Executive Summary: The proposed ordinance, Sec. 12.325, is an attempt to maintain public safety by prohibiting people from soliciting or panhandling on public highways. Specifically, it bans people from approaching an active vehicle on the road. While safety is important, this ordinance is unnecessary in the sense that there are other laws regarding obstruction of traffic, disturbing the peace, and assault that should address any concerns of safety regarding the issue. It also borders on being unconstitutional by limiting one’s right of free speech to ask their fellow citizens for financial help. If panhandling is an issue, then I would consider that the City Council focus it’s efforts on laws that reduce poverty and homelessness in the city of Madison.
The remaining sections in this memorandum include: (1) A “Background …show more content…
This will reduce panhandling quickly, yet it does not address the bigger issue of poverty and homelessness in the city. (2) Laws aimed to address the issue of poverty as a whole (Housing, Food, and Job Creation programs). These laws won’t stop panhandling soon, but will be an effort to reduce poverty rates and therefore reduce panhandling in the long run.
Recommendation: I would recommend that Ordinance Sec. 12.325 should not be enforced, and that the City Council focuses more energy on laws that fight poverty and homelessness. The evidence to support the dangers of panhandling on public roadways is not strong, and enforcing laws like Ordinance Sec. 12.325 can be controversial to the general public and groups like the ACLU. To groups like these, this law can be considered to be punishing people for being poor. Laws that address the issue of poverty as a whole can reduce panhandling in the long run without punishing the poor and upsetting the general
The remaining sections in this memorandum include: (1) A “Background …show more content…
This will reduce panhandling quickly, yet it does not address the bigger issue of poverty and homelessness in the city. (2) Laws aimed to address the issue of poverty as a whole (Housing, Food, and Job Creation programs). These laws won’t stop panhandling soon, but will be an effort to reduce poverty rates and therefore reduce panhandling in the long run.
Recommendation: I would recommend that Ordinance Sec. 12.325 should not be enforced, and that the City Council focuses more energy on laws that fight poverty and homelessness. The evidence to support the dangers of panhandling on public roadways is not strong, and enforcing laws like Ordinance Sec. 12.325 can be controversial to the general public and groups like the ACLU. To groups like these, this law can be considered to be punishing people for being poor. Laws that address the issue of poverty as a whole can reduce panhandling in the long run without punishing the poor and upsetting the general