Not knowing how it works in your area, I can say that's not how it works here. People don't just stop in with a box or bag of food to donate. It is either paid for by an organization(charity, etc) and shipped to the "pantry"(what they are called here) by a distributor.

Re: The programs of which I speak (and advocate) 'shoppers' purchase non-perishable items they wish to donate (typically in the course of their routine shopping junket) then deposit same in the in-store 'collection bin' -- The markets coordinate transport to the distributors (i.e. charities, etc...) - thus establishing a 'chain of custody' (if you will) assuring 'supermarket' quality/safety for the recipients

Are you fighting to stop people from delivering canned goods to the food bank with their own hands?

Nobody advocated foods of dubious origin.

And I would say food having been 'out of sight' is about as dubious as it gets! Even can goods, for instance, are subject to (potentially deadly) loss of container hermeticity secondary to a history of freezing (among other 'handling faux pas') - and often sans untoward appearance, aroma or flavor!

Although in the summer months they do accept home grown vegetables from individuals gardens. And there are people locally that like to garden that plant extra for this. Even some local grocery stores sell the home grown vegetables too.

Imposing any silly rules on them would dry this up in a flash.

--- Emphasis added---

In consideration of the 'unknowns' e.g. soil contaminants, pesticides, exposure to pathogens, etc... perhaps that would be just as well!... I know that I would not bet my health/life on the grower's word/knowledge/competence - neither would I expect others to! --- Again, I regard the oft-recited: "beggars can't be choosers" 'mantra' as mean spirited on to vicious --in any event-- but especially where safety is concerned! Indeed! Even the underprivileged deserve - and have every right to expect - the self-same level of food quality assurance enjoyed by the rest of us!-- Granted! Fresh produce is a 'risky proposition' in any event - howbeit professional growers, packers and vendors are 'answerable' to robust oversight programs - with very real penalties for non-compliance!

There are local stores available that sell "scratch and dent" canned goods.

Please avoid dented can goods! -- especially where said damage approaches or includes a 'seam'/weld!

the issue here arose most likely because of some litigation

That, as I see it, fairly 'encapsulates' the problem with 'our system' as regards health and safety enforcement!- To wit: civil litigation where criminal prosecution is the appropriate course of action! Negligent homicide/mayhem should be payed for with years - not merely dollars! -- nor should hiding back of corporate entities be a defense!

Then Hypatia's Protege decided to talk about the Public Health Concerns that didn't happen

@#12 -- please re-read my post -- The 'gist' of my message was merely that 'bad motives' occasionally (and, quite unintentionally) yield 'positive results' -- You may rest assured that I am under no misapprehension whatever as regards the wrong-minded intent of the officials Re: the incident in question!...

eventually evolving into a claim that somebody advocated food of dubious origin and/or quality, which also didn't happen.

But then it would seem inarguable that "unverifiable history" = "dubious origins" where safety is concerned -- Hey @#12 I know that you are not an advocate of 'one law for the rich and another for the poor' -- I do, however, feel that you occasionally allow your quite understandable distaste for governmental intervention in the lives of individuals to blur the line intervening undue intrusion (by the former) and their responsibilities to their constituency... --- All of which is to say: Respectfully agreed to disagree!

If you have problems with people bringing road-kill to the local food bank...

Was that really necessary!? First @Aleph(0)'s 'Crawler burgers' and now 'pressed raccoon'! Between the two of you I'll be as an AN patient yet!

Very best regards
HP

 

Blaming the victim doesn't cut it with me.

If only more people out there thought that way too...

 

Where it went off the rails for me was the cry, "There oughta be a law!" There are already laws against poisoning people, confirmed by HP in post #1461: "responsible parties prosecuted". The restaurant industry lives or dies by those laws, and they poison an average of 70 people per day.

Then #12 says:
How many people could one feed for free after paying for even a few regulations, inspections, certifications, insurance, etc. that a retail store pays?

HP interpreted this as advocating hazardous food.

Her response: "IMO, you've identified an excellent argument for prohibition of 'lay grocers', etc... To wit: inability to afford compliance with safety regulations..."

My post did not suggest an inability to afford safety. It suggested that one can't pay special fees and keep the food Free.
And that's when the bridge collapsed and the train fell into the chasm.

Edit: I thought I cleared up this idea that if you don't pay the State, you can't do quality work. I did unusually good quality work for 40 years and didn't pay the State for most of the jobs. Was I too subtle?

SIGH! -- I'm not suggesting the charities (nor, for that matter, anyone) pays 'special' or otherwise additional fees! -- Merely that collections are done in such manner as to establish a verifiable history of safe handling! -- It is for that reason supermarkets are not allowed to re-stock returned food products (including can goods) - why should food assistance recipients be provided less protection?

Best regards
HP

 

New survey out today on Reason.com What the police have been telling themselves.
68% believe people who protest Police Misconduct merely don't like police.
Only 10% believe protesters against Police Misconduct are actually protesting Police Misconduct.

https://reason.com/blog/2017/01/11/survey-of-police-finds-most-cops-believe

 

New survey out today on Reason.com What the police have been telling themselves.
68% believe people who protest Police Misconduct merely don't like police.
Only 10% believe protesters against Police Misconduct are actually protesting Police Misconduct.

https://reason.com/blog/2017/01/11/survey-of-police-finds-most-cops-believe

--Emphasis added--

Oh my! -- So now we know Reason.com's stance on police balls - and, indeed, 'dorsal aspects' thereof!

TTFN
HP

 

Another reason why cops don't need to be egg-heads.
http://www.kptv.com/story/34241107/...n-snow-to-catch-felon-with-gun?autostart=true

PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) -

Officers followed tracks left in the snow to catch a felon armed with a gun, according to police.

Officers responded to Briarwood Suites on the 7700 block of Southeast Portland overnight on a report of a man armed with a gun.

Investigators said he ran away when officers arrived at the scene, but he left behind evidence that led to his capture.

Police said they followed his footprints in the fresh snow.

 

Please avoid dented can goods! -- especially where said damage approaches or includes a 'seam'/weld!

I was taught that by my mother and grandmother at a very early age.

In consideration of the 'unknowns' e.g. soil contaminants, pesticides, exposure to pathogens, etc... perhaps that would be just as well!... I know that I would not bet my health/life on the grower's word/knowledge/competence - neither would I expect others to!

Then you grow all of your own food? I can't believe you are such an obviously intelligent woman, and yet have so low of an understanding of how the real world functions. And I say this with NO animosity toward you. I'm pretty sure if you would install a"nanny camera" in your kitchen to surveil your house keeper in her kitchen chores and cooking, her microwave would be the least of her problems with you.

 

This was not commerce, it was a private transaction of food between a willing donor and willing recipients. How is that different than, say, me hosting a big party and serving whatever the hell I choose to serve? If the government can insert itself between the willing participants in one situation, why not the other?

We don't need the government telling us what private transactions we can engage in. Of course they do, and seek to do more, but we should all resist any urge to encourage them.

 

I finally found that video about a firefighter assaulted for waving at a cop.

 

@#12 the cops were enforcing existing law. Someone must have complained about them failing to enforce it and now you are complaining the are ecforcing it.

Maybe the residents need to fix it ... By removing a bad law or agreeing to abide by it

 

Someone must have complained about them failing to enforce it and now you are complaining the are ecforcing it.

Am I? I thought I was complaining that there shouldn't be any laws against giving food away for free.
Or, going back a few pages, shoveling snow for free.
I think you got your crystal ball back from the cleaner when it should have been in the repair shop.

I realize that Caesar wants his coin, but when there is no coin in the transaction, there's nothing to tax...except the milk of human kindness. Acts like this sure tax it, don't they?

 

One good reason not to disarm the citizens:
Armed civilian saves ambushed Arizona trooper, kills attacker
https://www.rt.com/usa/373518-arizona-ambush-trooper-shooting/

It doesn't seem very often that a cop, trained to act like everybody else is a deadly threat, gets in trouble and needs to be bailed out. When they do, it is good that some of the citizens are armed because, in a large enough crowd, someone will come to the rescue. If none of us were armed, nobody would offer to trade places with the cop.

Which brings a passing thought; Why don't we see stories like: Cop fears for his life (from a cell phone, pencil, unarmed drunk, sleeping man, person backing away or running away, etc.) and doesn't kill him. I can think of 2 reasons. 1) Correctly evaluating the risk is actually part of the job. 2) No self respecting cop would tell anybody how terrified he was after the non-threat is over.

Another passing thought; The police department has withheld the information that anybody helped the cop. I wonder if the man who saved the cop's life will be charged with any crimes.

I don't wonder what would have happened if another cop arrived and saw a beat-up cop and a Good Samaritan with a pistol. He would be dead.

 

Then you grow all of your own food? I can't believe you are such an obviously intelligent woman, and yet have so low of an understanding of how the real world functions. And I say this with NO animosity toward you.

IWHT the disparity in (reasonably anticipatable) integrity of random 'donors' vs. verifiable, officially scrutinized/sanctioned professional producers and handlers would be obvious!

I'm pretty sure if you would install a"nanny camera" in your kitchen to surveil your house keeper in her kitchen chores and cooking, her microwave would be the least of her problems with you.

FWIW, as regards my resident staff - my Kitchen, Housekeeping, Security and Maintenance teams are distinct entities (I do not employ waitstaff at this time) -- But to your point - I don't employ people whom I would not trust with my life! Because - like it or not - trusting them with my life and property is precisely what I'm doing! As are all employers!

How is that different than, say, me hosting a big party and serving whatever the hell I choose to serve?

Firstly, (with reference to US legislation) no one is free to serve 'whatever the hell they want' sans civil and/or criminal liability in the case of harm or, indeed, evidence of potential for same alone (As per 'criminal negligence' in the former case and 'endangerment' legislation in the latter) -- Granted! While, as a practical matter, no harm = 'no problem' for the host - said liability, nonetheless, exists...

Secondly, food assistance collection/distribution programs (which, not uncommonly, being under the auspices of '501(c)s' in cooperation with public sector community outreach programs) both overtly and tacitly 'promote' a subjective expectation of quality/safety - and with undeniable objective underpinnings...

Again - I am not advocating regulating said programs out of existence! -- Merely wider adoption of a popular, painless solution whereby both quality and quantity are enhanced at no additional cost to anyone (as described in my earlier posts on this thread)!

As an aside, I'm bound to say I find it 'curious' that, having been (IMO justly) 'excoriated' for my insensitivity as regards the asperities of poverty, I should now find myself in the position of arguing the case for basal food quality assurance for those most at risk!?

@#12 , @shortbus , @wayneh , et al
If your 'prosecution' of this debate is by way of 'giving me a taste of my own medicine' -- Please be advised - you've made your point! -- But seriously! That particular point was adequately driven home (and, I might add, well taken) 42 weeks ago!

Best regards
HP

 

wonder if the man who saved the cop's life will be charged with any crimes.

Had the incident been successfully kept from public view, I've no doubt of it! -- Being 'rescued' by a 'lowly', 'gun toting' civilian is way too embarrassing!

Best regards
HP

 

@#12

Down here a few years ago, a armed citizen shot up a burglers car the cops were chasing. All were hits, demonstrating proper gun control.

I've said it before, governments are reactionary. Giving homeless people a meal certainly isn't worthy of police action, but, someone must have said something. That someone, be it a citizen or an over zealous politician, needs to be outed, and that law needs to be amended to exempt soup kitchens ... Whether the kitchen is brick and mortar or any other form.

It's like when NYC wanted to clean up time square .... The hookers moved two blocks west of the square.

Politics encroaches all aspects of life, even forums.

 

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/doj-release-report-chicago-police-abuses-44752157

The Chicago department, with 12,000 officers, has long had a reputation for brutality, particularly in minority communities. The most notorious example was Jon Burge, a commander of a detective unit on the South Side. Burge and his men beat, suffocated and used electric shock for decades starting in the 1970s to get black men to confess to crimes they did not commit.

Another "scathing report" on top of a mountain of "scathing reports" about official criminal activity in Chicago.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/chicago...estigation-launched-by-department-of-justice/

 

Another study out today, published by Northeastern School of Criminology and Criminal Justice director Anthony Braga and Boston Police Department Deputy Chief of Staff Desiree Dusseault. Can't catch-and-release pot-heads? Bored cops do some real police work.

http://thefreethoughtproject.com/police-department-miraculously-begins-solving-murders/

 

Looks like Beasty Boy isn't getting the, "Blue Discount".
Well, maybe. He could end up with a nasty slap on the wrist after the charges are lowered and he takes a plea bargain.
http://www.copblock.org/170346/texas-cop-raped-dog-on-video-charged-child-porn-possession/

 

Looks like Beasty Boy isn't getting the, "Blue Discount".
Well, maybe. He could end up with a nasty slap on the wrist after the charges are lowered and he takes a plea bargain.
http://www.copblock.org/170346/texas-cop-raped-dog-on-video-charged-child-porn-possession/

That guy is a sick SOB.

 

Anyone ever work at a food pantry? Before distribution, every item is examined and any damaged or expired items are discarded.

The one I volunteered at worked like this.

The patrons are all known. They are required to apply and have a face-to-face interview. In advance of opening, a custom bag is made for each family. There is a rack of "special" items each family can choose from and add to their bag.

It is a very controlled situation. On a larger scale, that is how our union works. Local customs / regulations are based on local culture. And before someone decides to argue, yes, there are exceptions that we decide are for the overall good and are set on a national level. The most important take-a-way is that we the people make these decisions. Note also that I do not say "everyone" must agree.