Disclaimer: I have not yet been able to verify this with an independent source; however, I also haven't found any reason to doubt that this is happening.
For the last six years, Love Wins Ministries has provided hot coffee and breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings to anyone who wants them. As there are apparently no soup kitchens or other places to get free food on the weekend, this draws a fairly large homeless population (about 80 people yesterday). The group meets outside of park (meeting inside the park requires a permit, but they've been previously told they can set up on the sidewalk as long as they clean up after themselves) and have been in the same place without incident for six years. Yesterday they were told by the police that if they attempted to give out any of the food that they had to the waiting people, they would be arrested.
More details are available on the group's website, including the names and email addresses of the city council members (all of whom can also be reached at 919-996-3050).
I've already sent a polite email to one of the council members asking whether they requested the police block the Love Wins Ministries from handing out food and why. I'm hopeful that the extra attention on an indefensible policy will help get it reversed.
Mon Aug 26, 2013 at 7:55 AM PT: Update: the story has been picked up by Good Morning America: http://gma.yahoo.com/...