Only something so infuriating could break me away from the
reverie of supplemental jurisdiction and trespass to chattels.
The wonderful, benevolent government of Fairfax County is requiring that kitchens that handout food to
the poor be approved by the county.
Several problems here:
1- Such a regulation raises costs for those who operate out of the
goodness of their hearts — and will probably crowd out all those
except for the largest, well-financed operations.
2- It will probably discourage start-up operations, or just
everyday benevolence. You want to share your leftovers with the guy
on the corner? Nice try, but is that kitchen approved?
3- The county is monopolizing food charity. This is the very area
of public life that is supposed to be free from government
regulation — and thrives best without it. Private actors need to
ask the county for permission to act charitably.