ORLANDO FOOD NOT BOMBS IS SUCCESSFUL IN SHARING AT LAKE EOLA PARK ON AUG. 2–CITY TRIES NEW TACTICS

Orlando Food Not Bombs was able to share successfully once again on Wed., Aug. 2. This time, the City dispatched Orlando Police Department (OPD) Lt. Jim Marchione (and at least 5-6 other officers) who insisted that we needed one of the city's "large group feeding" permits. This was in spite of the fact that as we did last week we were serving food from the back of a van parked on a street near the park rather than inside the park's picnic area. The City suddenly decided that this was location was "adjacent" to the park (although we were not serving on that sidewalk and it seems that defining a parking space as a "right of way," which they apparently were, is stretching things a bit). The City is also now stating that no "large group feedings" can take place on any adjacent street within one block of any city park within two miles of city hall. Of course, if we move more than a block away from Lake Eola Park, the City will probably re-interpret the ordinance again so that we will be in violation of it.

The city is maintaining that the permit that it "gave" OFNB on Wednesday constitutes one of the two one-time permits that a group is allowed for the same park within a twelve-month period under the City's "large group feedings"–anti-homeless feeding–ordinance. However, Orlando Food Not Bombs, in keeping with its policies, did not ask for the permit, did not fill it out, did not sign it and refused to accept it from the park ranger. Evidence has come to light that shows that the City and its attorneys have blatantly contradicted themselves between our July 26 and Aug. 2 sharings–all in an attempt to stop us and other groups from sharing food with hungry and homeless people. According to the OPD's information report from our July 26 sharing (the first conducted after passage of the ordinance on July 24), city attorney Ken Hebert told the police that Orlando Food Not Bombs was not, or did not appear to be, in violation of the ordinance and did not need the permit –that it had no intention of asking for or taking if offered. This revelation is something that our legal counsel will be studying.

Given the City's legal shenanigans, we had a hard time believing Marchione's sincerity when he kept saying that he was not stopping us from giving food to homeless people. That was true–that time. However, both the City and OFNB know that the City will eventually use its coercive power to kick us out of the Lake Eola Park area. What form that will take–arrests, citations, trespass warnings, confiscation of our food, our plates, bowls, utensils, or even the vehicle from which we share–is known only to the City. We have members who are prepared to be arrested if necessary. We hope the City is prepared for the bad publicity, national embarassment and lawsuits such drastic actions will bring upon it. (Jay Leno should have some more jokes ready.)

In the meantime, the City is pulling out all the stops in its efforts to hinder OFNB's sharings. In addition to trying to force upon us a permit we didn't ask for, this week it dispatched an inspector from the Orange County Health Department who asked to check the temperature of our food (which we refused to allow). It's odd that the City is so concerned about the health implications of our food, but not about the serious health concerns raised by its "large group feedings" site on Sylvia Lane in an out-of-the-way high crime zone. Perhaps the Health Department should be interested in the fact that there is no way for people who use the portable toilets at that site to wash their hands afterwards; that is not exactly conducive to sanitary handling of food. It's also in keeping with the City's discriminatory policies toward low income and homeless people and is a disgrace.

At one point, three OPD officers, two on bicycle and one on foot, paraded through the picnic area, apparently in an attempt to count the number of people eating there and to send them a message, since many of those with whom OFNB shares are homeless and experience what they consider harassment from the OPD. We realize, of course, that OPD has been tasked with shutting down the food sharings in the park by Orlando politicians such as Mayor Buddy Dyer and Commissioner Patty Sheehan who shamelessly pander to downtown developers, business interests and yuppies. After all, their campaign contributions speak louder than the needs and rights of the poor.

OFNB will return to Lake Eola Park next week to share food with the hungry. We will post an account afterwards.

Members of Orlando Food Not Bombs along with the Rev. Bryan Nichols (center), of the 1st Vagabond Church of God, hold a banner during a press conference called by S.T.O.P.–Stop the Ordinance Partnership. The Vagabond Church is a homeless ministry of the homeless for the homeless.

George Crossley, of S.T.O.P. speaks to the media. S.T.O.P. is a coalition formed recently to fight the ordinance and the criminalization of homelessness in Central Florida. The press conference and OFNB sharing were covered by Channels 2 and 6 and The Orlando Sentinel.

Once again, the police had a civilian employee from their Forensic Imaging Unit videotape our sharing. This is the van used by that unit.

OFNB has nothing to hide, but the taping seems like an intimidation tactic or part of continuing efforts to profile local activists.

The picnic area at Lake Eola Park is a lot more pleasant than the City's designated "large group feedings" site on Sylvia Lane. Lake Eola Park has plenty of tables and chairs, trees, bushes, flowers, and shade, and clean bathrooms with running water. Sylvia Lane, by contrast, is in an out-of-the-way high crime area. It's a vacant lot that has been fenced in so that it resembles a sort of prison camp and furnished with a handful of picnic tables and portable toilets. However, it lacks any way for individuals to wash their hands after going to the bathroom–which presents health hazards when eating and consuming food. It's another example of the City's discriminatory, separate and unequal policies toward low-income and homeless people.

Your tax dollars at work. The city dispatched several employees of the Park Bureau (including these two women) and borrowed a health inspector from Orange County (on the left).

OPD Lt. Jim Marchione (hidden by tree) explains the City's policies to members of S.T.O.P. (on left) while the media and a park ranger and park bureau employees look on.

A shot borrowed from the Orlando Sentinel

Lt. Marchione