Welcome to Gaia! ::

This is the first arrest to be made so far.

Willoughby Mariano | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted April 5, 2007
PHOTOS


Arrested (RAYMA JENKINS, SPECIAL TO THE SENTINEL)
Apr 4, 2007



Eric Montanez
Apr 4, 2007

Neighborhoods


Talk About Downtown Orlando
Share Photos
Get News About Downtown Orlando



From the Downtown Orlando community blog:
A lonely Vigil on Amelia St.

Congratulations Magic!

True Friends - A Rare Commodity

Last Day for The Seagull

Annual Spring Fiesta In the Park

More...


ADVERTISEMENTS








A long-simmering dispute between homeless advocates and Orlando officials intensified Wednesday with the arrest of an activist feeding transients in Lake Eola Park downtown.

Eric Montanez, 21, is the first to be arrested under the city's controversial ordinance that bars feeding large groups of people in downtown parks without a special permit.

The rule was approved last summer after residents and businesses in Orlando's gentrifying downtown complained that parks were being used as soup kitchens.

The arrest enraged volunteers, who said it was proof that the city cares little for its neediest residents.

"Police are arresting people for feeding the homeless," local ACLU President George Crossley said. "This has been a truly disgusting day."

Calls to Mayor Buddy Dyer and a city spokeswoman were not returned. Police spokeswoman Sgt. Barbara Jones said the arrest was warranted.

"Our job is to enforce the rules," she said.

Homeless advocates and city officials have butted heads since the passage of the ordinance in July. The law bars groups from feeding more than 25 people without a special permit. Groups may have two permits per year.

The Central Florida ACLU filed suit in Orlando's U.S. District Court in October arguing the ordinance is unconstitutional. Meanwhile, activists skirted the rule by having several organizations host the weekly Lake Eola meals, and making sure no one group served more than 25 people.

Police kept close tabs, sometimes taking photos and ticketing volunteers' cars.

Jacqueline Dowd, lead counsel in the suit, said tensions seemed to ease last month when police said publicly that the ordinance would not be enforced until a court rules on its legality.

Montanez is one of the federal suit's plaintiffs, as is his group Orlando Food Not Bombs. Crossley and others expressed concern that police are being used to bully people who sue the city.

"This is absolutely an instance of intimidation," he said. "There's no question about it."

The arrest came about 5:15 p.m. Food Not Bombs, CodePink, an anti-war group, and the local Young Communist League fed 35 people rice, stew, salad and bread pudding.

Undercover officers filmed the food line, meticulously counting Montanez serving "30 unidentified persons food from a large pot utilizing a ladle," according to an arrest affidavit.

Police approached Montanez and asked for his identification. They considered issuing him a summons on the misdemeanor count, but when he tossed his ID, police took him into custody, the affidavit says.

Jonathan Giralt, 16, a Boone High School junior who was near Montanez, disagreed with the police account. He and other volunteers said the activist showed his ID and complied with police orders.

"I was like, OK, this guy [Montanez] is going to be arrested for absolutely nothing," Jonathan said. "It makes me feel unsafe."

Police also collected a vial of stew as evidence.

Montanez remained in the Orange County Jail late Wednesday with bail set at $250.

It's disgusting that they're arresting people for feeding the homeless. Who the ******** has the lack of morals to pass such legislation?!

I been to your state many times, and I notice far more homeless than any state I been to. Is there any place that helps them of any sort?

What are they going to do fine them or put them in jail were they get three meals a day? Most homeless in my town have jobs, just they can't afford homes, since the prices are through the roof.

How is it at the tip of your state near Alabama? I heard it's quite poor there.

Heh, my father lives on the Alabama coast and drives to the Florida side for his work.

I guess it's relativity poor... though that has more to do with the lack of development in the southern states. And the politics down here don't really help to change it.

Florida's fine because it has a lot of coastline to support the ever increasing population of retirees and tourists. We don't even have a state income tax, we just live off the sales taxes. But that might be why the public services suck. We're looking to beat New York for 3rd most populous state soon. razz

Though inland Florida has the same issues as the rest of the south, with lots of old orchards and plantation land being owned by families whom are quite attached to it.

Well, it seems that The United states is not interested in solidarity anymore, it has become a burden to their economy, not knowing that if there is less poor people, there will be more workforce. What is that country interested in?

I asked that question and I came to the conclusion that this country has no long term goals as a country long term goals define it short term only leads to being forgetful that anders into a state of confusion.

the majority of permantly homeless are mentaly ill. Forty years ago they would have all been forcebly put in mental insitutions. If you met a intellgent homeless person they are most likely 1) somebody who will not be homeless in six months 2) somebody conning you.

This kind of legilation is pretty typcial urban beatifucation stuff. I am sure if I had a house in Orlando and bulit a giant p***s statue on top of it and refused to take it down or pay fines I would be arrested too.