Rally for support and information – Ordinances to restrict panhandling and single beer sales Downtown

There will be a rally at the Center City Commission, 114 N. Main, at 5:30 PM on Wednesday, February 17, in support of two proposed ordinances. The first would restrict panhandling further than the current ordinance, and would create a panhandling-free zone in part of Downtown.  The second would ban the sale of single-serve beers by businesses like convenience stores in much of the Downtown core and Uptown; these beers have been found to be the link between panhandling and related crimes such as disorderly conduct and fighting.  Read more about these proposed ordinances in my post from Thursday.

If you support these ordinances, PLEASE attend this rally. They are facing heavy opposition from the beer companies and from well-meaning but misguided activist groups.  The City Council needs to see your support in numbers to understand how important these ordinances are to the future of Downtown.

If you would like to learn more about these ordinances before you make up your mind, I encourage you to attend too.  This is a special public meeting for Downtown businesses and residents, and it will be a good chance for you to discuss the ordinances with the people who crafted them.

Please pass the word to all who want Downtown to live up to its potential, and who are sick of seeing our neighborhood’s reputation sullied by the actions of a few troublemakers.