Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch O'Farrell's War On The Poor


Mitch O'Farrell's War On The Poor



Angelenos,

Mitch O'Farrell seconded Motion 13-1238 in September of 2013, which called for passing a law in Los Angeles criminalizing the feeding of homeless people in public spaces.

This motion would require groups like us, Monday Night Mission and many others to use indoor facilities to feed the homeless when we do not have the financial resources to do so. This would shutdown our organization as well as countless others who not only feed the homeless, but people with housing who can't afford to eat.

The Council member who brought about this motion Tom Labonge has assured us that he will not support a ban on feeding the homeless in public spaces, while Mitch O'Farrell has not come out with a clear statement on his intentions. Last week he stated to NBC that he wants "The experts to weigh in"

If such a law is passed it would cut off over 100,000 meals each month served by over 100's of groups who do street feeding. Mitch O'Farrell has not come up with a solution as to how he will replace these meals that serve the 58,000 people who are homeless in LA as well as those who can't afford to eat.

Our group Monday Night Mission never intended to take on a political stance but facing such a ban and knowing how many people would go hungry we decided that we could not afford to sit and wait anymore.

Politicians have always taken the side of profit over the poor. It is high time that we take the side of the poor over these politicians.

We request that Mitch O'Farrell publicly state that he will not pursue a ban or any restrictions on feeding the homeless in public spaces or that he provides an alternative food source for the meals that will be denied for the hungry.

Until then we will continue to operate this page to mobilize Angelenos to defeat Mitch O'Farrell's War On The Poor.

Thank you,

Mel Tillekeratne
Founder and Leader,
Monday Night Mission

http://www.facebook.com/mondaynightmission

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

The majority has rights too..... Who's making the mess? Who's responsible for the mess? Look's like responsibility is a good solution.....