Thank you, Councilman McQuillen:
A growing number of roadside beggars, typically seen at interstate highway ramps and major city intersections, has prompted a proposal to toughen the city’s panhandling laws.
“I have personally noticed an increase in people standing in the median, sometimes stopping traffic, trying to have conversations with people driving by,” said City-County Councilman Michael McQuillen, a Republican who introduced the measure.
In essence, the proposal adds what McQuillen calls a “50-foot danger zone” that would prevent people from standing near stoplights and stop signs, even if they are merely standing and holding a sign.
Hooray! Someone is FINALLY doing something about this.
Of course, there are always the softheads:
“I feel it’s unconstitutional and it is targeting specific groups,” said Councilman William Oliver, a Democrat. “And it would keep people from displaying signs, and that is a violation of free speech.”
Councilman Oliver: Fuck you. Or are these people working for you? I’m personally sick and tired of being solicited — even passively — every time I stop my car at a major intersection. Most of the people doing the soliciting wouldn’t work if you gave them a job (even if they have a “WILL WORK FOR FOOD” sign). And if you watch them carefully, it’s clear that they have some sort of organization behind them — because it’s nearly always the same person at the same place. How do they get there in the mornings? Are they dropped off? And they always seem to have a backpack or duffel bag with bottled water and snacks, which suggests that they aren’t exactly destitute.
And as far as the non-beggar people standing with signs at intersections — like the guy with the “READY TO TAKE HOME PIZZA” sign at 79th and Michigan, or the myriad sign holders who appear on 86th Street east of Michigan when someone is going out of business, or holding a grand opening, or having a big sale — that shit needs to stop, too.
All these people do is distract you from what you are really supposed to be doing: DRIVING.
I’m raising my glass to Councilman McQuillen. Bravo, sir; well done.
They banned them in D/FW and it hasn’t slowed the bastards down one single step. Oh, it did for a few months, then suddenly everything was back to “normal”.
Maybe they should try declaring open season on them. Justified vehicular homicide, anyone?
A couple of years ago Florida had a roadside rash of hot dog vendors – mostly female, mostly topless, mostly attractive. I hope the new crackdown on panhandlers doesn’t keep Florida’s problem from spreading.
Damn it! Why am I never in Florida when things like that happen?
Come to think of it, though, I guess Naples probably doesn’t have panhandlers…or if it does, they probably drive BMW’s.