Court Says Orlando Can Restrict Homeless Feedings
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
By: Judith Smelser

April 13, 2011 | WMFE - The City of Orlando is now free to enforce controversial restrictions on feeding the homeless in downtown parks. A federal appeals court said Tuesday the rules are "reasonable."

The decision overturns a lower court ruling that had prevented the city from enforcing its 2006 ordinance. That rule requires groups to get permits to serve food in downtown parks.  No group can get more than two feeding permits for a single park in one year.

The group Orlando Food Not Bombs joined with a local church to challenge the ordinance in court.  There’s no word yet on whether the groups will appeal Tuesday’s ruling.