Mineola wants to crack down on aggressive pan-handling (Hamilton: crime, employment)

[HellUpInHarlem]

Officials in a Long Island village are proposing legislation to make aggressive panhandling a crime, citing troublesome encounters at the LIRR station there. Official in a Long Island village are proposing legislation to make aggressive panhandling a crime, citing troublesome encounters at the LIRR station there.

People at the Mineola LIRR stop supported the proposal, saying they've watched panhandlers get aggressive there.

"Just coming up to people, bothering them when getting a ticket from the machine and sometimes running after them, tapping people on the shoulder," said Dennis McGrath.

Convenience store owner Rahima Hossain showed damage outside her shop that she says was done by a panhandler.

“They're bothering all the time, since I open the store at 4:30 or 5:00 until closing," she said.

The proposed legislation by Mineola village officials defines aggressive as "intentionally or recklessly making any physical contact, or approaching within an arm's length except with a person's consent."

The executive director of Long Island's Coalition for the Homeless calls the legislation unnecessary, saying panhandling in Mineola isn't a problem.

"I think that it is criminalizing the homeless, penalizing people for being poor," said Greta Guarton. "They're just trying to do something to push folks out of their community."

Village officials weren't available for comment, but the legislation says solicitation in certain public places is inherently intimidating or constitutes an invasion of privacy.

"They only ask," said Guarton. "That's what I see people do."

One man who was collecting cans from a Mineola trash can said that asking for help shouldn't make anyone a criminal.

"As far as I can tell, it's no crime at all," he said. "No evil in that."

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/loca...482845881.html

[Interlude]

"I think that it is criminalizing the homeless, penalizing people for being poor," said Greta Guarton. "They're just trying to do something to push folks out of their community."

Where do these community-wrecking busybodies come from? Work on getting these people help and stop trying to legitimize their harassment. There are intoxicated homeless panhandling at that station and stinking up the waiting room at 8:30 am Of course she’s never seen what goes on there, does she even take the train in her Long Island based job? Other than to go see Hamilton on the dime of the charitable public?

[hotkarl]

These individuals are strays and feral.
They should be picked up and brought to shelters.
If they are not claimed or find employment after a certain period of time they should be euthanized.