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Mayor’s Message continued

Unfortunately, the federal courts left the city largely powerless helping those homeless individuals who want to get off the
to act. streets. These teams focus on areas with large homeless
populations and steer them to services. We offer temporary
A federal judge imposed a preliminary injunction on the city
last summer that prohibits us from enforcing our ordinances housing that is tied to wraparound social services to address
that outlaw soliciting money in the roadway as well as such the underlying causes of their homelessness such as alcoholism
near ATMs and sidewalk dining. The judge determined that or drug abuse.
the people who sued the city had a likelihood of winning their We also continue to operate our innovative community court
case under the argument that we violated their freedom of program that diverts homeless individuals charged with
speech under the First Amendment of the Constitution. minor offenses into emergency housing and needed social
Because of that, we are basically limited to enforcing other service assistance. And, finally, we continue to press Broward
existing laws – such as assault and battery or the obstruction County, which is tasked with addressing homelessness
of a roadway. as a regional issue, to undertake a more thorough and
However, the city attorney has told us that there was a recent comprehensive approach.
decision in the federal court system that may provide us some In closing, I hope everyone has a good summer and takes
new options. His office has been studying this case and will some time for vacation and relaxation. As you do so, please
soon propose to the commission a rewrite to our ordinances remember that it is hurricane season and that you should have
so we can again directly confront the matter. plans and supplies ready in case a storm heads our direction.

In the meantime, the city continues to work hard to address Yours,
homelessness. We have dedicated teams in the Police Dean Trantalis
Department and the Neighbor Support Division that focus on
Mayor, City of Fort Lauderdale

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