Matthew Prensky
@matthewprensky.bsky.social
Comm. Associate w/ @IJ (Institute for Justice) • Fmr @USATODAY Network • Tweets are my own
Americans shouldn't be jailed or fined for trying to help someone in need. These acts of kindness should be encouraged, not criminalized.
So, be careful this holiday season. What you might think is an innocent act of kindness could land you in jail. (4/)
ij.org/as-the-seaso...
So, be careful this holiday season. What you might think is an innocent act of kindness could land you in jail. (4/)
ij.org/as-the-seaso...
As the Season of Giving Approaches, Be Careful How You Help Others. Even Well-Meaning Acts Can Land You in Legal Trouble - Institute for Justice
The holiday season is a time of giving thanks, gathering with loved ones, and lending a helping hand to others. But as we enter this […]
ij.org
December 17, 2024 at 4:47 PM
Americans shouldn't be jailed or fined for trying to help someone in need. These acts of kindness should be encouraged, not criminalized.
So, be careful this holiday season. What you might think is an innocent act of kindness could land you in jail. (4/)
ij.org/as-the-seaso...
So, be careful this holiday season. What you might think is an innocent act of kindness could land you in jail. (4/)
ij.org/as-the-seaso...
A Dayton nonprofit is now suing after police arrested a volunteer for handing a burrito to a homeless person.
The group's attorney argues the city's permit mandate "... basically extort these groups for money and essentially keep them from doing what they want to do." (3/)
wysu.org/ohio-news/20...
The group's attorney argues the city's permit mandate "... basically extort these groups for money and essentially keep them from doing what they want to do." (3/)
wysu.org/ohio-news/20...
Nonprofit sues Dayton over law that prevents feeding homeless without permit
Nourish Our Neighbors sued the city of Dayton after officers arrested a volunteer from the organization in April for distributing food to the homeless without a permit.
wysu.org
December 17, 2024 at 4:47 PM
A Dayton nonprofit is now suing after police arrested a volunteer for handing a burrito to a homeless person.
The group's attorney argues the city's permit mandate "... basically extort these groups for money and essentially keep them from doing what they want to do." (3/)
wysu.org/ohio-news/20...
The group's attorney argues the city's permit mandate "... basically extort these groups for money and essentially keep them from doing what they want to do." (3/)
wysu.org/ohio-news/20...
This month police in Eugene, OR threatened to cite/arrest volunteers who were serving meals to people in a city park.
The group of volunteers originally had a permit to serve meals, but city officials pulled it in Sept. citing "parking and insurance violations." (2/)
www.opb.org/article/2024...
The group of volunteers originally had a permit to serve meals, but city officials pulled it in Sept. citing "parking and insurance violations." (2/)
www.opb.org/article/2024...
Eugene feeding group faces police warning over unauthorized meals in city park
Neighbors Feeding Neighbors (NFN), formerly known as the Breakfast Brigade, hands out food four days a week from the sidewalk of Washington Jefferson Park.
www.opb.org
December 17, 2024 at 4:47 PM
This month police in Eugene, OR threatened to cite/arrest volunteers who were serving meals to people in a city park.
The group of volunteers originally had a permit to serve meals, but city officials pulled it in Sept. citing "parking and insurance violations." (2/)
www.opb.org/article/2024...
The group of volunteers originally had a permit to serve meals, but city officials pulled it in Sept. citing "parking and insurance violations." (2/)
www.opb.org/article/2024...
Americans shouldn't face jailtime, excessive fines, or mountains of government red tape for simply trying to help others.
Issues like homelessness are complex, but criminalizing acts of compassion isn't the solution. Cities should encourage private acts of kindness, rather than shut them down.
Issues like homelessness are complex, but criminalizing acts of compassion isn't the solution. Cities should encourage private acts of kindness, rather than shut them down.
November 25, 2024 at 5:10 PM
Americans shouldn't face jailtime, excessive fines, or mountains of government red tape for simply trying to help others.
Issues like homelessness are complex, but criminalizing acts of compassion isn't the solution. Cities should encourage private acts of kindness, rather than shut them down.
Issues like homelessness are complex, but criminalizing acts of compassion isn't the solution. Cities should encourage private acts of kindness, rather than shut them down.
Lastly, Kathy Hay wanted to share resources w/ her neighbors in need so she built a small free pantry on her property.
Kathy's local gov. ordered her to close the pantry unless she received an exhaustive list of approvals & paid thousands in costs the gov. amassed (4/)
ij.org/case/washing...
Kathy's local gov. ordered her to close the pantry unless she received an exhaustive list of approvals & paid thousands in costs the gov. amassed (4/)
ij.org/case/washing...
Washington Little Free Pantry - Institute for Justice
Thanks to a lawsuit she filed with IJ, Kathy Hay can now share food with her neighbors in Asotin County, Washington, using a “little free pantry” in her backyard. Before the lawsuit, Kathy wasn’t allo...
ij.org
November 25, 2024 at 5:10 PM
Lastly, Kathy Hay wanted to share resources w/ her neighbors in need so she built a small free pantry on her property.
Kathy's local gov. ordered her to close the pantry unless she received an exhaustive list of approvals & paid thousands in costs the gov. amassed (4/)
ij.org/case/washing...
Kathy's local gov. ordered her to close the pantry unless she received an exhaustive list of approvals & paid thousands in costs the gov. amassed (4/)
ij.org/case/washing...
In another case, Michael and Kellie Ballard were fined $120,000 for opening their vineyard to an employee & his family who were on the verge of becoming homeless.
Despite working with Santa Clara County, CA on a solution, county officials buried the Ballards in fines. (3/)
ij.org/case/santa-c...
Despite working with Santa Clara County, CA on a solution, county officials buried the Ballards in fines. (3/)
ij.org/case/santa-c...
Santa Clara Fines - Institute for Justice
Michael and Kellie Ballard provided safe, affordable housing for their long-time employee and his family at the Ballards’ historic vineyard and winery in Santa Clara […]
ij.org
November 25, 2024 at 5:10 PM
In another case, Michael and Kellie Ballard were fined $120,000 for opening their vineyard to an employee & his family who were on the verge of becoming homeless.
Despite working with Santa Clara County, CA on a solution, county officials buried the Ballards in fines. (3/)
ij.org/case/santa-c...
Despite working with Santa Clara County, CA on a solution, county officials buried the Ballards in fines. (3/)
ij.org/case/santa-c...
Norma Thorton, for example, is a 78-year-old grandmother, who used her culinary skills to help feed those who were going hungry or were homeless.
In 2022, police arrested & charged Norma for the crime of sharing warm, nutritious meals w/ the homeless in a city park (2/)
ij.org/case/arizona...
In 2022, police arrested & charged Norma for the crime of sharing warm, nutritious meals w/ the homeless in a city park (2/)
ij.org/case/arizona...
Arizona Charitable Sharing - Institute for Justice
Norma Thornton was arrested for feeding the hungry in Bullhead City Community Park. Now, Norma has teamed up with IJ to fight back against Bullhead's law criminalizing charitable sharing in federal co...
ij.org
November 25, 2024 at 5:10 PM
Norma Thorton, for example, is a 78-year-old grandmother, who used her culinary skills to help feed those who were going hungry or were homeless.
In 2022, police arrested & charged Norma for the crime of sharing warm, nutritious meals w/ the homeless in a city park (2/)
ij.org/case/arizona...
In 2022, police arrested & charged Norma for the crime of sharing warm, nutritious meals w/ the homeless in a city park (2/)
ij.org/case/arizona...