Volunteers who feed homeless sue Dayton, say city is ‘criminalizing charity’

City of Dayton has ordinance against distributing food in public spaces downtown without a permit; group argues that’s unconstitutional

But Nourish Our Neighbors volunteers have accused the city of “criminalizing charity.” … “Nourish Our Neighbors’ volunteers are acting on their belief that society and the government have failed the homeless,” Anastasia Boden, a senior attorney with Pacific Legal Foundation, said in a prepared statement. “Dayton can’t force individuals who simply want to help the hungry to get an onerous, expensive and needless permit.”

https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/volunteer-groups-sues-dayton-for-requiring-permit-to-hand-out-food-to-homeless-downtown/VMIOFJDP3VECDOBDUJAH6J6KGU

Ohio Libertarian Party regains state recognition, fields candidates in key 2024 races

Nanna said Ohio voters who aren’t satisfied with the candidates put forward by the Republican and Democratic parties should take a look at his party’s candidates.

“It’s important voters should have more choices at the end of the day, regardless of whether or not you’re a Libertarian or you agree with Libertarian views,” Nanna added. “I think it’s important that we put our best foot forward and run as many candidates as possible.”

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2024/08/ohio-libertarian-party-regains-state-recognition-fields-candidates-in-key-2024-races.html

https://archive.is/UDJ0L

Ohio Libertarian Party files thousands of signatures to regain state recognition

Ohio Libertarians turned in more than 88,000 petition signatures, including signatures from all 88 counties, to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office to regain their status as a recognized minor party, state Libertarian Party Chair Dustin Nanna said.

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2024/07/ohio-libertarian-party-files-thousands-of-signatures-to-regain-state-recognition.html

Dayton food handout law dates to 2005 fights over Cooper Park meals for homeless

Members and supporters of nonprofit groups and political organizations including Nourish Our Neighbors, the Libertarian Party of Montgomery County and the Southwest Ohio Party for Socialism and Liberation say the city law criminalizes feeding and helping the poor.

https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/dayton-food-handout-law-dates-to-2005-fights-over-cooper-park-meals-for-homeless/E7FOU7BB5FFEPC4UP5K5HWYH2U

Libertarian Party of Montgomery County condemns Dayton anti-homeless ordinance

The Libertarian Party of Montgomery County condemns Dayton Code of Ordinances Sec. 137.21, “Preparing and distributing food in a public place within central area of the city”, which has surfaced in the news following the arrest of a local man for violating its provisions.

Nearly a decade old, this ordinance is a blight on our community, restricting individual freedoms and hindering acts of charity. By mandating that individuals obtain a $50, one-use permit to prepare or distribute food, clothing, or toiletries in public spaces within the central area of the city, this ordinance imposes unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles and financial burdens on those seeking to assist their fellow citizens in need.

While purportedly enforced under the guise of food safety, it is clear that the true intent of the law is to control and manage the visibility of poverty and homelessness in the downtown area. The recent arrest serves as a stark reminder of the detrimental impact of such heavy-handed regulations on our community.

Josh Umbaugh, Chair of the Libertarian Party of Montgomery County, Ohio, remarked on the situation, stating: “City ordinance 137.2 is incredibly disrespectful to the freedoms of Dayton citizens. It shouldn’t be illegal for a neighbor to help a neighbor. How ridiculous is that?!”

The Libertarian Party of Montgomery County calls for the immediate repeal of this unjust law. This ordinance’s regulation of charitable activities in downtown Dayton is a form of political theater aimed at masking our city’s social and economic challenges, rather than addressing them directly.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Libertarian Party of Montgomery County

[email protected]

Our question is, how does requiring a permit help the unhoused community members in Dayton?

It doesn’t. It’s simply just a fee handed to the government in hopes that they grant you “permission” to help your community members.

‘It’s just food’: Activists want Dayton to repeal ordinance requiring permit to distribute food downtown

A week earlier, Dayton police arrested a 25-year-old man at Courthouse Square after city officials said he continued to hand out food after he and others were warned by officers to stop because it violated city code.

Officers said they responded after receiving an anonymous complaint about the food distribution activities, according to body camera footage obtained by this newspaper. An officer in the body camera video says, “It’s all about just getting a permit, man — that’s all it is.”

https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/its-just-food-activists-want-dayton-to-repeal-ordinance-requiring-permit-to-distribute-food-downtown/RVSK26XVWBGTZFZPGANTLUZU2Q

https://archive.is/nYaPR

J.D. Vance Thinks U.S. Steel’s Shareholders Weren’t Adequately Warned of J.D. Vance’s Efforts To Block Sale

Where are the limits of federal power? Vance is positing a situation in which the government must grant implicit or explicit approval of every merger and acquisition involving an American company.

https://reason.com/2024/04/11/j-d-vance-thinks-u-s-steels-shareholders-werent-adequately-warned-of-j-d-vances-efforts-to-block-sale/

Dayton man arrested after giving food to homeless without a permit; Some say city law ‘criminalizes’ charity

It is against the law to prepare or distribute food, clothing or toiletries in a public place within the central area of the city without a city permit.

https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/dayton-man-arrested-after-giving-food-to-homeless-without-a-permit-some-say-city-law-criminalizes-charity/YDED2OW4KZCGZG6XU5FQ3JXIUE/

https://archive.is/nxtLd

Roommates Are Now Legal In Ohio

In a Jan. 30 decision, [Portage C]ounty court holds that the City of Kent’s restriction on the number of unrelated persons who may reside together to be unconstitutional.

With the series of decisions from 2006 to present, the Ohio courts are cementing an OH-PA-NJ property rights judicial axis based upon rights identified in state constitutions which, courts have held, go beyond those in the federal constitution.