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This is kind of interesting.
The city of Glendale, Arizona wants to give millions in corporate welfare
to the professional sports teams, but they send in the cold hearted messy yard cops
to shake down a woman who is giving away food to homeless folks.
Glendale woman's home food bank draws city scrutiny By Alyssa Lee The Republic | azcentral.com Sat Nov 3, 2012 11:40 PM Fresh produce, bread and dozens of canned goods are stacked on rolling shelves. Frozen meat and cooked restaurant meals line two tables as Millie Ramirez, in her garage, individually packs and places the food in coolers as she begins to organize her at-home food bank for the day. The longtime Glendale resident begins each day at 6a.m., preparing food to hand out in front of her home near 55th Avenue and Butler Drive. She has followed this routine the past seven years. From about noon until the food is gone, seven days a week, her front yard becomes a pop-up food bank that mostly serves her neighbors, but the greater community as well. “This is definitely a calling,” Ramirez said, adding that her do-good work was inspired by Christ and her grandfather, who gave away food from his grocery store during the Great Depression. Her efforts, however, have drawn scrutiny from city-code enforcers, who say she is violating city standards. Despite repeated notices to discontinue the food bank, Ramirez said she won’t stop. She estimates the food she receives from local grocery stores, restaurants and missionaries serves 50 families each day, from El Mirage to the East Valley. Her food is also picked up by representatives of group homes and used there, she added. Carolyn Berry, a neighbor of Ramirez’s and a 22-year Glendale resident, said she has been receiving help from Ramirez for nearly five years. Another neighbor in late September complained to the city about the food bank. A week later, the city sent Ramirez a notice that she was in violation of city code by having furniture not designed for outdoor use and household equipment in a location visible to the public eye. Those items include donated refrigerators and several shelves Ramirez rolls out and takes in each day. Ramirez received her final notice on Oct.15, after Sam McAllen, Glendale’s director of code compliance, visited her home to discuss other charitable options, city officials said. He suggested she could direct her goodwill to established food banks in the area. Deputy Code Director Paul Hernandez said the city has received several complaints from residents in the area. City officials have yet to decide their next steps. For violating the code, Ramirez could be fined up to $300 and could face possible arrest and be taken to court. “We would much rather she voluntarily comply,” Hernandez said. Ramirez is no longer fighting the notices alone. The Virginia-based Rutherford Institute is offering free legal assistance. The organization provides legal help to people who feel their constitutional rights have been violated. Rutherford has requested that the city apologize to Ramirez and assure her that the city will not interfere with her operation. City officials last week began taking pictures of Ramirez’s property, he said. Ramirez said she does not plan to quit her food bank. |
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