Panhandlers

[AllanY2525]

Here in Maryland there is an ordinance against panhandling, including a fine.

Police can order someone to leave the vicinity if they are loitering.  They can
be arrested and charged for disobeying a police officer.

[Towntalk]

I couldn't agree with you more so far as the ACLU is concerned. Every time you turn around they are dragging cities into courts over otherwise sensable and much needed laws.

In the New York City case for example, the city was concerned about street people sleeping in the streets in sub zero weather, and wanted to take them to shelters where they could get a hot meal and have a place warm to sleep, but the ACLU stopped them.

Our Police Chief has the right idea about having more police patrolling downtown. I can remember when there were two beat officers just working West Federal Street and they did a good job chasing the panhandlers away. They were on foot and covered two blocks each. Some of the old timers may remember the one that patrolled from Hazel to Spring Common by the name of Howard Kohler.

[Lynds]

I've read some journal publications on the topic and to be honest I don't watch a ton of TV. I was just wondering what the ACLU would try to sue the City for? They are the people breaking the law.

[Towntalk]

My heavens, haven't you been reading the papers and watching TV news?

Cities all over the country have tried to deal with this problem only to be frustrated by the ACLU.

New York for example simply wanted to provide a winter shelter for them and the ACLU stopped them.

A simple Google News search using "panhandeler" will show you a lengthy list of articles as cities try to deal with this problem.


http://www.aclu.org/free-speech/aclu-tells-richmond-officials-drop-proposal-prohibiting-panhandling-vehicle-occupants

http://www.aclu.org/free-speech/aclu-new-mexico-wins-temporary-halt-albuquerques-anti-panhandling-ordinance

http://www.press-citizen.com/article/20100530/NEWS01/5300317/Group-to-protest-panhandlers-law

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100616/NEWS010702/306160008/Panhandling-law-faces-lawsuit

[Lynds]

Panhandlers aka "Can Gangers" downtown are almost as old as Youngstown itself, but how are you going to eleminate them? Every city has them, and every time they try to eleminate them the ACLU steps in and takes the city to court.

Youngstown use to have a law against panhandlers

why would the ACLU step in?

[jay]

I went downtown on Tuesday.  When I parked my car near the District Court House on West Federal Street, a man sitting on the edge of a flower planter asked for money and I refused to give him any.   I now had a dilemma.  If I walked away, would this man do something to my car?  I couldn't take a chance.  I got back in the car and drove to another parking spot two blocks away on East Federal.

[joly1584]

People trying to get you to sign petitions to get items on election ballots annoy me more than the panhandlers.  They don't take "no" for an answer. 

[Towntalk]

For those who didn't see it, here's the story regarding panhandlers:

http://www.wytv.com/content/news/local/story/Workers-Complain-About-Vagrants-in-Downtown/xbud2taVi0iBLOHRP1It0A.cspx

[Towntalk]

Panhandlers aka "Can Gangers" downtown are almost as old as Youngstown itself, but how are you going to eleminate them? Every city has them, and every time they try to eleminate them the ACLU steps in and takes the city to court.

Youngstown use to have a law against panhandlers

[joly1584]

I saw the same story on-line.

I have worked downtown since March 1993.  While panhandlers have always been around I have not noticed any increase in the problem.  I just tell them no and walk on.

The panhandlers are usually on Federal between Phelps and Hazel.  Howard, the person in the story from Turning Technologies, would have to walk by the panhandlers to get from his office to most restaurants and banks in downtown.  I work in the Ohio One Building and i go to Central Square on a daily basis and occasionally to the west end of downtown.  I rarely see the panhandlers on Central Square anymore - they used to wait for people coming out of the banks. 

Gregory is the most noticeable panhandler and has been around forever.  I kinda missed him the few months he was gone after he was shot. 

[jay]

During the TV news on Tuesday, a story was aired about the problem of panhandlers in downtown Youngstown.

Have Forum members experienced this problem in downtown Youngstown?
If so, has this problem gotten worse?