Florida is a leading tourist center. The sun shines. The ocean sparkles. There is much to enjoy. Fort Lauderdale is one of the state’s top destination spots. The city and its image are paramount to those who are charged with the task of public relations. The success of the entire community is linked to this important issue.
The tourist trade relies on creating an idyllic backdrop. No one wants to vacation in a place that is dismal or depressing. The whole purpose of taking a vacation is to create a break from the daily grind. People want to spend their time off in a relaxing and pleasurable environment. They want to be diverted from the harsh realities of life.
Parks and other major amusement centers have fine-tuned this experience to a science. Disney’s official tagline is “The Happiest Place on Earth.” An incredible amount of work is involved in keeping up the facade.
Recently, Fort Lauderdale has been the focus of international news, and it has not been about the wonderful weather. The spotlight has been on 90 year-old resident Arnold Abbott and his struggles with the city.
Abbott has run a feeding program for the homeless since 1991. His nonprofit organization is called Love Thy Neighbor. He and a group of volunteers distribute hot meals twice a week. At least a hundred hungry and homeless people are served each time. Their presence in an oceanfront park is perhaps not quite the image of fun and sun the city wishes to project.
Fort Lauderdale officials assert that a new law passed on October 22 was meant to ensure the health and safety of the community. Others contend it was aimed at stopping Abbott and his group. The ordinance calls for severe restrictions on outdoor locations for food distribution. Regulations requiring permits, toilets, and hand-washing stations create a daunting challenge for a grassroots organization with a limited budget.
Abbott has defied police. He has been charged with violating the law. He seems undaunted by attempts to curtail his activities.
A local church gave Love Thy Neighbor permission to use its building on a recent Sunday. It was raining heavily. The group used the space, but the accommodation was a one-time offer. Abbott told officials he has tried repeatedly to find a facility to house his program. He has asked for help in his quest. He says, however, that he will continue his efforts no matter what.
The negative publicity surrounding Abbott’s plight has set the city reeling. Calls and e-mails have come in from around the world. Many people are outraged. Some vow to boycott the town.
There are those who think Abbott is a hero. He has risked arrest and even jail. He is dedicated to his mission. Others think Abbott is a well-meaning but misguided do-gooder who has caused problems for people who want to make a living for themselves and their families in what is essentially a resort town.
As for Abbott, his take on the situation is resolute. He says he is Jewish and Judaism declares that if you save one person, it is as if you saved the world. Certainly the chesed (kindness) performed by Abbott and his group is a pillar of virtue propping up our sphere and a role model of true grit in the face of adversity.
Most likely the dispute will soon be settled. The city will find a place for the soup kitchen, which will no longer be seen as a potential image problem for the tourist trade.
It seems winter has come early this year, with freezing temperatures and even snow in many parts of America. Fort Lauderdale basks in temperatures in the eighties. The beaches and tourist attractions beckon. Hopefully, it will be a profitable season for all.
Meanwhile, we all need to consider the courage of a scrappy 90-year-old activist and emulate his tenacity and courage when the going gets rough.