Judge bars Phoenix from enforcing parks ordinance against church group [View all]

A federal judge ruled that a Phoenix church group fighting a controversial new city ordinance limiting aid to homeless people in parks will be allowed to continue to serve food to homeless people in a city park without a permit — for now.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Krissa M. Lanham granted an emergency temporary restraining order prohibiting the city of Phoenix from enforcing its ordinance, which bars food distribution for charitable purposes in city parks without a permit, against Orthodox Christian ministry St Herman’s Table and its founder and minister, Lance Brace. The judge found that Brace and his church, both plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed earlier this month, had valid claims that the new ordinance violated their First Amendment rights to the free practice of religion.

“Based on the present record and arguments, plaintiffs have established they are likely to succeed on their First Amendment Free Exercise claim,” Lanham wrote in her decision.

The order went into effect on June 10 and will expire on June 24, though Lanham will now consider whether to impose a preliminary injunction. The restraining order applies only to St. Herman’s Table and Brace, not other groups that feed and provide medical treatment to Phoenix’s homeless population.

https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/judge-phoenix-cant-enforce-parks-ordinance-church-group-40673484/

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Our unhoused population really suffers during the summers.
Passing out food and water literally saves lives.