Tampa Food Not Bombs Will Not Be Prosecuted

This press release came from State Attorney Andrew Warren's office.

Tampa, FL – Andrew Warren, the newly-elected State Attorney for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Hillsborough County, will not prosecute volunteers from Tampa Food Not Bombs who were arrested for trespassing for feeding the homeless earlier this year. On January 7, 2017, seven volunteers were arrested for trespass for distributing food to the homeless in Lykes Gaslight Square Park, a Tampa-owned park, without the required city permit. The seven volunteers were issued notices to appear in court before a judge, at which time the case was referred to the State Attorney’s Office for prosecution. The first volunteer’s appearance was scheduled for January 18, 2017. Today, the State Attorney’s Office filed a Notice of Nolle Prosequi for the first of the trespassing arrests, which serves as a dismissal of the case. The State Attorney’s Office will dismiss the cases for the remaining six defendants after those appearances are scheduled.

Regarding his decision not to prosecute, Warren said, “My mission is to make our community safer while promoting justice and fairness for everyone. Prosecuting people for charitable work does not further that mission and is an inefficient use of government resources. Furthermore, our goal is to view each case not as a person to be prosecuted but as a problem to be solved. That is why we have spoken with the Tampa Police Department, members of Tampa City Council, the Mayor’s office, and the attorney for Tampa Food Not Bombs in order to facilitate a resolution, and we commend them for working together to find a sensible solution. We will not prosecute the trespassing charges so long as the Tampa Food Not Bombs organization willingly participates in reaching a resolution to this matter and remains non-violent.”

Andrew Warren was sworn-in as the State Attorney for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, serving Hillsborough County, on January 3, 2017, after being elected on November 8, 2016. He was previously a federal prosecutor with the United States Department of Justice in Tampa, FL, and Washington, DC, and earned multiple accolades from the Justice Department and federal law enforcement agencies for his prosecution of complex white collar crime, including the 2013 Attorney General Award for Trial Litigation. A native of Gainesville, FL, Mr. Warren graduated from Brandeis University as a double-major in economics and political science before earning his J.D. from Columbia University Law School.

This is a good decision. It does not help Tampa's reputation to prosecute a charity organization attempting to feed the homeless. Sadly, downtown Tampa is filled with homeless people. The City of Tampa needs to address the housing situation for the homeless. There are simply not enough shelter beds for the homeless.

Protest Against Clearwater Anti-Homeless Laws

The newly formed Tarpon Springs chapter of Food Not Bombs will be holding a protest against the Clearwater anti-homeless ordinances.

Back in August, the city of Clearwater passed a series of anti-homeless ordinances, restricting people from sitting and sleeping in public spaces in certain parts of the city, including downtown and the beach.

The newly re-united chapter of Tarpon Springs Food Not Bombs, in conjunction with other local FNB chapters and activists groups, is planning a demonstration, food sharing and acoustic show at Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater to protest this inhumane and unconstitutional set of laws.

The protest will be in Coachman Park, in Clearwater, Florida, this Saturday. There will be musical entertainment and poets performing.

Progressive Events Held During the RNC

The Republican National Convention will take over downtown Tampa next week. Progress Florida has a list of lefty events that will be held that week.

Sunday, August 26th

Lecture: "Mass Media: Enemy or Tool?" Sponsored by Food Not Bombs World Gathering Café Hey 1540 N. Franklin St. Tampa 2:00pm Lecture and discussion led by Dr. David Z. Morris of USF Dept. of Communications.

"Patients Over Politics" Bus Tour Kick-Off Sponsored by Doctors for America Outside Tropicana Field 1700 block of 1st St. N in St. Petersburg 4:30pm-5:300pm To show support for our new benefits gained under the landmark health care reform law, ObamaCares. Bus tour kicks off in Tampa with several Tampa Bay event stops and then heads to the Democratic convention in Charlotte, NC. Check for updates and more specific locations here: www.drsforamerica.org/take-action/patientsoverpolitics

Community Vigil and March on the "RNC Kick-Off Party" at the Tropicana Field Sponsored by Florida Consumer Action Network (FCAN) Mirror Lake Drive (in front of Mirror Lake Lyceum) St. Petersburg 5:30-8:30pm Local faith leaders from the Tampa Bay area will convene a gathering concerned citizens to raise awareness of the disparities of the policies that hurt the middle-class and the 99%. RSVP on Facebook

Monday, August 27th

March On The RNC Sponsored by the Coalition to March on the RNC Perry Harvey Sr. Park 1200 N. Orange Ave Tampa 10:00am We will begin with our 10am rally at Perry Harvey Sr. Park, located at 1200 N. Orange Ave in Tampa, FL. After the speakers greet the crowd and our Coalition assembles, we will begin our march towards the RNC going on at the Tampa Bay Times Forum around noon. On Facebook www.marchonthernc.com

Melting Middle Class Ice Sculpture Sponsored by Morning In America and artists Nora Ligorano and Marshall Reese Lykes Gaslight Park 401 N. Franklin St. Tampa 10:00am Morning in America plans to install a 2,000 pound, 4ft. tall by 15 ft. wide ice sculpture of the words "middle class." This event is a photo-video shoot documenting the installation, presentation and disappearance of an ice sculpture. The event continues until the ice disappears, which could take from 6 to 24 hours. Republicans cheering on the melting of the ice and/or hedging bets on the rate of middle class disintegration could happen in reality or metaphor. www.meltedaway.com

March From Romneyville Sponsored by Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign Romneyville (Army/Navy store parking lot) 1213 N. Tampa Street Tampa 3:00-5:00pm Demonstrators will call for stopping all foreclosure actions, criminalization of the poor and homeless. On Facebook Contact: Rev. Bruce Wright (bgcwright@aol.com; 727-278-1547)

Panel Discussion: "Is This What Democracy Looks Like?" Sponsored by Awake Pinellas Studio@620 620 1st Avenue South St. Petersburg 6:30-8:00pm Panel discussion with Ruth Conniff, political editor of The Progressive magazine, Dr. Judithanne Scourfield-Maclaughlin of USF, and Arun Gupta of Occupy Wall Street Journal. These progressive journalists will discuss the state of democracy in Florida, Wisconsin, and the nation. Moderated by Progress Florida's Darden Rice. Cost: $5 to support Studio@620 RSVP on Facebook

Tuesday, August 28th

Intergenerational Roundtable Sponsored by Young Invincibles 10:30-11:30am Centro Asturiano de Tampa 1913 N. Nebraska Ave. Tampa We want to hear from you about your generation's biggest problems and what you'd do to solve them. Students, seniors, and all members of the community are invited. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Susan McManus, the author of Young vs. Old, NBC political analyst, and Professor at the University of South Florida. RSVP to sam.whappel@younginvincibles.org or call 301-655-4031. Tweet using #CanYouHearMeNow

Rock The Vote! Road Trip 2012 Sponsored by Rock the Vote 11:00am-3:00 pm St. Leo University 33701 State Road 52 Rock the Vote Road Trip Bus is heading our way! They will be pulling up and unloading at Saint Leo University for an awesome event that will include live music, voter registration, and tons of interactive activations. Make sure you stop by and register to vote, get your picture snapped, grab some free stuff, groove to music, and loads more! Learn More

Rally Against Voter Suppression at the RNC Sponsored by Florida Consumer Action Network (FCAN) 5:00pm Centennial Park in Historic Ybor City 1800 East 8th Avenue Tampa As the Republicans gather for their party in Tampa this August, we will be standing up for the most fundamental American right: the right to vote. RSVP On Facebook

Tampa Wonkette Drinky Thing and Meetup Sponsored by Wonkette Starts 6:00-7:00ish MacDinton’s 405 S. Howard Avenue Organizers say, “We might let some Republicans into our Wonkette Drinky thing, but only if they are shirtless.” MacDinton’s is an Irish pub with many choices of fried things and beer.

Rock the Youth Vote with Steve Aoki Sponsored by Rock The Vote 6:00-8:00pm Amphitheater 1609 E. 8th Ave in Ybor City Celebrating the power of the youth vote and the right to vote. Celebrate the recent court decision that protects voting rights in Florida! Ages 18+. RSVP for tickets and get info here: rockthevote.tumblr.com/rsvp

Wednesday, August 29th

Rally of ‘Women Are Watching’ Against the RNC Sponsored by Planned Parenthood Action Fund 2:00-3:30 pm Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park 1001 North Boulevard, Tampa Women are Watching is Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s 2012 campaign to educate women across the country about the unprecedented attacks on women’s health and where candidates stand on pivotal health care issues, empower women to hold anti-women’s health candidates of either party accountable, and work to elect pro-women’s health candidates up and down the ballot. Contact: wendy.grassi@plannedparenthood.org

“Welcome to Mitt Romney’s America” Parade Sponsored by AFL-CIO Tampa official parade route The event is called “Welcome to Mitt Romney’s America” and will look a lot like a carnival but will showcase what will happen to America if he is elected President in November. Contact: Cheryl Schroder at 813-368-7124 or cschroeder@wcffl.org or Joshua Anijar at 850-228-9841 or janijar@flaflcio.org.

Thursday, August 30th

Patients over Politics Rally and Parade Sponsored by Doctors for America 2:00-5:00pm Lykes Gaslight Square Park 401 N. Franklin St. Tampa Show your support for the Affordable Care Act. Check for updates and more specific locations here: www.drsforamerica.org/take-action/patientsoverpolitics.

Friday, August 31st

Democracy Now’s Amy Goodman Fundraiser for WMNF 88.5 FM Sponsored by WMNF 88.5 FM Community Radio 6:30pm Reception, 8:00pm Talk The Palladium 253 5th Street N. St Petersburg VIP reception at 6:30 is $80 and includes book signing. Advance tickets for talk at 8:00 are $10. $15 at the door. Purchase tickets either from wmnf.org or the Palladium http://www.spcollege.edu/palladiu

Food Not Bombs at Tampa RNC

WUSF reports that Food Not Bombs will be feeding protesters during the Republican National Convention. Food Not Bombs will be at Voice of Freedom Park during the convention.

Food Not Bombs founder John McHenry told WUSF that the Tampa RNC was chosen for their world gathering because of Florida's strict anti-homeless laws. Food Not Bombs have had several run-ins with law enforcement for feeding the homeless in public parks. Apparently, the parks are public until someone tries to feed homeless people.

Voice of Freedom Park is owned by Joe Redner, the owner of Mons Venus and liberal activist. Redner is currently letting Occupy Tampa use the park. The Tampa Police Department is forcing Redner to evict Occupy Tampa by September 15th.

"I am not making them leave," Redner says. "The city was kicking protesters out of public parks downtown. They were being harassed and getting put in jail. I thought I was doing the city a favor by letting them stay at my park, but I know they can't stay forever."

Redner also said that the Occupiers have caused no problems for the surrounding communities. The area near Voice of Freedom Park is poor. Occupy Tampa is hardly dropping the property values.

Orlando Homeless Feeding Update

The Orange County Democratic Executive Committee passed a resolution asking Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and the City Council to stop arrest members of Food Not Bombs. The group has been feeding the homeless in public parks.

“Whereas, the passage of this ordinance and its enforcement involving arrests may reflect badly on Orlando, internationally. Moreover, adverse publicity about these arrests may significantly hurt the economy and reputation of the City Beautiful,” the resolution reads, in part. “Whereas, as Democrats, we stand firm in our belief in anti-poverty policies and expect our elected officials to do the same.”

I'm glad the Orange County Democratic Executive Committee has stepped up. The policy of arresting people for feeding the homeless has been a disaster and certainly hasn't lowered the homeless population. Dyer and the city council can designate spaces where the homeless can be fed. Food Not Bombs can could have found private property owner that would have volunteered their space for feedings. Both sides drew their battle lines and weren't willing to compromise. Hopefully, the Executive Committee resolution is the start of sanity.

Feed Me White House

A news story that will not make readers cry. Members of Congress are complaining about the "tiny little portions" served at White House functions. Memo to both parties in Congress: it is not the White House's job to feed Congress. Congress is used to the lavish meals provided by lobbyists Mitchell Wade.

Harris, a Republican congresswoman from Longboat Key, said the meal at Citronelle in Georgetown was so pricey because contractor Mitchell Wade bought several expensive bottles of wine "which he took home with him uncorked." Citronelle maitre d' Jean-Jacques Retourne, however, said that would have violated the restaurant's liquor license. "You cannot take a bottle out."

Congress is like the evil plant in Little Shop of Horrors. Lavish Congress and they will give false promises to Obama.

"Feed me White House! Feed me more."

Buddy Dyer Avoids Homeless Protest

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer attended a fundraiser at the Urban Think bookstore. Food Not Bombs protested outside. The City of Orlando has an ordinance that prohibits feeding large groups in public parks. The ordinance was designed to prevent homeless feedings. Pols aren't going to word ordinances saying homeless people can't be feed. That would legally be discriminatory.

WFTV a video story. Jackie Dowd has a post on the subject.