Providence City Councilor wants the city to enforcing anti-panhandling law

By Ana Bottary

abottary@abc6.com

@anabottary

You see them near many stop lights in Providence, holding signs, asking for money or work. It’s a weekly, sometimes daily routine for panhandlers like Frank Ross. According to the city as long as they’re doing it peacefully, they’re able to be there.
 
"The ACLU has got our back right now, because they are saying it is a freedom of speech. I mean I’m not going to windows, banging on windows asking for anything, all I’m looking for is work," says Ross.
 
The city stopped enforcing the panhandling ordinance after the American Civil Liberties Union claimed it violated their constitutional rights. But, City Councilor Nicholas Narducci is fed up with panhandling and wants police to continue enforcing it. He says when panhandlers are out on busy intersections they’re endangering both drivers and themselves. He also feels harassment is an issue.
 
"The public safety commissioner has made it clear on a number of occasions that he believes the city can deal with any sort of aggressive or illegal conduct by panhandlers with laws that are already on the books," says Steven Brown, Executive Director of the ACLU Rhode Island.

Brown argues the particular panhandling ordinance the city adopted many years ago is unconstitutional under many court decisions.

Other cities are handling panhandling in different ways. City Councilors in New Bedford are proposing the idea to license all panhandlers in order to regulate them."
 
"We aren’t charging anyone for the fee to license. All we need or what we will request when you come in is a positive ID let us know who you are that way we can know who you are and who is panhandling. The reality is, if you’re not following the protocol you can be subject to a fine."
 
Brown feels this is not a practical solution for Providence.

"I don’t think having them sign up or register in anyway deals with safety issues. To require them to seek a permit I think would probably also raise very serious first amendment concerns."

Mayor Elorzas office released a statement saying:

"This was a legal decisions, as the supreme court has effectively held that laws prohibiting panhandling are unconstitutional. The Police department are able to address the behaviors outlined in this ordinance as ‘aggressive’ through other existing laws. The panhandling ordinance has no bearing on our ability to enforce any other law or ordinance. "

(c)WLNE-TV 2016