Matthew Prensky

New Petition Asks Supreme Court to Overturn Infamous Kelo Eminent Domain Decision - Institute for Justice IJ has partnered with a New York landowner to challenge the Supreme Court's infamous ruling in the Kelo eminent domain case.

Big News! @ij.org is directly challenging the infamous Kelo eminent domain decision. The Constitution is clear, the power to take property is only for public use, not a private parking lot: ij.org/press-releas...

As the Season of Giving Approaches, Be Careful How You Help Others. Even Well-Meaning Acts Can Land You in Legal Trouble - Institute for Justice The holiday season is a time of giving thanks, gathering with loved ones, and lending a helping hand to others. But as we enter this […]

Americans shouldn't be jailed or fined for trying to help someone in need. These acts of kindness should be encouraged, not criminalized.

So, be careful this holiday season. What you might think is an innocent act of kindness could land you in jail. (4/)

ij.org/as-the-seaso...

Nonprofit sues Dayton over law that prevents feeding homeless without permit Nourish Our Neighbors sued the city of Dayton after officers arrested a volunteer from the organization in April for distributing food to the homeless without a permit.

A Dayton nonprofit is now suing after police arrested a volunteer for handing a burrito to a homeless person.

The group's attorney argues the city's permit mandate "... basically extort these groups for money and essentially keep them from doing what they want to do." (3/)

wysu.org/ohio-news/20...

Eugene feeding group faces police warning over unauthorized meals in city park Neighbors Feeding Neighbors (NFN), formerly known as the Breakfast Brigade, hands out food four days a week from the sidewalk of Washington Jefferson Park.

This month police in Eugene, OR threatened to cite/arrest volunteers who were serving meals to people in a city park.

The group of volunteers originally had a permit to serve meals, but city officials pulled it in Sept. citing "parking and insurance violations." (2/)

www.opb.org/article/2024...

Many Americans choose to celebrate the holidays by helping others in need. But those innocent, well-meaning acts could land you in jail.

Some cities have decided to criminalize acts of kindness. Now, individuals in Dayton, OH & Eugene, OR are learning about this issue the hard way. (1/)

Americans shouldn't face jailtime, excessive fines, or mountains of government red tape for simply trying to help others.

Issues like homelessness are complex, but criminalizing acts of compassion isn't the solution. Cities should encourage private acts of kindness, rather than shut them down.

Washington Little Free Pantry - Institute for Justice Thanks to a lawsuit she filed with IJ, Kathy Hay can now share food with her neighbors in Asotin County, Washington, using a “little free pantry” in her backyard. Before the lawsuit, Kathy wasn’t allo...

Lastly, Kathy Hay wanted to share resources w/ her neighbors in need so she built a small free pantry on her property.

Kathy's local gov. ordered her to close the pantry unless she received an exhaustive list of approvals & paid thousands in costs the gov. amassed (4/)

ij.org/case/washing...

Santa Clara Fines - Institute for Justice Michael and Kellie Ballard provided safe, affordable housing for their long-time employee and his family at the Ballards’ historic vineyard and winery in Santa Clara […]

In another case, Michael and Kellie Ballard were fined $120,000 for opening their vineyard to an employee & his family who were on the verge of becoming homeless.

Despite working with Santa Clara County, CA on a solution, county officials buried the Ballards in fines. (3/)

ij.org/case/santa-c...

Arizona Charitable Sharing - Institute for Justice Norma Thornton was arrested for feeding the hungry in Bullhead City Community Park. Now, Norma has teamed up with IJ to fight back against Bullhead's law criminalizing charitable sharing in federal co...

Norma Thorton, for example, is a 78-year-old grandmother, who used her culinary skills to help feed those who were going hungry or were homeless.

In 2022, police arrested & charged Norma for the crime of sharing warm, nutritious meals w/ the homeless in a city park (2/)

ij.org/case/arizona...

As the Season of Giving Approaches, Be Careful How You Help Others. Even Well-Meaning Acts Can Land You in Legal Trouble - Institute for Justice The holiday season is a time of giving thanks, gathering with loved ones, and lending a helping hand to others. But as we enter this […]

The holidays are a time of giving thanks and lending a helping hand to others.

But as we enter this season of appreciation & compassion, people should be careful how they help others because cities across the nation have decided to criminalize acts of kindness. (1/) @ij.org

ij.org/as-the-seaso...

a man wearing a hat and a tank top with the word hello below him ALT: a man wearing a hat and a tank top with the word hello below him

Hi @bsky.app! You're the first social media site I've joined in 10+ years.

In that time I've:

- Graduated high school & college
- Had a successful career in journalism
- Joined an org that fights abuses of power
- Become a father to a spoiled pup

I've done more but you know character limits.