Atlanta council to consider measure aimed at aggressive panhandling (dorm, living)

[ATLTJL]

Atlanta council to consider measure aimed at aggressive panhandling *| ajc.com

In my opinion, this is the single most important legislation Atlanta could pass to help the city.

I don't understand how penalizing chosen behavior can be seen as racist, but whatever....

Call your city representative and let him or her know that you support this legislation!

[belleislerunner]

Yes - because people who sleep in Roosevelt Park or around the North Ave mission are going to read the internet to know we past laws directed against them.

They then have a choice between living outside in the 100+ degree elements or a taxpayer provided 72 degree dorm room with three nice meals a day.

I work downtown every day and have yet to be attacked by an "aggressive panhandler".

Councilman Bond should be ashamed at his lack of compassion and humanity.

[ATLTJL]

I work downtown every day and have yet to be attacked by an "aggressive panhandler".

You must park right by your building and walk directly from your car into the building and then directly back to your car.

Here's an experiment. Find the smokers in your building. Go and hang out with them for a day or two when they go smoke outside. I guarantee you that 10 minutes won't go by where you aren't asked for money, or at least for a cigarette. It might take a few weeks of going out with them, but I also guarantee that you will eventually be threatened if you don't give money.

Why is banning aggessive panhandling lacking compassion? If you want to sit quietly with a cup and sign, go freaking nuts. If you are going to harass people, it needs to be more than a slap on the wrists. It costs the city millions, maybe billions, every year in lost revenue from conventioneers and tourists who no longer want to come here.

[tonygeorgia]

Shouldn't this be a common sense law?

[belleislerunner]

I've been hit up for money all the time. That, in no way, is threatening to me.

Let's think about this logically - you are a homeless person. You are looking for money to get something to eat around 2pm on a Tuesday.

Your choices are 1) ask some nice dressed business people for money or 2) attack/rob nice dressed business people.

I'd much rather they choose option one.

[atltechdude]

Originally Posted by belleislerunner

Yes - because people who sleep in Roosevelt Park or around the North Ave mission are going to read the internet to know we past laws directed against them.

They then have a choice between living outside in the 100+ degree elements or a taxpayer provided 72 degree dorm room with three nice meals a day.

I work downtown every day and have yet to be attacked by an "aggressive panhandler".

Councilman Bond should be ashamed at his lack of compassion and humanity.

I disagree, panhandling is one of the biggest blights on tourism and the attractiveness of midtown/downtown to people that do not live or work there.

[Onthemove2014]

Good luck trying to get money out of a homeless person to pay a fine.


I guess some people need to define " aggressive panhandling" before this thread get too confusing.

[ATLTJL]

You're right. Those are the only choices. There are absolutely no programs in Atlanta that provide food to the needy. There are absolutely no social programs that provide food, shelter, medication (if needed), and drug and alcohol treatment (if needed).

The legislation is win/win. They can either non-aggessively ask for money. Or they can do it aggressively and then they will have at least 6 months where they won't have to worry about where their next meal is coming from.

Atltechduded said it. Panhandling is the worst blight on this city. This legislation wasn't brought up just to be mean-spirited. It's a reaction to a barrage of complaints about the situation.

[onemanarmy]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

You're right. Those are the only choices. There are absolutely no programs in Atlanta that provide food to the needy. There are absolutely no social programs that provide food, shelter, medication (if needed), and drug and alcohol treatment (if needed).

The legislation is win/win. They can either non-aggessively ask for money. Or they can do it aggressively and then they will have at least 6 months where they won't have to worry about where their next meal is coming from.

Atltechduded said it. Panhandling is the worst blight on this city. This legislation wasn't brought up just to be mean-spirited. It's a reaction to a barrage of complaints about the situation.

Panhandling is annoying and a problem for tourist areas, but what can you do. What is aggressive panhandling anyway, asking more than once? Can someone give me a scenario, where aggressive panhandling is a criminal offense? I have never been aggressively panhandled, or witnessed it in my 8 year experience living and working Downtown. Now, maybe enforcing loitering is a more reasonable way to combat panhandling, but begging for money is covered by the constitution.

[ATLTJL]

I would define aggressive panhandling as anyone who continues to follow you around and talk to you even after you have said that you do not want to give them any money.

Or even people who walk with you and keep talking to you even as you are politely trying to ignore them.