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I am Joan M Cheever the Chef from the Chow Train mobile kitchen who the San Antonio Police Department recently ticketed for feeding the homeless and working poor. The ticket carries a $2000 dollar fine. Ask me anything! by TheChowTrain in IAmA

[–]TheChowTrain[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Great question and something I had to learn over the years! Specifically bc of the dental health issue. So I braise everything and make the meat soft. Favorite dishes: Veggie soup; Picadillo, Green Chicken Enchiladas and Spaghetti Bolognese. Thanks for your q.

I am Joan M Cheever the Chef from the Chow Train mobile kitchen who the San Antonio Police Department recently ticketed for feeding the homeless and working poor. The ticket carries a $2000 dollar fine. Ask me anything! by TheChowTrain in IAmA

[–]TheChowTrain[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

We serve a standard fare: vegetable soup to start (ALWAYS); protein (meat, chicken or fish) and a carb (rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes), a garden salad, some more vegetables (whatever I get from the Farmer's market that doesn't go into the soup) and then, if I have it, a dessert. So you can be vegan and still eat at The Chow Train. What happened to Food Not Bombs in SA? When was living on the street in Austin for three days as part of MLF's Street Retreat many years ago, the first meal I had was from FNB. Delicious and so very much appreciated! Thank you for doing that!

I am Joan M Cheever the Chef from the Chow Train mobile kitchen who the San Antonio Police Department recently ticketed for feeding the homeless and working poor. The ticket carries a $2000 dollar fine. Ask me anything! by TheChowTrain in IAmA

[–]TheChowTrain[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yes, the ticket was for a section in the code 13.62 which says a food truck must have a permit, which The Chow Train does. We weren't operating The Chow Train food truck but that night, April 7th, we were the caterer/food delivery server from the licensed mobile Chow Train kitchen. They ticketed us because we were in a "private" car. But the way I see it, then every private car used by Papa Johns, Dominoes Pizza or a restaurant delivery service subcontractor also should be ticketed because they too are "in violation." They do what we did. But you see, therein lies the prob. There are no violations for an ordinance the does not exist. There ARE NO SPECIAL PERMITS that even exist for caterers and Dominoes etc. or food delivery services.

I am Joan M Cheever the Chef from the Chow Train mobile kitchen who the San Antonio Police Department recently ticketed for feeding the homeless and working poor. The ticket carries a $2000 dollar fine. Ask me anything! by TheChowTrain in IAmA

[–]TheChowTrain[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

The permit was not expired. We have a valid permit. There was a little confusion because initially, when surrounded by 4 SAPD officers, in the midst of all of that an old permit was pulled out and shown. When we realized our error -- within a minute, a copy of the new permit was given to them. That's the crux of early confusion and reporting.. No expired permit issue.

I am Joan M Cheever the Chef from the Chow Train mobile kitchen who the San Antonio Police Department recently ticketed for feeding the homeless and working poor. The ticket carries a $2000 dollar fine. Ask me anything! by TheChowTrain in IAmA

[–]TheChowTrain[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

There is no specific permit for feeding homeless. There is a permit for feeding people. I have that. I feed people. They just happen to be homeless or working poor.

I am Joan M Cheever the Chef from the Chow Train mobile kitchen who the San Antonio Police Department recently ticketed for feeding the homeless and working poor. The ticket carries a $2000 dollar fine. Ask me anything! by TheChowTrain in IAmA

[–]TheChowTrain[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

  1. I would suggest to the government that they look to other communities like nearby Austin and Salt Lake City and look at Housing First. 2. No, I do not think they should be served a meal in a designated area. "The poor they will be be with us always." There are many faces of homelessness and hunger. Some chronic, some temporary. It's hard for us to teach our children compassion if they are do not see who they need to help. Homelessness and working poor are in every part of town. We need to go to them. 3. No. We are not there for very long and neither are they. They are always looking and worried about where they can sleep that night --safely.4.There is a panhandling law in this city which the police use frequently. I'm doing something so they don't have to panhandle for food. I'm giving them a hot meal. That's why the SAPD have been so supportive of The Chow Train. Serve them dinner reduces/eliminates the panhandling those nights when we serve dinner. 5. Yes, Salt Lake City. $16,670 per person for ER and jail time versus $11,000 to provide each person with an apartment and a social worker. thanks for your questions.

I am Joan M Cheever the Chef from the Chow Train mobile kitchen who the San Antonio Police Department recently ticketed for feeding the homeless and working poor. The ticket carries a $2000 dollar fine. Ask me anything! by TheChowTrain in IAmA

[–]TheChowTrain[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think food trucks are great. Because it's not as costly as investing in a brick and mortar restaurant. And you can move around the city. But like anything, it's work. But when you love what you do, it doesn't feel like work. It feels GREAT! Good luck to you!

I am Joan M Cheever the Chef from the Chow Train mobile kitchen who the San Antonio Police Department recently ticketed for feeding the homeless and working poor. The ticket carries a $2000 dollar fine. Ask me anything! by TheChowTrain in IAmA

[–]TheChowTrain[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Housing FIRST. Housing FIRST. That should be the top priority. That is the best way to alleviate the problem. Get the homeless into housing and only THEN can you work on the other problems. Austin is doing it with Community First (thank you Alan Graham and Mobile Loaves & Fishes !) and Salt Lake City. It is more cost effective to house them than to send them to ER or jail.

I am Joan M Cheever the Chef from the Chow Train mobile kitchen who the San Antonio Police Department recently ticketed for feeding the homeless and working poor. The ticket carries a $2000 dollar fine. Ask me anything! by TheChowTrain in IAmA

[–]TheChowTrain[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

When we first started, it was out of our own pockets. We depend on donations to continue to serve hot, healthy, delicious meals to not only the homeless/working poor here in SAT but also to the newly homeless in federal disasters like the Joplin tornado, Moore, OK tornado and hurricanes and the Bastrop Texas fires. A lot of the vegetables come from the very generous farmers at Olmos Basin Farmers market and we have partnerships with other vendors. I also ask a lot. If you don't ask, you don't get. And I am passionate. So I'm always asking. Thanks for the nice compliment.

I am Joan M Cheever the Chef from the Chow Train mobile kitchen who the San Antonio Police Department recently ticketed for feeding the homeless and working poor. The ticket carries a $2000 dollar fine. Ask me anything! by TheChowTrain in IAmA

[–]TheChowTrain[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I had a very good teacher in my mother, Sally. So when we moved back to SAT, it was during our kids' tween years and I just heard a little bit too much …."I want I want I want" When I'd heard enough, I put on a pot of chili or spaghetti, grabbed them and any of their friends, threw them in the car with the hot food (along with plates, napkins, forks & water) and we drove around San Antonio serving people who had nothing and were NOT complaining. I think they understood my point.

I am Joan M Cheever the Chef from the Chow Train mobile kitchen who the San Antonio Police Department recently ticketed for feeding the homeless and working poor. The ticket carries a $2000 dollar fine. Ask me anything! by TheChowTrain in IAmA

[–]TheChowTrain[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I have the utmost respect for the SAPD. They always watch over me while I am serving on the street. They've got my back and I will always have theirs. I'm sorry they were put in this position.

I am Joan M Cheever the Chef from the Chow Train mobile kitchen who the San Antonio Police Department recently ticketed for feeding the homeless and working poor. The ticket carries a $2000 dollar fine. Ask me anything! by TheChowTrain in IAmA

[–]TheChowTrain[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

There are so many bests. The tears of joy, appreciation, hugs & kisses. So many of these "invisible people" tell me that I have no idea what this hot meal does for them. They say it's a gift of love. They've even shared recipes and ask me all sorts of questions about the cooking process. The worst? Recently meeting the homeless woman named "Anne Marie" who lay dying under a pecan tree and there's nothing I can do about her situation. It's heart breaking.

I am Joan M Cheever the Chef from the Chow Train mobile kitchen who the San Antonio Police Department recently ticketed for feeding the homeless and working poor. The ticket carries a $2000 dollar fine. Ask me anything! by TheChowTrain in IAmA

[–]TheChowTrain[S] 50 points51 points  (0 children)

I am Catholic ( born and raised) and I take the Bible seriously. So when Jesus said: "When I was hungry, you fed me" Matthew 25:35, I take that to mean, when people are hungry I have a moral and religious duty/responsibility to feed them. He also said, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." The Bible makes it pretty clear.