Beggars May Need Licenses in Minneapolis (includes a poll)

[katinmn]

The Minneapolis Police Chief is asking the city council to approve a plan for beggars to obtain a "panhandlers' license."

Robert Yellow Wolf, a homeless man panhandling on an interstate off-ramp, called the plan "ridiculous," but said: "When you're homeless, you have no say."

Here's a poll. I voted "it's not practical. Could use some help!
http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/5374184.html

http://www.startribune.com/stories/670/5373125.html

Beggars May Need Licenses in Minneapolis
By GREGG AAMOT, Associated Press Writer
April 27, 2005 0427AP-LICENSE-TO-BE

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The police chief wants to license panhandlers, saying it would make it easier for officers to manage aggressive begging in Minnesota's largest city.

Under the plan, panhandlers would have to register each year at a government center and have their picture taken. Anyone failing to wear an ID badge would be jailed for 30 days, and possibly fined.

"The idea is not to penalize people or make them go away," Chief William McManus said Wednesday. "It's just a way to govern how they conduct their business."

Minneapolis already bans panhandling in front of cash machines, bus stops and restrooms.

--more-

[EC]

1. Fines? How do they think they'll collect on that?

This is just a way to get them off the street. Either they'll be thrown in jail or they'll all leave and go somewhere else. That was one of the things I noticed when I was in Minn., as soon as a homeless person wondered into the Nicole Ave. area, the cops swooped in and picked them up (in plastic gloves yet). I thought it a bit unhumanitarian...that was the only thing I didn't like about my visit...and oh yeah, on our way back to the hotel, from an Italian restaurant, we saw a homeless guy asleep on the stoop of a church...Aren't there any shelters there? This was in Feb. and it was really cold.

[katinmn]

5. homelessness isn't unique to Minnesota

I've seen people sleeping in the streets in every city I've been to, and I've been to a lot of them.

The Repub majority fights funds meant to help people in poverty everywhere in this great country.

[EC]

6. Not the homelessness, itself

we have it here to, the way Minn. was dealing with it was what was the shame...

[H2O Man]

2. I think the ACLU

has already made clear it will contest this stupid "law" as being in violation of the constitutionally protected right to free speech.

[jwirr]

3. Cut assistance and punish the poor because they are poor. Logical?

[katinmn]

4. Heh - made Comcast's "strange news" list

http://www.comcast.net/news/strange/index.jsp?cat=STRANGE&fn=/2005/04/28/119034.html

Didn't catch it the first time but the article says Cincinnati, Dallas and Greensboro, N.C. already have similar regulations.

Under * policies, the ranks of panhandlers will undoubtedly grow.