From the Arcata City Council agenda for tonight’s meeting:
| IX. | NEW BUSINESS. |
| A. | Introduce Ordinance No. 1399, Adding Article 10 – Unlawful Panhandling to Title IV – Public Welfare, Morals and Conduct; Chapter 2 – Other Violations, to the Arcata Municipal Code. |
| On October 21, 2009, the Council gave direction to draft a panhandling ordinance to include a City-wide ban against aggressive panhandling and a location-specific ban against panhandling of any form in certain problem areas.
RECOMMENDATION: Introduce Ordinance No. 1399, adding Article 10 – Unlawful Panhandling to Title IV – Public Welfare, Morals and Conduct; Chapter 2 – Other Violations, to the Arcata Municipal Code; waive reading of the text and consent to read by title only. |
The link is to the staff report, but I can’t find a link to the ordinance proposal itself. I’m assuming that the “aggressive” panhandling provisions would require that the panhandler withdraw after the first “no,” as in the San Francisco ordinance which I believe was upheld as not barred by the First Amendment.
I get that there are serious problems which drive away business. I am hesitant to bring my kids to the Arcata Square green at times, and sometimes certain people have dominated the Arcata Forest playground which ought to be left for kids. But there are basic liberties at stake as well, and I’m concerned that the issue can play right into the ongoing war on the poor.
I’m for banning panhandling at ATMs, but I’m concerned about what appears to the scope of “problem areas.”
I think I would oppose the measure, but no, I don’t have any alternative constructive solutions.
13 comments
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December 2, 2009 at 11:20 am
Ernie's Place
Say that a person wakes up one morning and finds himself sleeping on the street. No family that loves or cares for him, no close friends. Can a person find public assistance fast enough to keep from staving to death? Remember, our Government is who bailed us out of Katrina.
Where do I tell a person like that to go when he panhandles me? How can I know whether or not that person really needs my help, or if he is just playing me and everybody else for a sucker? If he cannot panhandle he would be forced to get a job or get into the welfare system. Humboldt Co. should have an adequate welfare system to deal with these peoples needs. It seems like most of the public money in the county goes to the welfare department.
I really think that the only way that people on the streets can get away from their situation is if they are forced to participate in the system that can care for them. By slipping the man on the street a twenty, we only enable their condition and non-participation.
We should have cards printed with the places that panhandlers can be taken care of on them, and make them available to anyone that is likely to be panhandled.
You, being a lawyer, I would imagine that you don’t have much of a problem with panhandlers harassing your customers, but you would be amazed by how many people that I’ve heard say that they won’t go to the Arcata Plaza because of the bums that hang out there. That can’t be good for business, and it is just plain not fair to the people that pay the rent to open a business there.
December 2, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Not A Native
The proposed ordinance is included at the end of the staff report link.
December 2, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Anonymous
this is such a hard situation, as ernie stated. how do you know who really needs help, and who is just panhandling. there are vets out there who really need help, and then young kids just hanging around for the free lunch. they should have to work for it some how, cleaning up around town for a lunch voucher or something.
December 2, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Bruce Ross
Setting the expectation that families can feel safe on the streets of their own city is hardly a war on the poor.
Personally, I used to have a soft spot for the homeless folks who hung around the University of New Mexico and its environs back in my undergrad days. And I’ve never had reason to feel threatened by them. (Being male might help.) Even so, visiting Arcata today, the number of panhandlers is stunning.
December 2, 2009 at 11:58 pm
moviedad
Panhandling at ATM’s? That’s called robbery. Every person on the street has to figure out their hustle. The successful give something in return; a song, an ugly braided string, maybe a drawing.
It is sad that we can’t manage even the most basic human sufferings. The people we drive by day after day, should be able to get treated for their many conditions. We can’t assume health based on their physical appearance. What about the mentally ill? What about the people living in their cars? How long can they hold out before they’re on the street? We are only as strong as our weakest members. We suck at compassion.
December 3, 2009 at 8:49 am
Eric Kirk
Well, it’s only robbery with a threat of force.
December 3, 2009 at 8:55 am
brian
There IS help for people that WANT help.
December 3, 2009 at 9:52 am
Sarah
This has been a long time coming. Arcata is completly over-run with pan handlers. It really changes the vibe of the town. I used to live south of the Plaza, and it was really unbearable to have five or six people ask you for money in the space of six blocks. People may think unbearable is too strong of a word, but it got so that I would change the way I walked to school. There are two guys who are permenent fixtures, and they are fine, not a problem, you can talk to them, but it seems like there are hords of youth just passing through, looking to harrass locals.
December 3, 2009 at 10:28 am
moviedad
A thin line Erick. Couldn’t the case be made, if someone wanted to push it, that the threat was implied?
Anyway, I don’t feel too threatened by panhandlers. But as another writer said, I’m male, and 6’3, so I am not a likely target, in most cases.
My wife is a Social Worker, front line, off the street intakes. There is damn little help, whether they want it or not. General Relief has just been lowered to $90 a month for homeless, a bit more if they have a room. That’s how much help is out there. I’ve said it before, no one sees the real homeless, the families living in their cars, or camping in back yards. The plazoids have become the poster-child for homeless people. That’s too bad, it hardens people to the real issue, that is layed-off working people evicted with kids, trying to keep sane and pray some miracle will happen to change their predicament.
December 3, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Anonymous
Greg Allen did his usual excellent advocacy work for the ACLU there, too bad he’s not on that City Council instead of that rightwing Democrat, ol Hauser-clone Wheetley.
December 3, 2009 at 3:50 pm
arcatawitch
The NCRC, formerly the Endeavor, is now feeding only their homeless volunteers. I see these volunteers every morning around town picking up trash. It is really awesome that John Shelter has organized some of the homeless to give back to our city.
December 3, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Michael Moore, Jr.
Erik,
If you lived in Arcata you might change your mind. After all, as a visitor you write that “I am hesitant to bring my kids to the Arcata Square green at times”.
Well, those panhandlers don’t just hang out on the plaza. They spill into neighborhoods, because that is where they sleep and party. My neighborhood which is within walking distance of the plaza and is now so impacted by urban campers/panhandlers that we fell over run.
Michael Moore, Jr.
December 5, 2009 at 12:03 pm
anon
WHY LIE? I WANT A BEER