Updated Feb 25, 2010 - 12:42 pm
City to crack down on aggressive panhandlers
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KIRO Radio
City leaders are coming together Thursday morning to work on a plan to crack down on aggressive panhandling in Seattle.
"We have residents telling us that they are seeing more open air drug markets. We've had conventioneers express concerns about being directly solicited for money," said Downtown Seattle Association President Kate Joncus.
Seattle City Councilmember Tim Burgess will announce details outlined in the new plan, which would make it illegal to panhandle within 15 feet of ATMs and parking meters. "You can't touch, you can't use threatening, profane language, you can't follow someone down the street after they've said no. There's a whole list of specific language," said Burgess.
Violators would be fined $50.
One of the proposed solutions is to add more police on the streets. "Budgets are tough all over and it's a matter of priorities and how you deploy your resources, but there's nothing like visible police presence in the right time at the right place," said King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg.
John Fox, an advocate for the homeless, worries about the treatment of people down on their luck. "This is just a social control measure aimed at giving police broad power to just push people around."
"Most of our aggressive solicitation problems are not caused by homeless individuals," Burgess said. He added that the Downtown Seattle Association has surveyed panhandlers and most are not homeless.
Fox said Seattle already has adequate rules against "aggressive" panhandling. Both he and Satterberg agree more social services are needed to get people off the street.
"That's where we find solutions, finding jobs for folks and services and programs for those with disabilities, especially low income housing," said Fox.
The full city council will review Burgess' proposal next month.
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