2008 Woodie Awards
City eyes panhandlers
Kelli Shaffner - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 3/10/08 Section: Metro
Downtown Iowa City may change its feel, and appeal, to pedestrians, businesses, and shoppers if the Iowa City City Council decides on Tuesday to pass a proposed ordinance that would limit panhandlers, solicitation, and begging.
If passed, soliciting in an aggressive manner would be prohibited - a continuation of the current law - as would be sitting or lying down within 10 feet of a doorway. The ordinance brings proximity into play to help separate businesses from loiterers and solicitors.
The proposal focuses on concerns of aggressive behavior while panhandling - especially harassment, City Councilor Matt Hayek said. The measure also aims to rid downtown businesses of those who station themselves close to their entrances while panhandling.
Panhandlers drive away customers, said Cold Stone Creamery manager Sarah Rollinger. She contends that the establishment, 132 E. Washington St., has seen its share.
"We've actually had a lot of complaints," she said. "A lot of them smoke cigarettes, so when people walk by, they don't like that. Some of them have dogs, and people complain about being allergic to dogs."
On Sunday afternoon, a panhandler at the intersection of Washington and Dubuque Streets said he doesn't ask for money aggressively, and neither do any other panhandlers.
"If we were like that, then we wouldn't get anything," he said. "I don't tell people they have to give me money."
The council has had received numerous complaints from downtown businesses similar to Rollinger's, Councilor Connie Champion said.
Though Rollinger said it isn't just the customers' complaints that are bothersome.
"We have a sign that we set out there, and sometimes they move it next to the street or the garbage can," she said. "So we've had problems with them touching our stuff, too. They comply - to a certain extent - when we go ask them; but they always come back."
Though Rollinger said the store asks people camped outside the door to move, and it has sometimes contacted the Iowa City police Department, the establishment does not own the sidewalk around the building and is limited in the action it may take.
Hayek said that if passed, the ordinance would be part of the answer; enforcing what's already in the books would solve the rest of the problem.
The current "begging" law prohibits asking for money aggressively, and right now the law only relies on complaints to be enforced.
The proposal is a balancing act, Hayek said, balancing First Amendment rights in public places with protecting businesses.
Another thing to consider is that local business provide monetary assistance to programs put in place to help those struggling financially.
"If those businesses are hurt because people are afraid to go downtown and shop, that has a ripple effect and can play out in many ways including those business being less able to contribute donations," he said.
E-mail DI reporter Kelli Shaffner at:
kelli-shaffner@uiowa.edu
If passed, soliciting in an aggressive manner would be prohibited - a continuation of the current law - as would be sitting or lying down within 10 feet of a doorway. The ordinance brings proximity into play to help separate businesses from loiterers and solicitors.
The proposal focuses on concerns of aggressive behavior while panhandling - especially harassment, City Councilor Matt Hayek said. The measure also aims to rid downtown businesses of those who station themselves close to their entrances while panhandling.
Panhandlers drive away customers, said Cold Stone Creamery manager Sarah Rollinger. She contends that the establishment, 132 E. Washington St., has seen its share.
"We've actually had a lot of complaints," she said. "A lot of them smoke cigarettes, so when people walk by, they don't like that. Some of them have dogs, and people complain about being allergic to dogs."
On Sunday afternoon, a panhandler at the intersection of Washington and Dubuque Streets said he doesn't ask for money aggressively, and neither do any other panhandlers.
"If we were like that, then we wouldn't get anything," he said. "I don't tell people they have to give me money."
The council has had received numerous complaints from downtown businesses similar to Rollinger's, Councilor Connie Champion said.
Though Rollinger said it isn't just the customers' complaints that are bothersome.
"We have a sign that we set out there, and sometimes they move it next to the street or the garbage can," she said. "So we've had problems with them touching our stuff, too. They comply - to a certain extent - when we go ask them; but they always come back."
Though Rollinger said the store asks people camped outside the door to move, and it has sometimes contacted the Iowa City police Department, the establishment does not own the sidewalk around the building and is limited in the action it may take.
Hayek said that if passed, the ordinance would be part of the answer; enforcing what's already in the books would solve the rest of the problem.
The current "begging" law prohibits asking for money aggressively, and right now the law only relies on complaints to be enforced.
The proposal is a balancing act, Hayek said, balancing First Amendment rights in public places with protecting businesses.
Another thing to consider is that local business provide monetary assistance to programs put in place to help those struggling financially.
"If those businesses are hurt because people are afraid to go downtown and shop, that has a ripple effect and can play out in many ways including those business being less able to contribute donations," he said.
E-mail DI reporter Kelli Shaffner at:
kelli-shaffner@uiowa.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
The Final Solution
posted 3/10/08 @ 6:09 AM CST
I says we take a D6D AND DIG A LARGE TRENCH OUT WEST OF TOWN THEN HAVE OUR ENFORCERS (COPPERS) SWOPE IN UNDER THE COVER OF TWILIGHT AND NAB THE LOT.
SUCH VERMIN DON'T BELONG BOTHERING COLD STONE CREAMERY PATRONS AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE FINAL SOLUTION!!!!
Angela Jones
posted 3/10/08 @ 9:21 PM CST
I really dislike the tone of this article. What about the negative impact such legislation could have on the lives of homeless citizens? The article focuses overwhelmingly on one singular viewpoint, without addressing other perspectives. (Continued…)
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