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By Miriam Raftery
March 4, 2018 (El Cajon) – The city of El Cajon has dropped charges against a dozen people who allegedly violated the city’s temporary ban on feeding homeless people in public places.
Activists, including a 14-year-old minor, defied the ban in January, sharing food with homeless people at Wells Park in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.. They were issued misdemeanor citations and ordered to appear in court.
The city’s ban was lifted January 23rd under a sunset clause when the county ended its emergency public health declaration over a regional hepatitis A outbreak, after the number of new cases diminished sharply. The outbreak is believed to have begun with "patient zero", a homeless individual in El Cajon.
Mayor Wells said, “Now that the emergency has been lifted, there is no compelling reason to press charges." The Mayor added that the ban was “always about hepatitis” and previously noted that food for the homeless was available during the ban, at locations other than public property.
The city confirmed that it is sending dismissal notices to all who received citations.
Food Not Bombs, a group that participated in the feedings during the ban, has indicated that it will continue to feed homeless people at Wells Park on Saturdays at 5 p.m., now that the ban is lifted.
On its Facebook page, the group asks for donations of funds, certain food items and volunteers, with the slogan, “Food is a right! Join us.”
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