell.
How about a little breeze?^>
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The-Monk
Mar. 11, 2013 at 11:07pmHi Spirited,
I still have to put together the mini Monk dictionary so people will “understand” what I’m saying.
Yes, “understand” is one of the words. In a Monk’s world the word “understand” is one step up from “intemperate” and means “to stand underneath or below the truth”.
The 4 steps in knowing are;
1- intemperate
2- understand
3- realize (Realize the truth of something)
4- recognize (Recognize the truth when you see it again)
There’s a breeze for you. : )
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The-Monk
Mar. 11, 2013 at 11:34pmEdit;
Not intemperate but interpret
Dang spell check that I didn’t double check. LOL
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FalseFactBob
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:20pmFun Fact: when the ticketing officer was asked how is disturbing garbage a crime? The officer replied all snarky “I don’t write the Laws I only enforce them you dumb @$$es keep electing the people who write the laws I have to enforce, you don’t like it stop electing these jack wagons.”
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Stelex
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:25pmDing…..Ding……ding……ding…….ding…….we have a winner. BUT…..how do we stop electing idiots when idiots are doing the electing.???????
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Stelex
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:18pmComing to a town near you…..the new Obama norm for all of us. His contempt for America will drive us all to dumpster diving. And if your prepared for it they will seek you out. Obama wants to turn us into Africa. PAYBACK.
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Jake Dog2
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:14pmObama’s battle against non-profit organizations is the reason for this because he does not want competition with the government
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Wdawg
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:11pmJust put him in prison and he will get 3 free meals a day. Wouldn’t be surprised if the judge does that.
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Interceptor911
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:09pmWhoever my fellow officer is who did this, you should be ashamed. This is a complete bs ticket and you know it. Instead of writing him you should have taken him to the local homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Maybe buy the man a meal. Get your head out of your rectum.
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Patriot72
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:12pmWell said.
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john vincent
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:21pm-interceptor
good call
just because something CAN be done by law, doesn’t mean it should. Every so often, showing a little grace is a good thing.
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TH777
Mar. 11, 2013 at 11:49pmDoesn’t humanity exist anymore? Doesn’t anyone have a heart anymore. I’m sooooo glad I won’t be on this earth much longer. This “new” world is totally heartbreaking!
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Patriot72
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:08pmHow about a lick of common sense, Houston? Food donations do not need to run through the hands of bureaucrats to feed the hungry. Just feed them you statists buffoons! Cities that ban private donations of food to the homeless and hungry do not care one bit about those in need. All they want is control of the population. What a disgrace.
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yiska8
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:34pmAgreed.
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banjarmon
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:07pmIf things are set by the road, it is trash. Pickings for anybody. The police do it all the time to find evidence.
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sparkyrules
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:53pmwith half eaten donuts
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AUsername
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:07pma police officer is a satisfying position for a school bully after school.
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barber2
Mar. 11, 2013 at 10:35pmOne of the smartest , kindest, and strongest guys I knew in high school became a police officer . Some of the biggest bullies I have ever seen are in the current Democrat Party. Go figure.
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AUsername
Mar. 12, 2013 at 9:25amperhaps times have changed, i observed that personally.
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