Hunt on "New" Panhandling Ordinance

By Robert Wilonsky Thu., Dec. 9 2010 at 10:00 AM

Categories: City Hall

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On Monday we sneak-peeked the ordinance creating those so-called Solicitation-Free Zones in downtown, Deep Ellum, Uptown and Victory; yesterday, with little to say other than "yay," the council approved the revision to the City Code, adding to the existing law a $500 fine for panhandlers and extending its enforcement hours from sunset-to-sunrise to all-day-long. On her blog, council member Angela Hunt explains the why-for:

Panhandling is an ongoing problem throughout our city, particularly in Downtown Dallas. This type of public nuisance detracts from our efforts to create a safe, vibrant, livable Downtown. Residents tell me panhandlers make them feel unsafe, while business owners tell me they've lost customers as a result of aggressive soliciting.

After working with the Downtown Dallas Association, I'm pleased to report that today the city council voted to prohibit panhandling in Downtown, Uptown, Victory, and Deep Ellum. (We couldn't make the ban citywide because courts have concluded that soliciting money is protected by the First Amendment, so the government must have a compelling reason to infringe on such a basic right. Here, we're trying to protect the region's economic engine, Downtown Dallas.)

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Most of the panhandlers I see are professionals. Around Norwest highway and the tollway there is a group that I see everyday and I have no doubt this is a "proefessional group" organized in panhandling. I have watched one panhandler get off a bus in the morning and over the course of a few days I have seen him at different intersections. His demeanor while panhandling was totally different than when I saw him getting off the bus. Another instace was a guy with what looked like muscular dystrophy or similar problem. He was "walking" with his sign with his arms and twisted and shuffling his feet as though he was really struggling with his disease. The car in front of me gave the man water and he stayed in character whiel he opened the bottle and drank it all in one long gulp. I was about to give this guy some money but the light turned so I passed him by. Well, while I was sitting at the next light this same guy goes running by me through traffic to meet up with another panhandler that was working another corner and they both walk off as normal ever down the street. There signes are all very similar and they are written very clearly and with proper spelling and punctuation so I know it has to be an organized group working this area.
I live close to Fair Park and the panhandlers over on the west side of White Rock Creek who hang out at the beer store had a free meal yesterday, courtesy of some doo-gooder church group. These people trash the creek, they live at the liquor stores, it's in a shitty part of town and I have had a hard time figuring out why they hang out here. Well I watch as these poor hard-working Mexicans (highly likely illegals) give them money all the time. I've never seen a Mexican panhandle but they have no problem giving these wife-beating meth-heads their monies... (plansave for) I'm plansaving for the inaugural ride on the solar powered water taxis....
I agree with Frank. I do not give money to people on the street. I'll occasionally give them food, if it's handy, but that's usually not too welcome.
As they tell you when you enter Yellowstone National Park 'Don't feed the bears'. This discourages them from attacking you and / or your car for food. I tell my patrons at Kettle the same when it comes down to panhandlers. If you want to feed or show real support, simply give to the shelter of your choice.
We need to seperate the homeless issue from the panhandling issue. The City, either through the Bridge or church sponsored programs, is combating the homeless issue. Many homeless that I see are too mentally ill to panhandle. The problem is the aggressive panhandlers. In my area (Lower Greenville), it has been my experience that many of the panhandlers are not homeless, rather they fall somewhere on the lazy to con-artist spectrum. A set of crutches or a wheel chair is much cheaper than college or a job training program. My point is that an attack on panhandling is not necessarily a attack on the homeless. They are related and slightly overlapping. Panhandling and public urination are constitutional rights afforded to the homeless. An attack on activities of a certain group is not an attack on that group. My fears are that 1.) this will also not be enforced and 2.) this will only cause the panhandlers to move out of the CBD to areas like Lower Greenville. Homelessness is a cronic problem with no easy solution. Stopping panhandling can be stopped today. I have the right as a citizen to walk through the Kroger parking lot without someone sneaking up behind me in the dark.
Let's see, we spend millions in taxpayer money to keep homeless services downtown so as to appease the nonprofits that work with the homeless. Then we're unhappy when Farmer's Market is full of bums and we decide we need a new panhandling ordinance. Yeah, that sounds about right for Dallas.
@reasonable- Good luck with that. Sort of like how we can't allow alcohol sales in South Dallas because people lack self control.
Might I suggest that panhandlers won't hang out where nobody is giving them anything? Man up and be tough personally by NOT giving the homeless money instead of waiting for the government to invisibly take care of the problem for you, and the "problem" will go away on it's own. Wonder if that simple idea has occurred to anybody here?
well geeez can we get them to stop around the fair park area??? I am getting really tiresd of it... ousavr troop -- The military branch of OU.. Used to defend against UT alum..
The panhandlers can get their revenge by all moving to/under the Caltravesty Bridge to Nowhere and begging for money by the solar water taxi docks next to the brown water rafting. *Bommose lead (or get out of the way)
While im championing the move, as its well overdue, I have to question the timing. Ive had my dealings with the bums go down dramatically in deep ellum over the past year, but im wondering if this is just "feel good" politics to appease the voters for the next city election cycle, or are they actually serious in finally making the city core a place thats going to be a 24/7 environment for business and living? I had a case of gientle gracchus awhile back, had to get a shot down at the free clinic to clear it up..
@AB- Not a chance this includes busking. That is very specifically a protected form of free speech.
Robert, Would you? I would very much appreciate that. I need some supper monies. -A.B.
Mark is exactly right. No one expects panhandlers to pay a fine. But once they ignore the ticket, warrants are issued. Officers can make arrests any time they want, based on those warrants, and they'll be told to do so as Super Bowl press and guests arrive. Us geezers remember the same thing happening when Dallas hosted the Republic convention in 1984.
Aaron, hard to say -- but re-reading the ordinance, it doesn't say anything about singing for your supper, no. I will ask a city attorney, if you'd like.
@Holy Sheet Yes, but I'm keeping the faith [and waiting for warmer weather]
Robert, Do you know if this includes busking? curious. -A.B.
Will this effect the JFK Conspiracy Guy who sells stuff down by the Depository?
@lakewooder. are you troubled becuase your picture wasnt in the slideshow?
I'm no lawyer but I don't see how this ordinance would stand up against a challenge on the grounds of limiting free speech. If banning it citywide would be illegal, I don't see how banning it in a huge area of commercial activity could be legal. What good are my rights to free speech if I can't exercise them in what the city is plainly admitting is the hub of the greatest amount of economic activity, not mention municipal governance?
Wouldn't Victory Park actually have to have people in it to have pan handling? Guess they're just getting ready for Cumulus to move in...
Maybe they should have a "No Dressing Like a Gang Banger" ordinance around those areas as well.
Hunt said they only protected areas deemed as economic engines - Downtown, Uptown, Deep Ellum, Victory. So with all her efforts to rebuild Lower Greenville, does that area (and I mean from Ross all the way to Park Lane) not deserve the same label? There are more restaurants on any section of Greenville Avenue than there are in all of Uptown. Bousild September (a holiday only celebrated in tiny little villages in Switzerland)
The real agenda is to spend the next few months writing $500 tickets and then throw all the homeless in jail during the superbowl. Don't get me wrong, panhandlers get on my nerves. But don't mistake this for being a solution. Once the superbowl is over it'll be business as usual.
Can't decide what's more troubling; Panhandling, or the fact DO has a slideshow titled "Best Meat Photos of Dallas" *ficych the - can you say that in public?
@Aaron: I was making the same argument to a co-worker. Unless the law allows an officer to cite the panhandler and collect his earnings right then and there, I don't know if this will do anything. But it's better than nothing for sure. Wonder if this will result in more panhandlers moving outside the solicitation-free zone.
I assume that the panhandlers that get fined dont pay bc they have no way to make money except panhandling. Anyhow, my most recent panhandler story involved a lady asking me for a $1 so she could eat, I attempted to hand her an extra burger I had in my lunch sack and she told me to "eat shit, I asked for money" I just walked off laughing
Yes, because those panhandling have sufficient resources to pay said $500 fine.