Newport city councilman weighs in on panhandling problem
By Bianca Buono
bbuono@abc6.com
@BBuonoABC6
Newport is the latest city to weigh in on the panhandling problem. A city councilor says people begging for money on the side of the road is a safety issue.
"We’re just seeing a major influx all around the city and a lot of neighbors, a lot of citizens have contacted me in the last few months to really voice their concerns about what’s going on,” said Councilman John Florez.
Florez is echoing the same plan that Cranston Mayor Allan Fung is pushing for. It would stop people inside their cars from interacting with people outside
"It prohibits people from exchanging money either individuals from the middle of a roadway to a motor vehicle or vice versa,” Florez explained.
Florez says by not outright banning panhandling, it’s constitutionally sound, but the ACLU is not sold.
"It would not just ban the panhandling that people are talking about. It would ban little leaguers and school teams from standing out on medians or street corners asking for money. It would ban labor unions who are involved in disputes from handling literature out to cars so it would have a very significant impact in our view on first amendment rights,” said Steven Brown, the executive director of the ACLU of Rhode Island.
Another part of Florez’s plan includes a work program.
"What we’re trying to do is give, offer these individuals minimum wage positions that help beautify our city. Clean up litter and get them to work,” Florez said.
"I think that’s great I mean to the extent that there are more ways of dealing with the symptoms that are leading people to panhandle I think that’s better for everybody,” said Brown.
Despite the ACLU’s opposition to Florez’s anti-panhandling plan, he’s going to formally introduce it at Newport’s next city council meeting on Wednesday, October 26th.
"As a city, we should certainly not be held hostage by the ACLU and that’s what’s happening,” said Florez.
© WLNE-TV 2016
