The Tampa city council and the organization "Tampa Food Not Bombs" are now working together to help the homeless.
- City council to hold workshop on ordinance that got residents arrested
- Council members to work with "Tampa Food Not Bombs" group
- Residents recently arrested after trying to distribute food to homeless
Seven group members were recently arrested at a Tampa park after trying to distribute food to the homeless. They were arrested because they violated a city ordinance by not having a permit to distribute food.
Members say they were targeted because the city didn't want to draw attention to the homeless during the college football playoff championship game.
However, a city council member said the city is ultimately trying to protect the homeless.
"Do you have the ability that the food that is brought in is not contaminated? Is the health department involved? I'm not saying that this is contaminated. I'm saying the possibility exists. And once you do that for one group, no matter how well intended it is, then what happens if other groups that are not well intended want to come in?"
The city council will hold a workshop to go over the ordinance and discuss the issue on February 23.