[MissoulaGov] panhandling ordinance

[Eric Taylor]

I agree that Missoula is a generous town and we do care about people from all walks of life, but I also feel that the proposed panhandling ordinances will do little to address the underlying issues people have. Creating laws that fine or jail those who are without financial resource seems off the mark. I also worry about an us vs. them mentality being fostered. It does little to build community.
I think Bob almost got it right. It is a vocal minority of individuals led by BID who don't want to see the effects of poverty lying or sitting on the sidewalks downtown. 
This process started on September 10, 2007 when a group of downtown business owners lobbied city council to enact an anti panhandling ordinance. On October 17, 2007 at the Public Safety and Health Committee meeting, council members volunteered to meet with the Pov and the Police to form a working group to address the business owners concerns. That group became the Panhandling Working Group. The group has met behind closed doors and it is not open to the public. There were no published agendas or minutes, so it is unclear who participated in the group or what was discussed, but the proposed ordinance is the one of the results of their work. 
Some believe we already have tools to deal with bad behavior downtown--the existing (city)  ped-interference ordinance and the (state) disorderly conduct statute. I know we have a fantastic group of law enforcement people in Missoula. If someone is being disorderly or threatening someone downtown, I think the Missoula Police will respond and take appropriate action, if they are called. I wonder if the people who are complaining to city council about panhandling, are they willing to call the Police and file a report, then go to court and testify against the street person? Or will they not need to because someone else will deal with it for them? That seems to be the question at hand.
Why are more efforts to address poverty issues downtown not part of the Downtown Master Plan-vision for Missoula 25 yrs out? Inclusionary zoning for low-income housing and rehabilitative services for the homeless could be part of a long-range plan.
 
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