Once again, thanks to all of you who have e-mailed me this week, in response to my panhandling posts. Many of you expressed that you are as fed up as I am, and many of you had some good ideas, some creative possible solutions.
Well, next week we’re going to have a place where we can all work together on this. My friend Mike King and I are in the process of setting up an online forum where the community can discuss the issue. Some of the things we hope to see posted there are
- Ideas for new laws to restrict panhandling – for example, some cities have enacted laws making panhandling illegal within 20 feet of outdoor or patio restaurant seating;
- Ideas for ways the city can better enforce the laws it already has
- Information on career and aggressive panhandlers who are known to cause problems Downtown. If we all share info, we may be able to learn some of these people’s real names, and find out if they have outstanding warrants that could get them off the streets.
- Information on where the real problem hotspots are in the area
- Ways to politicize the issue, and force the mayoral and City Council candidates to take a position on panhandling
The political candidates, by the way, will be invited to join the forum and participate. So will the upper brass of the downtown police precinct – Mike King and I already have a relationship with them, from when we formed Residents for a Safer Downtown Memphis last year and asked for their help with Downtown crime.
The forum should be ready early next week. We’re in the process of setting it up right now. We’re also discussing some rules to put in place to keep the quality of discussion high. If you sent me an e-mail in the past week about panhandling, you’ll be sent an invitation to join the forum when it’s ready – otherwise, just stay tuned to this blog, and I’ll be posting the info here.