Gainesville City Commission meeting on Meal Limits

This coming Monday at 6pm the City Commission is scheduled to take up the limits on food distribution by places of religious assembly, as well as the limits that apply to their provision of shelter.

Under the Code as it now stands, churches cannot feed more than 20 needy people, even if they are located downtown or in other business districts.

Under the Code as it now stands, churches cannot feed any needy people if they are located within 2000 feet of UF, or within a quarter mile of any other church that feeds the needy.

Like the 130-meal limit that applies to St Francis House, these restrictions on feeding the needy are unreasonable, discriminatory and oppressive -- no restaurant or wedding reception has to comply with such limits. Identical restrictions have been struck down in other cities for infringing the free exercise of religion, exposing taxpayers to damages and legal fees of $100,000 and more. To tell a church that it cannot minister to the poor on its own property and using its own resources is outrageous. The limits should be repealed.

Please attend the meeting if you can -- and email the Commission at citycomm@cityofgainesville.org -- and urge the Commission to REPEAL these limits and LET EVERY HUNGRY PERSON BE FED.

Please forward this message as you see fit.

Joe Jackson