The Dallas City Council yet again made the easy choice instead of the right one.
Last week, council members punted on a proposal that would have required those wanting to distribute food to the homeless to get a permit.
The measure has been controversial. Some see it as punishing the well-intended volunteers who give their time and money to feed the most vulnerable people in Dallas.
But that is not the purpose of the policy.
This measure was designed to curb the significant nuisance that arises from scaled-up and often poorly run feeding events. These events tend to draw large numbers of homeless people into one place, often leaving behind trash and disrupting downtown residents. Those who live and work in the area are simply asked to endure this.
Worse still, street feeding events often draw homeless individuals away from established and organized service centers that can offer more help than just a meal.
But instead of passing modest rules, which council members have discussed for months, they pushed permit discussion to committee for even more talking.
One major objection raised to the ordinance was that it would make the city vulnerable to a religious freedom lawsuit.
In 2007, Dallas was sued over an ordinance that required a permit to conduct homeless feedings. That ordinance required event operators to provide running water and bathrooms. In 2013, a court ruled against the city.
The ordinance under consideration this month was less restrictive. It would have required a low-barrier permit, but it would not have restricted event locations. Applications would be free and would only have been denied on public health and safety grounds.
Sure, it’s possible that someone would have sued the city over this rule. But if Dallas remains determined to govern out of fear of frivolous lawsuits, the city will never get anywhere.
We understand volunteers’ desire to help the homeless, but they should do so in collaboration with established nonprofits that serve the homeless every day.
The council should have held its ground. Instead of adopting rules to address the trash and nuisance street feedings leave behind, it did nothing, and the city is worse off for it.
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