I've written before about panhandling. I'm not a big fan of it. I don't think it's safe for those begging for food -- especially when they are trying to get money from passing vehicles. It upsets others at the local Ped Mall, who don't appreciate aggressive beggars when they're walking through downtown. And it really turns people off to the plight of the poor and homeless. IMHO, as always.
I don't go downtown often. I visit the library, I go to the comic book shop when Mark's out of town, and I occasionally eat out. But I'm not downtown as often as I was in the past so I haven't seen the gradual increase in what others called "aggressive panhandling" on the Iowa City Ped Mall. I guess there has been an increase in fighting between and overt drug use by local transients in recent months on the Ped Mall so the Iowa City City Council has finally decided to do something about it.
The City Council is scheduled to vote this Tuesday on a new set of rules aimed at curbing certain behaviors associated with the homeless and panhandlers (not always synonymous!) at the Iowa City Ped Mall. If passed, the following behaviors will be banned in downtown Iowa City:
* People will be banned from sleeping on planters or benches. Additionally, people will be banned from lying down on benches except for between 10:00 PM -- 5:00 AM.
* People will be banned from storing large items, such as shopping carts, on the Ped Mall for more than two hours. There will be an exception made for strollers, walkers, and other items needed for special events (such as the Friday Night Concerts).
* People will be banned from plugging electrical items, such as radios and televisions, into public outlets unless they have special permission from Iowa City.
* People will be banned from panhandling near parking meters and at all of the street entrances to the Ped Mall.
Assuming it gets passed, people caught violating this revised ordinance will have to pay a $65 fine, though they may be allowed to perform acts of community service if they cannot afford the fine.
I don't go downtown often. I visit the library, I go to the comic book shop when Mark's out of town, and I occasionally eat out. But I'm not downtown as often as I was in the past so I haven't seen the gradual increase in what others called "aggressive panhandling" on the Iowa City Ped Mall. I guess there has been an increase in fighting between and overt drug use by local transients in recent months on the Ped Mall so the Iowa City City Council has finally decided to do something about it.
The City Council is scheduled to vote this Tuesday on a new set of rules aimed at curbing certain behaviors associated with the homeless and panhandlers (not always synonymous!) at the Iowa City Ped Mall. If passed, the following behaviors will be banned in downtown Iowa City:
* People will be banned from sleeping on planters or benches. Additionally, people will be banned from lying down on benches except for between 10:00 PM -- 5:00 AM.
* People will be banned from storing large items, such as shopping carts, on the Ped Mall for more than two hours. There will be an exception made for strollers, walkers, and other items needed for special events (such as the Friday Night Concerts).
* People will be banned from plugging electrical items, such as radios and televisions, into public outlets unless they have special permission from Iowa City.
* People will be banned from panhandling near parking meters and at all of the street entrances to the Ped Mall.
Assuming it gets passed, people caught violating this revised ordinance will have to pay a $65 fine, though they may be allowed to perform acts of community service if they cannot afford the fine.