Six-day panhandling ban will become the law in Tampa on Nov. 1

The only drama that remained from the draining year-long discussion on passing a hybrid ban on panhandling in Tampa came this morning from some members of the Occupy Tampa movement, who spoke strongly against the city enacting such legislation.

But the battle was pretty much officially decided two weeks ago when ailing Council chair Charlie Miranda left his sick bed to cast a vote on a six-day partial ban.

Today, with Miranda and Lisa Montelione absent, the council voted 4-1 to make the law official on November 1. Newspaper hawkers and those who distribute literature will be exempt. The city's top 10 dangerous intersections — which include sections of Bruce B. Downs, Fowler and Hillsborough avenues — will also be off-limits to everyone. Acting Council chair Mary Mulhern was the lone dissenter.

Tampa Police Capt. Keith O'Connor said officers during the first week of November will go on an education offensive to explain the law. "The fact of the matter is we don't want to put people in jail," he said moments after the deciding vote.

This article appears in Oct 20-26, 2011.